Department of Music

Dr. Mitzi Groom, Head
e-mail: Mitzi.Groom@wku.edu

Professors: M. Groom, M. Kallstrom, B. Scott, M. Scott, D. Speer, R. Swanson
Associate Professors: J. Cipolla, P. Hondorp, H. Pintner, W. Pope, G. Schallert, M. Wolinski
Assistant Professors: M. Berry, J. Bright, L. Kelly, J. Stites
Professional-in-Residence: S. Berry
Instructor:   J. Martin
Optional Retirees: S. Kersenbaum, E. Volkman

The Department of Music at Western Kentucky University is a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music. It emphasizes music education in its broadest sense: all people must have opportunities to increase their awareness of musical sound as aesthetic experience and to indulge selectively in that experience for richer, more meaningful lives. The music curriculum fosters aesthetic awareness, informed choice, and preparation for life-long learning, while allowing for diversity among students’ backgrounds. It focuses on the holistic approach, nurturing critical thinking and creative skills and progressing from the obvious and concrete to the subtle and abstract. Through interaction with other arts disciplines and the university curricula, it integrates student, faculty, and curricular resources of the department into the cultural milieu of the University, community, and region.

A large part of the department’s mission is the preparation of music teachers and professional musicians. Students with broader musical interests may select a music major or minor within a diversified liberal arts program. Music degree programs provide for development of basic musicianship through conceptual understanding of musical properties and their interrelationships, repeated opportunities for listening, performing, composing, and scholarship, and acquisition of a repertory representative of various cultures and historical periods. Competencies in various areas and at varying levels appropriate to each program of music concentration are developed through a sequence of studies and assessments.

General University students may elect certain music courses under the Humanities (B-II), World Cultures and American Cultural Diversity (E), and Health and Wellness (F) components in General Education Requirements. All students may participate in various instrumental and choral ensembles and engage in private music study (depending on availability).

Students wishing to pursue a music degree (including double majors) should have pre-college training in their principal or major performing instrument or voice and be able to read music fluently. Basic keyboard ability is helpful but not mandatory. Entering freshmen must take placement examinations in rudiments (scales, keys, intervals, triads, general notation), music reading, performance (principal or major instrument or voice) and piano. Deficiencies are removed through remedial placement except in the case of auditions for the Bachelor of Music in performance.

When planning a program of study in this department, each student should be aware of the University’s academic requirements and regulations contained in this catalog in the chapter “Academic Information.” Pay particular attention to the subsections entitled (a) Academic Programs, (b) General Education Requirements, and (c) Academic Requirements and Regulations. Some academic programs require additional scholastic regulations and standards not specified in the catalog. Contact the department head for a copy of those regulations. Students should contact the department for any recent changes in requirements not reflected in this catalog. Updated information and advisement forms are available at the Department of Music website at www.wku.edu/Music . The four-year plans for timely degree completion for music majors appears at www.wku.edu/Music/academics.php .The Department of Music offers majors and a minor as shown in the following sections.

Bachelor of Music Degree
The Bachelor of Music degree (reference number 593) has two concentrations: music education and performance.

The Bachelor of Music concentration in music education offers sequences leading to three distinct teaching certifications: Integrated sequence which leads to certification for Teaching Music P-12 and requires 77 hours in music; Instrumental sequence which leads to certification for Teaching Instrumental Music P-12 and requires 72 hours in music; Vocal sequence that leads to certification for Teaching Vocal Music P-12 and requires 72 hours in music. All sequences require 22 hours in professional education and certain additional classes prescribed within the general education component. No minor or second major is required.

The performance concentration has both an instrumental and a vocal track and leads to the Bachelor of Music degree. The instrumental track requires 73 hours in music. The vocal track requires two additional courses in Diction—MUS 152 and 252—for 75 hours in music. No minor or second major is required. This program provides preparation for graduate study for performance and studio teaching careers. The performance concentration is available in voice, piano, organ, classical guitar and many standard band and orchestral instruments. No music course with a grade below “C” may be counted toward this major.

Core Requirements (Music Education Concentration and Performance Concentration):

• Music Theory and Literature: MUS 100, 101, 200, 201, 203, 326, 327, 328
• Applied Music: MUS 160, 161, 260, 261; 4 semesters (8 hours) of MUS 153
• Conducting: MUS 317
• Ensembles: 7 semesters of appropriate major ensembles
• General Education: Must include PHYS 130 (Acoustics)

Additional Requirements for the Music Education Concentration ALL Sequences (Integrated, Vocal & Instrumental):

• Applied Music: 3 semesters (6 hours) MUS 353
• Conducting: MUS 318
• Performance Attendance: 7 semesters of MUS 155
• Music Education: MUS 214, 312, 412
• Professional Education: EDU 250, EXC 330, PSY 310, EDU 489, SEC 490
• General Education: Additional requirements from Teacher Certification (see Teacher Education for current requirements)

Requirements specific to the Music Education Concentration INTEGRATED Sequence:

• Music Theory: MUS 407
• Applied Music: MUS 152 or 162
• Music Education: MUS 215, 315, 316, 319, 415, 416, and 414 or 417
• Ensembles: 2 “opposite area” ensembles (see Additional Baccalaureate Degree Requirements)

Requirements specific to the Music Education Concentration VOCAL Sequence:

• Music Theory: MUS 405
• Applied Music: MUS 152, 252, 166 and 349 (Accompanying)
• Music Education: MUS 414, 415 and a guided elective techniques course chosen from MUS 315/215/316/319

Requirements specific to the Music Education Concentration INSTRUMENTAL Sequence:

• Music Theory: MUS 407
• Applied Music/Ensemble: MUS 162 or one semester of choral ensemble
• Music Education: MUS 215, 315, 316, 319, 416, 417

Additional Requirements for the Performance Concentration only:

• Music Theory and Literature: MUS 430
  
• Applied Music: 2 semesters (6 hours) of MUS 357 (one to include junior recital and MUS 338) and 2 semesters (6 hours) of MUS 457 (one to include senior recital and MUS 338)
• Ensembles: 1 additional semester of appropriate major ensemble and 2 semesters of elective ensembles
• Performance Attendance: 8 semesters of MUS 155
• Pedagogy: MUS 310
• Music Electives: 6 hours selected from the theory/com position area, chosen from: MUS 203, 206, 405, 407, or Private Composition
• Vocal Track Only: MUS 152, 252
• General Electives: 12 hours (Chosen from university offerings not included in major)
• General Education: Must fulfill the university’s General Education foreign language requirement in one of the following languages:  French, German, or Italia

Bachelor of Arts Major in Music (Liberal Arts)
The major in music (liberal arts) (reference number 583) requires 51 hours of music (at least 26 of these must be at the upper-division 300- & 400-level) and leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. This program allows for a strong liberal arts education, a second major or a minor along with non-professional emphasis in music. No minor or second major is required.  No music course with a grade below a “C” may be counted toward this major.

Requirements:

• Music Theory and Literature: MUS 100, 101, 200, 201, 326, 327, 328
• Applied Music: 4 semesters (8 hours) in MUS 153; 2 semesters (4 hours) in MUS 353; MUS 160, 161, 260, 261
• Conducting: MUS 317
• Ensembles: 6 semesters (6 hours) required
Performance Attendance: 6 semesters of MUS 155
• Music Electives: 6 hours selected from theory/ composition (MUS 203, 206, 405, 407, Private Composition or MUS 430)
• General Education: Must include PHYS 130 (Acoustics) and fulfill the university’s foreign language requirement in one of the following languages: French, German, Italian, or Spanish

Minor in Music
The minor in music (reference number 423) requires a minimum of 24 semester hours (at least 12 of these must be at the upper-division 300- & 400-level).

Requirements:

• Music Theory/History: MUS 100, 101, 120
• Applied Music: 3 hours (3 semesters)
• Ensembles: <3 hours
• Music Electives: 9 hours selected from other music courses chosen in conjunction with the music minor advisor.

Additional Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

1. Applied Study: Students pursuing the Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Arts degree are required to enroll for private instruction in their principal or major instrument or voice during each semester until requirements have been fulfilled.
2. Recital Performance: Students matriculating for the Bachelor of Music (music education concentration) must perform on Friday recital labs at least one time in each of their last four semesters of applied study. Music education majors may perform a portion of a junior and/or senior recital in lieu of the recital lab performance requirement if approved by the appropriate applied music jury in the semester prior to the anticipated performance date.
3. Piano Proficiency: All students pursuing a major in the Department of Music are required to pass a piano proficiency examination or complete the fourth semester of group piano. A grade of “C” or better must be maintained for each semester of group piano until the completion of the fourth semester.
4. Ensemble Requirements:
   Bachelor of Music —Performance Concentration students are required to be in an appropriate major ensemble each semester for a total of eight semesters.
   Bachelor of Arts —Major in Music students are required to participate in one major ensemble appropriate to their applied principal area for a total of six semesters.
   Bachelor of Music — Music Education Concentration students are required to participate in an appropriate major ensemble for a total of 7 semesters, excluding the semester in which student teaching is undertaken. Two semesters of ensembles in the opposite performance area are required for the Integrated Concentration.
   Required ensembles for music majors:
   
   • Instrumental— Marching Band (required in the Fall until the 2 semester requirement is met), Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble
   • Vocal-Chorale OR both Choral Society AND Men’s Chorus/Women’s Chorus
   • Piano and Guitar—must declare and maintain Instrumental or Vocal status for the purpose of determining ensemble requirements
   • String students- University Orchestra.
   • Opposite area (vocal) ensembles are Choral Society, Men’s Chorus and Women’s Chorus
   • Opposite area (instrumental) ensembles are Marching Band (recommended but not required), Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band.
5. Concert and Recital Attendance: Students majoring in music are required to attend 14 departmental and university sponsored recitals and concerts each semester. Students register for MUS 155 to meet this requirement. The course is graded as pass/fail at the end of each semester.
6. Revisions of Requirements, Policies, and Regulations: The Department of Music updates the Student Handbook each year, and it can be found at www.wku.edu/music, Current Students, Forms, Student Handbook. 

Graduate Study
The Department of Music offers the Master of Arts in Education (MAE) degree with a major in music education. This program offers a flexible schedule of music, music education, and education courses designed to broaden the public school teacher’s background in all three areas.

Assistantships are available to outstanding graduate students. For further information, contact the Department of Music.

Music Fees
Individual or small group instruction in applied music voice or musical instrument:
Fall and Spring            $50 Per Course

Applied Music Instruction
Applied music is private or small group instruction. Applied Music Secondary is intended for beginners and requires no audition. Subsequent courses in the secondary track are available upon satisfactory completion of the immediately preceding course in that sequence.

The Applied Music Principal track is intended primarily for Bachelor of Music (music education) and Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) students (all of whom must have pre-college training in an instrument or voice) and is available by audition only.

The Applied Music Major track is intended primarily for students seeking the Bachelor of Music (performance) degree and is available only to those who demonstrate advanced skills and high potential in an audition. Placement in subsequent courses after the initial semester in both the principal and major tracks is made on the basis of faculty committee recommendations.

Students registering for one credit hour (secondary track) receive one half-hour private lesson per week or the equivalent. Those registering for two to three credit hours (principal and major tracks) receive one hour (or its equivalent) of private lesson per week. Students are required to practice a minimum of three hours per week for each credit hour received.

Instruction is offered in piano, organ, harpsichord, voice, violin, viola, harp, cello, double bass, guitar, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, horn, trumpet, euphonium, trombone, tuba, percussion, composition, and jazz improvisation.

Applied music courses include:  MUS 150, 350 (Applied Music Secondary); MUS 153, 353 (Applied Music Principal); MUS 357, 457 (Applied Music Major).  See the course descriptions for each course in the back of the catalog.