Music: Major Information
An audition is required for admission to the Major in Music. Click here for more information.
Total credit hours to complete major: 43
Basic Requirements (all Options)
Total credit hours to complete basic requirements: 22
MUSC 210, 211 | Theory of Music I, II | 6 |
MUSC 310, 311 | Theory of Music III, IV | 6 |
MUSC 213, 313 | Theory Skills I, II | 4 |
MUSC 226 | Music in Western Civilization to 1750 | 3 |
MUSC 227 | Music in Western Civilization Since 1750 | 3 |
Option Requirements
Total credit hours to complete option requirements: 13
Composition Option
MUSC 156 | Elementary Composition (2 sememsters) | 2 |
MUSC 256 | Intermediate Composition (2 semesters) | 2 |
MUSC 356 | Advanced Composition (2 semesters) | 2 |
MUSC 317 | Orchestration | 3 |
MUSC 240* or 340 | Piano (two semesters) | 2 |
MUSC 399 | Directed Study: Senior Composition Project | 2 |
*Prerequisite: proficiency at the level of two semesters of MUSC 140 | ||
Conducting Option
MUSC 317 Orchestration 3 MUSC 365 Conducting I 3 MUSC 366 Conducting II 3 MUSC 240* or 340 Piano (two semesters) 2 MUSC 399 Directed Study: Senior Conducting Project 2 *Prerequisite: proficiency at the level of two semesters of MUSC 140
Ethnomusicology Option
MUSC 123 Music of the World's Peoples 3 MUSC 232 Folk Music in America 3 MUSC 338 Folk Music in New York State 3 MUSC 240* or 340 Piano (two semesters) 2 MUSC 399 Directed Study: Senior Ethnomusicology Project 2 *Prerequisite: proficiency at the level of two semesters of MUSC 140
History and Literature Option
MUSC 331 Studies in Keyboard Literature 3 MUSC 333 Studies in Vocal Literature 3 MUSC 335 Studies in Instrumental Literature 3 MUSC 240* or 340 Piano (two semesters) 2 MUSC 399 Directed Study: Senior History/Literature Project 2 *Prerequisite: proficiency at the level of two semesters of MUSC 140
Music Theory Option
MUSC 315 Studies in Music Technique 6 MUSC 240* or 340 Piano (four semesters) 4 MUSC 399 Directed Study: Senior Theory Project 3 *Prerequisite: proficiency at the level of two semesters of MUSC 140
Performance Option
Piano, Voice, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone, Bassoon, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double bass, or Percussion MUSC 331, 333, or 325 3 MUSC 250*, 251*, 252*, 253*, 254*, or 255* Piano, Voice, Woodwinds, Brass, Strings, or Percussion for the Performance Option (two semesters) 4 MUSC 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, or 355 Piano, Voice, Woodwinds, Brass, Strings, or Percussion for the Performance Option (two semesters) 4 MUSC 399 Directed Study: Senior Recital 2 *Prerequisite: proficiency at the level of two semesters of MUSC 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, or 155
Additional Requirements: 8 semester hours maximum
Meeting the following requirements and the Minimum Competence Requirement (stated below) are prerequisite to continuance in an Option.
- Participation in the following specified performance organizations offered under MUSC 160 or 165 each semester in an Option (NOTE: a maximum of eight semester hours may be applied to the degree).
- Composition, Conducting, History and Literature, or Music Theory Options: MUSC 160 or 165 organization.
- Ethnomusicology Option: MUSC 165 String Band.
- Performance Option-Piano: a MUSC 160 or 165 organization, or an equivalent activity approved by the Piano Coordinator; also, participation in the weekly Piano Seminar.
- Performance Option-Voice: a MUSC 160 organization (placement by audition); also, participation in the weekly Voice Seminar.
- Performance Option-Woodwind, Brass, or Percussion: MUSC 165 Chamber Symphony, Wind Ensemble, or Jazz Ensemble (placement by audition); also, participation in the weekly Instrumental Seminar.
- Performance Option-String: MUSC 165 Symphony Orchestra; also, participation in the weekly Instrumental Seminar
- Attendance at five, non-participatory, on-campus concerts each semester; concerts to be selected from a list approved by the Music Faculty
- Performance Option only: jury examination each semester in the Option, performance each semester in the Option in a Friday afternoon recital or in some other public, faculty-sponsored event approved by the principal instructor; solo performance of approximately one half-hour in a shared Junior Recital.
Minimum Competence Requirement
A grade of C- or better is required for each of the following courses and requirements: all basic requirement courses (both common and option courses), and the performance organization requirement(s) for the Option; for the Performance Option, a grade of C- or better is required in jury and Junior Recital.
Department Writing Requirement
Each of the following courses includes a writing assignment in formal prose of about ten pages in length, following one of three approaches - analytical, historical, or a combination of these: MUSC 311, 331, 333, 335, and 338. The organization of each paper should be clear, and the writing appropriately literary, and grammatically and syntactically correct. The ideas should present a logical argument, as suggested by an earlier outline. The paper should be typed and double-spaced, with page numbers and one-inch margins. All sources consulted should be cited in a consistent manner in footnotes and a complete bibliography, following the standard format described in The Chicago Manual of Style or Kate Turabian's Manual for Writers. It is the music historian's responsibility to oversee the implementation of the writing requirement and to enforce a fair and equal standard for all papers submitted.