Music / 19
Accreditation of Music Degrees
Since 1969, Northwest Missouri State University has been a member of the National Association of Schools of Music. Both the B.M.E. and the B.A. degree are accredited by NASM. This accreditation insures that our programs are of the highest quality and that the curriculum faculty and facilities conform to national standards of excellence.
Statement of Purpose for Music
The Music Program, as part of the Department of Fine & Performing Arts, serves the University in three basic areas: general music education foundation for all students, individual professional preparation for selected fields, and cultural enrichment for both campus and community.
Study in these programs provides majors with the skills needed to become highly successful in their chosen professions. The Music Program is especially committed to excellence in public school music; in addition to an inclusive major in music, comprehensive programs are also available in vocal music education and instrumental music education. These programs provide instruction in private study, music theory/literature and methodology applicable to teaching at the elementary and secondary levels.
Objectives
The music curriculum has been designed to assist all participating students in maximizing their potential. Toward this end, the primary objectives of the undergraduate programs are (1) to further performance ability in at least one musical medium, (2) to provide future teachers with the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to become successful as professional educators in instrumental and/or vocal music, and (3) to provide students with a wide range of educational/musical experiences which will encourage continued personal and professional growth.
Degree Programs in Music
The Bachelor of Arts with a Comprehensive Major in Music is designed to provide the student with a broad liberal arts education, as well as, specialized work in an applied area of voice, keyboard or a particular instrument.
The Bachelor of Arts may be taken as a stand-alone major or with an emphasis in: Audio Production, Business or Wellness. Emphasis areas require specific coursework in that particular field of study.
The Bachelor of Music in Education, Elementary/Secondary Program, with a comprehensive major in either Instrumental Music Education or Vocal Music Education, prepares students to teach instrumental or vocal music at all levels, K-12. These major programs meet all Missouri teacher certification standards in instrumental music K-12 or in vocal music K-12 according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
A Minor in Music is also available to students who major in another academic discipline.
Test-Out Policy for Music
Credit by examination through the program is available for the following courses: MUS 19171 (Beginning Sight Singing and Ear-Training), MUS 19172 (Intermediate Sight Singing and Ear-Training), MUS 19173 (Theory of Music), MUS 19174 (Theory of Music), MUS 19271 (Advanced Sight Singing and Ear-Training I), and MUS 19272 (Advanced Sight Singing and Ear-Training II).
For policies and procedures see the “Departmental Test-Out” section of this catalog. Advanced Placement (AP) credit is available for MUS 19173 (Theory of Music) and MUS 19201 (Enjoyment of Music) with a score of “3” on the appropriate test.
Upper-Level Standing in Applied Study for Music
The Upper-Level Qualifying Examination in applied study may be attempted after a minimum of four semester hours of study (not including dual credit) in the lower level (courses numbered below 300) of applied instruction. If approved for upper-level standing by the appropriate faculty committee, the student must then enroll in upper-level applied study. Transfer students wishing to enroll in applied study at the upper level must meet the same requirements as students who began studies at Northwest. Transfer students will be tested for upper-level standing during the first week of their initial semester.
Program Policies for Music
Applied Jury Exam: All students enrolled in applied music are required to participate in the applied jury exam each semester of applied study except for the semester in which their senior recital is presented. These examinations are administered by the music faculty. The exception to this is enrollment in Secondary Applied Study.
Concert/Recital Attendance: All music majors and minors are required to attend concerts and recitals as specified by the music faculty at the beginning of each fall and spring semester and must enroll in Music Recital Attendance. Non-music majors and minors may be required to attend concerts and/or recitals as directed by course instructors.
Ensemble Participation: Majors in the B.M.E. program are required to satisfactorily participate in Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Concert Band, or University Chorale according to their major applied area (and/or area of added endorsement) each fall and spring semester of full-time enrollment, except for the semester of student teaching. Majors in the B.A. degree and minors are required to satisfactorily participate in either Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Concert Band, or University Chorale according to their major applied area each fall or spring semester of full-time enrollment.
Students may enroll in ensemble courses for activity OR academic credit in order to fulfill this requirement. NOTE: Courses taken for activity credit do not count toward GPA.
Performance Audition: For all levels of applied study, students must have the permission of the instructor and/or faculty within the area of study. If a student has not been heard by the faculty at scholarship auditions, they should perform a simple audition for faculty members before the drop/add period closes to determine acceptance to applied study.
Entrance Examination for Music Theory (Optional):The purpose of an entrance exam for music theory is to support students who come to Northwest with prior music theory knowledge but no prior college credits in music theory. Students in this circumstance may request an entrance exam from a theory professor before the semester begins or, at the latest, before the drop/add period closes for that semester. All other students will start the music theory sequence from the beginning.
Placement Examination in Theory and Ear-Training for Transfer Students (Optional): Students coming to Northwest from another institution with music theory and/or ear-training credits that do not transfer directly, may elect to take a placement exam. Generally, credits from other institutions will transfer in, but if there is doubt as to the placement between the credits from the two institutions, the students should request an exam from a theory professor before the semester begins to assure accurate placement in the correct level of music theory and/or ear-training.
Entrance Examination In Keyboard (Optional): All students may request a placement test if they intend to study a keyboard instrument or their degree requires study in keyboard. If a student who has prior study in piano, organ or harpsichord and they wish to either 1) begin at Northwest in applied lessons as opposed to class piano, or 2) wish to start at a higher level of piano than Class Piano I, they should request an Entrance Exam in Keyboard from a piano professor. All students requiring keyboard lessons for their degree but have no keyboard background should enroll in Class Piano I.
Senior Recital: All majors, regardless of degree, are required to present a senior recital to the satisfaction of the music faculty. Such a recital will be presented only upon the approval of the student’s senior recital hearing committee. The student must be enrolled in MUS 19499 (Senior Recital and Seminar) and in applied music with the student’s major instructor during the semester of the recital. The senior recital may not be attempted sooner than the third semester of the upper level of applied study.
Students must adhere to departmental standards/policies concerning scheduling, format, additional performers and printed materials relative to the Senior Recital. These standards/policies are specified in the music student handbook, which may be obtained in the office of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts and online at https://www.nwmissouri.edu/finearts/pdf/music/Music%20Student%20Handbook.pdf.
Student Recital: Each music major, regardless of degree program, is required to perform in his/her major applied area in a student recital each semester of applied study, with the exception of the initial semester of such applied study. Other students enrolled in applied music may also be required by the applied instructor to perform in a student recital.