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Music at NMU
The Music Department assumes educates
students, the university community, and the general public in
music of many different kinds. The department offers teachers and
other community members the opportunity to refine their musicality
and increase their musical skill and understanding. Currently the
department supports a wide variety of ensemble programs that are
open to all students. The varied ensembles serve an array of
functions including the laboratory experience for music majors.
Musical enrichment for the university community takes a high
priority for the department. Recitals by both faculty and students
enhance the area’s cultural environment throughout the academic
year.
Music Programs
The
department offers a music major which provides a general education in music performance, music history
and theory. In addition it provides education leading to
certification as a secondary education teacher with either a vocal
or instrumental specialization. Non-music majors are encouraged to
minor in music and to take part in any of the department’s
ensemble programs. When space is available, non-music majors may
take private lessons from department faculty.
Department/Program Policies
Performance Requirements
A
classification system defines four performance levels. All
entering students, freshmen, and transfers who have had no
previous university-level performance study are assigned to the
100 performance level. All transfer students with previous
university-level performance study are auditioned and assigned the
100 performance level until completing the departmental
proficiency exams.
The
performance regulations are as follows:
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Each
student in the bachelor of music education program must complete
seven credits of performance study and must be promoted to the
300 level before enrolling in MU 490 Senior Recital. Each
student in the bachelor of arts or bachelor of science program
must complete a minimum of four credits of performance study and
must be promoted to the 300 level in order to graduate.
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For
the bachelor of music education, five of the seven credit hours in
performance must be on one instrument. For the bachelor of
arts/bachelor of science, four credit hours must be on one instrument.
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Students seeking the bachelor of music education must achieve
the 300 level (decision rendered by full faculty) before they
are permitted to schedule their senior recital. Students seeking
the bachelor of arts or bachelor of science must achieve the 300
level in order to graduate and to take MU 491 Senior Project if
the project is a performance. All recitalists must pre-audition
before area faculty two weeks before their recital.
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Proficiency assessment from the 100 to 200 level, the 200 to 300
level, and 300 to 400 level is rendered by the full faculty.
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Any
performance level may be repeated for credit any number of
times.
Double performance classes in a single
instrument or voice may be necessary for transfer students to make
up deficiencies or to qualify for requirements. (See the Music
Department Student Handbook.)
Generally, students study in their major
performing area to satisfy the performance requirement. Students
electing a double major must meet the requirements of areas they
select, including ensemble requirements.
Grade
Point Average Requirements
All
music curriculum core courses must be passed with a grade of "C"
or higher. A student can have no more than five repeats of
"failed" courses in the music major or minor. A minimum grade
point average of 2.70 is required for all major degree programs
(bachelor of science, bachelor of arts and bachelor of music
education). In addition to the aforementioned requirements,
bachelor of music education degree candidates are required to
satisfy the Teacher Selection and Retention Standards
outlined in the School of Education section of this bulletin.
Piano
Level Requirements
Instrumental majors, including pianists, must complete the level
of Piano III (MU 140) with a grade of "C" or higher, or test out
of this requirement (equivalent to the final in Piano III). Piano
I (MU 103) and Piano II (MU 106) may be taken as electives if the
student has no previous experience. Choral majors must pass Piano
IV or test out of this requirement. Piano I, II, III may be taken
as electives if the student has no previous experience.
Large
and Small Ensemble Requirements
Music
majors are urged to audition for the ensemble of their choice;
however, the faculty reserves the right to assign students to
particular ensembles in order to obtain balance within the
ensemble or to broaden the student’s performance experience. All
music majors must participate in a large ensemble from their
first semester of enrollment and should continue to participate in
consecutive semesters until the ensemble requirement is completed.
Normally, two semesters of large ensemble participation will be
required to perform the proficiency exam for promotion to the 200
level.
University Choir is highly recommended as an elective for all
entering music majors, both instrumental and vocal. The large
ensemble requirement for instrumental wind and percussion majors
in the bachelor of music education program is Marching Band in the fall and the Symphonic Band in the
winter.
Large
ensemble requirement for vocal majors in the bachelor of music
education program is the University Choir. The Marquette Choral
Society may be substituted only with the written approval of vocal
area faculty.
Large
ensembles are Marching Band, Symphonic Band, University Choir and
University Orchestra.
Instrumental wind, string and percussion liberal arts majors
(bachelor of arts, bachelor of science degrees) must complete two
credits of large and/or small ensembles. The vocal non-teaching
majors must complete four credits of ensemble, of which three
semesters must be large ensemble (University Choir) and one
semester can be chamber music or University Choir.
Additional Requirements
The
piano major who elects the choral specialization must take Class
Voice (MU 170) or performance lessons for a minimum of one
semester.
Music majors must
attend a specified number of concerts each semester or the
performance grade is lowered. The policies and procedures
for lowering of the performance grade is fully described in the
Music Major Handbook.
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