Music
Location: 103 Music, Phone: (409) 880-8144
Chair: Kurt A. Gilman
Degree Coordinators: Kurt A. Gilman, kurt.gilman@lamar.edu
The music unit is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. Five undergraduate degrees are offered:
Bachelor of Music in Performance
Bachelor of Music in Composition
Bachelor of Music (leading to Teacher Certification)
Bachelor of Arts in Music
Bachelor of Arts in Music (Business)
One graduate degree is offered, with two tracks
Master of Music, performance track
Master of Music, education track
The Bachelor of Music (leading to Teacher Certification) offers specialization in either Band, Choir, or Orchestra. The Master of Music degree is offered with specializations in performance and music education.
Degrees Offered
Degree Offered (With tracks) and Music Hours/Education Hours
Bachelor of Arts in Music - 124
Bachelor of Arts in Music (Business) - 137
Bachelor of Music (leading to Teacher Certification)
- band track - 110/21
- choral track - 105/21
- orchestral track - 106/21
Bachelor of Music - Composition
- piano track, band - 128
- piano track, choral - 128
- piano track, orchestra - 128
- orchestra emphasis - 128
- vocal emphasis - 128
- band emphasis - 128
Bachelor of Music – Performance
- piano (band) - 128
- piano (vocal) - 128
- piano (orchestra) - 128
- strings - 128
- vocal - 131
- winds or percussion - 128
Requirements for Music Majors
- Meet the basic requirements for all degree programs.
- Complete one of the programs of study listed.
- Successfully complete seven semesters (six for B.A. in Music) of MUSI 1170 (Recital Attendance) to be approved for graduation.
- A music course with a grade of “D” will not apply toward graduation.
- All students must continue to take secondary piano for as many consecutive long semesters as are required for the completion of the piano proficiency exam.
- Piano majors will take secondary voice or secondary instruments, whichever applies to their intended course of study (vocal or instrumental), for as many consecutive long semesters as are required for the completion of the vocal or instrumental proficiency exam.
- All majors taking applied music will be enrolled concurrently in their respective degree-required ensemble.
Audition Procedure
To be accepted as a music major at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, students, both entering freshmen and transfer, must pass an audition in their major performance area (applied music). Audition dates may be obtained at www.lamar.edu/music-auditions or by contacting the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music. Special audition dates can be arranged if necessary.
Theory Placement Examination
All music major applicants will be given a Theory Placement Examination to determine their level of theoretical knowledge. The examination will include key signatures, triads, treble and bass clefs, musical terms, and ear training.
Music Minor
Core Curriculum Requirement (3 hours): MUSI 1306. All students seeking a minor in music will be required to take MUSI 1306 (Music Appreciation) as the core curriculum requirement in creative arts.
Music Minor Requirements (23 hours):
Lower Level
MUTY - 6 hours
MUTY 1211 (Music Theory I)
MUTY 1212 (Music Theory II)
MUTY 1116 (Sight Singing & Ear Training I)
MUTY 1117 (Sight Singing & Ear Training II)
MUAP 12XX (2 courses) – 4 hours
MULB 117X (2 courses) – 2 hours
Choose from (audition required for some ensembles):
MULB 1175 (Marching Band) and MULB 1177 (Symphonic Band) for instrumental emphasis
MULB 1170 (A Cappella Choir) and MULB 1172 (Grand Chorus) for choral emphasis
MULB 1173 (Orchestra) for orchestral emphasis
MUSI 1170 (Recital Attendance), 2 courses – 2 hours
Upper Level
Group I: Choose one course - 2 hours
MUSI 3250 (Choral Music)
MUSI 3260 (Instrumental Music)
Group II: Choose one course - 2 or 3 hours
MUSI 3310 (Elementary Music I)
MUSI 3270 (Choral Conducting)
MUSI 3280 (Instrumental Conducting)
Group III: 5 hours
Upper level music electives - up to 5 hours to bring upper-level total to 9 semester hours
Applied Music Requirements
Music majors must be enrolled in applied music each long semester until the applied music requirement (including the capstone recital, if required) is met, as explained below. The required sequence of courses includes a minimum of four semesters of lower-level (1200 series) courses in applied music.
Students in the teacher certification program must complete three additional semesters of upper-level (3200 series) applied music courses. Students in the performance program must complete four semesters of upper-level (3400 series) applied music courses. Students in the bachelor of arts programs must complete two semesters of upper-level (3200 series) applied music courses.
Completion of the applied music requirement signifies the attainment of a given level of artistic performance rather than the completion of a specific number of semester hours of credit. A student may, at the discretion of the applied music faculty, be required to repeat any course in the applied music sequence. In such a case, the course may be repeated for credit. The applied music requirement is not satisfied until approval of the faculty is obtained.
Any student registered for an applied music course (except 1101 and 1181) will be required to perform in a major ensemble and pass a jury examination each long semester. With permission from the private instructor, a student may be exempt from jury examination in the semester during which the Senior Recital is to be performed.
Recital Performance Requirements
Bachelor of Music (leading to Teacher Certification)
Each Bachelor of Music (leading to Teacher Certification) major will perform a senior recital 30 minutes in length. Upon completion of four semesters of lower-level applied music, the student must pass a performance jury examination to be eligible to advance to upper-level (3200 series) applied music courses. The senior recital may be performed jointly with another student and will take place in the senior year. The recital will be scheduled as an afternoon recital. The student must be enrolled in applied music during the semester in which the recital is to be performed.
Bachelor of Music (in Performance)
1) Upon completion of four semesters of lower-level applied music, the student must pass a performance jury examination to be eligible to advance to upper-level (3400 series) applied music courses; 2) during the second semester of upper-level instruction, the performance major must perform a junior audition recital. This recital must be 30 minutes in length and may be given jointly with another student. The recital will be given as an afternoon recital. A satisfactory Junior Audition Recital is a prerequisite for proceeding to a Senior Performance Recital; 3) during the fourth semester of upper-level study, a Senior Performance Recital will be given. This recital must be 60 minutes in length and may be scheduled during the afternoon recital time, or at an approved evening time. See general policies below.
Bachelor of Music (in Composition)
Junior year: Public presentation of at least one original composition for any medium. Minimum length: 5 minutes. The student is responsible for recruiting and rehearsing the performer(s). Senior year: Presentation of a recital of original compositions. Generally the requirement is for at least four compositions, for differing media, although if one or more compositions are unusually long, exceptions may be made. Minimum length: 25 minutes of music (excluding time between movements, set-up time between pieces, etc.). The student is responsible for recruiting and rehearsing the performers, as well as coordinating the performance. Part of the grade for the recital will be dependent on the success of these efforts.
Bachelor of Arts
The Bachelor of Arts major will perform on regular recitals as required by the faculty. The Bachelor of Arts major will not be required to perform the capstone recitals.
General policies for performance major auditions and recitals
1) A performance major MUST make formal application for admission to upper-level applied music, junior audition recital and senior recital at least two weeks prior to the jury or recital. The application forms are available from the chair of the music department and should be submitted to the applied teacher; 2) to advance to upper-level applied music, the performance major must have two-thirds approval of the sophomore jury panel; 3) junior audition recitals and senior recitals will be graded on a pass/fail basis by a faculty panel of three, chosen by the chair of the music department and the private teacher. Two-thirds approval of the faculty panel is necessary to pass. The student must be enrolled in applied music during the semester in which the recital is to be performed.
Ensemble Participation
Participation in a major ensemble is required of full-time music students each long semester, except when student teaching. Major ensembles are as follows:
1) For vocal and keyboard (vocal emphasis) students: MULB 1170, 3170 (A Cappella Choir, A Cappella Choir II) or MULB 1172, 3172 (Grand Chorus, Grand Chorus II) (Placement by audition)
2) For wind, keyboard (instrumental emphasis) and percussion students: Fall semesters - MULB 1175, 3175 (Marching Band, MArching Band II) and Spring semesters - MULB 1177, 3177 (Symphonic Band, Symphonic Band II)
3) For string students: MULB 1173, 3173* (Orchestra, Orchestra II)
*pending approval+
Applied Music Courses (MUAP)
(Refer to Applied Music Requirements in preceding Music Department materials for complete explanation and requirements for Applied Music courses)
0200 Developmental Applied Music
1101 Beginning Band or Orchestral Instruments
1201, 3201, 3401 Violin
1205, 3205 Viola
1209, 3209, 3409 Cello
1213, 3213 Double Bass
1217, 3217, 3417 Flute
1221, 3221, 3421 Oboe
1225, 3225 Bassoon
1229, 3229, 3429 Clarinet
1233, 3233, 3433 Saxophone
1237, 3237 Trumpet
1241, 3241, 3441 French Horn
1245, 3245, 3445 Trombone
1249, 3249 Euphonium
1253, 3253 Tuba
1257, 3257, 3457 Percussion
1254. 3264. 3464 Guitar
1269, 3269, 3469 Piano
1281, 3281, 3481 Voice
1283, 3483 Composition
Graduate Program
The Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music offers the Master of Music degree with tracks in Music Education and Performance. The degree is designed to help music educators and performers advance musicianship and develop new concepts that may be applied to their particular fields of endeavor.
Admission Requirements
Persons seeking admission to this degree program must meet the general requirements for admission which are outlined elsewhere in this catalog. The following address will take you directly to the page on which you can access an online application to the university.
For domestic students (U. S. citizens and permanent residents), application, official transcripts, and Graduate Records Examination (GRE) scores are due to the Graduate Office at least 30 days before registration for the semester in which the student is entering. See Requirements for International Students, including due dates.
Generally, an applicant must also hold a bachelor's degree in music. Students who do not have a Bachelor of Music degree, or whose music degree is in an area different from the desired graduate degree (e.g., music education students who want to do graduate work in performance) may be required to take “leveling courses.” Contact the graduate adviser for details.
Applicants must take the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE. The GRE in music is not required. GRE exam may be waived for applicants with a masters degree or 3.0 or higher GPA on last 60 hours of undergraduate work. Contact the Graduate Office for information regarding application for the examination. Request that the test company send scores to the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Graduate Office.
GPA and GRE score requirements:
GPA (undergraduate GPA x 200 + GRE score equal to or greater than 1350)
GPA may be calculated either overall or on the last 60 hours
International students whose first language is not English must take an English proficiency examination. See Regulations for admissions at the address above.
Applicants choosing the Performance track will perform an audition for the applied committee in his or her performance area. In addition, prospective students on the Performance track in voice must show proficiency (to be determined by the Department of Music) in German, French, and Italian diction prior to entering this degree program. Contact the graduate adviser for recommended audition repertoire and for the schedule of audition dates.
All students who did not graduate from the music program at Â鶹ÊÓƵ will take the Music Theory IV final exam within the first week of classes. Performance majors may take it at the time of the audition. If results of the exam show deficiencies, recommendations for action will be made on an individual basis. Prospective students may contact the coordinator of music theory or the graduate advisor for a copy of the study guide.
Prospective students are invited to visit the music department to meet faculty, tour facilities, and ask questions. They may call the department office at (409) 880-8144 to reach the department chair, the graduate adviser, and professors in their areas of interest.
Music Degree Requirements
Candidates for the master's degree in music must meet all general degree requirements of the College of Graduate Studies as listed elsewhere in this catalog.
Performance Track: 30 hours.
The Performance track of the Master of Music degree requires 30 semester hours as listed below. In addition, a public recital and either a research paper or lecture recital are required.
1. Applied -- 12 hours (3 semesters, 4 credit hours each semester)
2. Music History -- 6 hours (two 3-hour courses)
3. Music Theory -- 6 hours (two 3-hour courses)
4. Music Education -- 6 hours (two 3-hour courses) MUED 5320, Music Reference, Research, and Writing, is required of all master's students.
5. Public recital -- 50 minutes of music
6. Lecture recital -- performance-related, based on research or research paper
7. Oral examination
Music Education Track: 36 hours
The Music Education track of the Master of Music degree requires 36 semester hours, and thesis and non-thesis options are available. Two additional courses in music education may be substituted for the thesis, and six hours of applied music may replace two music education courses.
1. Music Education
a. MUED 5320, Music Reference, Research & Writing, is required of all master's students.
b. MUED 5330, Basic Concepts in Music Education, is required on the Music Education track.
c. 12 hours of music education courses
2. Music History -- 6 hours (two 3-hour courses)
3. Music Theory -- 6 hours (two 3-hour courses)
4a. Thesis option -- 6 hours of thesis enrollment
4b. Non-thesis option -- 6 hours of additional music education courses
Students may substitute 6 hours of applied lessons (3 semesters, 2 credit hours each semester) for 6 hours of music education. They do not have to be in the same applied area.
5. Oral examination
The director of graduate music studies will serve as the general adviser for all graduate students in music. A committee of three graduate faculty members will also serve in an advisory capacity and administer the final oral examination. For students on the Performance track, the oral examination committee will also be the recital committee. For students on the Music Education track with thesis option, the oral examination committee will also be the thesis committee.