Music, B.A.

Music
(615) 898-5984
Joshua Bedford, program coordinator
Joshua.Bedford@mtsu.edu

An interview is required for the Music, B.A. program at MTSU. Interviews will be conducted in person during the School of Music’s audition dates, though virtual interviews will be offered. Invitations to schedule an interview will be sent upon completion and submission of the MTSU School of Music application.

NOTE: To continue study in primary instrument/voice, students must successfully audition for a studio placement. See instrument or voice area for specific audition requirements.

In addition, all new undergraduate majors and minors are required to take the Music Theory Placement Exam to determine appropriate placement in the music theory program. The exam is available through CANVAS and a link to take the exam, along with information on how to prepare for the exam, will be sent following admission into the School of Music. Transfer students will need to meet with the Coordinator of Music Theory in order to be placed in the appropriate level of the musicianship sequence. Students may not enroll in any music theory course until placement is determined.

The Bachelor of Arts music major provides students with a broad foundation for studying, performing, and communicating about music. Bachelor of Arts music majors have a great degree of flexibility in their coursework compared to other music majors and may be able to complete a second major in many disciplines. Students should consult with their advisors about options.

The major includes core classes in music theory and history, applied instruction and ensemble involvement within a Liberal Arts context. Students have a great deal of flexibility in determining their possible minors, or may choose to double major in a number of other disciplines. A semester of study abroad may be included in the degree.

A senior capstone project is presented with direction from a faculty mentor. This may be research driven, performance related, or a combination of both. Students are encouraged to develop independent work that may combine various disciplines. The B.A. in music is an excellent choice for many transfer students as well as students who wish to consider future graduate study.

Jury Examinations

Jury examinations are performance exams held at the conclusion of each semester to measure the student’s progress. All students enrolled in private instruction perform juries at the discretion of the private instructor.

B.A. students planning a senior capstone project in performance (a recital or lecture-recital) are expected to continue taking private instruction and have the private instructor act as the capstone advisor.

Undergraduate Music majors must pass the Upper Division jury to qualify for applied music study at the MUAP 3000 or 4000 levels. B.A. students do not need to pass the Upper Division jury unless required by the capstone advisor. This would apply if the student’s capstone project is performance related.

Class Piano/Theory and Aural Skills

All undergraduate music majors (except keyboard principals) must take class piano every semester as indicated on the advising check sheets until the required piano proficiency exam is successfully completed. Concurrent enrollment in Class Piano I and Theory and Aural Skills I is required, with the following exceptions: (1) The student successfully passed either Class Piano I or Theory and Aural Skills I, but not both, or (2) the student successfully passed one or more levels of Class Piano by examination. Students should see their advisors for details.

Students wishing to continue piano after successfully completing the required class piano sequence may audition for piano applied lessons.

Keyboard principals must take MUS 2550, Keyboard Skills for Pianists I, and MUS 2560, Keyboard Skills for Pianists II, in lieu of class piano.

Academic Map

Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Music, B.A., Academic Map

Degree Requirements

True Blue Core (TBC)	41 hours
Major Requirements	51 hours*
Major Core	27 hours
Music Performance/Area of Emphasis	24 hours
Minor	15 hours
World Language Requirement	12 hours
Electives	1-7 hours
TOTAL	120 hours

*This program requires courses that can also fulfill requirements for the True Blue Core curriculum. If program requirements are also used to fulfill True Blue Core requirements, the number of elective hours may increase.

True Blue Core (41 hours)

True Blue Core (TBC) requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in the Foundational Skills areas of Written Communication (WC), Information Literacy (Info Lit), Non-Written Communication (NWC), and Quantitative Literacy (Quant Lit). Knowledge Domains include Human Society and Social Relationships (HSSR), Scientific Literacy (Sci Lit), Creativity and Cultural Expression (CCE), and History and Civic Learning (HCL), which include Discovery and Explorations categories. Students must choose at least one course from each Discovery category.

The following course required by the program meet True Blue Core requirements:

MUHL 1610 (CCE)
3 credit hours from world language 1010, 1020, 2010, or 2020 (NWC)

Major Requirements (51 hours)

Music Core (27 hours)

All music majors must take class piano or private piano instruction until they pass the piano proficiency examination prescribed by their degree programs. Students should see their advisors for details.

Students must earn a grade of C- or higher in MUTH 1110 , MUTH 1120 , MUTH 2110 , MUTH 2120 (music theory sequence) and MUHL 1610 , MUHL 3010 , MUHL 3020 (music history sequence).

MUS 1010 - Recital Attendance 0 credit hours (6 semesters)
MUTH 1110 - Theory and Aural Skills I 4 credit hours
MUTH 1120 - Theory and Aural Skills II 4 credit hours
MUTH 2110 - Theory and Aural Skills III 3 credit hours
MUTH 2120 - Theory and Aural Skills IV 3 credit hours
MUHL 1610 - The World of Music 3 credit hours
MUHL 3010 - History of Western Art Music I 3 credit hours
MUHL 3020 - History of Western Art Music II 3 credit hours
MUS 3140 - Basic Conducting 2 credit hours OR
MUPD 3050 - Jazz Pedagogy 2 credit hours
MUTH 4130 - Orchestration and Arranging 2 credit hours OR
MUAP 4343 - Jazz Arranging, Applied Study 2 credit hours

Music Performance (12 hours)

MUS 1530 - Class Piano I 1 credit hour OR
MUS 2550 - Keyboard Skills for Pianists I 1 credit hour
MUS 1540 - Class Piano II 1 credit hour OR
MUS 2560 - Keyboard Skills for Pianists II 1 credit hour
MUAP 2000-2999 (4 credit hours) OR
MUS 1510 - Class Voice I 1 credit hour (may not be repeated)
MUS 1550 - Class Guitar I 1 credit hour (may not be repeated)
MUS 2530 - Class Piano III 1 credit hour (may not be repeated)
MUS 2540 - Class Piano IV 1 credit hour (may not be repeated)
MUEN 3000-3999 6 credit hours

Area of Emphasis and Upper-Division Electives (12 Hours)

MUS 4460 - Bachelors of Arts in Music Capstone 3 credit hours
UD Emphasis Electives (approved by advisor and may include the following) 9 credit hours
- MUHL 3000-4999
- MUED 3000-4999
- MUAP 4000-4999
- MUPD 3000-4999
- MUS 3000-4999
- MUTH 3000-4999

Minor (15 hours)

Approved minor taken outside School of Music

World Language Requirement (12 hours)

Students meet this requirement by successfully completing the 2020-level or a higher course in a single world language. Students may take 1010, 1020, 2010, and 2020 in sequence, or they may use the MTSU Language Placement Test to start at the appropriate level. See Bachelor of Arts Degree for additional details.