Music BM, Music Composition Emphasis
Degree Requirements
Admission to Music Degree Programs
Admission to all Music degree programs is by audition to demonstrate musical aptitude and potential, technical proficiency, and seriousness in selecting music as a four-year course of study. In addition to the applied music audition, placement examinations in music theory and music history may be required to confirm students’ prior experience in these areas. Auditions can be scheduled at any time for the upcoming semester, and several pre-scheduled audition dates are also available in fall and early spring (contact the Music Department for more details).
Applied Music and Recitals
Music majors are required to study one applied area progressively each semester of the degree program. Music Education majors are exempt from this requirement during the student teaching semester. For all music majors, the applied lesson requirement consists of a weekly, individual lesson with your instructor, as well as a weekly enrichment activity in pedagogy and literature, which may take the form of a studio class, master class, performances by and for our students, or other experience identified by the department.
Students in Applied Music (private lessons) must pass a junior-standing advancement jury to confirm their level of performance skills for enrollment in AP MUS 3440 – AP MUS 3459 or AP MUS 4440 – AP MUS 4459. This advancement jury is usually taken at the same time as the applied music jury at the end of the fourth semester of enrollment in AP MUS 1440 - AP MUS 1459.
Evidence of sound musicianship, a close acquaintance with an appropriate portion of musical literature, and the ability to bring it to actual performance are required for graduation in all Music degree programs. Students in the B.M., Performance Emphasis fulfill this requirement with junior and senior recitals. Students in all other degree programs and emphasis areas fulfill this requirement with a senior recital. In some cases, upon the recommendation of the student's applied teacher, the senior recital (for non-performance majors only) may be replaced by participating in three regularly scheduled student recitals during the last two semesters of applied music study, or by performing for a special panel of faculty members.
Ensembles
Music majors are required to enroll in an approved ensemble (University Wind Ensemble, University Singers, or University Orchestra) each semester. Music Education majors are exempt from this requirement during the student teaching semester. For all music majors, the applied lesson requirement consists of a weekly, individual lesson with your instructor, as well as a weekly enrichment activity in pedagogy and literature, which may take the form of a studio class, master class, performances by and for our students, or other experience identified by the department. The following specific ensemble enrollments, depending upon the applied music area, are required:
- Wind and Percussion students—University Wind Ensemble;
- String students--University Orchestra;
- Voice students--University Singers;
- Keyboard and Guitar students--any approved ensemble, but those in the B.M. Music Education emphasis program must successfully audition for and enroll in an ensemble compatible with the teaching certification they are pursuing;
- Instrumental students may be required to participate in additional ensembles to enhance their musical development.
General Education Requirements
UMSL's General Education requirements apply to all majors.
Non-Music majors are encouraged to take music courses (EN PER and MHLT) at the 1000- or 2000-level toward UMSL’s Humanities and Fine Arts general education requirement. Non-Music majors wishing to perform with ensembles (EN PER 1410, University Singers; EN PER 1500, University Orchestra; EN PER 1530, University Wind Ensemble; EN PER 1550, Jazz Orchestra) should contact the ensemble’s director for information about auditions. M H L T 1150, Drumming Cultures of the World; M H L T 1160, Musical Journey through Latin America; M H L T 1170, Musical Journey through the Far East; or M H L T 1180, Musical Journey through Africa will meet the University's Cultural Diversity study requirement.
Other Requirements
Courses required for degree programs may not be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Students must receive at least a C in each music course and maintain a GPA of 2.5 (3.0 for Music Education majors) in all music courses to meet degree requirements.
Majors are required to appear in performances at the department's discretion and to attend a prescribed number of departmental recitals. All music majors whose primary applied area is not piano or organ are required to pass an exam in piano proficiency before graduation. Music Education majors must pass this piano proficiency exam prior to student teaching.
The Music Department may require students to pass a placement test to enroll in the next level course, provided this or an equivalent test is administered to all students seeking to enroll in that course.
Core Curriculum
The following core courses are required for all Music majors:
| Music Theory | ||
| THRY COM 1300 | Introduction to Aural Training | 1 |
| THRY COM 1301 | Theory of Music I | 3 |
| THRY COM 1302 | Aural Training I | 2 |
| THRY COM 1311 | Theory of Music II | 3 |
| THRY COM 1312 | Aural Training II | 2 |
| THRY COM 2301 | Theory of Music III | 3 |
| THRY COM 2302 | Aural Training III | 2 |
| THRY COM 2311 | Theory of Music IV | 3 |
| THRY COM 2312 | Aural Training IV | 2 |
| Piano Proficiency | ||
| PRACTM 1140 | Piano Proficiency I | 1 |
| PRACTM 1150 | Piano Proficiency II | 1 |
| PRACTM 2160 | Piano Proficiency III | 1 |
| PRACTM 2180 | Piano Proficiency IV | 1 |
| Conducting | ||
| PRACTM 2510 | Conducting I | 2 |
| Music History and Literature | ||
| M H L T 2010 | History of Western Music I (MOTR MUSC 103) | 3 |
| M H L T 2020 | History of Western Music II (MOTR MUSC 104) | 3 |
| Choose one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Drumming Cultures of the World (MOTR MUSC 102) | ||
| Musical Journey through Latin America | ||
| Musical Journey through the Far East | ||
| Musical Journey Through Africa | ||
| Recital | ||
| AP MUS 3510 | Senior Recital | 0 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Emphasis Area Requirements
| Theory and Composition | ||
| THRY COM 1200 | Introduction to Music Audio Production | 3 |
| THRY COM 3110 | Analysis of Music from 1900 to Present | 2 |
| THRY COM 3120 | Tonal Counterpoint | 2 |
| THRY COM 3410 | Orchestration | 3 |
| THRY COM 3420 | Choral Arranging | 2 |
| THRY COM 3130 | Advanced Analytical Techniques | 2 |
| or THRY COM 3140 | Readings in Music Theory | |
| Music History and Literature | ||
| M H L T 2030 | Special Topics in Musicology (taken twice) | 6 |
| Practicum | ||
| PRACTM 3521 | Conducting II - Instrumental | 2 |
| or PRACTM 3522 | Conducting II - Choral | |
| PRACTM 4100 | Senior Project in Theory/Composition | 2-4 |
| Applied Music (AP MUS) 1 | ||
| Must enroll in lessons in your primary performance area every semester in progress toward degree with a minimum of 8 credit hours of applied music, 4 credit hours of which must be AP MUS 3440-AP MUS 3459 level | 8 | |
| AP MUS 3310 | Music Composition (five semesters) | 5 |
| Ensemble (EN PER) | ||
| Must be enrolled every semester in progress toward degree with a minimum of 4 credit hours | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 41-43 | |
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Students in Applied Music must pass a junior-standing advancement jury to confirm their level of performance skills for enrollment in AP MUS 3440 -AP MUS 3459.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, graduates will:
- Demonstrate the technical skills requisite for artistic self-expression (Performance)
- Analyze the common elements and organizational patters of music and their interaction (Musicianship Skills and Analysis)
- Create original and derivative music (Composition/Improvisation)
- Differentiate between music from different eras based on its musical and historical contexts (History and Repertory)
- Demonstrate ability to combine capabilities in performance; aural, verbal, and visual analysis; composition/improvisation; and history and repertory (Synthesis)
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| INTDSC 10031 | 1 | ENGL 1100 | 3 |
| THRY COM 1300 | 1 | PRACTM 1150 | 1 |
| THRY COM 1301 | 3 | THRY COM 1311 | 3 |
| THRY COM 1302 | 2 | THRY COM 1312 | 2 |
| PRACTM 1140 | 1 | AP MUS 14XX | 1 |
| AP MUS 14XX | 1 | EN PER XXXX | 1 |
| EX PER XXXX | 1 | EXPLORE - Social Sciences | 3 |
| CORE - US History and Government | 3 | ||
| CORE - Mathematics Proficiency | 3 | ||
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| THRY COM 2301 | 3 | AP MUS 3310 | 1 |
| THRY COM 2302 | 2 | THRY COM 2311 | 3 |
| M H L T 2010 | 3 | THRY COM 2312 | 2 |
| PRACTM 2160 | 1 | PRACTM 2160 | 1 |
| AP MUS 14XX | 1 | PRACTM 2510 | 2 |
| EN PER XXXX | 1 | AP MUS 14XX | 1 |
| CORE - Communication Proficiency | 3 | EN PER XXXX | 1 |
| EXPLORE - Social Sciences | 3 | CORE - Information Literacy | 3 |
| Elective | 2 | ||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| AP MUS 3310 | 1 | AP MUS 3310 | 1 |
| ENGL 3100 | 3 | M H L T 1150, 1160, 1170, or 1180 | 3 |
| M H L T 2030 | 3 | THRY COM 3110 | 2 |
| PRACTM 3521 or 3522 | 2 | PRACTM 3280 | 1 |
| THRY COM 3410 | 3 | AP MUS 34XX | 1 |
| AP MUS 34XX | 1 | EN PER XXXX | 1 |
| EN PER XXXX | 1 | EXPLORE - Social Sciences | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Mathematics and Life/Sciences | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| AP MUS 3310 | 1 | AP MUS 3510 | 0 |
| M H L T 2030 | 3 | PRACTM 4100 | 3 |
| THRY COM 1200 | 3 | THRY COM 3120 | 2 |
| THRY COM 3130 or 3140 | 2 | THRY COM 3420 | 2 |
| EN PER XXXX | 1 | AP MUS 34XX | 1 |
| AP MUS 34XX | 1 | EN PER XXXX | 1 |
| EXPLORE - Mathematics and Life/Natural Sciences | 3 | Elective or minor | 2 |
| EXPLORE - Mathematics and Life/Natural Sciences | 3 | ||
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours: 120 | |||
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INTDSC 1003 is required only for first-time freshmen and transfer students with less than 24 college credits.
PLEASE NOTE: This plan is an example of what a four year plan could look like for a typical student. Placement exam scores in math as well as the completion of coursework may change the plan. It should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor each semester. All requirements are subject to change.