Mar 29, 2024  
2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies Major, B.A.


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College of Arts and Sciences


Department of Appalachian Studies


Bluegrass, Old Time, and Counry Music Studies Program Information


Ron Roach, Ph.D., Chair
304 Memorial Hall (Brooks Gym)
Box 70435
(423) 439-7494
e-mail: roachr@etsu.edu

PO Box 70556
Johnson City, TN 37614
423-439-7865
www.etsu.edu/das/bluegrass/

The Bachelor of Arts in Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies is designed to produce uniquely-prepared individuals who can compete and succeed in a wide array of careers: entertainers, studio musicians, recording artists, songwriters, journalists for trade magazines, artist management or promotion, road managers, museum management and curatorial work.

A minor is required for this degree. It is recommended that students choose from either Entrepreneurship or the Appalachian Studies Minor as their minor; however, business, management and communication (advertising, journalism, broadcasting, etc.) are also appropriate.


Admission Procedures

Any student seeking a degree in bluegrass, old time, and country music studies must meet general university admission requirements. Once admitted to the university, the student must audition for admission to the degree program, either in live performance or by video, for students who live more than 150 miles from campus. The five-minute audition should demonstrate the student’s technique, musicianship, and artistry. Auditions for admission to the major are held on selected dates prior to each semester (see the program’s web page, www.etsu.edu/das/bluegrass for dates) and are judged by bluegrass, old time, and country music studies faculty.
If a student meets the audition requirements and is admitted to the major, an academic advisor will assist the student in selecting courses and planning a program of study.
 

B.A. Degree Core and Performance Tracks

The student will complete a core of 36 credit hours and choose between two performance tracks: vocal or instrumental. Students pursuing the vocal track must pass a guitar proficiency test or take two credit hours of class guitar or individual instruction on guitar.
 

Progression Standards

Band class and individual instruction are offered at three levels. Any student enrolled in band class and/or individual instruction must meet program progression standards in order to advance to the next higher level. Any student majoring in Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies must have successfully completed three credit hours of study at Level III (4xxx) in band classes and three credit hours of study at Level III (4xxx) in individual instruction before the degree may be awarded. Band class progression will be evaluated during any of the three required performances each semester. Individual instruction progression will be evaluated via jury examinations held at the end of every semester. Progression standards are published in course syllabi.
 

Performance Requirements
 

All students enrolled in Bluegrass, Celtic, Country, and Old Time Band classes are required to perform at a minimum of three public performances during the semester. Performance dates will be provided at the beginning of each semester and listed online (see the program’s web page, www.etsu.edu/das/bluegrass, for dates). Any student who inexcusably misses any scheduled performance will receive a failing grade for the semester.
 

Attendance at Lectures, Workshops, Master Classes, and Performances
 

The program hosts a wide variety of concerts, workshops, guest speakers, master artist lectures, and performances. A schedule of events can be found at www.etsu.edu/das/bluegrass/schedule.aspx.

Attendance at these events is critical to the education of a musician. All ETSU bluegrass, old time, and country music studies majors must submit evidence of attending a minimum of five events each semester of enrollment. Records are maintained in the student’s advisement file in the Bluegrass Office.

 

Transfer Information
 

The Association of Applied Science Degree/Bluegrass Music Program from Volunteer State Community College articulates with ETSU’s B.A. in Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies. For more information please visit: www.volstate.edu/Bluegrass/Curriculum.php

How to Contact Your Advisor:
bluegrass@etsu.edu

(www.etsu.edu/advisement/continuingstudents/default.aspx#Find)

www.etsu.edu/das/bluegrass

Telephone: (423) 439-7072

General Program Information


To earn a degree from ETSU, there are specific course requirements put forth by ETSU, by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), by each college, and by each department. All students must meet the degree requirements at each of these levels. Please follow the format below:

University-level Degree and Graduation Requirements


Total Credit Hours for Degree: 120


College of Arts and Sciences B.A. Degree Requirements


Students majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences must meet the following requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. Some requirements must be taken in addition to the General Education Core, whereas others specify which courses from the General Education Core must be taken.

Foreign Languages Completion of a foreign language course numbered 2020 or above with a grade of C- or better * **
   
Mathematics Specified General Education Core: MATH 1530  or MATH 1910 
   
Non-U.S. History 3 credit hours
   
Natural Sciences General Education Core
   
Social and Behavioral Sciences General Education Core

 

* International Students whose native language is not English, and whose admission to ETSU requires them to take a standardized test of English as a foreign language (e.g., TOEFL), may substitute scores that meet the admission requirements for the foreign language requirement.
** Consult the Literature and Language Department’s placement policy listed at  www.etsu.edu/cas/litlang/documents/foreignlanguagerequirement.pdf and in the listing for Foreign Languages in this catalog.

 

TBR General Education Requirements: 41 - 42 Credit Hours


Below you will see the categories and courses specified under TBR General Education Requirements. Note that certain courses are required for this degree, specific to this major. Thus, these courses will satisfy both a TBR General Education requirement AND a requirement of this major. (Other majors may require different General Education courses.) Where specific courses are required for this major, we only list those courses under the category. If there are no specific major requirements for a category, all course options appear.
 

Communication


9 credits, consisting of 6 credits of written composition and 3 credits of oral communication.

Written Composition


Complete both of the following: 

Oral Communication


Humanities and Fine Arts


9 credits, consisting of 3 credits of literature, 3 credits of fine arts, and 3 credits of humanities electives.

History


6 credits, consisting of both of the following:

Natural Sciences


8 credits, consisting of two of the following (some require labs which are listed directly after the lecture):

(Note: Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in the College of Arts and Sciences must select 8 credit hours in a SINGLE laboratory science. Please see listing in College of Arts and Sciences B.S. Degree Requirements for options.)

Mathematics


Students will enroll in the appropriate general education math course during their first calendar year of enrollment at ETSU. Students required to complete learning support in mathematics must enroll in a learning support-designated section (L01-L99) of MATH 1530  during their first 15 hours at ETSU (not including summer) unless they are also required to complete learning support in reading or writing. Students needing learning support in reading or writing in addition to learning support in math should enroll in MATH 1530-Lxx immediately upon completing their other learning support requirements. Additional information may be found on the University Advisement Center website www.etsu.edu/uac/learningsupport/

Complete one of the following:

Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies Major


Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies Core: 36 Credit Hours


Students must take 4 credit hours from the following:


Students must take 7 credit hours, with at least 3 credit hours at the 4000 level, from the following:


Students must take 4 credit hours from the following:


In addition to the core, students must select one of two performance tracks:


Instrumental Performance Track: 9 Credit Hours


Note:

Experienced Fiddle players may substitute Fiddle Harmony I, II, or III for two hours of individual instruction (students must take Fiddle/Bluegrass I, II, or III concurrent with Fiddle Harmony).

Vocal Performance Track: 9 Credit Hours


Students must take 7 credit hours, with at least 3 credit hours at the 4000 level, from the following:


All vocal students must pass a guitar proficiency test or take 2 credit hours from the following:


Optional Electives: 3 - 10 Credits Hours


Minor: 18 - 24 Credit Hours


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