Mar 28, 2024  
2023-2024 General Catalog 
    
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Music: Piano Performance and Pedagogy - BM


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Caine College of the Arts

Department of Music

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  • For more information about Piano Performance, see the department website.
  • Following is a sample four-year plan. Please note that student-specific plans may differ.
  • Admitted students must meet with an advisor. Current students should also meet with an advisor and log on to Degree Works  to check student-specific program progress.
  • 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. Music requires a 3.0 GPA in music classes and a 2.75 GPA overall for admission as a transfer student, scholarship eligibility, and to graduate.

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits 120

 

Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)

2.00 GPA
Credits of C or better 100 Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above) 40
Total USU Credits 30 Upper-division USU Credits 20
USU Credits within the Major 10 Credits in Minor (if required) 12
Credits in Major see below Credits in American Institutions 3
General Education Requirements    see link University Studies Depth Requirements    see link

NOTES: The highest math requirement for this degree is the Quantitative Literacy (QL)  of the student’s choice.

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. Music requires a 3.0 GPA in music classes and 2.75 GPA overall for admission as a transfer student, scholarship eligibility, and to graduate. Major requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.

 

Admissions Requirements for this Program

New freshmen

Admitted to USU in Good Standing

MUST PASS ENTRANCE AUDITION ON PRIMARY INSTRUMENT

 

Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU

MUST PASS ENTRANCE AUDITION ON PRIMARY INSTRUMENT

2.75 GPA

First Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

MUSC 1105: Fundamentals for Music Majors (BCA) or Breadth Integrated Studies 3  

Music Core Course

Breadth Creative Arts or Breadth Integrated Studies

MUSC 1110: Music Theory I (BCA)   3  

Music Core Course

Breadth Creative Arts or Breadth Integrated Studies

MUSC 1270: Keyboard Skills I   1   Music Core Course MUSC 1130: Aural Skills I   1   Music Core Course
MUSC 1430: Piano Pedagogy I   3  

Emphasis Course

MUSC 1280: Keyboard Skills II    1  

Music Core Course

MUSC 1485: Individual Pre-Music Piano Instruction  

Emphasis Course

Register for 2 credits.

Must pass with a grade of B- or better.

MUSC 1450: Pedagogy Practicum   1  

Emphasis Course

2 credits minimum

MUSC 2180: Computer Applications in Music Proficiency Exam ** 1  

Music Core Course

MUSC 1440: Piano Pedagogy II    3   Emphasis Course
ENGL 1010: Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose (CL1)   3   Communications Literacy (CL1)   MUSC 1485: Individual Pre-Music Piano Instruction    2

Emphasis Course

Register for 2 credits.

Must pass with a grade of B- or better.

Quantitative Literacy Course 

 
3-5

Math or Statistics

Math Placement

ENGL 2010: Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode (CL2)    3  

Communications Literacy (CL2)

Total 16   Total 14  
Comments

*In order to ensure that music students are sufficiently prepared for the music theory sequence required in all music degrees (education, performance, and therapy), MUSC 1105: Fundamentals for Music Majors (BCA)  was established as a prerequisite for MUSC 1110: Music Theory I (BCA) . As this course is considered remedial work, the 3 credits earned in MUSC 1105  are not required for degree completion, but may need to be made up to achieve the 120-credit minimum for all bachelor’s degrees. All incoming music students will have an opportunity to test out of MUSC 1105 . Because this test is administered in part through Canvas, all incoming pre-program music majors should register for MUSC 1105  regardless of whether they expect to remain in the class. Those who do not pass the test must pass MUSC 1105  with a grade of C or better before taking MUSC 1110 . Those students who pass the test should review whether they need to make up 3 credits, and will resume the music theory sequence with MUSC 1110  the following spring semester.  

**MUSC 2180: Computer Applications in Music Proficiency Exam  consists of a series of three proficiency exams that all music majors must complete prior to the completion of four semesters of study.

 
Comments

Second Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

MUSC 1120: Music Theory II   3   Music Core Course MUSC 2110: Music Theory III   3   Music Core Course
MUSC 1140: Aural Skills II   1   Music Core Course MUSC 2130: Aural Skills III   1   Music Core Course
MUSC 1450: Pedagogy Practicum   1  

Emphasis Course

2 credits minimum

MUSC 4410: Special Topics in Performance and Pedagogy    1

Emphasis Course

Students should register for 1 credit.

MUSC 2270: Keyboard Improvisation   1  

Emphasis Course

MUSC 2920: Sophomore Recital    1

Emphasis Course

Students should register for 1 credit for sophomore recital.

MUSC 3110: Music History I: Antiquity through the Renaissance   3   Music Core Course MUSC 3120: Music History II: The Baroque and Classical Periods    3  

Music Core Course

MUSC 2495: Individual Pre-Barrier Piano Instruction  

Emphasis Course

Register for 2 credits.

Must pass with a grade of B- or better.

MUSC 3450: Individual Piano Instruction for Music Majors    1

Emphasis Course

Register for 1 credit during recital semester.

Must pass with a grade of B- or better.

MUSC 4410: Special Topics in Performance and Pedagogy   1

Emphasis Course

Students should register for 1 credit.

MUSC 3410: Collaborative Piano in Ensemble    1

Emphasis Course

Students should register for 1 credit.

Quantitative Intensive (QI)   3

Depth Course

Click on link for available courses.

Breadth American Institutions (BAI)  or Breadth Humanities (BHU)   3

General Education Breadth Course

      Music Elective 1  
Total 15   Total 15  
Comments
Comments

Students register for 1 credit of Individual Piano Instruction during the semester they prepare for a recital.

Third Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

MUSC 2420: Piano Literature I    3  

Emphasis Course

Offered every other year. Check schedule for actual term offered.

MUSC 1190: World Music    3    

Music Core Course

MUSC 3170: Special Topics in Music Theory * 3  

Music Core Course

Consult with music faculty advisor for details.

*See note below.

MUSC 2430: Piano Literature II    3   

Emphasis Course

Offered every other year. Check schedule for actual term offered.

MUSC 3190: Music History III: Romanticism through the 21st Century (CI)   3  

Music Core Course

Depth Course

Communications Intensive

MUSC 3450: Individual Piano Instruction for Music Majors    2

Emphasis Course

Students should register for 2 credits.

Must pass with a grade of B- or better.

MUSC 3450: Individual Piano Instruction for Music Majors   2

Emphasis Course

Register for 2 credits.

Must pass with a grade of B- or better.

MUSC 3410: Collaborative Piano in Ensemble   

Emphasis Course

Students should register for 1 credit.

MUSC 3410: Collaborative Piano in Ensemble   1  

Emphasis Course

Students should register for 1 credit.

MUSC 4470: Keyboard Skills IV    2    

Emphasis Course

Offered every other year.

MUSC 4460: Keyboard Skills III   2  

Emphasis Course

Offered every other year.

MUSC 4410: Special Topics in Performance and Pedagogy    1

Emphasis Course

Students should register for 1 credit.

MUSC 4410: Special Topics in Performance and Pedagogy   1  

Emphasis Course

Students should register for 1 credit.

Breadth Physical Science (BPS) Course  or Breadth Life Sciences (BLS)   3

General Education Breadth Course

Click on link for available courses. 

Total 15   Total 15  
Comments

*A music theory elective course is offered every fall and spring semester. The music theory elective course may be taken any semester after completing MUSC 2110  with a grade of C or better. Music students should plan which option they wish to take and consult with the music department office regarding which semester that option will be offered.

Comments

 

Fourth Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

MUSC 3450: Individual Piano Instruction for Music Majors  

Emphasis Course

Register for 2 credits.

Must pass with a grade of B- or better.

MUSC 3450: Individual Piano Instruction for Music Majors   1

Emphasis Course

Register for 1 credit during recital semester.

MUSC 3410: Collaborative Piano in Ensemble    1

Emphasis Course

Students should register for 1 credit.

MUSC 4410: Special Topics in Performance and Pedagogy   1

Emphasis Course

Students should register for 1 credit.

MUSC 2440: Piano Literature III    3  

 

Breadth American Institutions (BAI)  or Breadth Humanities (BHU)  
 3

General Education Breadth Course

Click on link for available courses.

MUSC 4410: Special Topics in Performance and Pedagogy  
 
1

Emphasis Course

Students should register for 1 credit.

MUSC 4920: Senior Recital   

2

Emphasis Course

Students should register for 2 credits for senior recital.

Breadth Social Sciences (BSS)   3

General Education Breadth Course

Click on link for available courses. 

Music Elective 1

 

Communications Intensive  (CI) 3

Depth Course

Click on the link for available courses.

Depth Social Sciences (DSS)   3

General Education Depth Course

Click on link for available courses.

Breadth Life Sciences (BLS)  or Breadth Physical Sciences (BPS) 

 
3

General Education Breadth Course

Click on link for available courses. 

Depth Life and Physical Sciences (DSC)   3

Depth Course

Click on link for available courses.

Total 16   Total 14  
Comments
Comments

Students register for 1 credit of individual Piano Instruction during the semester they prepare for a recital.

Piano Performance and Pedagogy Requirements


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. Music requires a 3.0 GPA in music classes and a 2.75 GPA overall for graduation. Major requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.

Music Electives (2 credits)


A total of 2 credits are required from the following:

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.

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