Music Major, BA

Music Major Goals

The goals of the music major are to:

• Help students understand and appreciate the theoretical and philosophical nature of music, its meaning and contribution to the individual and society in contemporary and past cultures.
• Offer a program that includes diverse and liberal studies in music.
• Prepare individuals for careers in the music and allied fields.
• Provide adequate preparation for the pursuit of graduate work in music.
• Develop sound musicianship and performance skills through studies in applied music, theory, and music literature.
• Contribute to the enrichment of music life of Winston-Salem State University and the community.

Student Learning Outcomes - BA in Music

Upon successful completion of the program, students will have the following:

• Knowledge of music cultural heritage and history
• Appreciation for musical creativity, reasoning, and the aesthetic value of music
• The ability to communicate ideas musically, verbally, and in writing
• Knowledge of organization and structures of music
• Analytical skills necessary for listening, performing, and teaching
• Skills necessary to perform music from a variety of periods, styles, and genres
• Awareness of diversity of musical ideas throughout the world’s culture

Student Learning Outcomes – BA in Music-Music Education Licensure

Upon successful completion of the program, students will have the following:

• Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills critical to the music profession
• Utilize and create multimedia and relevant technology for music education
• Demonstrate musicianship and proficiency in a major performance area as soloist and ensemble member
• Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and appreciation of music and related philosophies from past and present cultures
• Demonstrate a standards-based music education program that meets the needs and interests of learners in grades K-12, including exceptional learners
• Demonstrate a variety of teaching and evaluation methods, techniques, and strategies for application in music education
• Demonstrate knowledge of music literature and repertoire to maintain a high level of interest and involvement of students
• Demonstrate proficiency in behavioral management skills that promote self-discipline, a positive learning climate, and self-concept that are conducive to successful musicianship and teaching

Student Learning Outcomes – BA in Music-Concentration in Music Business

Upon successful completion of the program, students will have the following:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the basic framework and functions of different areas of the Music Industry
• Demonstrate proficiency in recording studio techniques including signal flow, microphone types and placement, effects and dynamic processing, and audio editing and mixing
• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of a particular area of interest in the industry selected in consultation with the area coordinator, student advisor and the student that culminates in the completion of a Senior Project that is assessed by a faculty committee with a rubric. Areas of interest may include concert promotion, record production, development of a business plan relevant to the music industry, or another approved topic that demonstrates an advanced understanding of an area of the industry

Major Requirements

Students must be proficient in a major performance medium (voice, wind/percussion instrument, organ or piano). All majors must take piano and be able to demonstrate acceptable levels of proficiency.

Specialized Admission Requirements for the Major

Students who plan to major in music must meet the following requirements:

• Demonstrate performance proficiency in an applied area (voice, piano, flute, etc.) by auditioning on campus or by video tape recording should distance prohibit a campus audition.
• Take a music theory skill assessment examination.
• Take a keyboard skill assessment examination.
• Complete a personal interview with music faculty.

Note: After being accepted, music majors failing to enroll in courses within the department for a year or longer will be required to re-audition for readmission into the department. 

Minimum Grade Requirement

Music majors must earn a minimum grade of “C” in each required course in their respective content areas.

Graduation

To be a candidate for graduation, a student must pass all exit criteria, including the Music Proficiency Examination, all components of the sophomore screening process, and a recital and/or an extended research project. In addition, teacher education candidates must successfully pass the student teaching phase of their preparation. This is done with the cooperation of the applied music instructor(s) and the major advisor and with the approval of the music faculty. Guidelines for all criteria are available within the department.

Student Organizations

The WSSU chapter of the Collegiate National Association for Music Education operates within the music education area and is organized and governed by students with the assistance of the chapter advisor(s). All music education majors are eligible and encouraged to join this organization. Additional Greek music organizations include Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority, and Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity.

Sound University Music Group (SUMG) is a campus-based music organization with an interdisciplinary focus allowing students opportunities to gain knowledge of real world working environments via internships. Its mission is to expose students to industry situations in the areas of recording, marketing, management and finance/accounting to build experience and proficiency in preparation for entrance into the music industry.

Seminars, Master Classes, Recitals

All music majors are required to attend faculty, student, and visiting artist recitals, and master classes sponsored by the Lyceum Concert Series held at the university. Students are required to participate as performers on regularly scheduled student recitals/seminars. In addition, the university encourages and supports student attendance at musical events in the Winston-Salem community including the Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra and the Piedmont Opera series.

Participation in Performance Groups

All music majors are encouraged to participate each semester in the music organization(s) representing their area(s) of performance concentration. Qualified students may elect to participate in more than one ensemble.

Music Major Courses

Foundation Courses  (10 semester hours)

Course Number	Course Title	Credit Hours
MUS 2111	Piano Class I for Music Majors	1 hr
MUS 2112	Piano Class II for Music Majors	1 hr
MUS 2113	Piano Class III for Music Majors	1 hr
MUS 2114	Piano Class IV for Music Majors	1 hr
MUS 3301	Music Theory I	3 hrs
MUS 3303	Music Theory II	3 hrs
Total		10 hrs

 

Breadth Courses (20 semester hours required)

Applied Major Lessons (refer to Applied List) 4 hours required
Ensemble Courses (Refer to Ensemble Course List) 4 hours required
Course Number	Course Title	Credit Hours
MUS 3316	Music History I (spring only)	1 hr
MUS 3317	Music History II (fall only)	1 hr
MUS 4315	Music Theory III	3 hrs
MUS 4316	Music Theory IV	3 hrs
Total		20 hrs

 

Depth Courses

  

General Music			Music Business			Music Education Licensure
Choose 28 semester hours from this list of courses below			Choose 21 semester hours from this list of courses below			All courses listed below are required
Course Number	Course Title	Credit Hours	Course Number	Course Title	Credit Hours	Course Number	Course Title	Credit Hours
MUS 2104	Voice Class	1 hr	MUS 2390	Survey of Music Literature	3 hrs	MUS 2104	Voice Class	1 hr
MUS 2130	Strings Class (spring only)	1 hr	MUS 3302	Overview of the Music Business	3 hrs	MUS 2130	Strings Class (spring only)	1 hr
MUS 2140	Woodwind Class (spring only)	1 hr	MUS 3310	Electronic Music	3 hrs	MUS 2140	Woodwind Class (spring only)	1 hr
MUS 2150	Brass Class (fall only)	1 hr	MUS 4228	Commercial Music Arranging	2 hrs	MUS 2150	Brass Class (fall only)	1 hr
MUS 2160	Percussion Class	1 hr	MUS 4230	Artist Management	2 hrs	MUS 2160	Percussion Class	1 hr
MUS 2191	Beginning Jazz Impovisation	1 hr	MUS 4231	Record Label Management (spring only)	2hrs	MUS 2304	Introduction to Music Education	3 hrs
MUS 2304	Introduction to Music Education (fall only)	3 hrs	MUS 4312	Studio Recording Techniques I (fall only)	3 hrs	MUS 3307	Priniciples and Methods in Teaching -Elementary Schools	3 hrs
MUS 2390	Survey of Music Literature * required	3 hrs	MUS 4313	Studio Recording II (spring only)	3 hrs	MUS 3308	Principles and Methods in Teaching - Secondary Schools	3 hrs
MUS 3038	Special Topics	1, 2 or 3 hrs	MUS 4130	Senior Recital/Project	1 hr	MUS 3313	Music for Exceptional Children or Exceptional Children	3 hrs
MUS 3101	Choral Arranging (spring only)	1 hr	MUS 4330	Music Business Internship	3 hrs	SPE 3300
MUS 3211	Music Activities in the Elementary Schools	2 hrs	Choose one of the following electives			MUS 3323	Choral Conducting and Literature or Instrumental Conducting and Literature	3 hrs
MUS 3226	Instrumentation and Orchestration	2 hrs	ECO 2311	Principles of Microeconomics	3 hrs	MUS 3344
MUS 3227	Marching Band Techniques	2 hrs	MGT 2321	Principles of Macroeconomics	3 hrs	MUS 3342	Technology in Musics	3 hrs
MUS 3302	Overview of the Music Business	3 hrs	MKT 2331	Principles of Marketing	3 hrs	MUS 4130	Senior Recital	1 hr
MUS 3305	Survey of Contemporary Popular Music	3 hrs	Total		21 hrs	EDU 3338	Psycholgical Foundations of Education	3 hrs
MUS 3310	Electronic Music (fall only)	3 hrs				EDU 4333	Responsive Pedagogy	3 hrs
MUS 3313	Music for Exceptional Children	3 hrs				EDU 4981	Observation, Student Teaching and Practicum	9 hrs
MUS 3323	Choral Conducting and Literature (fall only)	3 hrs				Total		21 hrs
MUS 3339	Afro-American Music	3 hrs
MUS 3340	Non-Western Music	3 hrs
MUS 3342	Technology in Music	3 hrs
MUS 3344	Instrumental Conducting and Literature (fall only)	3 hrs
MUS 4130	Senior Recital *required	1 hr
MUS 4228	Commercial Music Arranging	2 hrs
MUS 4230	Artist Management	2 hrs
MUS 4231	Record Label Marketing (spring only)	2 hrs
MUS 4312	Studio Recording Techniques I (fall only)	3 hrs
MUS 4313	Studio Recording Techniques II (spring only)	3 hrs
Total		28 hrs

Performance Core

4 Semesters of Ensemble (4 Semester Hours) (offered each semester)

4 Semesters of Applied Major Lessons (4 Semester Hours) (offered each semester)