Music

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Candace Bailey, Interim Chair
Telephone: (919) 530-6319
Fax: (919) 530-7540
Email: cbailey@nccu.edu
New Students Email: epaolantonio@nccu.edu

The Department of Music offers a strong, diversified curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music and Music Education with North Carolina licensure and the Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies. The Bachelor of Arts in Music offers concentrations in the areas of Ethnomusicology, Sacred Music, and Music Industry. The department offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Ethnomusicology. In addition, the department also offers a minor in music at the baccalaureate level. The department emphasizes cultural diversity, thorough musical preparation, and professionalism. The curriculum provides a major in music that includes the cultivation of requisite skills, the acquisition of professional knowledge, and the development of aesthetic appreciation. The music department provides opportunities for undergraduate research and internships with professional organizations as a foundation for further educational advancement, employment opportunities, and graduate study.

Students who desire to major in music are required to audition before the music faculty to demonstrate the extent of their music proficiency.

Unless special permission is granted by the department, all students with a major in music shall be required to continue individual instruction in some phase of musical performance throughout the four years of their degree curriculum and are required to perform in student recitals or workshops in their primary performance area at least twice each semester. Unless special permission is granted, music majors are also required to participate in one of the music ensembles each semester (See “Ensembles” described in this section of the catalog) and, in their senior year, to perform on their primary instrument or voice in a public recital approved by the faculty. Music majors with a concentration in Music Industry and Ethnomusicology are required to present a significant related project approved by the faculty in that area. Music Industry majors may also present a senior recital in addition to the required project. All music majors are required to pass the Piano Proficiency Examination as partial fulfillment of graduation requirements. All students are required to perform 15 clock hours of community service each semester.

Music majors must be in applied primary courses (lessons) every semester they are enrolled with the exception of the concentrations in Music Industry and Ethnomusicology. For the latter, applied courses must be taken in successive semesters. MUSL 1600  is required each semester a student is enrolled in applied primary courses.

The large ensemble requirements for each degree are: Bachelor of Arts in Music, Liberal Arts: 8 semesters; Bachelor of Arts in Music Education: 7 semesters; Bachelor of Arts in Music, Sacred Music: 8 semesters; Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies: 8 semesters; Bachelor of Arts in Music, Music Industry: 4 semesters; Bachelor of Arts in Music, Ethnomusicology: 4 semesters.

Music majors seeking double degrees in Jazz (BM) and Music Education with licensure (BA) are required to complete at least three semesters of concert or marching band.

The Piano Proficiency Examination

All music majors are required to pass a piano proficiency examination by the senior year, demonstrating proficiency in the following areas:

1. Performance of an appropriate independently prepared piece, for general musicianship. The chosen selection should be at the minimum of Level 4 Piano Solos in the Jane Smisor Bastien Piano Series. Performances are evaluated on pitch and rhythmic accuracy and on observance of interpretive detail.
2. Sight reading at the minimum of Level 3 of the James Bastien Sight Reading Series.
   Guideline: no more than 3 errors (pitch or rhythm) per line of music.
3. Harmonization and improvisation of a simple accompaniment to a given tune using basic chords. Students will be expected to be able to respond to standard harmonic indications.
   Guidelines: no more than 3 errors (pitch or rhythm) per line of music.
4. Transposition of similar melodies and harmonization’s up or down a major or minor second.
   Guideline: no more than 3 errors (pitch or rhythm) per line of music.
5. Play all scales and arpeggios (triadic) in two octaves, hands together, at M.M. 40 = quarter note, scale to be played in eighth notes.
   Guideline: no more than 2 errors (pitch or rhythm) per scale or arpeggio.

The Piano Proficiency Examination is administered once at the end of each semester during the regular school year. Sign-up sheets are posted and students sign for specific time slots.

Students are urged to take the Piano Proficiency Examination at the end of the sophomore year. If not passed at the first attempt, the examination or any portion of it may be repeated the end of the following and later semesters until the examination is passed. The student must demonstrate evidence that work had been undertaken to improve any deficiencies (such as enrolling in secondary piano classes) in any of the areas (sight reading, harmonization, etc.) before sections may be repeated. Music Education majors must have passed all parts of the Piano Proficiency Examination before the semester of student teaching.

Ensembles

Music majors are required to participate in University vocal or instrumental ensembles (large and small) appropriate to their major area of concentration. Voice and piano majors must perform in the University Choir and voice majors will perform a minimum of one semester in the Operatorio Performance Studies Ensemble; string majors must perform in the String Ensemble; jazz majors are required to perform in the Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz Combo; guitar majors must perform in Guitar Ensemble; and percussion majors in Percussion Ensemble. Students may also elect to perform in any other ensembles offered by the department.

Applied Music

Applied music courses (private lessons) are open to all music majors and to other students in the University upon permission of the instructor. Students with a major in music shall complete at least eight semesters of primary applied courses, and students in music education must complete seven semesters of primary applied courses. Applied music lessons are offered in piano, organ, voice, and the various string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. All primary applied music courses consist of one 50-minute lesson per week. Such courses carry one semester credit hour. Secondary applied courses consist of one 30-minute lesson per week and carry one-half semester credit hour.

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