New Programs in Music

...Music at Geneseo: A New World of Music Waiting to be Explored!

 A Music BA with Focus... 

All students majoring in music complete a series of basic requirements in musicianship and critical methods. Students then complete and an additional set of requirements based on a chosen area of focus (Total Credits: 45). Music students may select to focus in:

Students may also choose to minor in many of these areas (see the page for Minors in Music here).

...and Preprofessional  Opportunities

The Music BA also offers additional opportunities for Preprofessional Study, preparing students for application to graduate and professional school. Students interested in preprofessional study should declare a major in music, with a focus in performance, and complete the additional courses for the preprofessional minor (Total Credits: 66) in either:

Students interested in focusing in Music Education should also read about the Preprofessional Studies Minor in Music Teaching; K-12 here. 

Music BA Information

For information on the Music BA basic requirements and the additional requirements for the different areas of focus, please consult the summaries in the dropdown menus below. For more detailed information, consult the pages for each focus area in the navigation menu on the left. 

The (new) Music BA: Basic Requirements (all students)

Total Credits: 26

Musicianship Requirement

  MUSC 139, 140  Piano I and II (2cr)

  MUSC 189  Elements of Music Theory (3cr)

  MUSC 256 Harmony I: Elements of Polyphony, OR

  MUSC 258 Harmony I: Elements of Jazz Harmony (3cr)

Critical Histories and Methods

  MUSC 226 Music History I: Music in the European City, 1685-1803 (3cr)

  MUSC 227 Music History II: Key Figures in Music History, Beethoven to Beyoncé (3cr)

  MUSC 315 Music Analysis (3cr)

  MUSC 236, 327 Thinking through Music I and II (6cr) 

  MUSC 331-339 Seminar in Musicology or Ethnomusicology (3cr)

Music Performance: Additional Requirements

Focusing in music performance allows students to develop advanced performance technique on their instrument or voice while studying with one of our highly trained studio faculty. Students focusing in performance develop crucial skills in leadership and collaboration while forging lifelong friendships and connections in their ensembles, studio classes, and chamber groups. The focus in Music Performance requires an audition (see audition information here).

Total Credits: 19

  MUSC 160, 165 Ensemble Participation (8cr)

  MUSC 350-355 Intermediate Studio Instruction (4cr)

  MUSC 450-455 Advanced Studio Instruction (4cr)

  MUSC 359, 459 Junior and Senior Recitals (3cr)

Musicology HiTEC: Additional Requirements

The Musicology focus combines the study of History, Theory, Ethnomusicology, and Composition (i.e., HiTEC!). If you've ever wondered about the meanings behind Chopin's piano nocturnes, the rich history of folk music in your community, wanted to analyze the changes in Miles Davis' "So What," or compose your own string trio then you should explore Musicology at Geneseo! This largely elective-driven focus allows students to explore their interests in any of the various musicological fields.

Total Credits: 19

One course chosen from (3cr):

  MUSC 217 Jazz in America

  MUSC 222 History of American Musical Theatre 

  MUSC 231 Introduction to Ethnomusicology

  MUSC 232 Folk Music in America

Electives, chosen from (16cr):

  Music History, Theory, Criticism and Ethnomusicology

  Harmony, Composition, and Conducting

  Music Business, Recording and Production

 For a complete listing of course numbers and titles, as well as courses the meet the elective requirement, see the Musicology HiTEC information sheet.

Jazz and American Music Studies: Additional Requirements 

Students focusing in Jazz and American Music explore the uniquely American tradition of Jazz as well as a number of regional traditions, considering the local implications and global connections through performance studies as well as through historical, critical, and ethnographic investigations.

Total Credits: 19

Required courses (6 cr)

  MUSC 217 Jazz in America (3cr)

  MUSC 232 Folk Music in America (3cr)

Electives in MUSC, chosen from the following courses (6-10cr)

  MUSC 165  Jazz Ensemble or String Band (1-3cr)

  MUSC 222  History of American Musical Theatre (3cr)

  MUSC 258  Harmony I: Elements of Jazz Harmony (3cr)

  MUSC 291  Music and Ideas (when applicable; 3cr)

  MUSC 332  Music, Gender, and Sexuality (when applicable; 3cr)

  MUSC 337  Music, Race, and Ethnicity (when applicable; 3cr)

  MUSC  338 Folk Music in New York State (3cr)

  MUSC 339 Folk and Popular Music Studies (when applicable; 3cr)

  MUSC 346  Jazz Harmony and Improvisation I (2cr)

  MUSC 347  Jazz Harmony and Improvisation II (2cr)

  MUSC 439  Portfolio Review (2-3cr)

Related Requirements outside of MUSC (3-7cr)

  HIST 164  African American History from 1844 (4cr)

  AMST 201 Topics in American Studies (4cr)

  BLKS 200 Introduction to Black Studies (3cr)

  ENGL 318 Black British Literature and Culture (4cr)

  ENGL 337 African American Literature (4cr)

  ENGL 439 American Ways (when applicable; 4cr)

 

Music Business, Recording, and Production: Additional Requirements

Total Credits: 19-21

Required courses in MUSC

  MUSC 102  Introduction to Music Technology (3cr)

  MUSC 202  Music Entrepreneurship (3cr)

  MUSC 302  Music Recording and Production (3cr)

  MUSC 303  Film and Game Scoring (3cr)

  MUSC 395  Capstone: Recording and Production Internship (3)

Applied Study (0-1cr)

  MUSC 160, 165 Choral or Instrumental Ensemble

  MUSC 141-145, 241-245  Applied Lessons

Related Requirements (3-6cr)

  ACCT 102  Introduction to Financial Accounting (3cr)

  ECON 110  Introduction to Microeconomics (3cr)

Preprofessional Studies Minors 

Preprofessional Studies Minor in Music Teaching, K-12: Additional Requirements

The Preprofessional Minor in Music Teaching, K-12 is designed for advanced students interested in applying to graduate and professional schools in music education. To enter the minor, students must be a declared major in music, focusing in music performance. In addition to completing the requirements for the music performance focus, students also complete the following coursework: 

Total Credits: 21cr

MUSC 141: Voice for the General Student (1cr)                                                             

MUSC 240: Piano (2 cr)                                                                       

MUSC 257: Harmony II (3cr)                                                     

MUSC 259: Elements of Figured Bass (1cr)

MUSC 340: Piano (2 cr)                                                       

MUSC 365, 366: Conducting I & II  (6cr)                                                       

SPED: Introduction to Special Education (3cr)

Students must also complete 3 of the following methods courses in trumpet, clarinet, percussion, high strings, and low strings selected from: 

MUSC 142: Woodwinds for the General Student (1cr)                                                     

MUSC 143: Brass for the General Student (1cr)                                                        

MUSC 144: Strings for the General Student (1cr)                                                       

MUSC 145: Percussion for the General Student (1cr)

Preprofessional Studies Minor in Music Conducting : Additional Requirements

The Preprofessional Minor in Conducting is designed for advanced students interested in applying to graduate and professional schools in music conducting. To enter the minor, students must be a declared major in music, focusing in music performance. In addition to completing the requirements for the music performance focus, students also complete the following coursework: 

Total Credits: 21cr

MUSC 141: Voice for the General Student (1cr)                                                             

MUSC 240: Piano (2 cr)                                                                       

MUSC 257: Harmony II (3cr)                                                     

MUSC 259: Elements of Figured Bass (1cr)

MUSC 317: Orchestration (3cr)

MUSC 340: Piano (2 cr)                                                       

MUSC 365, 366: Conducting I & II  (6cr)                                                       

Students must also complete 3 of the following methods courses in trumpet, clarinet, percussion, high strings, and low strings selected from: 

MUSC 142: Woodwinds for the General Student (1cr)                                                     

MUSC 143: Brass for the General Student (1cr)                                                        

MUSC 144: Strings for the General Student (1cr)                                                       

MUSC 145: Percussion for the General Student (1cr)

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