2011-2012 University Catalog 
  
2011-2012 University Catalog

Music, BM


Banner Code: AR-BM-MUSI

Performing Arts Building, Room A417
Phone: 703-993-1380
Web: music.gmu.edu

 

Faculty

Dennis Layendecker, Heritage Chair, Director

Professors: Camphouse (associate director for personnel), Carroll, Engebretson, Gardner, Layendecker (director), Maiello, Miller, Monson (associate director for academic affairs), Smith

Term Professor: Balakerskaia, Hearden, Rendler

Associate Professors: R. Bergman, Billingham, T. Owens

Term Associate Professors: Ker-Hackleman

Assistant Professors: Guessford, Nickens, Robinson

Term Assistant Professor: Wuttke

Adjunct Faculty: Aler, Beach, Beckwith, Berger, M. Bergman, Berkshire-Brown, Bogachek, Bonds, Bonneau, Botelho, Chalifoux, Chao, Codelka, Crabill, Delaney, Dewey, East, Edelbrock, Ferguson, Gau, Gerber, Haase, M. Hackleman, Harbison, Haroutounian, Healey, Hitz, Kilkenny, Kobayashi, Kuebler, Lapple, Lechter, McCarthy, Moore, Nam, Neff, Nickel, Oedemann, M. Owens, Parker, Parrell,  Rittenhouse, Roberts, Sabatino, Sisk, Snedecor, Snitzler, Spirtas, Stephansky, Summey, Taylor, Thayer, Thomas, Watters, Wenner, Whitehead, Williams, Yang

 

The bachelor of music (BM) prepares students for graduate work in music and music literature; research and professional work in musical activities; and state licensure, or certification, to teach vocal and choral or instrumental music at the elementary and secondary school levels.

Entrance to all music degree programs is by audition. Arrangements for an audition must be made in advance by contacting the School of Music before the scheduled audition date.

Auditions are held approximately once per month. Audition dates and audition application forms are available through the School of Music web site: music.gmu.edu

A fundamentals of music test is given during the first week of classes to all students enrolled in MUSI 115 Theory I. Call the School of Music at 703-993-1380 for additional information.

Competency placement tests are required of all transfer students who wish to present transfer credit in any of the following areas: sight singing, ear training, and keyboard skills.

120 credits are required for the BM degree. Four concentrations are offered: composition, jazz, music education, and performance. Students are required to complete core courses in one of the concentrations plus courses listed below in one of the points of emphasis relative to the concentration. Eligibility to continue in upper-level courses will be assessed during the sophomore year of study.

Students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in their major or higher, if required by their program.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

Mason requires all students to complete at least one course designated “writing intensive” in their major at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in music may fulfill this requirement by successfully completing MUSI 332. Students who transfer this course into Mason may be required to repeat it or enroll in some other suitable course to fulfill the writing intensive requirement.

Teacher Licensure

Undergraduate students seeking certification to teach vocal and choral or instrumental music at the elementary and secondary levels must earn the BM degree as specified under Concentration in Music Education section in this chapter. Students who have earned a baccalaureate degree and are seeking state licensure to teach music must also complete this sequence of courses, which constitute a state-approved program for teacher education in music.

Academic Policies

Please see College of Visual and Performing Arts  for college academic policies.

Degree Requirements


General Education (21 credits)


Coursework within the major and concentration fulfills the information technology, global understanding, oral communications, fine arts, and synthesis general education requirements.  Students should consult the university general education guidelines  for course options that fulfill the requirements remaining in the following areas:

  • 3 credits of quantitative reasoning
  • 6 credits of written communication
  • 3 credits of literature
  • 3 credits of non-lab natural science
  • 3 credits of western civilization
  • 3 credits of social or behavioral science

Concentrations


Students may choose from one of the following concentrations:

Core Courses Required for All Concentrations (40 Credits)


▲ Concentration in Composition (CPO):


Students must complete all concentration requirements as well as requirements for one of the following emphases:

Courses Required for All Emphases (50 credits)


Emphasis Requirement (9 credits)


Composition: Brass emphasis

Composition: Guitar emphasis

Composition: Keyboard emphasis

Composition: Percussion emphasis

Composition: Voice emphasis

Composition: Woodwind emphasis

Total: 120 credits


▲ Concentration in Jazz (JAZC):


Students must complete all concentration requirements as well as requirements for one of the following emphases:

Courses Required for All Emphases (49 credits)


Emphasis Requirement (10 credits)


Total: 120 credits


▲ Concentration in Music Education (MUE):


Certification to Teach

The music education concentration is approved by the Virginia State Department of Education and administered through the College of Education and Human Development, which is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Minimum scores on the Praxis I and II and VCLA tests must be achieved before state licensure is granted.

Students must be formally accepted into the music education concentration by the school’s Music Teacher Education Committee. They must have earned 45 to 60 credits and completed Sight Singing and Ear Training III, Keyboard Skills III, and Theory III with a grade of C or higher. Other requirements are as follows:

  • Submit scores for the Praxis I (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics) tests to the committee. It is strongly recommended that students take the Praxis I tests as soon as they have completed ENGH 302, a course in literature, and a course in mathematics.
  • Maintain an overall GPA of 2.80 in all course work completed at Mason and in course work at all institutions of higher learning combined.
  • Earn no grade lower than a C in music and professional education courses needed for graduation.
  • Successfully pass sight singing, ear training, keyboard, and conducting proficiency exams during the first music methods course (MUSI 461, 463, 464, 466, or 467). Students in the voice emphasis must also pass a voice proficiency exam, and students in the instrumental emphasis must pass a musical instrument fingering proficiency exam during the first music methods course.
  • Complete all course work in the program sequence.

On fulfilling the above requirements, students must complete 15 weeks of a full-time student teaching internship. Applications for placement, subject to approval of the committee, are submitted to the Office of Teacher Education at the beginning of the previous semester. In addition, students must pass the VCLA before student teaching and the Praxis II (Music: Content Knowledge) test during the internship semester.

Students must complete all concentration requirements as well as requirements for one of the following emphases:

Courses Required for All Emphases (34 credits)


Emphasis Requirement (25 credits)


Total: 120 credits


▲ Concentration in Performance (PFM):


Students must complete all concentration requirements as well as requirements for one of the following emphases:

Courses Required for All Emphases (23 credits)


Emphasis Requirement (36 credits)


Performance: Brass emphasis

Performance: Guitar emphasis

Performance: Percussion emphasis

Performance: String emphasis

Performance: Woodwind emphasis

Total: 120 credits