B.M. Music Education

Core Curriculum Courses
See the Core Curriculum Requirements42
World Music (Creative Arts Requirement: MUS 1315 World Music )
Core Curriculum for All Music Majors
Music requirements
MUS 110Freshman Success1
MUS 1116Ear Training I 1
MUS 1117Ear Training II 1
MUS 1311Theory I 3
MUS 1312Theory II 3
MUS 2116Ear Training III1
MUS 2117Ear Training IV1
MUS 2311Theory III 3
MUS 2312Theory IV 3
MUS 236Class Piano C1
or MUS 151 Minor Applied
MUS 313Fundamentals of Conducting2
MUS 323Music History: Early-1750 (Required course: Hours Count as Core Requirement for Music Education) *3
MUS 324Music History: 1750-Present3
MUS 352Principal Applied-Upper Division2
MUS 353Junior Recital 1
MUS 416Orchestration I2
8 Hours of Lower Division Principal Applied:8
MUS 152Principal Applied-Lower Division
6 Hours of Principal Ensemble:6
MUS 100Ensemble
or MUS 300 Jazz Ensemble I
or MUS 300P Percussion Ensemble I
or MUS 300S Chamber Singers
or MUS 300W Wind Ensemble
Concentration Area Required
23 semester hours required in concentration23
Instrumental Concentration
Elementary String Class
Voice Class
Clarinet and Saxophone Methods
Flute and Double Reed Methods
High Brass Methods
Low Brass Methods
Percussion Methods I
Percussion Methods II
Music Technology
Instrumental Conducting
Instrumental Literature and Administration
Instrumental Rehearsal Techniques
Music and Movement for Children I
Music & Movement for Children II
Vocal Concentration
English Diction
Italian Diction
German Diction
French Diction
Instrumental Pedagogy for Vocalists
Vocal Pedagogy
Choral Methods
Choral Conducting
Music and Movement for Children I
Music & Movement for Children II
Choral Literature
Music Technology
Professional Development Area Required
20 semester hours required
MUS 222Introduction to Music Education2
MUS 325The Music Teaching Profession3
MUS 400Classroom Management, Assessment and Special Populations in Music3
MUS 405Music Clinical Teaching I5
MUS 406Music Clinical Teaching Seminar2
MUS 455Music Clinical Teaching II5
Total Hours127
*

Counts toward Core Curriculum Requirements

Additional Requirements for All Music Majors

All incoming students must audition for acceptance as a music major. 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 Music, and the second to complete study at the upper division level (MUS 351 Minor Applied Music). 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.

Prerequisites to Student Teaching in Music 

Prior to student teaching, a music major in the Teacher Education program must be: 

  • Admitted to upper division and complete three semester hours of upper division credit in his/her major applied music area, 
  • Complete the courses in his/her area of emphasis and the required development courses, 
  • Complete the piano requirements (n.b. Piano requirements are designed for three levels of achievement depending on the student's major applied area.), 
  • On campus as a full-time music major either two full semesters or one semester and a full summer session prior to registering for student teaching. 

A grade of "C" or higher must be earned in all courses in this major. 

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Plan of Study Grid
Sophomore
FallHours
MUS 100R Recital 0
MUS 152 Principal Applied 2
MUS 100B Symphonic Band 1
MUS 2311 Theory III 3
MUS 100M Recommended for Fall 0-1
MUS 2116 Ear Training III 1
MUS 236 Class Piano C 1
MUS 163 High Brass Methods 1
MUS 165 Percussion Methods I 1
HIST 1301 History of the United States through Reconstruction 3
Non-Science Life and Physical Science 3
 Hours16-17
Spring
MUS 100R Recital 0
MUS 152 Principal Applied 2
MUS 100B Symphonic Band 1
MUS 2312 Theory IV 3
MUS 2117 Ear Training IV 1
MUS 1315 World Music 3
MUS 164 Low Brass Methods 1
MUS 166 Percussion Methods II 1
MUS 222 Introduction to Music Education 2
Non Science Life and Physical Science 3
 Hours17
Junior
Fall
MUS 100R Recital 0
MUS 100B Symphonic Band 1
MUS 352 Principal Applied 1-2
MUS 100M Recommended for Fall 0-1
MUS 323 Music History: Early-1750 3
MUS 313 Fundamentals of Conducting 2
MUS 161 Clarinet and Saxophone Methods 1
HIST 1302 History of the United States Since Reconstruction 3
MUS 450 Music and Movement for Children I 3
Social and Behavioral Science 3
 Hours17-19
Spring
MUS 100R Recital 0
MUS 100B Symphonic Band 1
MUS 352 Principal Applied 1
MUS 353 Junior Recital 1
MUS 324 Music History: 1750-Present 3
MUS 414 Instrumental Conducting 3
MUS 134 Elementary String Class 1
MUS 465 Music & Movement for Children II 2
MUS 162 Flute and Double Reed Methods 1
MUS 310 Music Technology 3
MUS 419 Instrumental Literature and Administration 3
 Hours19
Senior
Fall
MUS 100M Recommended for Fall 0-1
MUS 100 Ensemble Recommended for every semester 0-1
PSCI 2305 United States Government and Politics 3
MUS 416 Orchestration I 2
MUS 325 The Music Teaching Profession 3
MUS 400 Classroom Management, Assessment and Special Populations in Music 3
MUS 420 Required 2
Language Philosophy and Culture 3
 Hours16-18
Spring
MUS 406 Music Clinical Teaching Seminar 2
MUS 405 Music Clinical Teaching I 5
MUS 455 Music Clinical Teaching II 5
 Hours12
First Year
Fall
Delete This Text  
MUS 100R Recital 0
MUS 152 Principal Applied 2
MUS 110 recommended 0-1
MUS 100B Symphonic Band 1
MUS 100M Recommended for Fall 0-1
MUS 1311 Theory I 3
MUS 1116 Ear Training I 1
ENG 1301 College Reading & Writing 3
Pass Piano Proficiency or MUS 136 Recommended 0-1
Mathematics 3
 Hours13-16
Spring
MUS 100R Recital 0
MUS 152 Principal Applied 2
MUS 100B Symphonic Band 1
MUS 1312 Theory II 3
MUS 1117 Ear Training II 1
PSCI 2306 Texas Government and Politics 3
Pass Piano Proficiency or MUS 140 Recommended 0-1
ENG 1302 Written Argument/Research 3
MUS 139 Voice Class 1
Signature Course 3
 Hours17-18
 Total Hours127-136
Plan of Study Grid
Sophomore
FallHours
HIST 1301 History of the United States through Reconstruction 3
MUS 236 Class Piano C 1
MUS 2116 Ear Training III 1
MUS 2311 Theory III 3
MUS 145 German Diction 1
MUS 100C Chorale 1
MUS 152 Principal Applied 2
MUS 100R Recital 0
Non Science Life and Physical Science 3
Social and Behavioral Science 3
 Hours18
Spring
MUS 100R Recital 0
MUS 152 Principal Applied 2
MUS 100C Chorale 1
MUS 2312 Theory IV 3
MUS 2117 Ear Training IV 1
MUS 1315 World Music 3
MUS 146 French Diction 1
MUS 222 Introduction to Music Education 2
Non Science Life and Physical Science 3
 Hours16
First Year
Fall
delete  
MUS 100R Recital 0-2
MUS 110 Recommended 0-1
MUS 152 Principal Applied 2
MUS 144 Italian Diction 1
MUS 100C Chorale 1
MUS 1311 Theory I 3
MUS 1116 Ear Training I 1
Pass Piano Proficiency or MUS 136 Recommended 0-1
ENG 1301 College Reading & Writing 3
Mathematics 3
 Hours14-18
Spring
MUS 100R Recital 0
MUS 152 Principal Applied 2
MUS 100C Chorale 1
MUS 1312 Theory II 3
MUS 1117 Ear Training II 1
Pass Piano Proficiency or MUS 140 Recommended 0-1
PSCI 2306 Texas Government and Politics 3
ENG 1302 Written Argument/Research 3
CID 1300/2301 3
MUS 143 English Diction 1
 Hours17-18
Third Year
Fall
MUS 100R Recital 0
MUS 100C Chorale 1
MUS 352 Principal Applied 2
MUS 323 Music History: Early-1750 3
MUS 313 Fundamentals of Conducting 2
MUS 147 Instrumental Pedagogy for Vocalists 2
MUS 450 Music and Movement for Children I 3
HIST 1302 History of the United States Since Reconstruction 3
 Hours16
Spring
MUS 100R Recital 0
MUS 100C Chorale 1
MUS 352 Recommended 0-1
MUS 353 Junior Recital 1
MUS 324 Music History: 1750-Present 3
MUS 413 Choral Conducting 3
MUS 403 Vocal Pedagogy 2
MUS 470 Choral Literature 3
MUS 310 Music Technology 3
MUS 465 Music & Movement for Children II 2
 Hours18-19
Fourth Year
Fall
Music 100C Recommended  
MUS 325 The Music Teaching Profession 3
PSCI 2305 United States Government and Politics 3
MUS 416 Orchestration I 2
MUS 400 Classroom Management, Assessment and Special Populations in Music 3
MUS 410 Required 2
Language Philosophy and Culture 3
 Hours16
Spring
MUS 406 Music Clinical Teaching Seminar 2
MUS 405 Music Clinical Teaching I 5
MUS 455 Music Clinical Teaching II 5
 Hours12
 Total Hours127-133