Music Degrees Online

The curriculum for this professional degree program, with certification by the State of Illinois, is designed to provide outstanding preparation for the teaching of music in the primary and secondary school systems. Students may choose to work toward certification at the K-12 level with emphasis in either vocal or instrumental music.

Music students desiring to teach in the public schools must complete the Bachelor of Music Degree with a major in music education and the additional general education and professional education requirements for Teaching Certifications.

Bachelor of Music in Music Education students must complete the music core requirements along with the requirements for their major. Accredited: National Association of Schools of Music.

A minor is not required (the minor requirement is met automatically by completing the music core). An applied audition, musicianship assessment, and interview are required prior to being accepted as a music education major.

Advising and Applied Juries
All music and music education students must see a music faculty advisor at least once each year to help maintain regular and intelligent advancement toward finishing their degrees. Students failing to meet with their music faculty advisor will be unable to register for classes the next academic year. Refer to the Music Student Handbook for details.

Applied Juries will be given at the end of fall and winter semesters, and are required for all music and music education majors enrolled in applied music courses. Other students may be advised to take Juries if their occupational goal would suggest it. Minimum performance standards in each performance medium will be determined by the music faculty, and each students must satisfy these performance standards in order to graduate. Juries and/or senior recitals will be used for evaluation. Failure to meet applied performance standards will result in additional requirements in the applied area having to be met prior to graduation.

Transfer Students
Transfer students must be enrolled in an ensemble every semester of attendance, but may count ensemble credits gained at another institution toward the minimum ensemble credits required for graduation. For placement in required courses, all transfer students will be given proficiency exams in music theory, music history, and applied music. Remedial work may be assigned, if necessary. All transfer students must take at least 2 credits in Applied Music at SVSU.

The Chicago Symphony, Detroit Symphony, National Symphony, Minnesota Symphony, U.S. Air Force Band, U.S. Army Band, Dale Warland Singers, Los Angeles Master Chorale, and Gregg Smith Singers all have Luther graduates among their members.

Luther alumni have garnered leads in national touring performances of “Les Miserables” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” Luther College has also been well represented at the New York Metropolitan Auditions with recent winners at both the national and regional levels.

Many Luther alumni have entered graduate degree programs to prepare for careers in performance or college teaching. Recent graduates have attended Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, University of Arizona, Arizona State, San Francisco Conservatory, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Northwestern, Minnesota, Yale, the Cincinnati Conservatory, Florida State University, Eastman School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and Juilliard School of Music.

Education is another popular path for music majors; Luther graduates have succeeded in securing excellent positions in the music education field. With additional study at a university, music education students can also earn a degree in music therapy.

Other career opportunities include positions in church music, music criticism, librarianship, instrument repair, publishing, piano and organ tuning, music management, radio, and television.

Music Degree Information

Students at Loyola may major in Fine Arts with a concentration in music, minor in music, or take music courses as electives. Students may also participate in music activities regardless of their major or minor.

Degree Program
Students interested in majoring will major in Fine Arts, with a concentration in Music. Our graduates have gone on to teach in the public school system, continued their education in graduate schools such as Columbia University, and worked in the music industry. The program requires 11 three-credit courses plus a minimum of 6 semesters of Applied Music (Private instruction in an instrument or voice) a minimum of 6 semesters of an ensemble (Chorale, Madrigals, Chamber Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, or Classical Guitar Ensemble) and 4 semesters of Ear Training.

If you want to teach music
For those students who want to teach music, Loyola also offers a state approved Certificate granting program in Music Education. Students in this area major in Music and minor in Secondary Education. Please contact Dr. Anthony Villa for further information.

Minor in Music
Of interest to many freshmen, the Music minor requires two lower-division courses and four upper-division courses, four semesters each in Applied Music and an Ensemble plus two semesters of Ear Training. Most majors at Loyola have more than sufficient room for a minor in Music. Planning, however, is required to assure that the student’s schedule runs smoothly.

Take music courses regardless of your major or minor
Each semester, full credit courses are offered in Performance, Music History and Music Theory for both the interested novice and more musically experienced student.

Requirements for Major or Minor

For a Major in Music: 121, 122, 123, 124, 221, 222, 223, 224, 233 and additional course work as determined by which emphasis the student wishes to pursue. Also recommended is a demonstration of piano proficiency through a performance examination of piano or passing the class piano sequence of courses for the music major with a grade of B or better in all of those courses. For all music education students, a grade of B or better in piano proficiency is required.

General Music Emphasis: 320, 490; three music history courses selected from 251, 253, 354, 355, 356, or 357 (two of the history courses must be taken from 354, 356, or 357); four credits in music courses other than ensembles or lessons, seven credits over seven semesters of required ensemble participation; and six credits over six semesters of applied lessons (203 for four credits and 403 for two credits).

Performance Emphasis: 320, 491; three music history courses selected from 251, 253, 354, 355, 356, or 357 (two of the history courses must be taken from 354, 356, or 357); seven credits over seven semesters of required ensemble participation; and 12 credits over eight semesters of applied lessons (203 for six credits and 403 for six credits). At the end of the sophomore year, pass a junior standing jury prior to final admission to this concentration.

Composition-Theory Emphasis: 320, 326, 328, 492; three music history courses selected from 251, 253, 354, 355, 356, or 357 (two of the history courses must be taken from 354, 356, or 357); six credits over six semesters of required ensemble participation; and nine credits over eight semesters of applied lessons (203 for four credits and 403 for five credits). The five credits of 403 must be in composition lessons.

Music Education Emphasis: 243, 253, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 347, 348, 447; one music history class selected from 251, 354, 355, 356, or 357; six credits over six semesters of required ensemble participation; and six credits over six semesters of applied lessons (203 for four credits and 403 for two credits). A grade of B or better in piano proficiency is required for all music education students.

For a Minor in General Music: 20 credits comprised of 121, 122, 123, 124, 233; one music history class selected from 251, 253 or 355 (354, 356, or 357 may be substituted, but only with permission of instructor); four credits over four semesters of required ensemble participation; and four credits over four semesters of applied lessons.

For Oregon Initial Teacher Licensure in Music: A student must complete the Linfield Teacher Education Program and the State of Oregon licensure requirements (see pages 57 and 58 of the print catalog). In order to complete these requirements, a student must begin taking education courses no later then his/her sophomore year. The student must be advised by an Education Department faculty member each semester prior to registration.

Music
The B.A. in Music is for those looking for a broad, liberal arts-based music education. Students in this program often minor in another area, pursue graduate studies in a music-related field not included in the Bachelor of Music concentrations, or plan to pursue music avocationally.