Music Songwriting (BA)
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Department(s)
Three units Musicology/Ethnomusicology, to include course, course, and course
One unit course Recording Techniques
One unit of Class Voice for Popular Musicians (course, taken four times)
One-half unit Applied Music (course and course), placed by audition in voice, piano, or guitar
One unit Large Ensemble (band, orchestra, choir)
Completing the performance requirements as specified under Requirements for the Major;
Recital attendance each semester.
Note: Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree must also take an Arts/Humanities Division course outside of music.
Requirements for the Major
Entrance audition to demonstrate appropriate background and potential for formal acceptance into the School of Music.
Completion of 32 units for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Music degree.
Music majors must attain, maintain membership in, attend, and be registered for credit in the appropriate large university ensemble (band, orchestra, choir or Popular Music Ensemble; Jazz Orchestra is a qualifying option for pianists and guitarists) during all semesters in which they are enrolled. Music majors electing a wind or percussion instrument as their principal performing medium are required to participate in the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, or Symphony Orchestra, as assigned; string instruments in the Symphony Orchestra; voice students in the Adelphian Concert Choir or Puget Sound Singers, as assigned; songwriting students in Popular Music Ensemble; piano majors in four semesters of a large ensemble and four semesters of chamber music; and guitar students in any of the above ensembles. Students may elect to perform in additional ensembles if they desire and are qualified.
Each major must pass the Keyboard Musicianship Examination, preferably during the sophomore year. Typically, this requirement is completed in the two-year music theory sequence.
Music majors are required to be registered for applied music every semester. Songwriting students are required to take four semesters of Class Voice for Popular Musicians as well as 0.5 units of Applied Music in voice, piano, or guitar.
Recital requirements for Bachelor of Music candidates majoring in Performance are a minimum of one-half of a formal recital or three noon recital appearances in the principal performing medium in the junior year and a full recital demonstrating a high level of musicianship in performance in the principal performing medium in the senior year. Other majors must perform in one noon recital at a minimum during both their junior and senior years.
Continuation in all music major degrees is based on ongoing assessment by the faculty of a student's progress in music theory, musicology and ethnomusicology, ensembles, music education methods, and applied music. To advance to the junior year as well as to graduate in the major, students must have a 2.3 overall grade point average and a 2.5 music grade point average. Students also must demonstrate excellence in the jury of their major performance instrument in the spring of the sophomore year. Students who are music education majors and/or transfer students will also have a review of their academic performance progress in the junior year.
Upon transcript review, transfer students may be required to take placement examinations in music theory and musicology prior to registration; Music Education transfer students are required to complete course or an equivalent one-semester, in-school teaching experience.
Each semester in residence all music majors register for Recital Attendance (course/course), a non-credit course. All music majors are expected to fulfill the recital attendance requirement by attending a prescribed number of concerts and recitals.
General Requirements for the Major or Minor
General university degree requirements stipulate that 1) at least four units of the major or three units of the minor be taken in residence at Puget Sound; 2) students earn at least a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in courses taken for the major or the minor; and 3) all courses taken for a major or minor must be taken for graded credit. Any exceptions to these stipulations are indicated in the major and minor degree requirements listed below.