Curriculum - Music, BA

Curriculum

This is an unofficial description for this program. For official information check the Academic Catalog.

The CCSU Department of Music is dedicated to the development of competent and aesthetically sensitive musicians, intellectually deepened by a broad liberal arts education. Within the context of our music degrees, we prepare musicians for careers as educators, performers, composers, music technology specialists, and scholars while providing all students with strategies to cultivate artistic leadership in their chosen fields. We strive to foster in all students life-long connection and involvement with the art of music. The performance and scholarship of our faculty serves as an artistic and intellectual resource for Connecticut.

A minor is not required for any student pursuing a concentration in the Music, B.A. (Exception: Music, B.A. Music with an External Minor)

Major Requirements (60 Credits)

MUS 102 and three semesters of major ensemble are double counted in Study Area I.

Required Music Courses (42 credits)

Other Requirements

Ensembles required for all Music B.A. students: 4 credits in Ensembles from the course range MUS 141, MUS 142, MUS 143, or MUS 147A.

MUS 178 Applied Lessons for Majors I, and MUS 278 Applied Lessons for Majors, II (two semesters each;1 credit, 1 contact hour)

8 credits of Music Electives required of all Music B.A. students.

Students in any Music B.A. concentration (Performance, Theory and Composition, Jazz Studies, Music Technology, Flexible Music) must take MUS 216 Aural Skills IV (1 credit, 2 contact hour) and MUS 408 Form and Analysis (2 credits; 3 contact hours) as part of those 8 elective credits. The B.A. option for Music with an External Minor is exempt from this requirement.

Major Requirements, Ensembles

All Music B.A. students are required to take 4 credits of major ensembles, MUS 141, MUS 142, MUS 143, or MUS 147A.

Students with a primary instrument in woodwinds, brass, or percussion may take either MUS 142A (Wind Symphony) or MUS 142B (Wind Symphony + Marching Band) in the Fall; they are required to take MUS 142A (Wind Symphony) in the Spring.

MUS 141 Chorus is the required ensemble for students with voice, piano, or classical guitar as the primary instrument.

String students are required to take MUS 143 Sinfonietta when offered, or another approved ensemble as a substitute.

MUS 142 is currently listed here as MUS 142 Wind Band. The new options should be listed here instead as MUS 142A Wind Symphony AND/OR MUS 142B Wind Symphony & Marching Band (depending on the semester cycling).

Concentrations

Performance Concentration (18 credits)

Performance students will take 2 semesters of MUS 177 Applied Music, lessons on a secondary instrument; .5 credit, 30 minutes contact.

Performance students will complete MUS 400 (senior recital) and MUS 404 (program notes), each for 2 credits.

2 credits of MUS 378, and 1 credit of MUS 478.

Performance Concentration: Ensembles

Students in the Performance Concentration will take 4 additional credits of ensembles, in MUS 140, MUS 141, MUS 142, MUS 143.

(See previous note re: MUS 142A, B, and C.)

Jazz Studies Concentration (18 credits)

Students in the Jazz Studies Concentration will take:

2 credits of MUS 378, and 1 credit of MUS 478.

1 semester of MUS 400 (senior jazz recital), for 2 credits.

Jazz Studies Concentration: Ensembles

Students in the Jazz Studies Concentration will take 4 additional credits of Jazz Ensembles, MUS 147A or MUS 147B.

Theory and Composition Concentration (18 credits)

Theory and Composition students will take:

3 semesters of MUS 378, for 1 credit each.

1 semester of MUS 400 (composition), for 2 credits.

*Requirement Type: Theory and Composition: Ensembles*

Students in the Theory and Composition Concentration will take 2 additional credits of ensembles from the course range MUS 14X.

Music with an External Minor (18 credits)

Music Technology Concentration (18 credits)

Students in the Music Technology Concentration will complete one semester of MUS 400 (capstone), for 2 credits.

Music Technology Concentration: Ensembles

Students in the Music Technology Concentration will take MUS 140Q iPad Ensemble (2 credits)

and

1 or 2 additional credits of ensembles from the MUS 14X course range.

Music Technology Electives from CCSU

Students in the Music Technology Concentration are required to take a total of 9 credits of electives, which may be completed at CCSU, Capital Community College, or Middlesex Community College, as listed here.

As part of the Music Technology electives (9 credits total), students may take (in addition to the academic courses listed):

One or both of the following, for 2-4 credits: MUS 273 (2 credits) and/or MUS 274 (2 credits)

1-3 additional credits of MUS 378 (Music Technology composition lessons)

MUS 301 Coding for Music is a newly-proposed course (3 credits; 3 contact hours). This is listed on the curriculum sheet for the Music Technology Concentration.

Courses Completed at Capital Community College or Middlesex Community College

Flexible Music Concentration (18 credits)

Students in the Flexible Music Concentration will take:

2 semesters of MUS 378, for 1 credit each

8 additional credits of Music electives (MUS XXX), including courses, lessons, and/or ensembles beyond the basic requirements. These are not outlined in the course list, due to the numerous options available.

Flexible Music Concentration: Ensembles

Students in the Flexible Music Concentration will take 4 additional credits of Music ensembles from the course range MUS 14X.

Music with an External Minor (18 credits)

Additional Requirements

All students in the BA in Music program with concentrations in Performance, Theory/Composition, and Jazz Studies must successfully pass the Piano Proficiency as detailed. Students doing an external Minor, the Music Technology Concentration, and the Flexible Music Concentration do not have to pass the piano proficiency.

Total Credit Hours: 60

Note: Students enrolled in MUS 177 must pay an extra fee of $200 each semester. Students enrolled in MUS 178, MUS 278, MUS 378, or MUS 478 must pay an extra fee of $400 each semester. This fee is non-refundable and subject to change. All students enrolled in MUS 178, MUS 278, MUS 378, or MUS 478 must perform in one student recital per year.

All music majors are required to enroll in MUS 090 every semester.

All students must be enrolled in a major ensemble every semester in which they are enrolled as full-time music major. All part-time students must be enrolled in a major ensemble for six semesters. The Department of Music reserves the right to assign students to major ensembles.

The piano proficiency exam may be taken a total of four times, and students must demonstrate a minimum proficiency in all 8 categories to pass. Most students should begin taking this exam during their sophomore year.

The piano proficiency exam consists of the following:

  • Playing major and harmonic minor scales (up to 4 sharps and flats), two octaves, hands together;
  • Playing a prepared intermediate-level piece from the recommended list, piece using a score;
  • Playing a prepared intermediate-level piece from the recommended list, memorized;
  • Playing the Star-Spangled Banner;
  • Harmonizing a simple melody;
  • Transposing the same melody up or down a major/minor second;
  • Sight-reading a simple piano piece; and
  • Sight-reading a simple accompaniment.