Nov 23, 2024  
Spring 2025 Catalog 
    
Spring 2025 Catalog

Music


This area is in the School of Performing Arts  within the COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION .


Music

Mathew Buchman, Chair
Room 254, Noel Fine Arts Center
Phone: 715-346-3021
Email: mbuchman@uwsp.edu
Web: www.uwsp.edu/music

Faculty: B Baldauff, S Bender, S Berk, M Boothroyd, R Brashier, D Breisach, T Buchholz, M Buchman, A Cromwell, M Cruz, B Ellingboe, S Kapsa K. Kaspar, R Korb, P Lawrence, J Lynch, S Manasreh, M Markham, A Moran, S Morell, R Neece, Z Preucil, M Roseman, R Snyder-Turney, D Story, B Turney.  

Mission Statement for Music

To provide a dynamic environment where innovation and leadership in creativity, teaching, performance, and advocacy set a new standard for education through music.

Professional Opportunities in Music

Our music programs prepare you for professional careers in a variety of areas including teaching, performance, composition, music business, music technology, music management, and other music-related occupations. The Bachelor of Music degree program offers three areas of emphasis: music education , music performance (with emphases in instrumental piano , and vocal ), and jazz studies . The Bachelor of Arts degree program offers a nondisciplinary music degree that incorporates studies in other disciplines for careers in many music-related professions.

Notes for Music:

  1. Admission to the Department of Music as an undergraduate music major or minor is by audition. You must complete the music theory diagnostic test, and if you wish to major in music, you must be evaluated by piano faculty for placement.
  2. Special music scholarships are available to high school seniors with outstanding talent in musical performance. These scholarships are awarded each spring on the basis of special auditions held before members of the music faculty. Contact the Music Department for dates, times, and other details.
  3. Every music major must enroll, participate, and receive a passing grade in a major ensemble every semester except the student teaching semester.
  4. String music education majors and string applied majors need four semesters of chamber ensemble.
  5. See the Music Department “Silent Adviser” for recital attendance requirements.
  6. The following organizations are open to all students regardless of major: Pointer Pep Bands, Concert Choir or Choral Union, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Campus Band, Instrumental Jazz Ensemble, University Orchestra, Campus Orchestra, and numerous small ensembles.

Academic Standards for Music Majors

  1. Permission to register, placement, and exceptions to the requirements are subject to the approval of the instructor and the department chair.
  2. Must meet all major requirements for bachelor of music degree OR bachelor of arts degree.
  3. To graduate with a major in music you must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (2.75 to student teach) in all required major courses, including transfer courses, regardless of any declaration of academic forgiveness. You may repeat courses in the major if you follow the course repeat policy .
  4. Courses in music are open to all students who meet the prerequisites.

Test-Out, Credit-by-Exam, and Music Placement for Music

If you are seeking advanced placement in music general degree requirement courses by testing out of a course or by gaining credit through exam, see the coordinator of the specific area in which the course is offered.

If you are transferring from another UW campus, while not required, we strongly encourage you to take the placement exams in musicianship and musicology to determine the proper course you should take in those areas. If you are transferring from institutions outside the UW System, you are required to take musicianship and musicology exams.

We require all music education students to apply for admission to the Professional Program with the School of Education  and to meet with the coordinator of music education before registering for upper level music education courses.

Admission Requirements for the Instrumental Music Performance Certificate Program

  1. Successfully audition for entrance to the Music Department; typically this audition is in February or March of your senior year of high school
  2. Supply two letters of recommendation
  3. Submit a250-500 word essay on how this certificate program’s core principle supports ongoing value to combining a high level of study in a creative field with your major field of study.

 

 


Graduate Programs

Brent Turney, Graduate coordinator
Rachel Brashier, Graduate Music Coordinator

Room 318, Noel Fine Arts Center
Phone: 715-346-2227
Email: Rachel.Brashier@uwsp.edu OR music@uwsp.edu

Master of Music Education - Music

In the Music Department you may work toward the Master of Music Education degree with an emphasis in elementary/secondary education , Suzuki talent education, or studio pedagogy. In this program, you prepare for classroom, performance, and administrative responsibilities as a member of the music teaching discipline. You improve your competency in music philosophy, methodology, literature, and applied musical experiences while learning of the most recent trends and innovations in music education. Please note that this program does not lead to teacher certification.

A wide range of activities are available to enhance your abilities as a music educator. Seminars and methods courses illuminate practical and philosophical issues in music education. In the Suzuki talent education curriculum, you participate in the renowned institute which brings more than a thousand students and teachers to the UW-Stevens Point campus each year. You have access to music department resources such as the Computer Music Center with opportunities to learn and apply technological advancements in the field.

Admission to the Program - Music Graduate

To be considered for admission:

  1. Complete university and department application forms for admission.
  2. Submit a transcript of all undergraduate or graduate work you have taken at other institutions.
  3. Have your past administrators, teaching colleagues, or college teachers in your major area send two letters of recommendation on your behalf.
  4. If you wish to have an emphasis in elementary/secondary education, you must have state teacher certification. If your emphasis is Suzuki, certification is recommended but optional. If your emphasis is pedagogy, certification is optional.
  5. Meet these requirements for certain emphases:
  1. Elementary/secondary: an undergraduate degree in music education.
  2. Suzuki talent education: an undergraduate degree in music and a Suzuki-related performance area; OR gain admission by faculty evaluation, based on your performance area, music courses taken toward a related undergraduate degree, and significant Suzuki teaching. You may be required to take additional courses.
  3. Studio pedagogy:
  1. Undergraduate degree in applied music or music education (teacher certification optional).
  2. Approval of faculty in your major area of performance. OR
  3. Admission by faculty evaluation based on performance area, music courses taken toward a related undergraduate degree, and significant involvement in studio teaching and performance. You may be required to take additional courses.

Admission to Candidacy for Music Graduate Program

To be admitted to candidacy:

  1. Complete 9 credits with a grade of B or better.
  2. Before you complete 15 credits, adopt a Program of Study, including projected courses, the topic of your culminating experience, and selection of a graduate committee and project adviser, who is also chair of your committee.

Programs

    Bachelor DegreesMinorsUndergraduate CertificatesGraduate ProgramsGraduate Certificates

    Courses

      Music

      Also see Music Education (next section).

      Music EducationPage: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4