Music

Box 70661
Phone (423) 439-4270
Web Address: www.etsu.edu/cas/music

The Department of Music at East Tennessee State University was established in 1946 and is a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

The Department of Music provides specialized training in music to prepare students for professional work or advanced study, for teaching music in the elementary and secondary schools, and for general cultural attainment.

The curriculum of the Department of Music is designed to present the learning of music as an integrated whole. Solo and ensemble performance, theoretical and historical studies, concert attendance, and electives both within and outside the department are intended to provide a balanced education.

In addition to training in the various professions of music, the department provides general music studies and activities for the non-music major, the university, and the community.

Major Fields of Study and Degrees

Undergraduate instruction in the department leads to the Bachelor of Music (BM) degree with a specialization in music education or performance. Students choosing music education will identify a specialization in instrumental, vocal, or keyboard/vocal. These students must also complete the teacher education minor, included later in this section. Students may also pursue a minor in music.

The Department of Music also offers training in the Suzuki method for flute. Courses in this program meet certification guidelines of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA).

The Department of Music also offers a wide variety of courses for the non-music major. Any student can enroll in music survey and music fundamentals courses, private lessons (depending on faculty availability), ensembles, beginning voice classes, and beginning piano class.

Events

The Department of Music offers a wide variety of recitals, concerts, lectures, and other programs by students, faculty, and distinguished guest artists. Most of the programs are free and open to the public. The events schedule can be found at http://www.etsu.edu/cas/music/.

Student Organizations

The Department of Music encourages participation in music-related student organizations. Active chapters of Percussive Arts Society, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Sigma Alpha Iota provide social, service, and professional opportunities for both music and non-music majors.

Scholarships and Awards

Upon recommendation of the faculty, students may be awarded scholarships for talent in music. Scholarship auditions are held in February and March of each year. Details are available on the department’s web page. Awards vary in size and include the following:

The Lamar Alexander Scholarship
The Elsie Artz Memorial Scholarship
The Teresa Bowers Scholarship
The Floyd Cramer Scholarship
Ella V. Ross Scholarship
The Mary Florence and Virgil C. Self Scholarship
Band and Choral Performance Scholarships
The Powell Choral Scholarship
Richard Compton Memorial Scholarship
W.G. Patton Scholarship
Robert LaPella Vocal Scholarship
Marie Hutchinson Hunter Piano Scholarship
Walter Marshall Scholarships
Topalian Jazz Scholarship
Nicholas L. Tate Scholarship
Kenton Coe Scholarship
Academic Performance Scholarships
Public Performance Scholarships

Other awards based upon academic excellence and performance ability are also available from the Department of Music.

Admission and Enrollment Policies

Any student seeking a degree in music at ETSU must first meet the general university admission requirements. Once that admission is granted, the student must audition for admission to the music degree program. Auditions are held on selected dates during the spring (see the department Web page, www.etsu.edu/cas/music, for dates), and by appointment.

The audition may be performed live or via videotape (if the student lives more than 250 miles from campus). The audition should demonstrate the student’s technique and musicianship. The audition is judged by Music Department faculty.

If a student meets the audition requirements and is admitted to the program, an academic advisor will assist the student in determining courses to be taken. Students who do not meet the audition requirements may register for applied music and for ensembles and may audition again at a later date. It is not recommended that a student audition more than twice without being admitted, as the student’s academic progress will be seriously delayed if a major is not declared by the sophomore year. It is recommended that students not successfully completing the theory entrance exam take music fundamentals prior to starting theory courses.

Applied Music

Music education majors must register for a minimum of seven semesters of applied music (private instruction) in their major area of performance; performance majors must register for a minimum of eight semesters. Lessons must be taken with a member of the department faculty. Students may register for either one or two credit hours per semester. Each hour of credit represents a minimum of one half-hour lesson and six hours of practice per week. A fee of $150 per credit hour is assessed.

Admission to applied music is by audition only. Non-music majors may register for applied music when faculty loads permit. All students must have permission from the department to register for lessons.

Applied music classes are structured so students take MUSC 18xx their freshman year and MUSC 29xx their sophomore year. At the end of the freshman and sophomore years all students must pass a barrier examination in order to advance to either MUSC 29xx or upper-division MUSC 39xx status. Students failing these juries will be placed on probationary status and given one semester to raise their performance ability to achieve the next level status. Students failing their second barrier examination will be dismissed from the music program.

Jury examinations are held at the end of each semester of applied study for music majors and minors. The purpose of the jury is to determine student progress in the performance area, serve as a final exam, and be a benchmark performance showing the student’s ability to advance to the next level of applied study. Applied study for music majors and minors is offered at three levels. Level I (freshman year - two semesters), Level II (sophomore year - two semesters), and Level III (upper division - junior and senior years.) Students who remain at Level I or Level II after three semesters of study will be dismissed from the music program. Students who are retained in the music program are expected to achieve Level III (upper-division standing) during their third year of study and a minimum of two semesters of study at Level III must be completed prior to graduation. Additional performance and jury requirements are found in the Music Student Handbook in D2L.

Performance Requirements

All music majors must perform a solo work in public each semester. Freshman music majors are expected to perform once during the year. “In public” includes studio class or recital, department recital, half or full recital, or other public events as approved by the applied instructor.

All music majors, regardless of concentration, must perform a 30-minute half recital. Music performance majors must also perform an hour-long full recital. A student must be admitted to Level III prior to presenting a half or full recital.

Specific information about the recital approval process is available in the Music Student Handbook on D2L.

Piano Proficiency

All music majors are required to meet minimum proficiency levels on piano. Beginning with the first semester of residence, music majors must enroll for piano study, either through group keyboard classes or through private lessons, every semester until the piano proficiency examination is passed. Students with prior piano training may request to take the piano proficiency when they enter into the music program. Music education majors must pass the examination prior to student teaching. Specific details about the examination are found in the Music Student Handbook.

Sight-Reading Proficiency

All music majors must successfully pass two sight-reading proficiency examinations. The examination is part of the jury for advancement from one level to another. Students advancing to Level II are expected to sightread at Grade 7 on the Associated Board scale; students advancing to Level III must sight-read at Grade 8.

Independent Musicianship

All music majors must demonstrate the ability to prepare a new piece of music for performance without the assistance of a faculty member. This skill must be demonstrated at the jury during which a student applies for admission to Level III. Details about the requirement can be found in the Music Student Handbook.

Ensemble

Performing experience in ensembles is a vital part of the training of all musicians. Thus, all music majors are required to participate in a major ensemble every semester of full-time enrollment. Wind and percussion majors in the music education concentration must be in band (wind ensemble or concert band) each semester. Performance majors may substitute orchestra if they hold a regular, permanent position in the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra. Those students must enroll in MUSC 1204 /MUSC 3204 , “Orchestra.” All other string majors must enroll for orchestra at Milligan College. Voice majors must participate in choir. Keyboard majors must enroll in “Accompanying.”

Students are not limited to a specific number of ensembles, but music majors must enroll for a minimum of ten (10) non-ensemble credits each semester of full-time attendance.

Recital Attendance

Attendance at recitals and concerts is considered critical to the education of a musician. All music majors must submit evidence of recital attendance for seven semesters; records are maintained in the student’s advisement file in the department office. Details regarding the requirements for each semester’s attendance can be found in the Student Handbook on the department web page.

Advising

All music majors will be assigned an academic advisor upon entrance to the degree program. Students should consult the major program check sheets for specific course requirements required in the Bachelor of Music degree. All majors must be advised prior to registration each semester.

Music education majors should consult an academic advisor in the College of Education for the teacher education minor.