Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Music, BA


Department of Music, College of Fine and Performing Arts

60 Credits

Introduction

The Music BA is a liberal arts degree in music, including a basic core of study in music theory, aural skills, and history, along with private instruction, and ensemble performance. At 60 credits, this program allows a student the flexibility to pursue an additionally major or minor. 

Why Consider a Music Major?

This program is designed for the liberal arts student who may wish to complete minors or an additional major in another field in addition to completing a major in Music. Students in the Music BA program frequently complete studies in many other fields including Theatre, Business, Mathematics, Environmental Studies, English, Computer Science and others. Students considering a double major should meet with both advisors for planning purposes.

 Contact Information

Program Coordinator
Undergraduate Academic Advisor

Lee Anne Frahn
Performing Arts 263
360-650-4091
LeeAnne.Frahn@wwu.edu

Department Chair
Patrick Roulet
Performing Arts 271
360-650-3404
Patrick.Roulet@wwu.edu

 Sample Careers

Applied Instrumental or Voice Instructor | Arts Administration Manager | Music Reporter | Recreation Director | Publicist | Music Promoter | Church Music Director | Music Critic | Professional Musician

 Major/Career Resources

www.wwu.edu/careers/students_choosingamajor.shtml

Admission and Declaration Process:

General WWU vs. Music Admissions: Acceptance to the Music Department does not guarantee admission to the general university. Decisions related to general admissions are completed independently by the University. Students may request and complete a music audition regardless if they have received their admissions decision by the WWU admissions office. 

Admissions/Auditions: All students must successfully complete an Entrance Audition on their primary instrument or voice to begin academic coursework towards all music degree programs. Please visit our website for priority audition dates. Students who audition after these priority dates will be considered on a space available basis. Due to the sequential nature of our curriculum, mid-year applicants are not recommended or guaranteed to be granted an audition. Students electing to begin in a quarter other than Fall should seek advisement through the Program Coordinator before requesting an audition. cfpa.wwu.edu/music/auditions  

Declaration and Advising: All incoming music students will receive advising and curriculum planning with the Program Coordinator during orientation sessions and/or by appointment. Declaration is required to access all academic coursework. Overrides will be entered prior to orientation and/or by appointment to obtain access to all program restricted courses before declarations have been processed. Please see below for more details. 

  • Freshman: Freshman will declare their music major during Fall Advising & Orientation. Students who intend to double major may be placed into another advising session if deemed appropriate by the Program Coordinator. Students intending to double major will be asked to notify the Program Coordinator before Fall Advising & Orientation. These students will receive an email prior to Fall A&O with specific instructions for music registration and declaration.
  • Transfer: Transfer students will declare their music major during Transition Orientation, Transitions, or by appointment with the Program Coordinator. Declaration is required to obtain access to all major restricted courses. Overrides will be entered prior to Transitions, or by appointment to give preliminary access to major restricted courses before major declarations are processed. 
  • Returning Students: Returning students will declare their music major by appointment with the Program Coordinator. Returning students should contact the Program Coordinator prior to registration in order to obtain access to major restricted courses.  

Graduation Timeline: Due to the sequential nature of our core curriculum, we strongly recommend that all students considering a Bachelor of Arts in Music begin our academic sequences Fall quarter of their first or second year. Our Bachelor of Arts degree is structured around a core curriculum that takes approximately three years to complete. Please note, the approximate graduation timeline does not apply to all students, and is dependent on each student’s incoming status, eligibility for placement exams, and academic progress within the department. 

Placement Exams: Placement exams in Music Theory, Aural Skills, and Keyboarding are given only to students who have successfully passed an Entrance Audition on their primary instrument or voice. All auditioned students are eligible for placement exams if they meet the following eligibility requirements. 

Eligibility:

  • Theory and Aural Skills (Ear Training): Students are eligible to complete placement exams if they have successfully completed the AP Theory Exam with a 3 or higher, or have successfully completed college level courses in the corresponding subject at another institution. 
  • Keyboarding (Class Piano): Students are eligible to complete the keyboarding placement exam if they have successfully completed college level class piano courses at another institution. Those that have completed piano lessons will not be eligible to test out of our sequence without the completion of class piano at another institution. These students will instead be placed into an advanced keyboarding sequence.

Scheduling: Placement exams are scheduled each Fall quarter before term begins. Those that are attempting to start a major in Winter and Spring quarter will be given placement exams on an individual basis contingent on faculty and room availability. Students attempting to start the major Winter or Spring quarter should contact our Program Coordinator as soon as possible to determine eligibility and to schedule exams. Study materials are available on request after a successful audition. Contact Program Coordinator for more details.

Placement Exam Advising: Students should be advised that they are not guaranteed to enter at their expected level. Students must complete the entire core sequence of theory, aural skills and keyboarding as a pre-requisite to all upper division core requirements. All credits received in theory, aural skills, and keyboard skills previously at other institutions will be transferred at the level for which it was earned, and may apply toward fulfillment of elective requirements for the major in music or in music education. Students may be required to repeat theory and/or aural skills/keyboarding skills courses previously taken at another institution.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for all courses in the Music Major and Minor. A minimum GPA of 2.5 in music courses is required for graduation with a degree in music.

Requirements


Music Non-Course Requirements


Concert Attendance: Attendance of at least 5 pre-approved concerts every quarter until all degree requirements are fulfilled. Approved music department events only, including mainstage operas, and performances in PAC 16. Students must bring their Western ID card to check in and out to receive credit. Those without a Western ID card will not receive credit.

Keyboarding Proficiency Exam: All Music Majors must successfully complete the Keyboarding Proficiency Exam (KPE) as partial fulfillment of the degree program. The exam is administered at the conclusion of the two-year keyboarding sequence. (MUS 121B-221B) Students placed into the advanced keyboarding section will complete the exam after the first year of keyboarding courses. (MUS 121B-125B)

Music Core Sequences


The music core sequence is comprised of courses in aural skills, keyboarding skills, theoretical and analytical skills, and music history that progress in a three-year sequence. Core music sequences begin Fall quarter and will not repeat until the next academic year. In the first two years, students must concurrently enroll in one course each of aural skills, keyboarding skills, and theoretical and analytical skills each quarter. If a student does not meet the university prerequisite grade requirement of a C- or higher, they may continue to enroll in the other core sequence courses they have successfully passed. Students who are eligible for placement exams will enroll in core sequences under the advisement of the music advisor. Students will be placed into a beginning, intermediate, or advanced section of keyboarding skills according to their piano experience. Those with significant piano experience and piano major/minors will be placed into the advanced keyboarding section, and will not be required to complete the second year keyboarding skills sequence along with remaining core music courses (MUS 221B, MUS 223B, MUS 225B). Students may enroll in the Music History sequence (MUS 341, MUS 342, MUS 343) after successfully completing all theoretical and analytical skills courses (MUS 122-226) with a C- or higher. Please see our example PDF for course planning.

Upper Division and Electives


In addition to the core requirements, BA students must complete the following courses as partial fulfillment of the degree program. Students may enroll in any upper-division theory (MUS 332, MUS 324A, MUS 324B, MUS 326, MUS 334, MUS 335, MUS 336, MUS 422) after successfully completing the core theory courses (MUS 122-226). Students may enroll in upper-division history (MUS 442) after successfully completing core music history courses (MUS 341, MUS 342, MUS 343). Students should note that MUS 231, MUS 331, and MUS 431 may only be taken with permission of the composition faculty.

Primary Instrument Requirements


Brass


Brass  students must enroll in applied lessons and a major ensemble each quarter until the minimum requirements have been met. Students may continue to take applied lessons and major ensemble with the permission of the applied instructor and area coordinator. Students who continue to enroll in applied lessons must concurrently enroll in a major ensemble regardless if they reached the minimum requirement.

Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)


Brass students will register for applied lessons on their primary instrument. Instrument sections are indicated F-J. 

Major Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)


Students must attend ensemble auditions each year to be placed into the appropriate Major Ensemble.

Guitar


Guitar students must enroll in applied lessons, major ensemble, and guitar ensemble according to the following schedule until all degree requirements are fulfilled.

Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)


Major Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)


Guitar students enroll in an instrumental or choral major ensemble each fall quarter, followed by enrollment in Guitar Ensemble, MUS 282, winter, and spring quarter.

Major Ensemble Courses (minimum of 4 credits)

Students must attend ensemble auditions each year to be placed into the appropriate Major Ensemble. Students who do not audition into an ensemble must enroll in MUS 271, University Tenor/Bass or University Treble Choir. Guitar students may continue to enroll in a major ensemble alongside Guitar Ensemble winter and spring quarter.

Guitar Ensemble (minimum of 8 credits)

Percussion


Percussion students must enroll in applied lessons and a major ensemble each quarter until the minimum requirements have been met. Students may continue to take applied lessons and major ensemble with the permission of the applied instructor and area coordinator. Students who continue to enroll in applied lessons must concurrently enroll in a major ensemble regardless if they reached the minimum requirement.

Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)


Major Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)


Students must attend ensemble auditions each year to be placed into the appropriate Major Ensemble.

Piano


Piano students must enroll in applied lessons, major ensemble, and piano accompanying according to the following schedule until all degree requirements are fulfilled. Pianists will take three consecutive quarters of an instrumental or choral major ensemble, followed by remaining quarters enrolled in MUS 276 and/or MUS 476 (piano accompanying) until all degree requirements are fulfilled.

Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)


Major Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)


Strings


String students must enroll in applied lessons and a major ensemble each quarter until the minimum requirements have been met. Students may continue to take applied lessons and major ensemble with the permission of the applied instructor and area coordinator. Students who continue to enroll in applied lessons must concurrently enroll in a major ensemble regardless if they reached the minimum requirement.

Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)


Strings students will register for applied lessons on their primary instrument. Instrument sections are indicated A-E. 

Major Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)


Students must attend ensemble auditions each year to be placed into the appropriate Major Ensemble.

Voice


Voice students must enroll in applied lessons and a major ensemble each quarter until the minimum requirements have been met. Students may continue to take applied lessons and major ensemble with the permission of the applied instructor and area coordinator. Students who continue to enroll in applied lessons must concurrently enroll in a major ensemble regardless if they reached the minimum requirement.

Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)


Major Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)


Students must attend ensemble auditions each year to be placed into the appropriate Major Ensemble.

Woodwinds


Woodwind students must enroll in applied lessons and a major ensemble each quarter until the minimum requirements have been met. Students may continue to take applied lessons and major ensemble with the permission of the applied instructor and area coordinator. Students who continue to enroll in applied lessons must concurrently enroll in a major ensemble regardless if they reached the minimum requirement.

Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)


Woodwind students will register for applied lessons on their primary instrument. Instrument sections are indicated A-E.

Major Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)


Students must attend ensemble auditions each year to be placed into the appropriate Major Ensemble.