Objectives
To develop individual potentials in musicianship, technique, artistry, self-expression, and critical thinking through academic and applied music study focusing on the instrumental, piano, or vocal repertoire. To provide a broad liberal arts foundation and opportunities for career preparation in a variety of performance-related areas.
Entrance audition
To enter this track as a major, the student should demonstrate technical and musical proficiency at an entrance audition. Knowledge of technical skills particular to each area, a basic understanding of all periods of music literature, and a performance of two contrasting pieces must be included in this audition. Contact the music department chair for further information.
All music majors must demonstrate keyboard proficiency through examination and/or coursework before graduation. Those music students who do not have any background in piano will be required to enroll in piano classes until the requirement is fulfilled.
All performance majors are required to demonstrate their ability to continue in the performance degree program by participating in a sophomore performance review (twenty minutes of music and interview) in front of the music faculty. This requirement is designed to prepare the student for the juried junior and senior recitals.
All performance majors are required to complete Music 325 and 425. The juried junior recital must include a minimum of twenty-five minutes of music, and the juried senior recital must include a minimum of fifty minutes of music. For piano majors, a juried, full-length collaborative recital or a piano pedagogy research paper of fifteen to twenty pages, approved by the music faculty, may be substituted for the junior recital. See the music department handbook for details about all recital requirements.