Music

Mission Statement for the Music Program
General Information
Recital Requirements
Recital Attendance Requirements
Upper Level Applied Exam
Major Ensemble

Bachelor of Music with Teacher Certification Degree Requirements
Dolores P. Bolin Distinguished Chair of Piano
Programs and Courses

Susan Harvey, Chair (Fain Fine Arts Center C117F)
Professors: Maxwell, Morrow
Associate Professors: Camacho, Harvey, Justus, Luttrell
Assistant Professors: Allen, Heidebrecht, Hicken
Professors Emeriti: Archambo, Black, Crews, Hough, Schuppener

Mission Statement for the Music Program

The mission of the music program at Midwestern State University is to provide a comprehensive music curriculum and a wide range of performance opportunities that will equip students for a variety of music careers while enabling them also to become well-rounded persons through involvement in diverse liberal arts courses. The music program endeavors to help students develop aesthetic sensibility, cultural awareness, and social responsibility. Not only are students taught to create within their disciplines, they are challenged to evaluate the quality of what they have created. Central to the mission is to empower students to use their talents to enrich and advance society. With this in mind, the program also serves as a catalyst between the university and the community in promoting artistic activities.

The following degree programs are offered for music majors:

Bachelor of Music (Performance)
Bachelor of Music (with Teacher Certification), see Music All-Level, Vocal Emphasis, B.M. with Teacher Certification and Music All-Level, Instrumental Emphasis, B.M. with Teacher Certification .
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Music

The music program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music through its Commission on Accreditation.

General Information

Entering students may be required to take music placement tests. Preparatory study or considerable experience in the field of performance concentration is required of all majors. Advanced standing of transfer students will be determined by placement tests and evaluation of scholastic standing.

All music majors, with the exception of keyboard majors and students pursing the B.A. degree with a major in music, are required to maintain continuous enrollment in piano class or private piano (with approval from the chair of keyboard studies) until keyboard proficiency is passed.

All music majors must participate in at least one major ensemble for credit each semester of enrollment except during the semester of student teaching. (See list of major ensembles under Courses in Music Ensemble below.)

All music majors are required to maintain continuous enrollment in their primary performance area until successfully completing the senior recital.

All music majors are required to make a grade of “C” or better in every music course required for the degree and/or major in music.

Additional information regarding Music Department policies and procedures is available in the Music Department Policy Manual.

Recital Requirements

All candidates for the Bachelor of Music degree must prove satisfactory performance ability by performing publicly in recital. Students taking the performance degree will perform a half recital in the junior year, and a full recital in the senior year. Students with teacher certification will perform a half recital in the senior year.

All music majors, with the exception of keyboard majors, must pass the keyboard proficiency examination prior to the performance of their senior recital.

Before a recital is performed publicly, the student will be required to demonstrate to the faculty in his/her performance area that the program is ready for public performance. The time for this preview will be at least three weeks prior to the public performance date.

Recital Attendance Requirements

Each student will be required to enroll in Recital Attendance (MUSC 1000 ) until eight semesters have been completed (seven semesters for students with teacher certification). This course is required for graduation but will carry no semester-hours credit toward a degree. The number of required semesters of Recital Attendance for transfer students will be determined by the Music Department Chair upon the student’s entrance into the music program.

Grading will be by pass/fail. Attending a specified number of recitals will be required each semester for a passing grade. Failure to attend the requisite number of recitals will result in a failing grade for the semester.

Music performance majors must pass a minimum of eight semesters, and students with teacher certification must pass seven semesters. Students will not be cleared for graduation until these requirements are met.

Upper Level Applied Exam

The Upper Level Applied Exam is a process used by the faculty of the Department of Music to determine if a student is sufficiently prepared to continue study at an advanced level, complete the degree recitals and progress toward graduation. Successful completion of the Upper Level Applied Exam is required before the student will be enrolled in 3000 level applied study.

In order to determine suitability for upper level study, students at the end of the fourth semester of applied study will play an extended jury (double jury) in which he/she demonstrates mastery of the requirements listed for upper level study in the Department of Music Handbook for their category of applied study.
Transfer students with two previous years of applied study will be allowed to register for upper level study with the approval of the applied instructor following an audition at which two faculty from their applied area are present.
At the beginning of the fourth semester of applied study at a time to be arranged by the faculty, students anticipating the upper level applied examination will be interviewed briefly by the faculty as part of the barrier exam process. The interview will be used to inform the student of the requirements of the exam, determine any possible impediments to the student’s taking the exam, and generally assess the student’s progress toward the degree. During this interview, the student may ask questions about the examination or ask the faculty for clarification of any curricular or degree programs.

Major Ensemble

The term “major ensemble” as used in the curricula includes University Symphonic Band, University Wind Ensemble, University Marching Band, or University Orchestra for students concentrating in instrumental music and University Choir for students concentrating in vocal music. Students concentrating in keyboard music or guitar may select from any of the major ensembles mentioned above. Ensembles other than University Symphonic Band, University Wind Ensemble, University Marching Band, University Orchestra, and University Choir are considered secondary, with the exception that students may be enrolled in Oratorio Chorus instead of University Choir as a major ensemble at the sole discretion of the Director of Choral Activities. Guitarists and pianists may take Jazz Band as a major ensemble with approval of the Director of Bands and Orchestra. All full-time music majors must participate in at least one major ensemble for credit each semester of enrollment (minimum of 7 semester credit hours for teacher certification and 8 semester hours for performance).

Bachelor of Music with Teacher Certification Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Music degree with teacher certification focuses on preparing students for careers in music education and certification by the Texas Board of Education (K-12, all area). Academic Foundations, Music requirements, and Professional Education requirements are found Music All-Level, Vocal Emphasis, B.M. with Teacher Certification and Music All-Level, Instrumental Emphasis, B.M. with Teacher Certification .

Dolores P. Bolin Distinguished Chair of Piano

The Dolores P. Bolin Distinguished Chair of Piano was established in 1981 through the generous gift of Mrs. Bolin in memory of her husband, Wichita Falls oil man, D. Houston Bolin. In 2000, a second chair was established through a generous gift from D. Phil and Aurora S. Bolin. These endowments allow Midwestern State University to enhance its high level of pianistic and musical excellence. Past Bolin Chairs were Dr. Peter Armstrong, Julie Bees, and Nancy Boston.

Dr. Ruth Morrow is the current Dolores P. Bolin Distinguished Chair of Piano. She holds degrees from Indiana University (D.M., Piano Performance and Pedagogy), Eastman School of Music (M.M., Piano; M.A., Musicology), and Whitman College (B.A., Music, Philosophy). With a background which spans all musical styles and includes performances throughout the United States and in Europe, Dr. Morrow brings depth, breadth, and enthusiasm to her position.

Programs and Courses

Programs

Major

Minor

Courses

Applied Music

Courses in performance (private lessons) are available for one or two semester hours credit. Performance course numbers have a first digit of 1, 2, 3, or 4 corresponding to the level of study. The final digit corresponds to the number of semester hours in which a student is enrolled. The central digits show the area of performance study (piano, voice, non-major voice, etc.) according to the table below.

Students majoring in performance as candidates for the Bachelor of Music degree may enroll for no more than three semester hours in their primary performance area each semester. Candidates for the Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification, music minors, and non-majors/non-minors may enroll for no more than one semester hour each semester.

Performance Area:			Central Digits for Performance Area
	Voice		20
		Voice for non-majors/non-minors	70
	Keyboard
		Piano	22
		Piano Proficiency (repeat once only-two semesters total)	23
		Organ	24
		Harpsichord	28
		Keyboard for non-majors/non-minors	72
	Percussion		26
	Strings
		Guitar	38
		Strings	39
	Winds
		Flute	40
		Oboe	42
		Clarinet	44
		Saxophone	46
		Bassoon	48
	Brasses
		French Horn	50
		Trumpet (Cornet)	52
		Trombone	54
		Baritone	56
		Tuba	58
		Instrumental for non-majors/non-minors	74
	Conducting		60
	Composition		69
	Junior Recital, Performance		86
	Senior Recital, Performance, Education, or B.A. music majors		96

Voice, piano, or instrumental for non-majors may be taken only with consent of instructor and department chair.

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