COLLEGE of ARTS and SCIENCES

MUSIC

Professor Kenneth Van Winkle, department head

Professors Alt, Borchert, Klein, Shearer, Sylvan; Associate Professors Kaplan, Romero, Rowe, Spitzer, Staehle; Assistant Professors Bugbee, Joy, Stovall, L.. Van Winkle

(575) 646-2421

DEGREE: Bachelor of Music Education

• OPTION: K-12, Vocal
• OPTION: K-12, Instrumental

DEGREE: Bachelor of Music

• OPTION: Piano Performance
• OPTION: Instrumental Performance
• OPTION: Vocal Performance
• OPTION: Music Business

MINOR: Music

Mission Statement

The mission of the Music Department at NMSU is: 1) to prepare students for careers in music education, business, and/or performance; 2) to give the student body opportunities to perform, study, create, and experience music; 3) to enhance the cultural lives of our constituency by performance of superior music; and 4) to create an artistic environment which fosters the development of personal realizations we believe to be essential to the fabric of a healthy society.

All students are required to meet the State Common Core as well as the College of Arts and Sciences general education requirement as listed in earlier sections of this catalog. Please see a Music Department advisor for a specific list of courses.

Departmental Requirements for all Bachelor Degrees (Music Core)

A student must earn a grade of C or better in all departmental requirements for any degree in the Department of Music. All students wishing to pursue a music degree must audition and take the theory placement exam. Contact the department for current audition requirements.

Students enrolled in this department major(s) or minor(s) may count credits in required applied courses toward their degrees beyond the normal maximum of 9 credits allowed in the College of Arts and Sciences. However, if students change major(s) or minor(s) or do not complete the requirements for the minor at the time of graduation, they may only count a maximum of 9 credits of the applied/occupational credits toward graduation.

Students are required to study acoustics as part of their music degree. Please see a Music Department advisor for specific course options.

DEGREE: Bachelor of Music Education

OPTIONS: K-12, Instrumental K-12, Vocal

The Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) is a diversified four - to five - year degree program of teaching, performance, and specialized studies in music. The goal of this degree is to prepare the student for certification to teach music in the public schools, and serves as a foundation for advanced study toward master and doctoral degrees: M.M., M.M.E., D.M.A., or Ph.D in music education.

REQUIREMENTS K-12 - Instrumental

Basic Music and Performance

Professional Education Courses

REQUIREMENTS: K-12 -Vocal

Basic Music and Performance

Professional Education Courses

DEGREE: Bachelor of Music

DEGREE: Bachelor of Music

• OPTION: Piano Performance
• OPTION: Instrumental Performance
• OPTION: Vocal Performance
• OPTION: Music Business

The Bachelor of Music (B.M.) curriculum is designed to prepare students for performance careers and private studio teaching. In addition, the B.M. degree may be obtained in any of several fields that can lead to positions as professional entertainers or teachers at the college and university levels, or lead to music-related work in the business world.

REQUIREMENTS - Instrumental Performance

Music Core

Supportive Courses in Music

Note: Students must pass piano proficiency before completing the Senior Recital

Departmental Requirements

*MUS 145, 146, 147, 261, Functional Piano I, II, III, IV may be substituted for MUS 230 App. Piano

REQUIREMENTS - Music Business

Courses Outside Field

Electives

*MUS 145, 146, 147, 261, Functional Piano I, II, III, IV may be substituted for MUS 230, Applied Piano.

Must pass piano proficiency before completing the Senior Recital.

REQUIREMENTS - Piano Performance

Music Core

Supportive Courses in Music

Departmental Requirements

REQUIREMENTS - Vocal Performance

Music Core

Supportive Courses in Music

Electives

MINOR: Music

A student may not earn both a bachelor degree in the Department of Music and a minor in Music. The minor requires 24 credits.

RECITAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL MUSIC DEGREES

Bachelor of Music Education

Senior recital is required. All music education majors will give a half recital (30 minutes of music) in their major performance area.

Bachelor of Music

All performance majors are required to give a half recital (30 minutes of music) in the junior year and a full recital (60 minutes of music) in the senior year. Students taking the Music Business option will give a half recital in their major performance area.

Applied Music Requirements for All Music Degrees

All B.M.E. and B.M. degrees require that at least two semesters of the applied music study be at the 430 level.

All students enrolling in applied music will audition and obtain permission from an applied teacher before signing for applied music credit.

Obtain further information by contacting the instructor or the music department.

Other Music Requirements, Fees, and Regulations

1. A Piano Proficiency Examination is required of all music majors. The proficiency examination may be satisfied in one of two ways: (a) pass the Piano Proficiency examination; (b) complete MUS 145, 146, 147, and 261 with a grade of C or better. Detailed requirements may be obtained from the Department of Music office. Students must pass the piano Proficiency Exam before presenting a Senior Recital. If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent a student from taking the piano proficiency exam, then the student should schedule a meeting with the Head of the Department of Music to discuss alternatives.

2. Qualitative grade-point average for graduation in music is 2.0 or higher. All grades in required music courses must be C or better.

3. A Music Theory Placement Examination is required of all entering freshman and transfer students. All theory and ear training requirements will be completed before the music education major is permitted to student teach.

4. An instrument rental fee is charged each semester for students using university instruments. Consult the music department concerning these fees.

5. All applied students pay an additional fee. Consult the music department concerning these fees. Applied lessons (MUS 230, 330, 430) can be taken for either 2 or 4 credits only.

6. Outside groups and individuals must have special permission to use music department facilities. Contact the music office for additional information.

Music Organizations

All students taking a major or minor in music, with the exception of piano majors, must participate in the major ensemble that is appropriate for their voice or instrument. Students may choose from MUS 150, 160, 161, 170, 171, and 172 or the upper-division equivalent. All music education instrumental majors, except piano and strings, are required to participate in marching band for three semesters. Students are strongly encouraged to take at least one semester of chamber ensemble or jazz band, or both, during their degree program.

Music Scholarships and Awards

A limited number of performance stipends and other music scholarships are available to any full-time registered student and are awarded through the department. Amounts awarded will reflect excellence and achievement in performance, determined by audition either in person or by a tape recording and references. Participation in the Marching Band (fall semester), and Symphonic Winds (spring semester) is required for a band stipend. For an orchestra stipend, participation in the Las Cruces Symphony at NMSU is required each semester an award is made. For a vocal stipend, participation in the University Singers is required each semester an award is made. For a music scholarship, applied music study and one or more of the following may be required: participation in one of the music ensembles, as accompanist or recital appearances. Students must have a 2.0 grade-point average to retain a band stipend, and a 2.5 grade-point average to retain a music scholarship; music scholarship students must have a 3.0 grade point average in their applied music study. Specific endowed Scholarships each have independent criteria.

For more information on performance stipends and other music scholarships and awards, write to: Academic Department Head, Department of Music, P O. Box 30001, MSC 3 F, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8001 or email music@nmsu.edu.