Degree Programs

The degree plans offered by the Department of Music are designed to prepare graduates for a diversity of placement opportunities. Our primary goal is to prepare the Music Major for success as a teacher and/or a performer. Working in tandem with our outstanding Teacher Education Department, you as a Southeastern graduate will be superbly trained with the tools to be a leader in whatever field you choose.

Graduates of our Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) program are becoming the most sought after in the state for the wide-open and increasingly lucrative teaching field. You have the option of entering the rewarding teaching profession as a band director, orchestra director, choral music director, or elementary music specialist.

You also have the opportunity to earn the Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree with an emphasis in performance. This degree is a reflection of the highest level of performance ability which will be recognized by graduate schools and professional organizations.

We also offer the Bachelor of Arts in Music (B.A.) which is a multi-discipline degree program intended to prepare you for one of a variety of positions in the music industry, such as: radio-television, musical theatre, retail merchandising, concert management, publishing, editing, etc….

Besides placement in public schools, some graduates go directly into graduate study, open private teaching studios, become ministers of music and educational directors for churches, enter the college teaching profession or engage in a private aspect of the music business.

With a variety of degree plans and options, the education you will receive at Southeastern will be second to none!

Curriculum

Completion of a degree in music normally requires a minimum of four school years. Subjects studied will include class lessons in performance, private study in a primary instrument or in voice, music literature and history, theory of music, conducting and participation in various ensembles. Sixty-nine (69) semester credit hours must be earned in general education courses. Students seeking teacher certification must also complete a block of courses in psychology, methods and media of teaching, and student teaching.

General Education Requirements, elective options, course numbers and descriptions, as well as Music Degree Outlines and descriptions of Music Courses offered can be viewed on or accessed from the Academic Information web site. Details are also available in the University’s Academic Catalog.

Advisement

Music majors will be assigned an advisor to aid them in enrollment procedures throughout their course of study. It is the student’s responsibility to see their advisor regularly to update their progress.

Recitals and Concerts

An essential part of a music education is becoming familiar with the vast repertoire of musical literature. Music majors are encouraged to be in attendance at all musical programs offered by the Department of Music. These include student recitals, faculty recitals, Musical Arts Series concerts, choral concerts, band concerts, senior recitals, small ensemble programs and Opera Workshop.

Student Recital

Music majors are required to appear in a public or student recital at least once per semester following the first semester of applied study. The Student Recital (MUS 1400) is held on Friday afternoons at 12:00 in the Recital Hall. This is a forum in which students can improve their own performance techniques and study other students’ performances in a semi-formal atmosphere. These performances are audio taped and video taped for the purpose of study by the performers and their teachers.

Music 1400 Attendance Policy

All Music majors are required to enroll in MUS 1400 each semester they are in residence, except for the semester they student teach. This is a pass/fail recital attendance course for no credit. Failure to pass this course each semester will result in an increase in residence requirements for graduation.

At the beginning of each semester a list of recital and concert dates will be published and made available to each student. Attendance is monitored by a process of the students signing tickets (blue slips) for each performance.

Attendance requirements are as follows:

  1. Students are required to attend 14 concert performances each semester
  2. Of those 14 concerts, a minimum of 4 must be Musical Arts Series concerts. If there are fewer than 4 MAS concerts in a given semester, the number of MAS concerts presented will be the required number.
  3. Masterclasses will not count toward the 14 required concerts.

The Musical Arts Series provides Southeastern students and persons in the surrounding community an opportunity to experience world class musicians in a local setting. The series presents several concerts each year by a variety of artists and ensembles of international reputation. The series also offers opportunities for Southeastern students to perform in masterclass settings for these artists.

Applied Music

Private lessons and semi-private classes in performance will be a central activity of the music curriculum. Your level of achievement will depend almost entirely upon the degree of self-discipline you have attained. You will find it necessary to budget your time, set regular practice periods, and utilize such periods as diligently and efficiently as possible.

Skills acquired in applied music, whether as a major, minor, or simply for functional purposes, are assimilated and put to use most effectively in ensemble participation. All students enrolled in applied music are required to participate in one or more appropriate ensembles. Music majors are required to participate in a minimum of two ensembles per semester. Music Education majors are required to complete four semesters of applied study at the 2510 level and three semesters at the 4510 level. Bachelor of Music-Performance majors are required to complete four semesters of applied study at the 2510 level and four semesters at the 4510 level.

Applied Music Assessment

Assessment in applied music is essential to the growth of students as musicians. As your professional success in teaching or performing will hinge greatly on your musical abilities, it is imperative that applied assessment be an integral element of your education. The following outlines this assessment process.

Entry Assessment

  1. Performance Audition—Each music student’s audition into a degree program will be based on an audition concerning the following areas:
    1. Musicianship
    2. Tone quality
    3. Sight reading
    4. Tonal memory
    5. Rhythm
    6. Intonation
    7. Technique
    8. Range

    Note: This usually takes place during March Music Madness, the music department’s scholarship audition day held in early March.

  2. Course Placement Assessments—These assessments are used to place students in the proper theory and piano courses. All entering freshmen must participate in the following:
    1. A written test and interview dealing with music theory and aural skills.
    2. A piano placement test including:
      • major scales, hands together, one octave
      • playing a recently-learned classical piano selection
      • sight-reading a piano piece, both hands together (examples may be found in Piano Literature, Book 1 by James Bastien)

    Note: These take place during the new student orientation days (called Fall Preview) the summer prior to enrolling.

Midpoint Assessment

  1. The Sophomore Proficiency Performance—Each student completing four semesters of applied study will perform a jury, for a committee, which will determine if the student should be allowed to enroll in upper division applied study. The sophomore proficiency performance should be more extensive and last longer than a regular jury. Guidelines for the sophomore proficiency performance are established by each applied area.
  2. A Written and Oral Midpoint Examination—This examination, consisting of separate oral and written sections, should assess the following areas:
    1. Vocabulary—general musical terms and terms specific to their applied area
    2. Literature—the solo and ensemble literature of their applied instrument
    3. Pedagogy—the literature, methods and materials specific to their applied instrument
    4. Practical Knowledge—general knowledge about the instrument which is not covered in any of the above areas.
  3. A Self-Assessment by the Student—This is a written narrative by the student assessing their education and training to this point. Comments should be made directed to the student’s applied lessons, classroom education, their strengths and weaknesses, and any other subject the student feels necessary to assess. This document will go into a permanent file and be reviewed by a committee designated for the midpoint interview.
  4. Midpoint Interview—This interview will be with the department chairperson, the applied instructor and the major ensemble director of the student. The interview will be directed toward various subjects involving the student’s education and training to this point, including effort on the part of the student, concerns the student may have on various subjects, general musical information, etc. The committee will use the student’s self-assessment as a guideline for what subjects to address.

NOTE: The sophomore proficiency performance and the remainder of the midpoint assessment should all take place and be passed in the same semester. Failure to pass any part of the assessment will result in additional semesters of lower division applied lessons.

Exit Assessment

  1. Recital/Senior Project—Music Education & Sacred Music Majors may choose option A or B:
    1. The Senior Recital—This recital is either a full or half recital following the guidelines set forth by the music department. A half recital is to consist of a minimum of 30 minutes of music and a full recital a minimum of 45 minutes of music. A hearing for the senior recital, performed for an applied committee designated by the applied instructor, must take place a minimum of two weeks prior to the recital date. The committee will have the option of allowing the student to perform all, part, or none of the senior recital. If the committee does not feel the student is prepared to perform all or part of the recital, an alternate date will be chosen and the hearing will again take place two weeks prior to that date.
    2. The Senior Project—The senior project is reserved for students in the music education and sacred music degree programs. Students who have not attained the performance skills necessary to successfully complete a public recital, or students who’s degree goals may be better enhanced through the completion of a project may choose this option. Guidelines for the project option are as follows:
      1. The student and applied instructor will make the decision to present a recital or pursue the senior project option. If the project is chosen, it is the responsibility of the student and applied instructor to include the department chair throughout the process of determining project goals.
      2. The instructor and student must determine the direction and goals of the senior project. The applied instructor can supervise pedagogical projects that relate directly to the area of study but may seek guidance and assistance from other faculty members specializing in areas outside the scope of the applied teacher. The student is responsible for securing the appropriate materials necessary for completion of the project.
      3. The instructor and student must determine by the end of the junior year (or the semester prior to the final year), which option is chosen.
      4. The project must be presented in a public setting, and included in the MUS 1400 list of performances. Students should enroll in their normal applied lesson course number during the semester the senior project is presented. Applied lesson time should be utilized for senior project activities, including meetings or consultations with outside advisors/committee members.
  2. An Exit Oral and Written Examination—This consists of the same topics as the midpoint exam, but will be more extensive in its scope subject matter.
  3. An Exit Self-Assessment by the Student—This is also similar to the midpoint self-assessment.
  4. An Exit Interview—The same committee which held the mid-point interview will interview the student upon the completion of requirements for the degree of choice. The topics of this interview are more focused on the students ability to make a positive contribution to the chosen musical field. Hence, it should take place after student teaching has been completed in the Music Education degree.

Jury Examinations

At the completion of each semester of applied study, music majors are required to perform a jury for a committee of applied instructors in that area of study. The jury requirements are published for each applied area and can be obtained from the instructors in each area. The jury can impact the semester grade by one letter (up or down). Juries are scheduled the week prior to finals each semester.

Non-majors and students enrolled for functional purposes may be exempt from jury examinations only at the discretion of the applied music teacher.

Music Degree Outlines


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