Bachelor of Arts in Music (Instrumental Performance)
Website: https://twu.edu/music/undergraduate-programs/ba-in-music-degree-with-a-performance-track/
Update Effective July 31, 2023: The Bachelor of Arts in Music (Instrumental Performance) track has been reclassified as a Bachelor of Music (Instrumental Performance) track.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with an emphasis in Performance is designed for those students who wish to pursue a career as a performer, establish a music studio, or develop the foundation for graduate study in music. Pursue your passion through private lessons, ensembles, and recitals combined with other music studies including theory, history, and piano.
Marketable Skills
Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."
- Collaboration - work effectively with others toward a common goal.
- Analysis - think and understand in patterns.
- Time-management - handle multiple projects simultaneously.
Admissions
All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.
In addition, applicants must:
- Fill out the online TWU Music Audition Application via Acceptd.
- A letter of recommendation from your current private teacher or ensemble director will be required for each application. The letter must be received prior to your audition date and must be submitted by the letter writer through the Acceptd platform.
- Audition and participate in a placement evaluation.
You also may choose to compete for scholarships that are available to new and transferring music students each year. These are awarded based on musical excellence, as verified through your entrance audition and placement examination, and supported by teacher recommendations.
Please visit the TWU Music Auditions website for audition dates, area-specific audition criteria, and a Step-by-Step Guide to admission into music degree programs.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120
Major: 32 SCH
Program Code: MUSIC.BA.INSTRUMENT; CIP Code: 50.0901.00
Texas Core Curriculum
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | 3 |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Life & Physical Sciences | 6 | |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture | 3 | |
| Creative Arts | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| CAO: Women's Studies | 3 | |
| CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics | 3 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Courses Required for Major
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| MU 1021 | Keyboard Musicianship I | 1 |
| MU 1031 | Keyboard Musicianship II | 1 |
| MU 1521 | Aural Skills I | 1 |
| MU 1531 | Aural Skills II | 1 |
| MU 2521 | Aural Skills III | 1 |
| MU 2531 | Aural Skills IV | 1 |
| MU 1523 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MU 1533 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MU 2523 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MU 2533 | Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MU 3313 | Music History I | 3 |
| MU 3323 | Music History II | 3 |
| MU 3401 | Voice Class | 1 |
| MU 3542 | Conducting I | 2 |
| MU 4512 | Instrumental Arranging | 2 |
| MU 4903 | Special Topics (Special Topics in Music Theory) | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 32 | |
Instrumental Performance
Special Requirement: A grade of "B" or higher for courses to be counted toward the degree
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Lessons (10 SCH advanced) | 18 | |
| Music Ensembles (advanced) | 12 | |
| MU 2061 | Keyboard Musicianship III | 1 |
| MU 4903 | Special Topics (Pedagogy and Literature) | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 34 | |
Departmental Requirements
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language | 6 | |
| Performance Juries (8 juries completed) | ||
| MU Electives | 3 | |
| MU 2913 | Music and Cultures | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 12 | |
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| MU 1021 | Keyboard Musicianship I | MUSI 1181 | 1 |
| MU 1112 | Music and Wellness | 2 | |
| MU 1521 | Aural Skills I | MUSI 1116 | 1 |
| MU 1523 | Music Theory I | MUSI 1311 | 3 |
| Large Ensemble | 1 | ||
| Applied Music: Primary Instrument | 2 | ||
| UNIV 1231 | Learning Frameworks: The First Year Experience | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| SCHs | 14 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| MU 1031 | Keyboard Musicianship II | MUSI 1182 | 1 |
| MU 1531 | Aural Skills II | MUSI 1117 | 1 |
| MU 1533 | Music Theory II | MUSI 1312 | 3 |
| MU 2913 | Music and Cultures | MUSI 1307 | 3 |
| MU 3401 | Voice Class | 1 | |
| MU 3581 or 3571 | Chamber Music or Jazz Ensemble | 1 | |
| Large Ensemble | 1 | ||
| Applied Music: Primary Instrument | 2 | ||
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| MU 2061 | Keyboard Musicianship III | MUSI 2181 | 1 |
| MU 2521 | Aural Skills III | MUSI 2116 | 1 |
| MU 2523 | Music Theory III | MUSI 2311 | 3 |
| MU 3581 or 3571 | Chamber Music or Jazz Ensemble | 1 | |
| Large Ensemble | 1 | ||
| Applied Music: Primary Instrument | 2 | ||
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| Life & Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| MU 2531 | Aural Skills IV | MUSI 2117 | 1 |
| MU 2533 | Music Theory IV | MUSI 2312 | 3 |
| MU 3581 or 3571 | Chamber Music or Jazz Ensemble | 1 | |
| Large Ensemble | 1 | ||
| Applied Music: Primary Instrument | 2 | ||
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| Life & Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| Elective | 1 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| MU 3313 | Music History I | 3 | |
| MU 3542 | Conducting I | 2 | |
| MU 4512 | Instrumental Arranging | 2 | |
| Large Ensemble | 1 | ||
| Applied Music: Primary Instrument (upper level) | 2 | ||
| Foreign Language | 3 | ||
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| MU 3323 | Music History II | 3 | |
| MU 3581 or 3571 | Chamber Music or Jazz Ensemble | 1 | |
| Large Ensemble | 1 | ||
| Applied Music: Primary Instrument (upper level) | 2 | ||
| Foreign Language | 3 | ||
| Social & Behavioral Sciences Core | 3 | ||
| Elective | 2 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| MU 3703 | Women in Music | 3 | |
| MU 4903 | Special Topics (Special Topics in Music Theory) | 3 | |
| Large Ensemble | 1 | ||
| Applied Music: Primary Instrument (upper level) | 3 | ||
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| Mathematics Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| MU 4903 | Special Topics | 3 | |
| Large Ensemble | 1 | ||
| Applied Music: Primary Instrument (upper level) | 3 | ||
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 13 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 120 | ||
