Mar 29, 2024  
2020-2021 Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Music, BA


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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 additional major or minor. 

 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 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 quarter 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. Declaring a music major or minor 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 Transitions, or by appointment with the program Coordinator. Declarating a music major or minor 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 course equivalency assessments, and academic progress within the department.

Course Equivalency Assessments: We offer three separate assessments to determine equivalency and placement in our two-year core sequence of music theory, aural skills, and keyboarding skills for those who have successfully completed an entrance audition into our program. After assessments are complete the program coordinator will adjust course equivalency on each students’ TER (Transfer Equivalency Report), if required. All other music course equivalency will be determined by the admissions office and will not require an assessment, e.g. music ensembles, applied lessons, survey courses, etc.

  • Eligibility: Transfer students and freshman are eligible for corresponding assessments if they have transferable credits in music theory, aural skills/ear training, and keyboarding skills/class piano. Combined courses with multiple topics will qualify for separate corresponding assessments. Incoming transfer students and freshman who achieved a 3 or higher on the AP Theory Exam are eligible for the music theory and aural skills assessments only. Students without transferable credits in keyboarding will be required to complete all keyboarding courses. Those with extensive piano lesson experience will enroll in an accelerated advanced keyboarding section along with piano majors and minors.
  • Scheduling: Fall quarter assessments in music theory and aural skills will be scheduled online in July each year, keyboarding assessments will be scheduled online in the summer and in person directly before the academic year begins. Further details will be sent individually to students after the fall enrollment confirmation deadline for the university. Students attempting to begin in winter and spring quarters should contact the program coordinator to determine eligibility.
  • Course Equivalency Assessment Advising: Students are encouraged to use study materials from previous institutions or exams to prepare for the assessments. Students will be sent a series of assessment topics but will not be supplied with study materials.  Students should be advised that they are not guaranteed to enter at their expected level and may be required to repeat courses previously taken at another institution. All credits received in music theory, aural skills, and keyboard skills will be transferred as general credit, and will apply towards total graduation requirements, and/or major requirements contingent on assessment results.

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 five 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 course equivalency assessments 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 after the minimum degree requirements have been met.

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 MUS 282 - Guitar Ensemble  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. after the minimum degree requirements have been met.

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)

String


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 after the minimum degree requirements have been met.

Applied Lessons (minimum of 6 credits)

String 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 after the minimum degree requirements have been met.

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 after the minimum degree requirements have been met.

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.

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