Music: Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Performance - BM

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Caine College of the Arts

Department of Music

About This Degree

The bachelor of music degree is offered through USU’s Music Department, which fosters a small, close-knit environment and provides students with the opportunity to receive private instruction, where they work one-on-one with professors to improve their performance skills. All music majors must pass an audition to be admitted, making the program competitive and challenging which produces the highest quality musicians and music teachers. Students can also take advantage of scholarship funding exclusive to the Music Department.

There are many performance opportunities available for students, including concerts, operas, recitals, and numerous music ensembles. Students benefit from performances and master classes, which are small workshops in a private classroom setting given by visiting professional musicians from around the world.

Music Performance Emphasis: This emphasis prepares students for careers in music performance. Students can focus on piano, string instruments, voice, wind/brass/percussion, guitar or organ. Students should check with the department for more information on the options available.

For more information about Wind/Brass/Percussion Performance, see the department website.
Admitted and current students must meet with an advisor.
Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
The highest math requirement for this degree is the Quantitative Literacy (QL) of the student’s choice.

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits: 120
Credits of C- or better: 100
Total credits taken through USU: 30
Total major required credits taken at USU: 10
Minimum Grade Point Average (many majors require a higher GPA): 2.0 GPA
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above): 40
Upper-division credits taken at USU: 20
General Education Requirements
University Studies Requirements
Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements For This Program

New freshmen must be admitted to USU in Good Standing.
Music requires a 2.75 GPA overall for admission as a transfer student, for scholarship eligibility, and to graduate.
Students must complete an entrance exam on primary instrument.

Major Requirements

All individual instruction courses must be passed with a grade of B- or better. All other music courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. Students need 16-21 credits minimum to graduate, of which at least 6 must be upper division (3000 level) of Individual Instruction courses. Students in this program must complete a jury or recital hearing, take private instruction, and participate in at least one large ensemble each semester they are in residence.

BM Performance Music Core Curriculum (36 credits)

A grade of C or better is required in all Music Performance courses.

MUSC 1105 - Fundamentals for Music Majors (BCA) 3 credit(s)
MUSC 1110 - Music Theory I (BCA) 3 credit(s)
MUSC 1120 - Music Theory II 3 credit(s)
MUSC 1130 - Aural Skills I 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1140 - Aural Skills II 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1170 - Keyboard Harmony I 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1180 - Keyboard Harmony II 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1190 - World Music 3 credit(s)
MUSC 2110 - Music Theory III 3 credit(s)
MUSC 2130 - Aural Skills III 1 credit(s)
MUSC 2180 - Computer Applications in Music Proficiency Exam 1 credit(s)
MUSC 3110 - Music History I: Antiquity through the Renaissance 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3120 - Music History II: The Baroque and Classical Periods 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3170 - Special Topics in Music Theory 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3190 - Music History III: Romanticism through the 21st Century (CI) 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3920 - Junior Recital 1-2 credit(s) (1 credit; 30-minute recital)
MUSC 4920 - Senior Recital 1-2 credit(s) (2 credits; 60-minute recital)

Wind/Brass/Percussion Performance Emphasis Courses

All individual instruction courses on major instrument must be passed with a grade of B- or better. All other music concentration courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. Major requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Music requires a 3.0 GPA in music classes and a 2.75 GPA overall for graduation.

MUSC 1/2/3XXX Individual Instruction for Music Majors on major instrument (Students need 8 semesters of study for 16-21 credits to graduate, of which at least 3 semesters must be upper division-3000 level.)

See Individual Instruction Course options below.
- Flute
- Oboe
- Clarinet
- Bassoon
- Saxophone
- Trumpet
- French Horn
- Trombone
- Tuba/Euphonium
- Percussion
8 credits minimum of large ensemble - any combination of these 3 courses satisfies requirements:
MUSC 3500 - Symphony Orchestra (DHA) 1 credit(s) or
MUSC 3790 - Symphonic Band (DHA) 1 credit(s) or
MUSC 4700 - Wind Orchestra (DHA) 1 credit(s)
MUSC 2/3/4XXX Small Ensemble

Select 4 credits from the following courses:
MUSC 2210 - Advanced Conducting Ensemble 1 credit(s)
MUSC 3700 - Woodwind Ensemble 1-2 credit(s)
MUSC 3760 - Jazz Ensemble 1 credit(s)
MUSC 3770 - Jazz Orchestra 1 credit(s)
MUSC 3780 - Flute Ensemble 1 credit(s)
MUSC 3800 - Trombone Ensemble 1 credit(s)
MUSC 3850 - Brass Ensemble 1 credit(s)
MUSC 3870 - Percussion Ensemble 1 credit(s)
MUSC 4710 - Jazz Combo 1-2 credit(s)
MUSC 4720 - Saxophone Quartet 1-2 credit(s)
Additional Required Courses:
MUSC 2350 - Conducting 2 credit(s)
MUSC 3900 - Improvisation I 2 credit(s) or both
MUSC 3910 - Individual Composition Instruction 1-2 credit(s) and
MUSC 3915 - Composition Seminar 1 credit(s)
MUSC 4730 - Directed Project in Instrumental Pedagogy and Literature (CI) 3 credit(s)
(Will only be offered when there are students on that instrument who need it to graduate; students should take it as early in their degree plan as possible.)
Music Electives: 9-13 credits from the options listed below (to be taken in consultation with faculty mentor)

Recommended Music Electives:
MUSC 3020 - History of Jazz (DHA) 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3180 - Orchestration 2 credit(s) (2 credits; offered spring only)
MUSC 3785 - Marching Band (DHA) 1 credit(s) (1 credit; offered fall only)
MUSC 3905 - Improvisation II 2 credit(s) (2 credits; offered fall only)
MUSC 4240 - Advanced Conducting 2 credit(s) (2 credits; offered fall only)
MUSC 4915 - Careers in Music 3 credit(s)
All other large and small ensembles (1 credit each)
Any/all recording technology courses (2-3 credits each)
Secondary applied lessons or individual composition instruction (1 credit)
Independent study (1-6 credits; must be with a music faculty member)

Recital and Concert Attendance Requirement

To graduate, students are required to attend a minimum of 80 concerts or recitals. Recital and concert attendance is monitored and recorded in the Music Student Services office. Students should turn in programs after attending concerts and recitals for documentation of attendance.

Individual Pre-Music Wind/Percussion Instruction

Students need 16-21 credits minimum to graduate, of which at least 6 must be upper division (3000 level).

MUSC 1705 - Individual Pre-Music Flute Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1715 - Individual Pre-Music Oboe Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1725 - Individual Pre-Music Clarinet Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1735 - Individual Pre-Music Bassoon Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1745 - Individual Pre-Music Saxophone Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1815 - Individual Pre-Music Trumpet Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1825 - Individual Pre-Music Trombone Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1835 - Individual Pre-Music French Horn Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1845 - Individual Pre-Music Tuba/Euphonium Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1855 - Individual Pre-Music Percussion Instruction 1-3 credit(s)

Individual Pre-Barrier Wind/Brass/Percussion Instruction

Students need 16-21 credits minimum to graduate, of which at least 6 must be upper division (3000 level).

MUSC 2755 - Individual Pre-Barrier Flute Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2765 - Individual Pre-Barrier Oboe Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2775 - Individual Pre-Barrier Clarinet instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2785 - Individual Pre-Barrier Bassoon Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2795 - Individual Pre-Barrier Saxophone Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2855 - Individual Pre-Barrier Trumpet Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2865 - Individual Pre-Barrier Trombone Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2875 - Individual Pre-Barrier French Horn Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2885 - Individual Pre-Barrier Tuba/Euph Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2895 - Individual Pre-Barrier Percussion Instruction 1-3 credit(s)

Individual Wind/Brass/Percussion Instruction

Students need 16-21 credits minimum to graduate, of which at least 6 must be upper division (3000 level).

MUSC 3710 - Individual Flute Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3720 - Individual Oboe Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3730 - Individual Clarinet Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3740 - Individual Bassoon Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3750 - Individual Saxophone Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3810 - Individual Trumpet Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3820 - Individual Trombone Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3830 - Individual French Horn Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3840 - Individual Tuba/Euphonium Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3860 - Individual Percussion Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)

Open Electives

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 120

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