Entrance & Continuance

Admission to a music major (either Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Music) is required. Students may not self-declare a music major.

An entrance exam is required. (See Entrance to the Music Major for entrance exam requirements to specific degree programs and links to repertoire requirements.)
To change programs within the Bachelor of Music degree, students must meet all requirements for entrance into the new program. There is no generic acceptance into the Bachelor of Music program.

Appendices for:

Appendix A: Entrance to Bachelor of Arts-Music

Appendix B: Entrance to Bachelor of Music (All)

Recital Dates 2022-2023

You must be enrolled in performance studies (lessons) in the semester you apply.
The application form for admission to the major is due in HOM 245 by October 15 for processing in fall semester and March 15 for processing in spring semester.
Perform a level 2 jury on one’s principal instrument/voice (during regular exam period.)
Keyboard skills will be assessed once the student has been admitted to the major.

B.A. music majors may also add an emphasis. Instructions to add an emphasis follow.

Students must register with a member of the musicology/ethnomusicology faculty before the end of the junior year, preferably earlier.
An entrance application is due in HOM 245 before the end of the junior year, preferably earlier.
The due date for the musicology senior writing portfolio is May 1. Consult your portfolio adviser for details.

Find Repertoire Requirements in Appendix B on main page.

B.M. Church Music majors with choral emphasis should apply during the spring semester of the first year.
B.M. Church Music majors with organ emphasis are encouraged to apply before the end of the first year.
An application form is due in HOM 245 by October 15 for processing in fall semester or by March 15 for processing in spring semester. Applications received after these dates will be processed in the following semester.
Music office staff will assemble a file containing the student’s academic record of all completed music courses and written comments from all music faculty with whom the student has worked.
Additional entrance requirements:
- A performance on the principal instrument/voice on a Bachelor of Music Entrance/Continuance Recital(See Student Recital Schedule.)
- An interview with members of the music faculty may be required.
The instrument/voice area faculty must approve all entrance applications.
Students will be informed in writing the faculty’s decision.

Students enter as Bachelor of Arts music majors and are admitted to the program only after completing Music 223: Composition I.
An entrance application is due in HOM 245 by October 15 for processing in fall semester or by March 15 for processing in spring semester. Applications received after these dates will be processed in the following semester.
Music office staff will assemble a file containing the student’s academic record of all completed music courses and written comments from all music faculty with whom the student has worked.
Additional entrance requirements:1. A portfolio of recent work in composition, submitted to Timothy Mahr.
An interview with the Composition faculty.
The Composition faculty must approve all entrance applications.
Students will be informed in writing of the faculty’s decision.
Students performing on the fall entrance recital successfully will be provisionally entered with a final decision after a checkpoint assessment in the spring of their sophomore year.

Applications are processed in the fall and spring semesters of the sophomore year. Fall Entrance is available only to those second yearstudents who are recommended both by their studio teacher and the music education program leaders. Second year students may wait and apply for Entrance during semester four. If you have questions about this process, and the best timing for your application, consultDr. Leigh Ann Garner or your adviser.
Applicants must also complete separate paperwork for the Education Department as part of the process. Consult with Dr. Leigh Ann Garner, Music Education, prior to applying.
An entrance application is due in HOM 245 by 5 p.m. on October 15th or February 15th of the sophomore year.
Music office staff will assemble a file containing the student’s academic record of all completed music courses and written comments from all music faculty with whom the student has worked.
Additional entrance requirements: 1. A performance on the principal instrument/voice on a Music Education Entrance/Continuance Recital. Repertoire should not exceed 8 minutes. (See Student Recital schedule and fill out the recital application, which is due by 8 a.m. on the due date.) A student whose principal instrument is the piano must perform only on the instrument of certification (voice or band/orchestral instrument.) 2. A successful mid-term examination in Music 251: Conducting.
- An interview with members of the music faculty may be required.
- The music faculty must approve all entrance applications.
- Students will be informed in writing the faculty’s decision.

3. If a successful entrance into the B.M. Music Education program was in the Fall semester of the sophomore year, this is a “provisional” acceptance into the B.M. Music Education major.

- The student will be officially entered into the B.M. Music Education degree program at the end of their fourth semester after a successful checkpoint administered by the Music Education committee focusing on academic benchmarks and dispositional qualities.
- Hour lessons (.50 credit) would begin in the fall semester of the student’s junior year.
- A continuance recital will still typically happen in the fall semester of the student’s junior year.

B.M. Performance majors are encouraged to apply before the end of the first year.
An entrance application is due in HOM 245 by October 15 for processing in fall semester or by March 15 for processing in spring semester. Applications received after these dates will be processed in the following semester.
Music office staff will assemble a file containing the student’s academic record of all completed music courses and written comments from all music faculty with whom the student has worked.
Additional entrance requirements:I. A performance on the principal instrument/voice on a Bachelor of Music Entrance/Continuance Recital. Repertoire to not exceed 15 minutes. (See Student Recital Schedule posted)2. An interview with members of the music faculty may be required.
• The instrument/voice area faculty must approve all entrance applications.

• Students will be informed in writing the faculty’s decision.

Students enter as B.A or B.M. music major and may apply as early as first year, spring semester.
An entrance application is due in HOM 245 by October 15 for processing in fall semester or by March 15 for processing in spring semester. Applications received after these dates will be processed in the following semester.
A maximum of 3 students from any class year will be admitted, and no more than 10 students from all class years may be enrolled in the program at any given time.
Music office staff will assemble a file containing the student’s academic record of all completed music courses and written comments from all music faculty with whom the student has worked.
Additional entrance requirements:1. Fully completed application portfolio, including signatures from faculty advisors, a proposed courses and experiences, and a draft plan for the synthesis project.
2. A performance audition, on either a Level III jury or on a Bachelor of Music Performance Entrance/Continuance Recital. Students with voice as their primary instrument will prepare the Appendix A repertoire requirements.

• The relevant faculty members, especially the music and elective studies advisors, must approve all entrance applications.

• Students will be informed in writing of the faculty’s decision.

All students in a Bachelor of Music degree must perform a continuance examination, generally in the second or third semester in the program. (See Continuance Requirements by Major below for continuance exam requirements for specific degree programs and links to repertoire requirements.)

Appendix for Continuance:

Appendix A: Entrance to Bachelor of Arts-Music

Appendix C: Continuance for Bachelor of Music (All)

The continuance exam for the B.M. Church music major with choral emphasis degree usually takes place the fall semester of the junior year.
The continuance exam for the Bachelor of Music major in Church Music with organ emphasis usually takes place during the third semester in the program.
Music office staff will assemble a file including written comments from all music faculty with whom the student has worked, and the student’s academic record of all completed music courses.
Additional continuance requirements:
- A performance on the principal instrument/voice on a Bachelor of Music Entrance/Continuance Recital. (See Student Recital Schedule.) Find Repertoire Requirements in Appendix C.
- An interview with members of the faculty may be required.
The instrument/voice area faculty must approve all continuance applications.
Students will be informed in writing of the faculty’s decision.
Continuance must be successfully completed prior to performing the junior recital.

The continuance exam usually takes place in the spring of the junior year or at the end of the third semester in the program, whichever comes first.
Music office staff will assemble a file containing written comments from all music faculty with whom the student has worked, and the student’s academic record of all completed music courses.
Additional continuance requirements:
- A portfolio of recent compositions submitted to the composition faculty.
- A performance on a Student Recital in the semester of continuance on your principal instrument/voice. Consult your performance studies teacher for performance requirements. Students do not perform on a continuance recital.
- An interview with the Composition faculty.
Composition faculty music must approve all continuance applications.
Students will be informed in writing the faculty’s decision.
Continuance must be successfully completed prior to performing the senior composition recital.

The continuance exam traditionally takes place during the first semester of the junior year.
Music office staff will assemble a file containing written comments from all music faculty with whom the student has worked, and an academic record of all completed music courses.
Additional continuance requirements:
1. A performance on the principal instrument/voice on a Music Education Entrance/Continuance Recital (See Student Recital Schedule); a student whose principal instrument is piano must perform only on the instrument of certification (voice or band/orchestral instrument). Consult your performance studies teacher for repertoire requirements.
2. An assessment of teaching behaviors (assessed in Ed 330: Principals of Education).
3. An interview with members of the music faculty may be required.
The music faculty must approve all continuance applications.
Students will be informed in writing the faculty’s decision.
Continuance must be successfully completed prior to performing the senior recital.

The continuance exam for the Bachelor of Music Major in Performance usually takes place during the third semester in the program.
Music office staff will assemble a file including written comments from all music faculty with whom the student has worked, and the student’s academic record of all completed music courses.
Additional continuance requirements:
1. A performance on the principal instrument/voice on a Bachelor of Music Entrance/Continuance Recital. (See Student Recital Schedule. Find Repertoire Requirements in Appendix C.
2. An interview with members of the faculty may be required.
The instrument/voice area faculty must approve all continuance applications.
Students will be informed in writing of the faculty’s decision.
Continuance must be successfully completed prior to performing the junior recital.

The continuance exam for the B.M. with elective studies student usually takes place at the end of the third semester in the program, but no later than junior year, spring semester.
Music office staff will assemble a file containing written comments from all music faculty with whom the student has worked, and the student’s academic record of all completed music courses.
Additional continuance requirements:
1. A portfolio or recent work in the field of elective studies.
2. A progress review interview with faculty mentors in both music and elective area. Faculty mentors will also review the student’s developed plan proposal for the final synthesis project.
3. A performance on the principal instrument/voice on a Bachelor of Music Performance Entrance/Continuance Recital in the semester of continuance. Students with voice as their primary instrument will prepare the Appendix A repertoire requiements.
The relevant faculty must approve all continuance applications.
Students will be informed in writing of the faculty’s decision.