The Bachelor of Music degree is a program of 120-139 hours that may be earned with a major in Performance, Music History, Music Theory, or Composition. It is designed for the student who intends to pursue a career as a composer, performer, or college teacher, as well as the student who plans to enter graduate school to pursue further study in one of these areas.
NON-MUSIC COURSE REQUIREMENTS*
ENGLISH 1000 (EXPOSITION AND ARGUMENTATION) is the prerequisite to all writing-intensive courses and must
be completed before the end of the sophomore year with a grade of C- or better.
WRITING-INTENSIVE COURSES. Students must complete at least two MU writing-intensive
courses with a grade of C or higher. Writing intensive courses are indicated
by WI in the Schedule of Courses and are also listed in the Special Studies
section in the back of the Schedule of Courses. They require a substantial amount
of writing and offer students the opportunity to rewrite assignments to raise
the level of performance. At least one of these courses must be in music.
MATH 1100 (COLLEGE ALGEBRA) is the prerequisite to all math/reasoning proficiency
courses and must be completed before the end of the sophomore year with a grade
of C- or better.
MATH/REASONING PROFICIENCY. Students must complete one math/reasoning proficiency
course. Math/reasoning proficiency courses are indicated by MP in the Schedule
of Courses and are also listed in the Special Studies section in the back of
the Schedule of Courses.
SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. Nine hours of course work is required; one course
must be in American History (History 1100, 1200, or 1400) or Political Science (Political
Science 1100 or 1700). At least two subjects must be included in the nine hours.
PHYSICAL, BIOLOGICAL, AND MATH SCIENCES. Nine hours of course work is required;
one course must include a lab. At least two subjects must be included in the
nine hours.
Note: At least one course of 1000 level or higher must be taken in either Social
and Behavioral Sciences or Physical, Biological, and Math Sciences.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE. For instrumental performance, theory, and composition majors,
13 hours in either French or German, or 12 hours in Italian are required.
The language requirement for majors in music history is 10 hours of German,
plus 13 hours of French or 12 hours of Italian.
For vocal performance majors, the requirement is Elementary German I (5 hours),
Elementary French I (5 hours), and Elementary Italian I (6 hours); one additional
course in either German (5 hours), French (5 hours), or Italian (6 hours); and
one hour each in Italian, French, and German diction (3 hours total).
Transfer students who have not completed four units of high school credit in
a single language or its equivalent must complete the requirement after entering
the University.
COMPUTER AND INFORMATION PROFICIENCY. Either by approved course work of through
proficiency testing, students must demonstrate competency with computers and
information technology. Approved courses are designated CP in the Schedule of
Courses.
ELECTIVES. The different programs in the Bachelor of Music degree have a varying
number of elective hours (see the Sample Degree Plans). Electives are to be
academic courses except that up to half the elective credits may be earned in
chamber music or ensemble participation outside the principal performance area
(e.g. a woodwind major singing in a choir or a vocal major playing in a band).
Students may enroll in courses taught in other divisions of the University,
provided that they have the approval of their advisor.
*It may be possible to test out of certain non-music requirements or be excused
on the basis of Advance Placement or other high school credit. A complete discussion
of the requirements and waivers or possibilities for credit by examination will
be found in the section on Arts & Science Graduation Requirements in the
most recent Undergraduate Catalog. Consult with the Arts and Science advising
center in 107 Lowry Hall and your music advisor.
MUSIC REQUIREMENTS
AREA OF CONCENTRATION. The
Area of Concentration for the Bachelor of Music degree consists of no fewer
than 62 hours and no more than 90 hours in applied music, music history, music
theory, instrumental and vocal techniques, repertory and ensembles. The specified
course work in each of these is determined by the particular area of music which
the student wishes to emphasize.
NOTE: The Area of Concentration Form must contain a complete listing of all
course work for the degree, and be signed by the student's advisor, the Director
of Undergraduate Studies, and the Dean before enrollment will be permitted at
the beginning of the Junior Year. Completion of this form is intended to insure
that the student has a clear plan of study, including all college and school
requirements, before the beginning of the Junior Year.
APPLIED STUDY. A total of 24 to 32 hours of credit must be earned by BM in Performance
candidates in their major performance medium, depending on the specific instrument
(see the Sample Degree Plans). Twelve to sixteen hours must be earned at the
upperclass level (Music 4455, Studio Instruction) in addition to one hour each
of Music 3970 (Junior Recital) and Music 4970 (Senior Recital). A candidacy examination
in the student's area of performance must be passed before entrance to the 4455-level
applied course is approved. This examination is administered by the applied
faculty, normally at the end of the Sophomore Year.
BM candidates in Composition, Music Theory, Music Education, or Music History
must complete at least 8 hours at the underclass level (Music 2455) and 8 hours
at the upperclass level (Music 3455).
REQUIRED DEGREE RECITALS. All degree recitals must receive approval by a Recital
Hearing Committee consisting of all faculty members of the rank of Instructor
or above in that particular applied area, plus one other applied faculty member
from each of the other performance areas. The hearing should take place not
later than two weeks prior to the scheduled date of the performance. A form
entitled "Authorization to Present Required Degree Recital" must be
completed and signed at the end of the hearing by a majority of all faculty
members comprising the Hearing Committee. Copies of this completed form, serving
as notice that the student has fulfilled this requirement, will be placed in
the student's files in (1) the Office of the Dean of Arts and Science, (2) the
Department of Music Office and (3) the office of the coordinator of the student's
applied area.
Students giving degree recitals must be enrolled in Music 3455 or 4455 (applied
music) as well as the appropriate recital course [Music 3970 (Junior Recital)
or Music 4970 (Senior Recital)] during the semester when the recital is presented.
RECITAL SPECIFICATIONS. A Bachelor of Music candidate in Performance must present
both a Junior Recital and a Senior Recital. Generally, each recital will be
a formal, public solo recital. The Junior recital will range from 45 to 60 minutes
in length, and the Senior recital will range from 50 to no more than 65 minutes.
The program material for each recital should consist of selections from the
following three groups of historical periods:
In vocal recitals, literature
in the Italian, French, German and English languages should be presented. Any
deviation from the above guidelines must be approved by the Recital Hearing
Committee.
GROUP PIANO REQUIREMENT (as of Fall 2006) for all BM Candidates in music except approved piano majors and concentrations.
CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE. Students enrolling in college for the first time in the
fall of 1996 or later must, within the last 45 hours of credit, take a course
or be involved in a project that qualifies as a Capstone Experience, that is,
an academic activity that integrates general knowledge with the specialized
knowledge each student has developed in the major area, and, when appropriate,
the related field (often called a "minor").
Music performance majors must enroll in Music 4970, Senior Recital, and present
a recital with program notes and an oral presentation in performance class of
the works to be performed. The recital will be supervised by the student's applied
music teacher.
Music composition students must enroll in Music 4216, Composition VI, and complete
a special project that integrates previous studies in music theory, composition,
and music history. A written report including the methodology, rationale for
the media, and stylistic aspects of this work must be presented during the winter
semester of the senior year.
Music theory students must enroll in Music 3085, Problems in Music, and prepare
a research paper based on individual projects. Some of the content would include
research about historical information, bibliographic listings, and analysis
or application of theoretical studies.
Students majoring in music history must enroll in Music 3085, Problems in Music,
and prepare a research paper and various other projects concerning the methods
and materials of music history under the guidance of a music history professor.
GRADES. For all BM candidates, courses completed with grades of D may not be
included on the Area of Concentration without the approval of the advisor, Director
of Undergraduate Studies or School Director, and the Dean; and the student must
achieve an overall average of 2.0 in all of these courses taken for the baccalaureate
degree.
ENSEMBLES. All BM candidates are required to participate in one major ensemble
each semester. Woodwind, brass, percussion, and vocal performance majors must
perform on their principal instrument.
Special Stipulations
for Bachelor of Music in Theory and
Bachelor of Music in Composition Programs
PROCEDURES FOR ADMISSION. Music majors pursuing a program for the Bachelor of Music degree in Theory or Composition must submit an application for official admission to the program toward the end of the sophomore year of study. The procedures for admission by MU and transfer students are outlined below.
REQUIREMENTS. In addition to completing the course requirements for the Bachelor of Music degree in Theory or Composition, the student is required to:
SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON SECONDARY APPLIED STUDY. The theory and composition staff requires Theory or Composition majors to earn 4 hours of credit in the study of secondary instruments (or voice) in addition to the major performance area. This requirement shall be specifically 4 separate 1-hour courses of instruction in the different media at an appropriate level (generally Music 1435), and not the parallel Instrumental or Vocal Techniques classes. The applied music courses will be chosen in consultation with the theory/composition advisor.
SAMPLE FOUR-YEAR PLANS FOR THE BACHELOR OF MUSIC DEGREE
The following links present suggested sequences. In some cases it may not be possible or advisable to follow the exact sequence as given, especially during the junior and senior years. The student should meet with his or her advisor early in the freshman year and consult periodically with them during their time at MU in order to plan carefully and avoid scheduling problems.
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance
Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance
Bachelor of Music in String Instrument Performance
Bachelor of Music in Wind/Percussion Performance
Bachelor of Music in Music Theory
Bachelor of Music in Composition
Bachelor of Music in Music History
A Music Advisory to All Entering Freshman Music Majors
2004 © Curators of University of Missouri
MU School of Music
University of Missouri
Last updated: 21 August 2007