Music

Undergraduate

R. Wayne Gallops, Chairperson

http://www.radford.edu/music

Undergraduate Programs

The undergraduate professional programs in the Department of Music offer opportunities for students to prepare for careers as teachers of music in elementary, middle, and secondary schools, and also for careers in music therapy, music business (industry), and for advanced professional graduate study. The undergraduate liberal arts program in the Department of Music offers opportunities for the study of music irrespective of specific career aspirations, for emphases that meet the needs of individual students, and preparation to study music at the graduate level. The department provides and promotes music activities for the university, broader community and, provides instruction and experiences in music for majors and non-majors, enhanced by multi-cultural/global perspectives and the benefits of new technology.

The Department of Music offers major degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels and  minors in music at the undergraduate level. Courses may be open to students whose primary interests are in other fields. Radford University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

The curriculum in music therapy, which is in accordance with the recommendations established by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), provides eligibility to take the national certification exam administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT).

Students may pursue the music major leading to either a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in music education, music business, or music therapy; a Bachelor of Arts; or a Bachelor of Science degree.

Audition Requirement

Prior to acceptance as a music major in an undergraduate music degree program, each prospective student must demonstrate their performance ability through an entrance audition. Students whose performance abilities are determined to be comparable to university level achievement are then eligible to major in music. Admission to the Department of Music as a music major is based on 1) acceptance to the university, and 2) a successful entrance performance audition. Audition dates are scheduled throughout the school year and posted on our department website. Information concerning audition requirements, forms for scheduling your audition, virtual audition submissions, and our contact information are all found on our department website.

Applied Music Study

Private applied music lessons are available to qualified music majors and minors in flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion, piano, organ, voice, guitar, harp, violin, viola, cello, string bass, laptop music production, some alternative instruments, and composition at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Two credits per semester may be earned for a one-hour lesson per week. Prior to registration each semester, students must have approval of applied faculty and Department of Music chairperson for placement. In Applied Music courses, quality of performance is stressed through minimum level requirements and evaluation of student performance by faculty juries. The content of each applied area is divided into a maximum of eight semesters. Minimum expectations in technique (including sight reading, general facility, language, etc.) and repertoire (including requirements in variety, scope, level of difficulty, quantity, etc.) are required for each semester. Each applied area has specific requirements and representative materials for each semester.  Successful completion of requirements for each semester and student progression will be determined by a faculty jury. Departmental and solo recital performances are  required as determined by applied faculty. Recital requirements are outlined in the Music Student Handbook.

Level Requirements in Applied Piano

Two semesters in class piano is required for the Instrumental option in the Bachelor of Music concentrations in Music Business, Music Education, and Music Therapy as well as the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. Applied piano majors are exempt from this requirement. Four semesters in class piano is required for the Vocal/Choral option in the Bachelor of Music concentration in Music Education.

Entering and Changing Applied Studios

Students are accepted as music majors or minors through audition on their applied instrument/voice with applied faculty of their destination studio and in consultation with program directors.  Students who attempt a change of applied studio may do so only through the following procedures:  student communicates in writing an intent to their current applied faculty and applied faculty of the destination studio, an audition must take place for an available slot in the destination studio. The applied faculty of the destination studio determines entry and the level/semester into which the student may be placed.

Concert Attendance Requirement

Music majors are required to register for MUSC 101 Recital Attendance and attend all departmental recitals and convocations (on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 11 a.m.) as well as 6 other approved recitals or concerts each semester. Any exception to the above must be approved by the chairperson of the Department of Music as outlined in the Music Student Handbook. This requirement must be met a minimum of six semesters prior to graduation and is a co-requisite for applied music courses for music majors.

Cumulative GPA

A cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or above in all music courses taken at Radford University is required for graduation with a baccalaureate degree in music.

Performing Ensembles 

The following ensembles are open to all qualified music majors and non-majors:

Courses (Major Ensembles):

• MUSC 134 - Jazz Combo  
• MUSC 309 - Chamber Orchestra  
• MUSC 310 - Wind Bands  
• MUSC 311 - Chorus  
• MUSC 312 - Chorale  
• MUSC 363 - Commercial Music Ensemble and Pop Music Lab   
• MUSC 434 - Jazz Ensemble  
• MUSC 435 - Percussion Ensemble  
• MUSC 436 - Guitar Ensemble  
• MUSC 450 - Chamber Music Ensemble  
• MUSC 456 - Radford Singers  
• MUSC 457 - Opera Workshop  
• MUSC 458 - Accompanying  
• MUSC 461 - Piano Ensemble ​ 

Regular and varied ensemble experiences provide opportunities to develop artistic growth, technical skills, collaborative competence and knowledge of repertory.  Music majors must enroll in at least one faculty led music department ensemble each semester, as assigned by their applied teacher in consultation with relevant ensemble and program directors until ensemble degree requirements are met (summer sessions and student teaching semesters excepted). For at least one semester prior to completion of the sixth semester of applied study, the requirement must be satisfied in an ensemble that provides coached, unconducted performance experiences. Only one ensemble per semester can count toward the minimum degree requirement however, students are encouraged to participate in multiple appropriate ensembles each semester until internship or graduation. Seating auditions for ensembles occur during the first week(s) of classes - all music majors must render a seating audition. If necessary, a zero-credit ensemble section may count toward the degree requirement. It should be noted, students who are awarded music scholarships are to contribute in significant ways to the musical environment of the department, ensemble participation is a measure of that expectation.

Transfer Student

A total of 35 semester hours of required courses may be transferred from another institution as follows:

Transfer students and students with degrees from other institutions seeking teacher licensure in music must take all other major degree requirements in music at Radford University. Exceptions may be granted by the Department of Music with the approval of the dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Graduate

Robert Trent, Graduate Program Coordinator
Graduate Faculty
 

Graduate Program

The graduate program in music offers courses leading to a Master of Arts or Master of Science degree. The Master of Arts program provides advanced study for musicians, music scholars in preparation for professional careers or doctoral study. The Master of Science program provides advanced study and opportunities for music therapists to refine existing competencies and to attain new ones.

Graduate standing is a prerequisite to all 500- and 600-level courses. At least 80 percent of hours in the program must be in 600-level courses. An exception to the 80 percent minimum in 600-level courses is applicable to graduate degree programs in music for specific purpose of providing for an additional one to six credit hours of 500-level performing ensembles in the program of study. The 500-level courses listed in this section may be taken for graduate credit provided the student has the necessary prerequisites and if the same course or a comparable course was not taken as part of the student’s undergraduate program (MUSC 531 , MUSC 535 , MUSC 536 , MUSC 553 , MUSC 557 , and MUSC 558  excepted).

Admission Requirements

Minimum overall grade point average required is 2.75. Minimum major grade point average required is 2.75. All applicants must submit an official undergraduate transcript prior to admission.

Three letters of reference are to be submitted from professional sources. All students pursuing a master’s degree in music must have, at the undergraduate level, music courses equivalent to those required in an appropriate undergraduate degree program at Radford University. All students entering the M.A. (Music) program (which requires at least two semester hours of graduate level applied study) must also present an entrance audition in their applied performing area for placement purpose. Students entering the M.S. (Music Therapy) program (which does not require graduate level applied study) without a bachelor’s degree in music from an NASM member institution must also present an entrance audition in their undergraduate applied major and minor performing areas for diagnostic purposes. Please refer to Application Requirements for application deadlines. Students entering the program as non-degree seeking students are required to complete the online graduate application and submit transcripts from all undergraduate institutions where courses were completed. Additional information about non-degree seeking status can be found elsewhere in the current Radford University graduate catalog. Non-degree seeking students are not required to satisfy the music history and music theory diagnostic examination requirements.

Entrance Requirements in Music

History and Music Theory

1. Students admitted to the graduate music program are required to take the Radford University diagnostic exams in music history and music theory on the first day of classes in the first semester of graduate study.
2. Students will be informed of specific deficiencies identified through the diagnostic exams and they will have the choice of two options:
   1. Students may take (a) prescribed course(s) to remedy the deficiencies. A grade of at least B must be earned in the course(s) in order to remove the deficiency from the student’s record. If a grade of at least B is achieved, the student will have satisfied the entrance requirements in music history and music theory for master’s degree programs in music.
   2. Students may choose to study on their own in areas of deficiency. Following individual study, the student must retake the diagnostic examination(s) prior to completing 18 hours of study. Failure to retake the exam prior to the completion of 18 hours in the degree program will require the student to utilize option “a.” If upon retaking the exam(s) a satisfactory score on the exam(s) is achieved, the student will have satisfied the entrance requirements in music history and music theory for master’s degree programs in music. The student will be permitted to retake the diagnostic exam(s) only one time, after which the option “a” must be utilized.

The Preliminary Comprehensive Examination in Music

The Preliminary Comprehensive Examination is a discussion among the student and a faculty committee regarding the student’s plan of study and progress of the student in the degree program. It is not an assessment of the student’s knowledge in any specific content area. The Preliminary Comprehensive Examination occurs prior to the completion of the first semester (or 9 hours) of graduate study.

1. The committee will consist of the student’s advisor and two other graduate music faculty appropriate to the student’s degree program selected by the student in conjunction with the advisor. This committee may or may not be the same as the committee for the student’s eventual final project, thesis, recital and/or Final Comprehensive Examination.
2. At least one week prior to the exam, the student will submit a report containing the following information to each committee member: (1) a summary of the student’s progress in the degree program, including progress toward the remediation of any deficiencies; (2) a statement of professional objectives and a plan for realizing these objectives which includes a proposed program of study; (3) if appropriate to the student’s degree program, an outline of possible areas/topics of interest for the final project, thesis or recital.
3. During the exam, the committee and student will discuss the three areas outlined in the student’s report. As part of this discussion, the committee will offer suggestions to the student on courses and procedures that may be beneficial in working towards the attainment of the student’s goals.
4. The student will be provided with a written assessment by the committee following the examination.

The Final Comprehensive Oral Examination in Music

The final comprehensive oral examination is designed to measure the ability of students to synthesize course work taken in their degree program and apply the content of these courses. The student’s ability to verbally express ideas and facts coherently and concisely is an important focus of the oral examination. All Master of Arts candidates and those Master of Science candidates in the “recital” or “thesis” option within the music education concentration are required to take the final comprehensive oral exam concurrently with their recital hearing or thesis defense. Master of Science candidates in the “cognate” option within the music education concentration are required to take only the final comprehensive oral exam. Master of Science candidates in the music therapy concentration are required to take the final comprehensive oral exam concurrently with their project defense.

Programs

*Programs may have different REAL designations based on the concentration(s) selected. Click on the major for more details.

• Music, B.A. (E, L)
• Music, B.M. (R, E, A)
• Music, B.S. (E, L)

To graduate with a minor, a student must have a 2.0 or higher GPA in all courses required for the minor, and should be officially registered for the minor at least one semester prior to graduation. Courses used to fulfill major or minor requirements cannot be used to fulfill concentrations or option requirements within Interdisciplinary Studies.

• Music Industry Minor (E, L)
• Music Performance Minor (E, L)
• Music Production Minor (E)

A degree represents the academic level of a program and the general category into which it falls. For example: Master of Arts, Master of Science, etc. At Radford University, the term “Arts” in a graduate degree generally implies a language and thesis requirement. The minimum number of semester hours for a Radford University graduate degree is 30.

• Music, M.A.
• Music, M.S.