NKU Home > Undergraduate Catalog 2012-13 > College of Arts and Sciences > Department of Music > Music Majors

Music Majors

Up one level

Department of Music

In this section

Sample 4-Year Plan: Choral-Piano B.M.

Sample 4-Year Plan: Choral-Vocal B.M.

Sample 4-Year Plan: Composition B.M.

Sample 4-Year Plan: B.M. in Music Education

Sample 4-Year Plan: B.M. in Performance

Sample 4-Year Plan: Jazz Studies B.M.

Sample 4-Year Plan: Keyboard

Sample 4-Year Plan: Music B.A.

Sample 4-Year Plan: Piano Accompanying B.M.

Sample 4-Year Plan: Piano Pedagogy B.M.

Sample 4-Year Plan: Vocal Emphasis B.M.

Bachelor of Music – Performance

The Bachelor of Music: Performance is designed for those students who wish to pursue professional careers in the performing arts or related fields. Acceptance into this program is selective and is based on an audition on the student’s primary instrument. Students in this program must complete the 49-credit core plus one of the tracks or emphases listed below.


Core Courses in Music		Credits
MUS 122	Music Theory I		3
MUS 123	Music Theory II		3
MUS 222	Music Theory III		3
MUS 223	Music Theory IV		3
MUS 124	Aural Skills I		1/2
MUS 125	Aural Skills II		1/2
MUS 126	Aural Skills III		1/2
MUS 127	Aural Skills IV		1/2
MUS 224	Aural Skills V		1/2
MUS 225	Aural Skills VI		1/2
MUS 226	Aural Skills VII		1/2
MUS 227	Aural Skills VIII		1/2
MUS 130	Introduction to Music Literature		2
MUS 196	Recital Review (must pass at least seven semesters)		0
MUS 197	Freshman Proficiency Jury		0
MUS 230	History of Music I: Antiquity through Early Baroque		3
MUS 231	History of Music II: Late Baroque to Mid 19th Century		3
MUS 337	History of Music III: Mid 19th and 20th Centuries		3
MUS 296	Piano Proficiency		0
MUS 297	Sophomore Comprehensive Jury		0
MUS 312	Computer Applications for Musicians		1
MUS 325	Form and Analysis		3
MUS 352	Conducting I		2
MUS 397	Junior Recital		0
MUS 497	Senior Recital		0
Applied music (major instrument or voice)		16
TOTAL CORE CREDITS		49

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.



Instrumental Emphasis		Credits
MUS 399	Independent Study: Music			3
Large ensembles			8
Small ensembles			6
Music electives			12
TOTAL TRACK CREDITS			29
Total Core Credits			49
TOTAL CREDITS			78

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.



Jazz Studies Emphasis		Credits
MUS 235	Jazz Harmony/Piano I		1
MUS 236	Jazz Harmony/Piano II		1
MUS 237	Jazz Improvisation I		2
MUS 238	Jazz Improvisation II		2
	Large ensembles		2
MUS 306	Vocal Jazz Ensemble
	OR		4
MUS 317	Jazz Ensemble
MUS 310	Chamber Music Ensembles		6
MUS 321	Jazz Arranging 1		2
MUS 322	Jazz Arranging II		2
MUS 323	Jazz Theory		3
MUS 339	History of Jazz		3
MUS 424	Jazz Pedagogy		2
MUS 426	Jazz Styles and Analysis		3
Electives in music		6
TOTAL EMPHASIS CREDITS		38
Total Core Credits		49
TOTAL CREDITS		87

Core courses "MUS 230: History of Music I: Antiquity through Early Baroque" and "MUS 325: Form and Analysis" are not required for this emphasis

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.



Keyboard Emphasis		Credits
MUS 311	Accompanying and Chamber Music			4
MUS 331	Keyboard Literature I			2
MUS 447	Seminar in Piano Pedagogy			3
Ensembles (must have advisor’s approval)			4
Electives in music			12
TOTAL TRACK CREDITS			25
Total Core Credits			49
TOTAL CREDITS			74

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.



Piano Accompanying Emphasis		Credits
MUS 305	Ensemble Accompanying		13
MUS 311	Accompanying and Chamber Music		4
MUS 170	Applied Piano Accompanying		4
MUS 270	Applied Piano Accompanying		4
Electives in music			8
TOTAL EMPHASIS CREDITS			33
Total Core Credits			49
TOTAL CREDITS			82

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.



Piano Pedagogy Emphasis		Credits
MUS 311	Accompanying and Chamber Music		2
MUS 331	Keyboard Literature I		2
MUS 332	Keyboard Literature II		2
MUS 348	Piano Pedagogy I		3
MUS 349	Piano Pedagogy II		3
MUS 448	Piano Pedagogy III		3
MUS 449	Piano Pedagogy IV		3
Ensemble			7
Electives in music			5
TOTAL EMPHASIS CREDITS			30
Total Core Credits			49
TOTAL CREDITS			79

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.



Vocal Emphasis		Credits
Two years of foreign language selected in consultation with an applied voice teacher		12
MUS 301	The Northern Chorale
	OR			6
MUS 302	Chamber Choir
MUS 304	Opera Workshop
	OR			3
MUS 310	Chamber Music Ensembles
MUS 354	Lyric Diction I			3
MUS 355	Lyric Diction II			3
MUS 333	Vocal Literature			3
MUS 446	Vocal Pedagogy			3
MUS 185	Applied Piano			2
MUS 285	Applied Piano			2
Electives in music			5
TOTAL TRACK CREDITS			42
Total Core Credits			49
TOTAL CREDITS			91

Bachelor of Music in Music Education

The Bachelor of Music in Music Education is a comprehensive, professional degree program that prepares students for careers in teaching K-12 music in public and private schools. Students complete the core and may select one of three tracks: choral/vocal, instrumental, or piano/choral based on their applied background and their teaching interests. Applicants must be accepted through audition and have achieved a 21 or higher on their ACT examination or a 1470 combined score on the SAT examination.

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Music with teacher certification should review that portion of the university catalog relating to education. Upon approval to pursue the music teacher education program, students must schedule an appointment with the certification specialist in the College of Education and Human Services. Music students should follow the guidelines for certification listed under Secondary Education.

Candidates for certification must meet the Kentucky Department of Education certification requirements in both general and professional education. Students wishing to be certified in a state other than Kentucky are responsible for knowing and meeting the certification requirements of that state. Each student should work in close consultation with an advisor in order to meet all non-music requirements. All degree emphases in music education are exempt from the requirement to complete a minor or area of concentration.

Degree Requirements: B.M. – Music Education


Core Courses In Music		Credits
MUS 122	Music Theory I			3
MUS 123	Music Theory II			3
MUS 222	Music Theory III			3
MUS 223	Music Theory IV			3
MUS 124	Aural Skills I			1/2
MUS 125	Aural Skills II			1/2
MUS 126	Aural Skills III			1/2
MUS 127	Aural Skills IV			1/2
MUS 224	Aural Skills V			1/2
MUS 225	Aural Skills VI			1/2
MUS 226	Aural Skills VII			1/2
MUS 227	Aural Skills VIII			1/2
MUS 130	Introduction to Music Literature			2
MUS 196	Recital Review (Must pass at least seven semesters)			0
MUS 197	Freshman Proficiency Jury			0
MUS 230	History of Music I: Antiquity through Early Baroque			3
MUS 231	History of Music II: Late Baroque to Mid 19th Century			3
MUS 337	History of Music III: Mid 19th and 20th Centuries			3
MUS 296	Piano Proficiency			0
MUS 297	Sophomore Comprehensive Jury			0
MUS 309	Introduction to Music Education			2
MUS 312	Computer Applications for Musicians			1
MUS 325	Form and Analysis			3
MUS 340	General and Vocal Music P-8			3
MUS 352	Conducting I			2
MUS 353	Conducting II			3
MUS 397	Junior Recital			0
Applied music (major instrument or voice)			14
Core Credits In Music			55
Core Courses In Other Disciplines
EDU 104	Orientation: Education Profession/Program				1
EDU 300	Human Growth and Development				3
EDU 311	Admission Practicum for Secondary Grades				2
EDU 325	Educational Assessment: Secondary				2
EDU 496	Student Teaching in Secondary School				12
EDS 324	Instructional Planning for Inclusive Secondary Classroom				2
EDS 360	Students with Exceptionalities in the Schools				2
Core Credits in Other Disciplines		24
TOTAL CORE CREDITS		79

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.



Choral/Vocal Track		Credits
MUS 249	Instruments for Singers, Pianists, and Guitarists		1
MUS 336	Choral Literature		3
MUS 342	General and Choral Music in the Secondary School		3
MUS 354	Lyric Diction I		3
MUS 446	Vocal Pedagogy		3
Ensembles		7
TOTAL TRACK CREDITS		20
Total Core Credits		79
TOTAL CREDITS		99

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.



Instrumental Track		Credits
MUS 146	Group Voice		1
MUS 241	Applied Methods and Materials: Brass		1
MUS 243	Applied Methods and Materials: Woodwinds		1
MUS 245	Applied Methods and Materials: Strings		1
MUS 247	Applied Methods and Materials: Percussion		1
MUS 341	Instrumental Music 6-12		3
MUS 343	Marching Band Methods		3
Large ensembles		7
Small ensembles		6
TOTAL TRACK CREDITS		24
Total Core Credits		79
TOTAL CREDITS		93

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.



Piano/Choral Track		Credits
MUS 249	Instruments for Singers, Pianists, and Guitarists		1
MUS 311	Accompanying and Chamber Music		4
MUS 336	Choral Literature		3
MUS 342	General and Choral Music in the Secondary School		3
MUS 354	Lyric Diction I		3
MUS 446	Vocal Pedagogy		3
Ensembles		7
Secondary applied voice		4
TOTAL TRACK CREDITS		28
Total Core Credits		79
TOTAL CREDITS		108

Bachelor of Music: Composition

The Bachelor of Music in Composition is for talented students wishing to pursue a career as a composer/arranger or who wish to continue musical study in composition, theory, or musicology at the graduate level. Students are admitted into the composition program based on an audition on their primary instrument and a portfolio review of their compositions.

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.

Degree Requirements: B.M. – Composition


Courses		Credits
MUS 122	Music Theory I		3
MUS 123	Music Theory II		3
MUS 222	Music Theory III		3
MUS 223	Music Theory IV		3
MUS 124	Aural Skills I		1/2
MUS 125	Aural Skills II		1/2
MUS 126	Aural Skills III		1/2
MUS 127	Aural Skills IV		1/2
MUS 224	Aural Skills V		1/2
MUS 225	Aural Skills VI		1/2
MUS 226	Aural Skills VII		1/2
MUS 227	Aural Skills VIII		1/2
MUS 130	Introduction to Music Literature		2
MUS 196	Recital Review (must pass at least seven semesters)		0
MUS 197	Freshman Proficiency Jury		0
MUS 230	History of Music I: Antiquity through Early Baroque		3
MUS 231	History of Music II: Late Baroque to Mid 19th Century		3
MUS 337	History of Music III: Mid 19th and 20th Centuries		3
MUS 296	Piano Proficiency		0
MUS 297	Sophomore Comprehensive Jury		0
MUS 312	Computer Applications for Musicians		1
MUS 313	Advanced Electronic and Computer Music Techniques		3
MUS 324	Orchestration		3
MUS 325	Form and Analysis		3
MUS 326	Materials and Techniques of Music Composition		2
MUS 327	Counterpoint		3
MUS 352	Conducting I		2
MUS 397	Junior Recital		0
MUS 228	Applied Composition I		2
MUS 229	Applied Composition II		2
MUS 328	Applied Composition III		2
MUS 329	Applied Composition IV		2
MUS 428	Applied Composition V		2
MUS 429	Applied Composition VI		2
Applied music (major instrument or voice)			8
Applied piano or secondary instrument (piano required for non-piano majors)			4
Large ensembles			4
Small ensembles			4
Electives in music (must have advisor’s approval)			6
TOTAL CREDITS			82

Bachelor of Arts with a major in Music

The Bachelor of Arts in Music is a liberal arts degree designed for students who wish to develop their musical talents while acquiring a well-rounded education in other academic areas. Students have combined the degree with an area of concentration in business, psychology, mathematics, history, anthropology, and other fields to create a curriculum tailored to their academic and career interests.

Northern Kentucky University

Music Majors