Music Degrees Online

The study of music encourages students to explore the value of music in their lives. Students who study music at Saint Martin’s University have the advantage of a strong program in music within a liberal arts setting. Courses in music integrate the study of music literature, history and theory with musical performance as a means of developing intellect, familiarity with a variety of cultures, interpersonal relationships and poise.

The University’s music department offers a bachelor of arts degree, a minor and three State of Washington teacher certificate endorsements in music: choral, instrumental and general. Saint Martin’s is noted for small class sizes, rigorous education and a close working relationship with faculty members.

As part of the major, minor and endorsement courses of study, students are required to pass a functional keyboard proficiency examination. Students with prior piano training can meet this requirement by passing the piano proficiency examination. All other students will take applied piano instruction. After they have declared a major, minor or endorsement, music students also are required to participate in a major ensemble as well as applied lessons in their major instrument/voice each semester. Those students awarded music scholarships are required to be actively involved in the appropriate large and small performance ensembles within the music department and to maintain high academic standards.

In the words of one noted critic, “All art constantly aspires towards the condition of music.” And it is this “condition” of music – its purity of form, its expressive power, and the immediacy of its emotional impact – that has made it so central to every culture. Music is not an educational luxury; rather, it lies at the core of what it means to be human.

The music faculty offer all Lakeland students the opportunity to participate in the performing life of the campus community through vocal and instrumental ensembles. For music majors, the faculty provide an opportunity to turn performance into a vocation, with specialized tracks designed for vocal, instrumental, and piano training.

Students wishing to major in music may choose between education and performance tracks by selecting one of six emphases: (1) Voice Performance, (2) Instrumental Performance, (3) Piano Performance, (4) Music Education—Choral Music Certification, (5) Music Education—Instrumental Music Certification, and (6) Music Education—General Music Certification. Those choosing Music Education—General Music Certification will choose a concentration from among Instrumental, Vocal, and Piano.

In addition to aspiring to excellence in their teaching and performance areas, students develop strong broad-based music skills through the music core classes. Thus, students develop clear and effecting conducting skills, proficient piano skills, and functional aural skills. Students also develop functional understandings of the musical language and of music history and literature. Summarily, Lakeland’s music program strives to cultivate professional discipline and aesthetic appreciation in its students.

Students who major in Music will be able to:
perform to an “advanced developing” or a semi-professional level of mastery, either in voice or their chosen instrument ;
lead an ensemble with technical clarity and expressive effectiveness;
play the piano well enough to use it as a professional tool and a means of artistic expression;
demonstrate a functional understanding of music history and literature, including the tradition’s seminal cultural periods, composers, and genres;
master the language of music, both in analysis and aural skill; and
display professional discipline and aesthetic appreciation