Bachelor of Arts in Music

About

The Bachelor of Arts in Music (BA) is recommended for you if you are interested in general studies in music and you are planning to pursue graduate studies in music history, literature or composition. As with all EWU music degrees, you are required to pass an entrance audition to be accepted as a music major and pass the piano proficiency exam and upper-level juries to complete your degree.

Curriculum & Requirements Curriculum Map

Music Student Handbook

Curriculum & Requirements

Music Major, Bachelor of Arts (BA)

This is a program designed for the study of music within a creative liberal arts curriculum, and allows students to choose a wide variety of music courses to suit their strengths and passion. Students may focus on areas such as Music History, Music Theory, Performance, Pedagogy, Collaborative Performance, Music Composition or Music Industry. Students are prepared for careers in studio teaching, accompanying, orchestral and ensemble performance, technology and graduate school. Students must perform an audition on their primary instrument/voice to be admitted into the program.

Note: two years of a single high school foreign language or one year of a single college-level foreign language is required.

Grade Requirement for all majors offered by the Music Department: the minimum acceptable grade for any music course required for graduation (including transferred music courses) is ≥C.

Required Non-Credit Music Components
CONVOCATION AND RECITAL ATTENDANCE (must be repeated each term)
Piano Proficiency
Required Music Courses
MUSC 101
MUSC 102
MUSC 103
MUSIC THEORY I
and MUSIC THEORY II
and MUSIC THEORY III
9
MUSC 104
MUSC 105
MUSC 106
SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS
and SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS II
and SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS III
3
MUSC 121
MUSC 122
PIANO CLASS II FOR MAJORS
and PIANO CLASS III FOR MAJORS
2
MUSC 201
MUSC 202
MUSC 203
MUSIC THEORY IV
and MUSIC THEORY V
and MUSIC THEORY VI
9
MUSC 204
MUSC 205
SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS IV
and SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS V
2
MUSC 250
MUSC 251
MUSC 252
MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE I
and MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE II
and MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE III
12
MUSC 310BASIC CONDUCTING2
MUSC 388PERSPECTIVES ON GLOBAL MUSIC4
Applied Music Requirements–must be repeated12
INSTRUCTION ON INSTRUMENT OR VOICE
INSTRUCTION ON VOICE OR INSTRUMENT
INSTRUCTION ON VOICE OR INSTRUMENT
INSTRUCTION ON INSTRUMENT OR VOICE
Major Ensembles Requirements–Options (must be repeated)12
MARCHING BAND
WIND ENSEMBLE
SYMPHONIC BAND
ORCHESTRA
SYMPHONIC CHOIR
CONCERT CHOIR
Minor Music Ensemble Requirements–choose a minimum of two2
CONCERT JAZZ ORCHESTRA
REPERTORY JAZZ ENSEMBLE
COLLEGIANS
VOCAL JAZZ LAB
JAZZ COMBOS
OPERA WORKSHOP
CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLES
GUITAR ENSEMBLE
PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
PIANO ENSEMBLE
POP COMBO
Electives at the 300- and 400-level12
Required Senior Capstone/Thesis
MUSC 490MUSIC SENIOR CAPSTONE4
Total Credits85

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Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully earn a BA in Music from EWU should be able to do the following:

  • compose, perform, and/or teach music effectively;
  • demonstrate technical and aesthetic understanding of music.

Sample Courses

MUSC 101. MUSIC THEORY I. 3 Credits.

Pre-requisites: concurrent enrollment in MUSC 104; music minors and non-music majors/minors require permission of the department chair.
This course involves study of basic theory devoted to notation, scales, intervals, keys and elementary harmony.

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MUSC 250. MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE I. 4 Credits.

Pre-requisites: MUSC 103.
Detailed study and analysis of music in Western civilization from its origin to modern times. The fall quarter covers antiquity through the Renaissance.

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MUSC 388. PERSPECTIVES ON GLOBAL MUSIC. 4 Credits.

Pre-requisites: ENGL 201.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
This course explores the role music plays in the formation of ethnic and national identities. By closely studying several contrasting music cultures, we see how music shapes attitudes toward self and other, serving to map territories that are both inclusive and exclusive, personal and cross-cultural. Skills developed in the course are analytical, critical thinking, listening, and writing.

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MUSC 310. BASIC CONDUCTING. 2 Credits.

Pre-requisites: MUSC 103.
This course is the study of fundamental conducting techniques including score study and rehearsal techniques, and will focus on aspects of choral conducting, both small and large ensembles.

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