Music Placement Examinations

Placement examinations in music theory, piano, and applied music on the principal instrument or voice are given during registration week of the fall and spring semesters to all entering students intending to declare a major in Music. The Music Theory Placement Examination is administered to determine the student’s level of entry in the music theory sequence (MUS 101 Basic Music Theory or MUS 112 Music Theory I). The Piano Placement Examination is administered to determine the student’s level of entry in piano studies (MUC 110 Class Piano I,  MUC 111 Class Piano II,  MUC 210 Class Piano III or MUC 211 Class Piano IV;  MUA 121 Minor Applied I,  MUA 122 Minor Applied II,  MUA 221 Minor Applied III, or MUA 222 Minor Applied IV; or MUE 310 Keyboard Skill I as applicable). Applied music placements are facilitated by the music faculty to determine the student’s level of entry into the major or minor sequence of applied studies.

Applied Music Jury Examinations

All major applied students are required to perform a jury examination each semester of study. However, a student must have successfully completed at least 70-percent of repertoire assigned by the applied instructor during the semester to be eligible to perform the jury. If the student does not perform a jury, or is ineligible to perform a jury, then the applied music course is failed. In order for an absence from a scheduled applied music jury to be excused, a student must submit an official excuse from the Office of Student Affairs at least one day prior to the jury, or if there are serious mitigating circumstances, no later than the end of the Final Examination Week. If the absence is excused, then the student may receive an incomplete grade (I) in accordance with University academic policy. If the absence is unexcused, then the jury is failed, resulting in failure of the course.

Sophomore Applied Music Proficiency Examination

The Sophomore Applied Music Proficiency Examination is the MUA 262 Major Applied IV/Lab or MUA 282 Perform. Major Applied IV/Lab jury heard by a quorum of applied music faculty to determine the student’s mastery of performance skills that are prerequisite to matriculation through 300-and 400-level applied music courses. Based on the outcome of the jury examination (pass/fail) the music faculty will advise the student to continue in their music degree program or elect another degree program in the University.

Removal from Major

Students may be removed from the Bachelor of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Music degree programs if they have not successfully completed (passed) the Sophomore Applied Music Proficiency Examination on their major instrument or voice within two successive semesters. A student who fails the examination on the first attempt will be allowed a second attempt in the following semester. A student who fails the examination on the second attempt will be removed from the major and will be returned to undeclared status.

Piano Proficiency Examination

The Piano Proficiency Examination is administered to determine achievement of required keyboard skills competencies. For Music Education majors, a passing score on the examination must be achieved to successfully complete MUE 311 Keyboard Skills II. For Music Performance majors, a passing score on the examination must be achieved to successfully complete MUA 222 Minor Applied IV (piano).

Major Areas of Performance

Each music major is required to designate a principal performance area of major applied study and must enroll in the corresponding course sequence until performance requirements, capstone requirements, or recital requirements are completed. Changes in the principal performance area must be approved by a quorum of the music faculty. If the change in the principal performance area is approved by the music faculty, the student is required to begin major applied in the new principal performance area at a level to be determined by music faculty.

Required Recital Performances

All music majors enrolled in the Bachelor of Music degree program must perform a junior and/or senior recital on their major instrument or voice to demonstrate knowledge of applicable solo performance literature and competency in its preparation. Students enrolled in the music education program must perform a recital of 30 minutes of music (Senior Recital) during the semester of enrollment in MUA 461 Major Applied VII/Lab. Students enrolled in the music performance program must perform a recital of 30 minutes of music during the semester of enrollment in MUA 382 Perform. Major Applied VI/Lab (Junior Recital), and a recital of 45 minutes of music during the semester of enrollment in MUA 482 Perform. Major Applied VIII/L (Senior Recital). Students enrolled in the general music, Industry and Production¹, and Jazz and World Music¹ tracks must perform a recital of 30 minutes or present a Capstone Project during the semester enrolled in MUA 462 Major AppliedVIII/Lab or MUI 499 Senior Project in Music Prod. All recitals must be heard and approved by a quorum of the music faculty no later than three weeks prior to the scheduled performance. No recitals may be presented after the last official day of classes or during the week of final examinations of the applicable semester.

Courses