Department Information
Department of Music
PO 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 also offers training in the Suzuki method for flute. Courses in this program meet certification guidelines of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA).
Undergraduate instruction in the department leads to the Bachelor of Music (BM) or to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. The Bachelor of Music concentrations (Music Education, Performance) prepare students for professional work or advanced study or for teaching music in the elementary and secondary schools. The concentrations in the Bachelor of Arts (Performance, Contemporary Music Performance & Production, Music History, Composition) focus on those who want to major in music but want neither to be a performer nor an educator. Some may want to choose other paths in music or simply want to get a music degree but work in areas outside of music that require a college education. The BA degree provides the opportunity to study music from a liberal arts perspective.
Admission Requirements
Any student seeking a major or minor 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 for dates, and by appointment (see the department web page, www.etsu.edu/cas/music).
The audition may be performed live or via videotape (if the student lives more than 250 miles from campus.) The audition, which is judged by faculty in the Department of Music, should demonstrate the student’s technique and musicianship.
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 should be noted that the student’s academic progress will be seriously delayed if the music major is not declared by the sophomore year. Students electing the music minor must declare that minor prior to reaching 60 credits of coursework to ensure that the program can be completed in a timely manner.
It is recommended that students not successfully completing the theory entrance exam take music fundamentals prior to starting theory courses.
Applied Music
Music majors must register for applied music (private instruction) in their major area of performance; Lessons must be taken with a member of the department faculty. Students may register for either one or two credits per semester. Each credit represents a minimum of one half-hour lesson and six hours of practice per week. A fee of $200 per credit is assessed. For more information (Click here)
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. 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. For more information visit the Music Department catalog page .
Transfer Students
Students transferring to East Tennessee State University from another college or university are required to take an audition. Student transcripts will be reviewed prior to acceptance into the Department of Music.
Advising
Students wishing more information regarding the Department of Music or wanting to be advised, can contact us at:
(423) 439-4270
or email us at music@etsu.edu
or visit www.etsu.edu/music
Degree Requirements: 120 credits
| General Education |
41-42 credits |
| Major Total Requirement |
76 credits |
| Major Core |
(25 credits) |
| Concentration |
(51 credits) |
| Piano Proficiency |
| Sightreading Levels I & II |
| Independent Musicianship |
| Half Recital |
| Full Recital |
| Program Notes |
| Recital Attendance |
| Free Electives |
2-3 credits |
| TOTAL |
120 credits |
Suggested Four-Year Program of Study: MUSC-BM (PEVO)
General Education Requirements
These requirements include earning 41-42 credits in Communication, Humanities and Fine Arts, Social and Behavior Sciences, History, Natural Sciences and Mathematics categories.
Total Requirements for Music Major: 76 credits
Music Major Core Requirements: 25 credits
Performance: Vocal Concentration: 51 credits
Free Electives: 2-3 credits
Non-Course Requirements
Piano Proficiency: B.M. Performance
Students in the B.M. performance concentrations are required to meet a standard proficiency level on piano. This is assessed through a piano proficiency examination given at the end of the first year of classes (typically after the completion of MUSC 1010 Class Piano I and MUSC 1020 Class Piano II). To prepare students for the proficiency examination, students must enroll for a piano course beginning their first semester of study, either in class piano or applied piano lessons. Students must remain in a piano course until the piano proficiency examination is passed. Students with prior piano training may request to take the piano proficiency examination when they matriculate.
Sight Reading
Students in the B.M. concentrations must successfully pass two sight reading proficiency examinations. The examinations will be administered by the applied faculty and are part of the requirements for applied level advancement. The first from applied level I to II and the second from applied level II to III. The examination may be administered at the time of the level advancement performance jury or scheduled separately.
Independent Musicianship
Students in the B.M. performance concentrations 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 a jury after the student has advanced to applied level III. Selection of the piece should be made in consultation with applied faculty.
Recital Performance
Students in the B.M. Performance concentrations must perform a solo work in public each semester. “In public” includes studio recitals, department recital hour, half-hour or full-hour recitals, or other public events as approved by the applied instructor.
To complete the degree, students must perform and pass both of the following:
- A half-hour recital (typically given during the junior year)
- An full-hour recital (typically given during the senior year)
Half-hour and full-hour recitals may only be presented after a student has been admitted to Level III applied lessons. Repertoire requirements and assessment procedures for these recitals will be provided by applied faculty.
*Recital Attendance
As a music major it is important to experience a variety of musical performances in different genres, styles, and forces. In order to ensure this occurs during the student’s program of study, the ETSU Department of Music requires all music majors to attend the following music recitals (concerts/performances). This is a standard requirement for universities accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. To track attendance at these events, music majors are required to enroll in MUSC 1111 - Recital Attendance every semester. This is a zero credit class graded as pass/fail.
Program Notes
Students giving their half recital must write and submit program notes to the Department of Music faculty program committee. These notes must meet the requirements for program notes (provided by the applied faculty). If the submitted program notes are not of the quality necessary for publication, students are required to revise the program notes as requested by the faculty program committee until the program notes meet the required standard.
Additional Information
Click here to view Degree and Graduation Requirements for all ETSU students.
CSCI 1100 or Proficiency exam: Must be completed to meet Bachelor’s Degree Requirements.
Most minors range from 18-24 credits. Those few minors with more than 24 credits may affect the number of free electives allowed.
See the Music Department page for detailed information on half recital, full recital, piano proficiency, recital attendance, and other program requirements.
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