Music, B.A.
The music program strives to advance the comprehensive formation of musicians who can perform music, organize music (composition), and analyze music (theory, history). The program accomplishes this aim through a wide range of teaching and performance situations, including private lessons, traditional classroom environments, and large group rehearsals. These opportunities are offered to the entire University.
The music program is committed to its role within the University mission (especially the development of the whole person), compliance with the standards of the National Association of Schools of Music (of which the University is an accredited institutional member), and ongoing evaluation of the program in all its aspects.
The bachelor of arts degree in music provides students a broad education in the sciences and the humanities as they give particular emphasis to the comprehensive study of music. Four tracks are offered: instrumental, vocal, pre-music education, and general. The degree prepares students for careers in the music industry, church music, and education (teaching privately or seeking certification through programs such as the master of arts in teaching), as well as graduate study.
New students, including transfer students, will be accepted as music majors on a probationary status until they present a satisfactory audition at one of the following: 1) scholarship audition; 2) the performance final examination at the end of the first semester; or 3) by special arrangement with the faculty.
A variety of large and chamber ensembles are open to all University students with prior musical experience. These ensembles, which perform music of all types and styles, include the University Singers, Wind Symphony, Bel Canto, University Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Ensembles, and Chapel Music Ensemble. Each presents a series of performances throughout the academic year.
The Music Study Handbook contains details about the requirements for MUS 001 (Performance Attendance); and MUS 486 (Private Lessons), and necessary information about the senior capstone. The handbook is made available online to all music majors at the beginning of each year. It is considered an addendum to the University Bulletin. See the handbook at: college.up.edu/pfa/music.
Opportunities for individual performance are available through regularly scheduled student recitals. They are included as a part of Music at Midweek, a weekly series of professional and non-professional performances. Attendance at these and other designated campus performances is required of all music students (See MUS 001). Unsatisfactory attention to this requirement can result in delay or denial of graduation. Students choosing to work toward the bachelor of arts in music will complete their studies with a senior capstone supervised by a faculty member. The selection of a topic and work toward that completion will begin during the junior year.
Practice room use limited to students enrolled in music courses or by permission of the director of the music program.
Learning Outcomes for Music Majors
Music graduates of the University of Portland should be able to:
- Perform capably as a soloist.
- Work independently and collaborate with an accompanist and music faculty to prepare high quality expressive performances;
- Achieve proper intonation, balance, and blend with an accompanist;
- Perform with stylistically appropriate tone, articulation, and rhythmic fee
- Extemporaneously create music, including ornamentation and other forms of improvisation, when required by repertoire;
- Demonstrate familiarity with literature applicable to the major performance medium;
- Demonstrate correct usage and understanding of foreign language and diction (as applicable);
- Present a senior capstone recital that demonstrates the scope of skills, musical styles, expressive qualities, and repertoire studied while at UP.
- Perform capably within an ensemble
- Work independently and collaborate with ensemble members and music faculty to prepare high quality expressive performances;
- Achieve proper intonation, balance, and blend within a section and within the larger ensemble;
- Perform with stylistically appropriate tone, articulation, and rhythmic feel;
- Extemporaneously create music, including ornamentation and other forms of improvisation, when required by repertoire;
- Understand the roles and capabilities of instruments and sections in relevant performance ensembles;
- Demonstrate familiarity with literature applicable to the major performance medium;
- Demonstrate the correct use of foreign language and diction (as applicable).
- Organize the sounds of music through basic composition
- Achieve a basic skill level in using rhythm, melody, harmony, and simple formal structures to develop a composition from concept to finished product;
- Compose music that displays creativity and idiomatic awareness of period and style.
- Understand the structure and style of compositions.
- Demonstrate the ability to hear, identify, and work conceptually with the elements of music;
- Demonstrate an understanding of compositional processes; aesthetic properties; and artistic, social, and historical context.
- Explain theoretical and historical elements of music through prose.
- Demonstrate the ability to understand and share theoretical principles through written explication;
- Demonstrate the application of knowledge related to the history of music, including various time periods, historical figures, and styles and genres in Western and non-Western musical traditions;
- Use appropriate examples and/or anecdotes to prove and demonstrate significant points;
- Demonstrate effective writing skills for use in program notes, abstracts, essays, capstone projects (General and Pre-Music Education tracks), and research papers;
- Select and cite appropriate and reliable sources, with proper style formatting.
Capstone Experience
Music students demonstrate their development as musicians and scholars through the senior capstone. This project can take a variety of forms: a performance recital, lecture recital, performance of original compositions, a research presentation, or other plan approved by the music faculty that includes a public presentation of at least 25 minutes. Proposals for capstone projects will be submitted to the director of the music program before spring break of the student’s junior year. Faculty approval is required to move forward. Students register for MUS 498, Senior Capstone (or Honors Senior Thesis) during the fall or spring semester of their senior year. In this course they work with a faculty mentor in preparing the presentation and research. A preview of the capstone presentation will take place approximately one month in advance, after which the faculty will approve going ahead with the presentation or require more preparation. At the preview the student will submit complete program notes (500 words minimum) and perform the music/present the lecture presentation with the faculty in attendance. Senior capstones are generally scheduled during Music at Midweek or a weekend date in March and April of the senior year.
University Core Curriculum Requirements — 40 credit hours
All University of Portland students progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.
See Core Curriculum Requirements
MUS 201 and MUS 302 are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.A. in Music.
College of Arts and Sciences B.A. Requirements — 24-33 credit hours
See College Requirements, B.A.
Major Requirements - 44-51 credit hours
Required Courses - 28 credit hours
MUS 131/231: May be waived by the instructor
MUS 231: Must be completed by the sophomore year
6 semesters minimum, required every semester in residence
6 semesters minimum, required every semester in residence:
Select from the following:
| MUS 443 | Wind Symphony | 1 |
| MUS 444 | University of Portland Singers | 1 |
| MUS 445 | University of Portland Orchestra | 1 |
| MUS 452 | University of Portland Bel Canto | 1 |
| MUS 453 | University Jazz Ensemble | 1 |
6 semesters minimum, enrolled every semester in residence:
Select one of the following four emphases:
Instrumental Performance Emphasis Requirements - 11 credit hours
Students require faculty permission to enter this track. A decision will be made at the end of the sophomore year.
| MUS 498 | Senior Capstone | 1 |
| | Music Electives | 6 |
Music elective credit hours must be upper division, including at least one 3-credit hour classroom course.
Instrumental Ensembles - 4 credit hours
Select any combination of ensembles from the following, beyond the 6 semesters minimum ensemble required for all music majors.
Any additional credit hours required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours
Pre-Music Education Track - 11 credit hours
| MUS 332 | Brass and Percussion Instrument Pedagogy | 1 |
| MUS 333 | Woodwind Instrument Pedagogy | 1 |
| MUS 334 | String Instrument Pedagogy | 1 |
| MUS 235 | Group Voice Workshop | 1 |
| MUS 341 | Fundamentals of Music Education | 3 |
| | Music Electives | 4 |
Any additional credit hours required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours
Vocal Performance Emphasis Requirements: 11 credit hours
Students require faculty permission to enter this track. A decision will be made at the end of the sophomore year.
Music electives must be upper division, including at least one 3-credit hour classroom course.
Any additional credit hours required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours
General Emphasis Requirements: 4 credit hours
Special Music Fees: $400 per semester hour of private lessons (MUS 486). $280 for ½-hour lessons (MUS 285) and private coaching (MUS 485).
Any additional credit hours required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours
Total Credit Hours: 120-123