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Music - B.M. Program Requirements

  • Composition Concentration
  • Instrumental Concentration
  • Piano Performance Concentration
  • Voice Performance Concentration

Type Legend: DD Diversity–Domestic; DG Diversity–Global; KAD Kent Core Additional; KBS Kent Core Basic Sciences; KCM Kent Core Composition; KFA Kent Core Fine Arts: KHU Kent Core Humanities; KMC Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning; KSS Kent Core Social Sciences; WIC Writing Intensive

Please read the sections in the University Catalog on Kent Core, diversity and writing-intensive requirements.

I.
 DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE  (1 credit)
Type Course Title Credits
  US 10097 Destination Kent State: First Year Experience 1
II.
 MAJOR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (37-38 credits)  Courses count in major GPA 
Type Course Title Credits
  MUS 11121 Theory* 3
    11122 Theory* 3
    21121 Music Theory to 1750* 3
    21122 Music Theory, 1750-1900* 3
KFA   22111 The Understanding of Music (music major section) 3
KFA
DG
   22121 Music As a World Phenomenon (music major section) 3
    31121 Western Music Since 1900 2
    32211 Music History to 1750 3
WIC   32212 Music History, 1750-1900** 3
    34111 Elementary Conducting 2
  Choose from the following: Major Ensemble*** 8
  MUS 45111 University Choir (1)
  
    45121 Kent Chorus (1)
    45141 Kent State University Chorale (1)
    45142 Men's Chorus (1)
    45143 Women's Chorus (1)
    45212 Orchestra (1)
    45221 Concert Band (1)
    45223 Wind Ensemble (1)
  Choose from the following: 1-2
  MUS 41341 Jazz Improvisation (2)  
    48512 Improvisation (1)  
III. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (30 credits)  
Type Course Title Credits
  Kent Core Additional (must be from two categories) 6
  Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) 6-7
  Kent Core Composition 6-8
  Kent Core Humanities
 3
  Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning 3-5
  Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 6
IV.
 CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (56-57 credits) 
  Composition (56-57)
  Instrumental Performance (56-57)
  Piano Performance (56-57)
  Voice Performance (57)
MINIMUM TOTAL  125

Important Notes:

  • Minimum C- (1.70) grade required in all music courses.
  • Composition students begin as music majors in the BA degree program. Admission into the BM Music–Composition program requires faculty approval following completion of MUS 21122. A skills test and composition portfolio are required.
  • Students who begin their music or music education major program as first semester freshmen are required to attend a minimum of 84 concerts or recitals.  Music or music education majors who transfer from a non-music program or university must attend an average of 10 music recitals or concerts for semesters of full time enrollment.
  • To graduate from Kent State University with the degree B.M. or B.A. in music, it is required that students take a major field achievement test in music history and music theory during their senior year.  Specific score level achievement is not required.
* A minimum 3.0 GPA is required in music theory courses (MUS 11121, 11122, 21121, 21122) in the Composition concentration.

** A minimum C (2.0) grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

*** Major ensemble (8 semesters and 8 credit hours): Students must enroll in a major ensemble appropriate to their major performance area each semester they are registered full time as music majors. The first 4 credit hours of major ensemble apply as lower-division hours; the remaining hours of major ensemble apply as upper-division hours. Piano performance majors satisfy the eight-semester ensemble requirement as follows: 4 credit hours of MUS 45321 Accompanying, 2 credit hours of MUS 45311 Chamber Music and minimum 2 credit hours selected from chamber music or a major vocal or instrumental ensemble.

 

 

Composition Concentration

For semester-by-semester course sequencing for this program, view the 2010-2011 Roadmap.

 I. CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (53-54 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Type Course Title Credits
  MUS 31211 Composition 8
    41131 Keyboard Harmony * 3
    41141 16th-Century Counterpoint
 		3
    41151 18th-Century Counterpoint *
 3
    41161 Advanced Musical Analysis 3
    41211 Composition 8
    41299 Senior Project: Music Composition 2
    41321 Orchestration 3
    48251 Pedagogy: Music Theory *
 2
    44111

44121
 Instrumental Conducting (3)
or
Choral Conducting (3)
 3


Music Elective 3-4
  Choose from the following: 36xxx Applied Music ** 12
  MUS 3/46111 Applied Music—Piano (2)  
    3/46311 Applied Music—Voice (2)
  
    3/46411 Applied Music—Violin (2)
    3/46412 Applied Music—Viola (2)
    3/46413 Applied Music—Cello (2)
    3/46414 Applied Music—Double Bass (2)
    3/46511 Applied Music—Flute (2)
    3/46512 Applied Music—Oboe (2)
    3/46513 Applied Music—Clarinet(2)
    3/46514 Applied Music—Bassoon (2)
    3/46515 Applied Music—Saxophone (2)
    3/46611 Applied Music—Trumpet (2)
    3/46612 Applied Music—Horn (2)
    3/46613 Applied Music—Trombone (2)
    3/46614 Applied Music—Euphonium (2)
    3/46615 Applied Music—Tuba (2)
    3/46711 Applied Music—Percussion(2)
I. ADDITIONAL CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (3 credits)  
Type Course Title Credits
  General Elective (lower or upper-division) 3
TOTAL  56-57

* In addition to completing the required courses, students in the music composition concentration must do the following: (1) pass a theory/composition piano proficiency exam for required courses MUS 41131, 41151 and 48251; and (2) present a senior applied recital.  The applied recital may be performed concurrently with the composition recital required as part of the senior composition project. Composition students may fulfill the one-half recital requirement through applied performance, performance/lecture, performance of original compositions or any combination of these.

** Applied music (6 semesters and 12 credit hours): Students whose main instrument is piano may fulfill this requirement with piano only or can include one or two semesters with a different instrument. Students whose main instrument is not piano must take two semesters of Applied Music-Piano.  A piano placement test  or piano audition is required and additional remedial courses may be necessary. Students must meet the 46000-entry-level prior to graduation.

 

 

Instrumental Performance Concentration

For semester-by-semester course sequencing for this program, view the 2010-2011 Roadmap.

 CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (53-54 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Type Course Title Credits
  MUS 44121 Instrumental Conducting and Arranging 3
    45311 Chamber Music 4
    48257 Pedagogy: Instrumental 2
  MUS Elective (lower or upper-division) 5-6
  Choose from the following: Applied Music *
16 credits at 36000 level and 16 credits at 46000 level		 32
  MUS 3/46411 Applied Music—Violin (4)
    3/46412 Applied Music—Viola (4)
    3/46413 Applied Music—Cello (4)
    3/46414 Applied Music—Double Bass (4)
    3/46511 Applied Music—Flute (4)
    3/46512 Applied Music—Oboe (4)
    3/46513 Applied Music—Clarinet (4)
    3/46514 Applied Music—Bassoon (4)
    3/46515 Applied Music—Saxophone (4)
    3/46611 Applied Music—Trumpet (4)
    3/46612 Applied Music—Horn (4)
    3/46613 Applied Music—Trombone (4)
    3/46614 Applied Music—Euphonium (4)
    3/46615 Applied Music—Tuba (4)
    3/46711 Applied Music—Percussion (4)
  Choose from the following: 4
  MUS 27111 Piano Class (2)  
    27112 Piano Class (2)  
    36111 Applied Music-Piano (2)  
    46111 Applied Music-Piano (2)  
  Choose from the following: 3
    42161 History of Jazz (3)  
    42221 Symphonic Literature (3)  
    42222 Chamber Music Literature (3)  
I. ADDITIONAL CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (3 credits)  
Type Course Title Credits
  General Elective (lower or upper-division) 3
 TOTAL  56-57

*Applied music (32 total credit hours:16 credits at 36000 level, 16 credits at 46000 level) based on instrument of acceptance into the Instrumental concentration. The 46000 level may be taken following a successful 46000 level barrier exam.

Instrumental Performance students are required to perform a half junior and a full senior recital.

 

 

Piano Performance Concentration

For semester-by-semester course sequencing for this program, view the 2010-2011 Roadmap.

 CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (53 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Type Course Title Credits
  MUS 36111 Applied Music: Piano 16
    41131 Keyboard Harmony 3
 
41151 18th-Century Counterpoint 3
    42241 Piano Literature 3
    46111 Applied Music-Piano *
 16
    48211 Introduction to Piano Pedagogy 2
    48221 Elements of Accompanying I 2
    48222 Elements of Accompanying II 2
  MUS Elective (lower or upper-division) 6
I. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS (3-4 credits)  
Type Course Title Credits
  General Elective(lower or upper-division) 3-4
 TOTAL  56-57

Piano Performance students are required to perform a half junior and a full senior recital.

*The 46000 level courses may be taken following a successful 46000 level barrier exam.

 


Voice Performance Concentration

For semester-by-semester course sequencing for this program, view the 2010-2011 Roadmap.

 CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (57 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Type Course Title Credits

MUS 18611 Singer's Diction 1
    18612 Singer's Diction 1
    36311 Applied Music: Voice 16
    42251 Song Literature 3
    42261 Opera Literature 3
    45131 Opera: Singer-Actor Techniques (2) 4
    46311 Applied Music-Voice *
 16
    48241 Voice Pedagogy
 2
    MUS electives 1
  Choose from the following: 6
  MUS 27111 Piano Class (2)  
    27112 Piano Class (2)  
    36111 Applied Music-Piano (2)  
    46111 Applied Music-Piano (2)  
  Choose from the following: 4
  FR 13201 Elementary French I (4)  
    13202 Elementary French II (4)  
  GER 11201 Elementary German I (4)  
    11202 Elementary German II (4)  
  ITAL 15201 Elementary Italian I (4)  
    15202 Elementary Italian II (4)  
TOTAL  57

Voice Performance students are required to perform a half junior and a full senior recital.

*The 46000 level courses may be taken following a successful 46000 level barrier exam.