May 01, 2025

2025-2026 General Catalog [Effective Fall 2025]

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2025-2026 General Catalog [Effective Fall 2025]

Music - Piano Performance Emphasis (BM)

Location(s): Main Campus
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Program Information

Ensembles: All majors must be a member of one of the following ensembles in their applied emphasis each semester: MUSC 3320 - Wind Symphony , MUSC 3350 - Opus Chamber Choir , MUSC 3360 - Concert Choir (4 semesters maximum), or MUSC 3380 - Symphony Orchestra . The total minimum number of major ensemble credits required for a Bachelor of Music is eight (8).
Music Theory: Students must be enrolled concurrently in Music Theory and Aural Skills classes.
Piano Proficiency: Students must pass a piano proficiency exam before enrolling in MUSC 2110 - Music Theory III and MUSC 2130 - Aural Skills III . MUSC 1150 - Class Piano I and MUSC 1160 - Class Piano II may be taken to assist in preparation for the exam.
In order to move to upper-level applied study (MUSC 3410 - Individual Applied Music Instruction ), students must pass the Music Gateway.
Junior/Senior Recitals: The BM degree requires a junior year half-recital and a senior year full recital. Students must enroll in applied music each semester until the recital requirement is met.
To fulfill all graduation requirements, all zero (0) credit courses must appear on the transcript.
Each major or minor in music is required to abide by the policies and procedures set up in the Departmental Student Handbook.
All courses must be passed with a “C” (2.0) or better to be counted in the major, except for Applied Music courses which require a “B” (3.0) or higher.
An audition is required to be admitted into the music major.
The Department of Music follows National Association of Schools of Music standards.

General Education Requirement (28+ Credits)

See General Education for course options.

Core Course Requirements (12+ Credits)
Breadth Area Requirements (16+ Credits)

Music - Piano Performance Curriculum (88 Credits)

Music Core Requirements (43 Credits)

MUSC 0990 - Recital Attendance 0 Credit(s) (8 semesters of SUU attendance)
MUSC 1110 - Music Theory I 3 Credit(s)
MUSC 1120 - Music Theory II 3 Credit(s)
MUSC 1130 - Aural Skills I 1 Credit(s)
MUSC 1140 - Aural Skills II 1 Credit(s)
MUSC 1410 - Individual Applied Music Instruction 2 Credit(s) (course must be repeated once) 4 Credit(s)
MUSC 2110 - Music Theory III 3 Credit(s)
MUSC 2130 - Aural Skills III 1 Credit(s)
MUSC 2140 - Aural Skills IV 1 Credit(s)
MUSC 2350 - Fundamentals of Conducting 2 Credit(s)
MUSC 2410 - Individual Applied Music Instruction 2 Credit(s) (course must be repeated once) 4 Credit(s)
MUSC 3070 - Form and Analysis 3 Credit(s)
MUSC 3410 - Individual Applied Music Instruction 2 Credit(s) (course must be repeated once) 4 Credit(s)
MUSC 3500 - Music History I 3 Credit(s)
MUSC 3510 - Music History II 3 Credit(s)
MUSC 3530 - Twentieth Century Music: History and Theory 3 Credit(s)
MUSC 3800 - Junior Recital 0 Credit(s)
MUSC 4410 - Individual Applied Music Instruction 2 Credit(s) (course must be repeated once) 4 Credit(s)
MUSC 4800 - Senior Recital 0 Credit(s)

Piano Emphasis (41 Credits)

MUSC 2320 - Keyboard Collaborative Arts 2 Credit(s)
MUSC 2420 - Piano Literature and Performance History I 2 Credit(s)
MUSC 2430 - Piano Literature and Performance History II 2 Credit(s)
MUSC 3450 - Piano Pedagogy I 2 Credit(s)
MUSC 3460 - Piano Pedagogy II 2 Credit(s)
MUSC 4060 - Orchestration and Arranging 3 Credit(s)

Small Ensemble Requirement (4 Credits)

Complete 4 credits from the following:

MUSC 3250 - Piano Ensemble 0-1 Credit(s)
MUSC 3330 - Jazz Ensemble 0-1 Credit(s)

Major Ensemble Requirement (8 Credits)

Complete 8 credits from the following:

MUSC 3320 - Wind Symphony 0-1 Credit(s)
MUSC 3350 - Opus Chamber Choir 0-1 Credit(s)
MUSC 3360 - Concert Choir 0-1 Credit(s)
MUSC 3380 - Symphony Orchestra 0-1 Credit(s)

Music Electives (16 Credits)

Complete 16 credits of MUSC electives

Foreign Language Requirement (4 Credits)

Complete 4 credits from one of the following languages: French or German.

French Language

FREN 1010 - Beginning French I 4 Credit(s) [GE Humanities]
FREN 1020 - Beginning French II 4 Credit(s) [GE Humanities]
FREN 2010 - Intermediate French I 4 Credit(s) [GE Humanities]
FREN 2020 - Intermediate Grammar and Conversation 4 Credit(s) [GE Humanities]

German Language

GERM 1010 - Beginning German I 4 Credit(s) [GE Humanities]
GERM 1020 - Beginning German II 4 Credit(s) [GE Humanities]
GERM 2010 - Intermediate German 4 Credit(s) [GE Humanities]
GERM 2020 - Intermediate Grammar and Conversation 4 Credit(s) [GE Humanities]

Free Electives and University Requirements

Students’ total free elective credit is determined by their General Education courses taken, degree type selected (if applicable), additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Some students and/or programs may not have any free electives.

For a bachelor’s degree, students must earn

A minimum of 120 total credits;
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in both SUU coursework and combined transfer/SUU coursework;
40 upper-division credits , 20 of which are earned from SUU (students may need to select additional upper-division courses not included in their major requirements in order to reach this minimum 40); and
30 credits completed through SUU.

Total Credits, BM Degree: 120

Program Learning Outcomes

History, Theory, Analysis

Conceptualize and perform music in its proper historical context.
Be able to analyze harmony and other aesthetic qualities of music.
Be able to research and write cogently about music.
Demonstrate the ability to perceive and understand music aurally.

Music in Social and Cultural Contexts

Have an understanding of the role of music in society.
Participate in cultural experiences which will enlarge multicultural understanding.
Possess an understanding of the responsibility of building the audiences of the future.

Performance and Musicianship

Demonstrate advanced technical and artistic performance standards in their area of expertise.
Have a wide range of performance experience of the highest level.
Have a broad knowledge of literature in a wide variety of musical styles.

Piano Proficiency

Play and accompany simple folk songs by ear, in any key.
Transfer theory and skills concepts to the keyboard.
Read at sight at the level of 4-part hymns.