Housed in the School of Music (beginning Fall 2024)  

Additional Requirements for All Music Majors

All incoming students must audition for acceptance as a music major (BA or BM). Music majors are expected to complete Freshmen Success Seminar (MUS 110 Freshman Success) In addition, each music major must (1) enroll for a major ensemble each semester until all music degree requirements are met; (2) pass six semesters of recital attendance (MUS 100R Recital); (3) meet the keyboard competency requirement; (4) pass the barrier examination in applied music study, and (5) present one or more public recital(s).

Keyboard Competency Requirement

Requirements for keyboard skills vary according to the major. Instrumental majors may demonstrate keyboard competency through proficiency examination or by completion of MUS 236 Class Piano C. Vocalists must pass two proficiency exams: the first to move from MUS 151 Minor Applied to MUS 351 Minor Applied , and the second to complete study at the upper division level (MUS 351 Minor Applied ). All students must demonstrate keyboard competency before conferral of their degrees.

Applied Barrier Exam Requirement

A barrier exam is required of all music majors to achieve advanced standing on their principal applied instrument before registering for upper division applied study. The examination is administered at the end of the fourth semester of study, but may be taken earlier upon the recommendation of the applied teacher. (Regardless, all students must complete the required total number of semester hours in applied music as specified on the various degree plans.) Students who do not satisfactorily pass the initial exam have, at the discretion of the principal applied professor, one additional long semester to complete the exam requirement. Students who do not satisfactorily pass the second attempt at the barrier exam will be dismissed from the A&M-Commerce music program. Upper division applied credit (MUS 352 Principal Applied) must be completed at A&M-Commerce to be counted toward a music degree.

Recital Performance Requirement

After enrollment in upper division applied study, students must present one or more public recitals. Performance majors must present a junior half (30 min.) recital (MUS 353) and a senior full (60 min.) recital (MUS 453); education majors must present a half recital (30 min.) during their junior or senior year (MUS 353). The applied faculty must approve the scope of the recital.

Instrumental Emphasis

Required courses in the major beyond the Music Core
MUS 100	Ensemble	6
or MUS 300	Jazz Ensemble I
or MUS 300W	Wind Ensemble
or MUS 300P	Percussion Ensemble I
MUS 100H	Chamber Music	3
MUS 151	Minor Applied	3
MUS 152	Principal Applied	4
MUS 310	Music Technology	3
MUS 352	Principal Applied	9
MUS 441	Entrepreneurship in Music	2
Electives (Recommended Electives listed below)		9
ECO 1307	Economics of Personal Finance
MGT 1301	Principles of Business and Entrepreneurship
MGT 301	Legal Environment of Business
MGT 303	Business Communications
MGT 308	Entrepreneurship
MGT 360	Sustainable Leadership
MKT 306	Marketing
Pedagogy Requirement (2-hours from)		2
MUS 163	High Brass Methods
MUS 164	Low Brass Methods
MUS 165	Percussion Methods I
MUS 166	Percussion Methods II
MUS 161	Clarinet and Saxophone Methods
MUS 162	Flute and Double Reed Methods
Total Hours		41

Piano Performance Emphasis

Required courses in the major beyond the Music Core
MUS 132	Jazz Piano	1
MUS 138	Piano Technique I	1
MUS 151	Minor Applied	3
MUS 326	Piano Literature	6
MUS 331	Piano Pedagogy I	3
MUS 332	Piano Pedagogy II	3
MUS 335	Accompanying	1
MUS 338	Piano Technique II	1
MUS 351	Minor Applied	2
MUS 352	Principal Applied	9
MUS 441	Entrepreneurship in Music	2
Electives (Recommended Electives listed below)		9
ECO 1307	Economics of Personal Finance
MGT 1301	Principles of Business and Entrepreneurship
MGT 301	Legal Environment of Business
MGT 303	Business Communications
MGT 308	Entrepreneurship
MGT 360	Sustainable Leadership
MKT 306	Marketing
Total Hours		41

Voice Emphasis

Required courses in the major beyond the Music Core
MUS 100	Ensemble	5
or MUS 300S	Chamber Singers
MUS 143	English Diction	1
MUS 144	Italian Diction	1
MUS 145	German Diction	1
MUS 146	French Diction	1
MUS 236	Class Piano C	1
MUS 306	Vocal Song Literature	3
MUS 351	Minor Applied	1
MUS 352	Principal Applied	9
THE 1351	Fundamentals of Acting	3
THE 122	Stage Movement	3
HHPK 280	Dance Intensive I: Techniques of Ballet, Jazz & Contemporary Dance	3
HHPK 366	Dance Improvisation and Creative Expression	3
MUS 403	Vocal Pedagogy	2
MUS 441	Entrepreneurship in Music	2
Electives (Recommended Electives listed below)		2
ECO 1307	Economics of Personal Finance
MGT 1301	Principles of Business and Entrepreneurship
MGT 301	Legal Environment of Business
MGT 303	Business Communications
MGT 360	Sustainable Leadership
MKT 306	Marketing
Total Hours		41

Piano Pedagogy Emphasis

Required courses in the major beyond the Music Core
MUS 151	Minor Applied	2
MUS 326	Piano Literature	6
MUS 331	Piano Pedagogy I	3
MUS 332	Piano Pedagogy II	3
MUS 351	Minor Applied	2
MUS 352	Principal Applied	9
MUS 437	Internship in Piano Pedagogy	6
Electives (Recommended Electives listed below)		10
ECO 1307	Economics of Personal Finance
MGT 1301	Principles of Business and Entrepreneurship
MGT 301	Legal Environment of Business
MGT 303	Business Communications
MGT 308	Entrepreneurship
MGT 360	Sustainable Leadership
MKT 306	Marketing
Total Hours		41

 Guitar Performance Emphasis

MUS 121	Jazz Guitar	1
MUS 128	Guitar Technique 1	1
MUS 151	Minor Applied	3
MUS 318	Counterpoint	2
MUS 340	Guitar Literature 1	3
MUS 341	Guitar Literature 2	3
MUS 345	Guitar Pedagogy 1	3
MUS 328	Guitar Technique 2	1
MUS 336	Guitar Accompanying
MUS 346	Guitar Pedagogy 2	3
MUS 351	Minor Applied	2
MUS 352	Principal Applied	9
MUS 441	Entrepreneurship in Music	2
Electives		8
Total Hours		41

A grade of “C” or higher must be earned in all courses in this Major.

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