Music BM, Music Theory 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. 

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;
• Students may 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:

Course Number	Title	Hours
Music Theory
THRY COM 1301	Theory of Music I	3
THRY COM 1302	Aural Training I	3
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
M H L T 1150	Drumming Cultures of the World (MOTR MUSC 102)
M H L T 1160	Musical Journey through Latin America
M H L T 1170	Musical Journey through East Asia
M H L T 1180	Musical Journey Through Africa
Recital
AP MUS 3510	Senior Recital	0
Total Hours		36

Specific Requirements for the Emphasis Area

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will:

• Demonstrate 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 their ability to combine their capabilities in performance; aural, verbal, and visual analysis; composition/improvisation; and history and repertory (Synthesis)
• Demonstrate requisite knowledge, skills, and disposition needed to engage in scholarly dialogue through research and analysis

Sample Four Year Plan

First Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
INTDSC 10031	1	PRACTM 1150	1
THRY COM 1300	1	THRY COM 1311	3
THRY COM 1301	3	THRY COM 1312	2
THRY COM 1302	3	CORE - Communication Proficiency	3
PRACTM 1140	1	CORE - US History and Government	3
ENGL 1100	3	EXPLORE - Social Sciences	3
CORE - Mathematics Proficiency	3	AP MUS 14XX	1
AP MUS 14XX	1	EN PER XXXX	1
EN PER XXXX	1
	17		17
Second Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
THRY COM 2301	3	THRY COM 2311	3
THRY COM 2302	2	THRY COM 2312	2
M H L T 2010	3	M H L T 2020	3
PRACTM 2160	1	PRACTM 2180	1
EXPLORE - Mathematics and Life/Natural Sciences	3	PRACTM 2510	2
AP MUS 14XX	1	CORE - Information Literacy	3
EN PER XXXX	1	AP MUS 14XX	1
		EN PER XXXX	1
	14		16
Third Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
THRY COM 3130	2	M H L T 1150, 1160, 1170, or 1180	3
THRY COM 3410	3	THRY COM 3110	2
M H L T 2030	3	PRACTM 3280	1
PRACTM 3521	2-3	EXPLORE - Social Sciences	3
ENGL 3100	3	EXPLORE Mathematics and Life/Natural Sciences	3
AP MUS 34XX	1	EN PER XXXX	1
EN PER XXXX	1	AP MUS 34XX	1
	15-16		14
Fourth Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
M H L T 2030	3	THRY COM 3120	2
THRY COM 1200	3	AP MUS 3510	0
THRY COM 3140	2	THRY COM 3420	2
EXPLORE - Social Sciences	3	PRACTM 4100	3
EXPLORE - Mathematics and Life/Natural Sciences	3	AP MUS 34XX	1
AP MUS 34XX	1	EN PER XXXX	1
EN PER XXXX	1	Elective or minor	3
	16		12
Total Hours: 121-122

¹

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.