School of Music

BA in Music | BM-Specialization: All Level Cert. Instrumental | BM-Specialization: All Level Cert. Instrumental-String | BM-Specialization All Level Cert.-Choral | BM-Specialization: Instrumental Performance | BM-Specialization: Vocal Performance | BM-Specialization: Piano Performance | BM-Specialization: Composition | BM Music Therapy | Minor in Music | Course Descriptions

Accredited by National Association of Schools of Music

 Director: Dr. Scott D. Plugge     (936) 294-3808

Faculty: Randy Adams, Mario Aschauer, Wayne Barrett, Patricia Card, James Cho, Kevin Clifton, John Crabtree, Kathy Daniel, Robert Daniel, Colin Davis, Peggy DeMers, Josu De Solaun, Deborah Dunham, Denise Eaton, David Englert, James Franklin, Nicole Franklin,  Brian Gibbs, Melissa Givens, Naomi Gjevre, Rebecca Grimes, Bruce Hall, Brian Herrington, Matt Holm, Henry Howey, Robert Hunt, David Ikard, Roger Keele, Kyle Kindred, Nathan Koch, James Johnson, Mary Kay Lake, John Lane, Nicholas Lockey, Seth McAdow, John McCroskey, Matthew McInturf, Christopher Michel, Karen Miller, Alejandro Montiel, Jammieca Mott, Sheryl Murphy-Manley, Ben Osborne, Jonathan Pasternack, Paula Page, Joseph Patrick, Amanda Pepping, Anna Petrova, Javier Pinell, Scott Plugge, Debbie Rawlins, Ilonka Rus-Edery, Daniel Saenz, Aric Schneller, Masahito Sugihara, Lex Valk, Michael Walsh, Steve Warkentin, Dawson White

Website: For faculty specialties, please see www.shsu.edu/academics/music

Mission

The Sam Houston State University School of Music exists as a community of musician-educators whose mission is:

• To educate and train students for lives of service and contribution — as teachers, performers, composers, therapists and scholars;
• To provide and nurture a nucleus of musical life for the larger community;
• To educate the university student population regarding music’s intrinsic value as a part of the human experience and its central role in human culture;
• To mutually encourage one another in professional growth and attainment.

Our mission encompasses a variety of programs and curricula, traditional and innovative which are regularly examined for effectiveness, quality and relevance. It includes our commitment to a combination of:

• Classroom studies in music;
• The live performance of music both individually and collectively, as central to music study, development and knowledge.

As an integral part of our mission, we commit ourselves to continuing steps toward realizing the full potential of community, both as teachers and as colleagues; further, we commit to interaction with our students that emphasizes personal attention and interest in their total musical/intellectual development.

Academic Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Music:

• General Music Track

Bachelor of Music:

• Performance Track (Instrumental; Vocal; and Piano)
• Music Education/Teacher Certification Track (Instrumental; Instrumental-String; and Choral emphasis)
• Composition Track

Bachelor of Music:

• Music Therapy

Minor in Music

The School of Music offers instruction in the following applied areas (audition required): Bassoon, Clarinet, Euphonium, Flute, Guitar, Harp, Horn, Oboe, Organ, Percussion, Piano, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Saxophone, String Bass, Viola, Violin, Violoncello, and Voice.

Highlights

All music majors receive training in applied music, music theory, music history, and, where appropriate, professional training specific to a particular field. Each student receives private instruction in his or her principal applied area (such as piano, trumpet, or voice), participates in musical ensembles (such as wind ensemble, orchestra, choir, or jazz band), and is afforded a multitude of opportunities to grow and develop as a musician. Students develop keyboard skills in a state-of-the-art piano lab and have their musical training enhanced in a Computer Assisted Instruction lab.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the School of Music are successfully employed around the state, the nation, and internationally as:

• music educators
• music therapists
• music performers
• music scholars
• music composers
• music industry leaders

Student Organizations

Numerous student organizations actively promote enrichment across a wide array of musical interests.
American Choral Directors Association — national organization for choral directors
American String Teachers Association/Symphony Association — the group’s membership consists of string students at Sam Houston State University and was organized to support string pedagogy on the SHSU campus.
Music Educators National Conference — national organization for music education. Membership in this student chapter is open to music education majors.
Mu Tau Omega — student organization for music therapy. Membership open to interested students committed to the study and/or advancement of music therapy in community, educational, and clinical settings.
Phi Mu Alpha — international music fraternity for men. Provides valuable service to the school and community.
Pi Kappa Lambda — national music honor society. Invitation to membership is limited to the top students from the junior, senior, and graduate classes by vote of the faculty members of Pi Kappa Lambda.
Sigma Alpha Iota — international music fraternity for women. Provides valuable service to the school and community.
Tau Beta Sigma — national band sorority. Supports band studies and provides valuable support service to instrumental ensembles and to the school.

Internships

Following the completion of all coursework, the music therapy student must fulfill a 900-1040 hour (five-six month) clinical internship at an AMTA national roster internship site or an SHSU university-affiliated internship site. The intern must be supervised on-site by a qualified and approved MT-BC supervisor. The internship is the final requirement for graduating with the bachelor’s degree in music therapy. Once it has been completed, the individual is eligible to sit for the board certification examination. A passing grade on the exam will result in board certification and the credentials MT-BC.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available both from the School of Music and from the University to support student study. For more information regarding scholarships, prospective or current students should contact the Director of the School of Music. Information on University scholarships may be obtained at the Office of Financial Aid or by telephone (936) 294-1672. Interested persons may also gather more information from the School of Music website.

Music scholarships are awarded for participation in ensembles. All students awarded a music scholarship are required to perform in ensembles.  Scholarship students will audition and perform in ensembles as required.

Program Specific Requirements

General Requirements for Music Majors — Students desiring to major in music must have previous musical experience.

Audition — All students entering the School of Music as music majors or minors must audition in their major performance area and be accepted for a specific degree plan (e.g. Bachelor of Music: Performance, Music Education/Teacher Certification, Composition; Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy, music minor). Music therapy majors must also schedule and pass an interview with the Director of Music Therapy.

Grades — Students must receive a grade of “C” or better in all courses required in the major. If they receive a grade lower than a “C” they will be placed on academic probation until they retake the course with the “C” or better grade.

Jury — All students enrolled in applied classes (private studio instruction) must take jury examinations at the end of each semester.

Ensemble — All students enrolled in applied classes should perform in an ensemble.

Sophomore barrier — Before students majoring in music are allowed to enroll for 300-level courses in applied music, they must pass a proficiency examination/barrier. The exam is normally administered at the end of their fourth semester of study. NOTE: students are given/allowed three opportunities to pass the barrier. If they do not pass by the third attempt, they cannot continue as music majors.

Piano proficiency — Students must pass a proficiency examination in piano. Students who do not have the requisite skills may enroll in piano classes. Completion of the piano classes with a grade of “C” or better meets the skills requirement for the piano proficiency.

Concert attendance — Students are required to attend 12 performances (from a specified list) each semester for six semesters in all undergraduate Bachelor of Music major tracks. Transfer students may receive a credit or waiver for up to three semesters. Details of this requirement are printed in the School of Music Student Handbook.

Large ensemble — Enrollment in a large ensemble is expected of full-time music majors each fall and spring semester. Music therapy majors must enroll in an ensemble for 6 semesters.  The minimum requirement is seven semesters for B.M. Music Education/Teacher Certification track; eight semesters for other B.M. tracks; and six semesters for Music Therapy majors.

• For piano principals (non-performance majors), Collaborative Piano (MUEN 1110/MUEN 3110) will satisfy a portion of this requirement.
• For piano performance majors, Collaborative Piano (MUEN 1110/MUEN 3110) satisfies the major ensemble requirement.
• Further details are printed in the School of Music Student Handbook.
• Freshmen and sophomore students enroll in 1000 and 2000-level ensembles; juniors and seniors enroll in 3000 and 4000-level ensembles.

Curriculum

Required Courses for Majors

Bachelor of Arts in Music, General Music Track (120 hours)

Bachelor of Music in
Music Therapy                                         130-133 hours

Minor in Music                                          20 hours

Bachelor of Arts in Music

Note: All BA Degrees require 12-14 semester hours of foreign language (same language)

Free Electives — 19 hours
These are courses from the University’s catalog that can apply to the required number of hours required for the BA. These electives must include at least 19 hours of advanced (3000 and 4000-level) courses or enough to meet the university's 42 advanced hour minimum.

Bachelor of Arts, Major in Music

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

Bachelor of Music

Music Education/Teacher Certification Track

The Bachelor of Music degree with teacher certification, when successfully completed, qualifies a student for All-Level State Certification to teach music in early childhood through twelfth grade. The degree consists of:
   
University Core 42 + Music Core 28 (note: MUSI 1379 & MUSI 2348 are also included in the University Core) + Education Block 24 + Emphasis Area 39-42 = 130-133 hours.

Bachelor of Music, Major in Music With Specialization: All Level Certification Instrumental (BM MAW)

Wind and Percusion Instumental Emphasis: 42 hours
Applied Lessons Lower-Level (SCH 8)
Applied Lessons Advanced (SCH 4)
Applied Lessons with Junior Recital (SCH 2) 

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

Bachelor of Music, Major in Music With Specialization: All Level Certification-String (BM MAS)

String Emphasis:
Applied Lessons Lower-Level (SCH 8)
Applied Lessons Advanced (SCH 4)
Applied Lessons with Junior Recital (SCH 2)

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

Bachelor of Music, Major in Music With Specialization: All Level Certification: Choral (BM MCC)

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

Bachelor of Music, Major in Music With Specialization: Instrumental Performance (BM MPI)                   

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

Bachelor of Music, Major in Music With Specialization: Vocal Performance (BM MPV)

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

Bachelor of Music, Major in Music With Specialization: Piano Performance (BM MPP)

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

Bachelor of Music, Major in Music With Specialization: Composition (BM MCP)

Composition Track: 53 hours
The curriculum in music composition is designed to prepare the student for graduate study in the field. Students who pursue this degree are those who have career interests as composers/arrangers or as teachers of composition.

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

Bachelor of Music, Major in Music Therapy: 130-133 hours

The music therapy curriculum prepares the student for a career as a music therapist and includes the requisite professional certification. A one-semester internship is required.

Music Core: 20 hours

Therapy Courses: 62 hours
Applied Lessons Lower-Level SCH 8
Applied Lessons Advanced SCH 4

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

Minor in Music

Students who elect music as a minor must complete a minimum of 20 hours, SIX of which must be advanced (3000 or 4000-level). Up to eight hours of applied music (studio instruction and ensembles) may be used in the minor. To enroll in private instruction or perform in ensembles, students must audition for in their respective applied areas and for each ensemble.

ENSEMBLES

The following performance ensembles are open to all students of the University who qualify by audition:

Large Ensembles

Small Ensembles

     
No more than eight hours earned in large ensembles may be counted toward a degree. Small ensembles may be counted if approved by the ensemble directors>, studio instructor and the Director, School of Music.

Additional ensembles are strongly encouraged for those who qualify by audition:

Ensembles

• Music majors should enroll in at least one ensemble each semester they are enrolled as full time students.
• Students enrolled in Studio Instruction should be concurrently enrolled in an ensemble.
• Jazz Ensemble will not normally be considered as the major ensemble for graduation hours.
• Modifications or exceptions may be made in rare or unusual circumstances.  Those exceptions require approval by the Director, School of Music after coordination with the ensemble directors and studio instructors.
• Students should not be enrolled in more than 2 ensembles per semester. Enrollment in more than two ensembles requires approval.
• Music Therapy majors must participate in 6 semesters of ensembles.

Marching Band (for Wind and Percussion students)

• Music Education Majors are required to be in Marching Band for 3 semesters.
• Music Performance Majors are required to be in Marching Band for 2 semesters.
• Music Therapy Majors, music minors, and non-majors are encouraged to participate in Marching Band.

For information regarding Common Course numbers for Ensemble, please refer to the Common Course listing in this catalog.

Applied Music Instruction

Applied Music Fees. Students enrolled in Applied Music Instruction are required to pay a fee at the time of registration on a per-course basis each semester:
                                2-hour course        $60.00                    
                                4-hour course        $75.00
There is no additional charge for use of practice rooms.

Undergraduate Catalog 2014-2016

• Academic Calendar
• Academic Policies & Procedures
• Colleges & Academic Departments
• Degrees Offered
• Core Curriculum
• Course Descriptions
• Transfer of Credit
• Financial Information
• Support Services
• Texas Common Course Numbers
• Faculty
• Glossary
• Report a Problem
• The Woodlands Center

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