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Music - B.M. Program Requirements PDFDownload to print

Attribute Legend: DD Diversity-Domestic; DG Diversity-Global; ELR Experiential Learning; KAD Kent Core Additional; KBS Kent Core Basic Sciences; KCM Kent Core Composition; KFA Kent Core Fine Arts: KHU Kent Core Humanities; KMC Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning; KSS Kent Core Social Sciences; WIC Writing Intensive

Please read the sections in the University Catalog on Kent Core, diversity, writing-intensive and the experiential learning requirements.

DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE (1 credit)
Attribute Course Title Credits Min Grade
  US 10097 Destination Kent State: First Year Experience 1 1  
MAJOR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (40-41 credits) Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min Grade
  MUS 11121 Theory I 4 C 2
  MUS 11122 Theory II 4 C 2
  MUS 21111 Theory III 4 C 2
  MUS 21112 Theory IV 4 C 2
KFA MUS 22111 The Understanding of Music (music major section) 3 C
KFA/DG MUS 22121 Music As a World Phenomenon (music major section) 3 C
  MUS 32211 Music History I 3 C
WIC MUS 32212 Music History II 3 C
  MUS 34111 Elementary Conducting 2 C
  MUS 41112 Western Music Since 1945 1 C
  Choose from the following: Major Ensemble 3 8 C
  MUS 45111 University Choir (1)    
  MUS 45121 Kent Chorus (1)    
  MUS 45141 Kent State University Chorale (1)    
  MUS 45142 Men's Chorus (1)    
  MUS 45143 Women's Chorus (1)    
  MUS 45212 Orchestra (1)    
  MUS 45221 Concert Band (1)    
  MUS 45223 Wind Ensemble (1)    
  Choose from the following: 1-2 C
  MUS 41341 Jazz Improvisation I (2)    
  MUS 48512 Improvisation (1)    
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (30 credits)
Attribute Course Title Credits Min Grade
  Kent Core Composition 6  
  Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning 3-5  
  Kent Core Humanities 3  
  Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 6  
  Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) 6-7  
  Kent Core Additional 6  
CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (53-54 credits)
  Composition (53-54)  
  Instrumental (53-54)  
  Piano Performance (53-54)  
  Voice Performance (54)  
MINIMUM TOTAL  125  
  1. US 10097 is not required of transfer students with 25 credits (excluding College Credit Plus and dual-enrollment) or students age 21+ at time of admission. 
  2. A minimum 3.000 GPA is required in music theory courses (MUS 11121, 11122, 21111, 21112) in the Composition concentration.
  3. 8 separate semesters of major ensemble are required. Students must enroll in a major ensemble appropriate to their major performance area. Piano performance majors satisfy the eight-semester ensemble requirement as follows: 4 credit hours of MUS 45321 Accompanying, 2 credit hours of MUS 45311 Chamber Music and 2 credit hours selected from chamber music or a major vocal or instrumental ensemble or 1 credit hour selected from chamber music or a major vocal or instrumental ensemble and DAN 28010 Dance Accompaniment Laboratory I (2 credit hours). Composition majors may use MUS 45271 New Music Ensemble for up to 4 semesters of the 8 semester requirement.

Important Notes:

  • Minimum C (2.000) grade required in all music courses.
  • Students who begin their music or music education major program as first semester freshmen are required to attend a minimum of 84 concerts or recitals.  Music or music education majors who transfer from a non-music program or university must attend an average of 10 music recitals or concerts for semesters of full time enrollment.
  • To graduate from Kent State University with the degree B.M. in music, it is required that students take a major field achievement test in music history and music theory during their senior year.  Specific score level achievement is not required.

 

Composition Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (53-54 credits) Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min Grade
  MUS 31211 Composition 8 C
  MUS 41131 Keyboard Harmony 1 3 C
  MUS 41141 Sixteenth-Century Counterpoint 3 C
  MUS 41151 Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint 1 3 C
  MUS 41161 Advanced Musical Analysis 3 C
  MUS 41211 Composition 8 C
ELR MUS 41299 Senior Project: Music Composition 2 C
  MUS 41321 Orchestration 3 C
  MUS 48251 Pedagogy of Music Theory 1 2 C
  MUS
MUS
44111
44121
Choral Conducting and Arranging (3)     or
Instrumental Conducting and Arranging (3)
3 C
  Music Elective 2 3-4 C
  Choose from the following: 36xxx Applied Music 3 12 C
  MUS 3/46111 Applied Music—Piano (2)    
  MUS 3/46311 Applied Music—Voice (2)    
  MUS 3/46411 Applied Music—Violin (2)    
  MUS 3/46412 Applied Music—Viola (2)    
  MUS 3/46413 Applied Music—Cello (2)    
  MUS 3/46414 Applied Music—Double Bass (2)    
  MUS 3/46511 Applied Music—Flute (2)    
  MUS 3/46512 Applied Music—Oboe (2)    
  MUS 3/46513 Applied Music—Clarinet(2)    
  MUS 3/46514 Applied Music—Bassoon (2)    
  MUS 3/46515 Applied Music—Saxophone (2)    
  MUS 3/46611 Applied Music—Trumpet (2)    
  MUS 3/46612 Applied Music—Horn (2)    
  MUS 3/46613 Applied Music—Trombone (2)    
  MUS 3/46614 Applied Music—Euphonium (2)    
  MUS 3/46615 Applied Music—Tuba (2)    
  MUS 3/46711 Applied Music—Percussion(2)    
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 53-54  
  1. In addition to completing the required courses, students in the music composition concentration must do the following prior to taking required courses, MUS 41131, 41151 and 48251: 1). pass a theory proficiency exam, incorporating score reading, sight singing, keyboard harmony and written analysis, and 2). receive approval from the theory and composition faculty based on a portfolio of compositions.
  2. If MUS 48512 is taken, take 4 credits of MUS electives.
  3. Applied music (6 semesters and 12 credit hours): Students whose main instrument is piano may fulfill this requirement with piano only or can include one or two semesters with a different instrument. Students whose main instrument is not piano must take two semesters of Applied Music-Piano.  A piano placement test  or piano audition is required and additional remedial courses may be necessary. Students must meet the 46000-entry-level prior to graduation.

 

Instrumental Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (53-54 credits) Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min Grade
  MUS 44121 Instrumental Conducting and Arranging 3 C
  MUS 45311 Chamber Music 4 C
  MUS 48257 Pedagogy-Instrumental 2 C
  MUS Elective (lower or upper-division) 5-6 C
  Choose from the following: Applied Music 1
16 credits at 36000 level and 16 credits at 46000 level
32 C
  MUS 3/46411 Applied Music—Violin (4)    
  MUS 3/46412 Applied Music—Viola (4)    
  MUS 3/46413 Applied Music—Cello (4)    
  MUS 3/46414 Applied Music—Double Bass (4)    
  MUS 3/46511 Applied Music—Flute (4)    
  MUS 3/46512 Applied Music—Oboe (4)    
  MUS 3/46513 Applied Music—Clarinet (4)    
  MUS 3/46514 Applied Music—Bassoon (4)    
  MUS 3/46515 Applied Music—Saxophone (4)    
  MUS 3/46611 Applied Music—Trumpet (4)    
  MUS 3/46612 Applied Music—Horn (4)    
  MUS 3/46613 Applied Music—Trombone (4)    
  MUS 3/46614 Applied Music—Euphonium (4)    
  MUS 3/46615 Applied Music—Tuba (4)    
  MUS 3/46711 Applied Music—Percussion (4)    
  Choose from the following: 4 C
  MUS 27111 Piano Class (2)    
  MUS 27112 Piano Class (2)    
  MUS 36111 Applied Music-Piano (2)    
  MUS 46111 Applied Music-Piano (2)    
  Choose from the following: 3 C
DD MUS 42161 History of Jazz (3)    
  MUS 42221 Symphonic Literature (3)    
  MUS 42222 Chamber Music Literature (3)    
 MINIMUM SUBTOTAL  53-54  
  1. Applied music (32 total credit hours:16 credits at 36000 level, 16 credits at 46000 level) based on instrument of acceptance into the Instrumental concentration. The 46000 level may be taken following a successful 46000 level barrier exam.

Instrumental Performance students are required to perform a half junior and a full senior recital. Applied music registration at the 46000 level is required during a degree recital semester. The senior recital may be used to satisfy the Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR).

 

Piano Performance Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (53-54 credits) Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min Grade
  MUS 36111 Applied Music: Piano 16 C
  MUS 41131 Keyboard Harmony 3 C
  MUS 41151 18th-Century Counterpoint 3 C
  MUS 42232 Piano Literature I 2 C
  MUS 42242 Piano Literature II 2 C
  MUS 46111 Applied Music-Piano 1 16 C
  MUS 48311 Piano Pedagogy I 2 C
  MUS 48312 Piano Pedagogy II 2 C
  MUS 48221 Elements of Accompanying I 2 C
  MUS 48222 Elements of Accompanying II 2 C
  MUS Elective (lower or upper-division) 3-4 C
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL  53-54  

Piano Performance students are required to perform a half junior and a full senior recital. Applied music registration at the 46000 level is required during a degree recital semester. The senior recital may be used to satisfy the Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR).

  1. The 46000 level courses may be taken following a successful 46000 level barrier exam.

 

Voice Performance Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (54 credits) Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min Grade
  MUS 18611 Singer's Diction I 1 C
  MUS 18612 Singer's Diction II 1 C
  MUS 36311 Applied Music: Voice 16 C
  MUS 42251 Song Literature 3 C
  MUS 42261 Opera Literature 3 C
  MUS 45131 Opera: Singer-Actor Techniques (1) 2 C
  MUS 46311 Applied Music-Voice 1 16 C
  MUS 48241 Voice Pedagogy 2 C
  Choose from the following: 6 C
  MUS 27111 Piano Class (2)    
  MUS 27112 Piano Class (2)    
  MUS 36111 Applied Music-Piano (2)    
  MUS 46111 Applied Music-Piano (2)    
  Choose from the following: 4 C
  FR 13201 Elementary French I (4)    
  FR 13202 Elementary French II (4)    
  GER 11201 Elementary German I (4)    
  GER 11202 Elementary German II (4)    
  ITAL 15201 Elementary Italian I (4)    
  ITAL 15202 Elementary Italian II (4)    
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 54  

Voice Performance students are required to perform a half junior and a full senior recital. Applied music registration a the 46000 level is required during a degree recital semester. The senior recital may be used to satisfy the Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR).

  1. The 46000 level courses may be taken following a successful 46000 level barrier exam.