Music Handbook: Major/Minor Requirements and Curriculum

Requirements for the Music Major

Below you will find Music Major requirements in two forms:

Courses in a suggested four-year schedule

• Use this schedule as you are trying to think about when to take certain courses.
• Course codes and units are listed. To see brief descriptions of the courses, see below in the Music Curriculum section.

A checklist of all courses required and major performance assessments

• Bring this checklist to your advising session to check in with your APAS and to monitor your progress.

Note that the suggested outline below only addresses major requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to also take general education requirement into account. For more information on general education requirements, please see the requirements in the Course Catalog.

Please also note that some classes are offered in alternating years. If a course is offered in alternating years, “if offered” will appear by the course listing in this schedule. The course will appear in more than one year in the four-year plan to allow for the alternating year schedule.

All Music Majors and Minors must take their required music courses with the A-F grading option, with the exception of Music 0100 (Concert Attendance).

• Students must earn a C- or better in order to meet Major/Minor requirements. Courses where a student has earned a D or F will not count towards Major or Minor requirements.
• The grade of Incomplete (I) in a music course must be made up within the first two weeks of the following semester. Failure to do so will result in a grade of F or N.

Note that while large ensembles (Music 1300, 1310, 1320) are not required for the music major, participation in these ensembles is generally expected. Bear in mind that seven semesters of large ensemble participation are required for teaching licensure, and that these semesters cannot be taken concurrently. That means that if a student chooses to add teaching licensure to their program and has not been performing in large ensembles, that student will have at least seven more semesters of education left! In other words, for the sake of your own musicianship and to give yourself maximum flexibility in your program, you should enroll in one large ensemble (Music 1300, 1310, 1320) each semester.

* Students must enroll in Functional Keyboard for Music Majors (1111-2, 2111-2) or piano lessons (1200) until they pass piano proficiency. For more information on piano proficiency requirements, please see Individual Performance Studies and Performance Assessment.

** After passing a jury either their second or third year, students take 3000 level lessons (advanced) instead of 1000 level lessons. Students must have at least two semesters of 3000 level lessons in order to graduate. For more on individual lessons, when a student can perform a jury, and what is involved, please see Individual Performance Studies and Performance Assessment.

*** Music Electives are select courses in music at the 3000 level or above. Music Majors are required to take six credits of music elective courses. Plan carefully; some of these courses are offered in alternate years. For more information on these courses, please see below in Music Curriculum.

• Printable checklist of all Music Major Requirements »

Requirements for the Music Major with Teaching Licensure

Below you will find Music Major with Licensure requirements in two forms:

Courses in a suggested four-year schedule

• Use this schedule as you are trying to think about when to take certain courses.
• Course codes and units are listed. To see brief descriptions of the courses, see below in the Music Curriculum section.

A checklist of all courses required and major performance assessments

• Bring this checklist to your advising session to check in with your APAS and to monitor your progress.

Note that the suggested outline below only addresses major requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to also take general education requirement into account. For more information on general education requirements, please see the requirements in the Course Catalog.

Please also note that some classes are offered in alternating years. If a course is offered in alternating years, “if offered” will appear by the course listing in this schedule. The course will appear in more than one year in the four-year plan to allow for the alternating year schedule.

All Music Majors and Minors must take their required music courses with the A-F grading option, with the exception of Music 1000 (Concert Attendance).

• Students must earn a C- or better in order to meet Major/Minor requirements. Courses where a student has earned a D or F will not count towards Major or Minor requirements.
• The grade of Incomplete (I) in a music course must be made up within the first two weeks of the following semester. Failure to do so will result in a grade of F or N.

The outline below is for the recommended five year timeline that most students will require to complete the program. Students who come in with general education credits and solo performance experience may be able to complete the requirements in less time; please speak to your faculty advisor to see if this is a feasible course for you.

* Students must enroll in piano lessons until they pass piano proficiency. For more information on piano proficiency requirements, please see Individual Performance Studies and Performance Assessment.

** After passing a jury either their second or third year, students take 3000 level lessons (advanced) instead of 1000 level lessons. Students must have at least two semesters of 3000 level lessons in order to graduate. For more on individual lessons, when a student can perform a jury, and what is involved, please see Individual Performance Studies and Performance Assessment. (IndividualPerfInfo.doc)

*** Students may substitute CMR 1042 to fulfill this requirement; note, however, that this course is only offered in the summer when feasible.

Additional Considerations for Education Licensure

The Music Education Regulation of Minnesota (MAR 8710.4560) recognizes two areas of specialization:

Instrumental and Classroom Music K-12

• The student’s major performance medium must be one of the following: winds, percussion, keyboard, or strings.

Vocal and Classroom Music K-12

• The student’s major performance medium must be one of the following: voice, keyboard, or guitar.

As included in the four-year plan, Music Majors with Teaching Licensure are required to enroll in seven semesters of large ensembles.

• Instrumental Licensure students are required to enroll for those seven semesters in Music 1300, Symphonic Winds.
• Vocal Licensure students are required to enroll for those seven semesters in Music 1310 (Concert Choir) and/or Music 1320 (University Choir).

The Music Education Regulation also requires two types of performance competency:

• Advanced performance competency in the selected area of specialization.
• Competency is demonstrated by the successful performance of at least a half recital.
• Evidence of competency in a secondary performance medium.
  • For instrumental students, this means competency in another instrument, preferably a different family of instruments.
  • For Vocal Licensure, this means an instrument of any of the families.
    • Vocal Licensure students whose main performance medium is keyboard or guitar must demonstrate secondary proficiency in voice.
  • Piano is required separately, and therefore not considered an area for secondary performance area UNLESS the student performs at a level beyond what is required for proficiency, such as for a mixed student recital.

For information on what constitutes advanced performance competency or competency in a secondary medium, please see Individual Performance Studies and Performance Assessment.

Please refer to the Secondary Education website for more information on prerequisites for the program, suggested completion timelines, and other important information.

• Printable checklist of all Music Major with Teaching Licensure Requirements »

Requirements for the Music Minor

Below you will find a list of the courses required for a Music Minor. As this is intended as a secondary course of instruction (to complement your major), there is no suggested schedule for when to take your courses. Course codes and units are listed. To see brief descriptions of the courses, see below in the Music Curriculum section.

All Music Majors and Minors must take their required music courses with the A-F grading option, with the exception of Music 0100 (Concert Attendance).

• Students must earn a C or bettering order to meet Major/Minor requirements. Courses where a student has earned a D or F will not count towards Major or Minor requirements.
• The grade of Incomplete (I) in a music course must be made up within the first two weeks of the following semester. Failure to do so will result in a grade of F or N.

Required Courses

• Music 1000 (.5) (Must enroll four times)
• Music 1101 (4)
• Music 1102 (4)
• Two of the following three courses: Music 3101 (4), Music 3102 (4), Music 3161(4).
• Music 1200-1223 (4 units, 1 unit per semester enrolled)
• Non-pianists: Music 1200 (4 units, 1 unit per semester enrolled)

Additional Considerations

Remember that some courses have pre-requisites.

• Music 1101 (Fall) should be taken before Music 1102 (Spring).
• Music 1102 (Spring) must be taken before Music 3101 (Fall).
• Music 3101 (Fall) must be taken before Music 3102 (Spring).

Some courses are offered in alternate years. Plan carefully to make sure you are taking the course when it is offered.

• Music 3101 is offered in the fall of odd-numbered years.
• Music 3102 is offered in the spring of even-numbered years.

Some courses require multiple iterations.

• Music 0100 must be taken four times.
• Music 1200-1223 must be taken four times.
  • Students whose main performance medium is not piano are required to take four semesters of piano lessons, Music 1200.
• For more information on piano proficiency, please see Individual Performance Studies and Performance Assessment. (IndividualPerfInfo.doc)

• Printable checklist of all Music Minor requirements »