Music

The Department of Music provides an environment in which professional and non-professional musicians may continue to develop the skills, knowledge, concepts and sensitivities essential in recognizing and cultivating quality musical experiences. This development takes place within a liberal arts academic community that:

• enables the pursuit of undergraduate degrees in music
• enhances the breadth of non-music degrees
• emphasizes the artistic and personal maturity of the individual
• encourages personal enrichment through diverse musical experiences
• embraces professional values, responsibilities and relationships
• values highly-qualified, professionally-active faculty who continue the tradition of excellence in music degrees

The Bachelor of Music degree is offered with majors in Music Education (Choral, Instrumental, or Elementary emphasis) and Performance. The Bachelor of Arts degree is offered for students who desire a broad liberal arts education or who wish to combine a major in music with a minor or concentration in other areas of study. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre is offered through the Department of Theatre.

Within any of the degree programs, a student chooses a principal applied instrument from among the following: voice; organ or piano; brass, percussion, or woodwind instruments.

Accreditation

The Department of Music holds full membership in the National Association of Schools of Music. The Music
Education degree is part of the Teacher Education Program, which is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and by the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction.

Admission as a Music Major

Students who wish to major in music should indicate that on their admission application. The Applied Music
Coordinator will contact prospective students with the specific information on procedures to follow for scheduling an audition on the principal applied instrument. The prospective music major or minor is formally admitted to the Department of Music only after he or she has passed an entrance audition.

The prospective first-year or transfer student should plan to audition in the fall or spring semester before his or her entrance the following academic year. Entering students should audition in person, although in cases where a visit to the campus poses a personal hardship on the student, a video recording may be sent. Complete information on auditions is available from the Department of Music (828-689-1209).