Program Overview

Introduction to the Music — Performance Concentration, BMus Program

The Music — Performance Concentration, BMus program at Western Washington University is designed to provide students with comprehensive instruction on their primary instrument, as well as a variety of solo and ensemble experiences. The program aims to foster high-level performance and pedagogy, with students performing two recitals in addition to completing a core set of courses in music theory, aural skills, keyboarding, and musicology.

Program Requirements

The Music — Performance Concentration, BMus program requires a minimum of 95-105 credits. The program consists of the following components:

• Music Non-Course Requirements
  • Upper-division Jury: Performance students must complete lessons at the 300 and 400-level, with a separate upper-division jury required to access each level and schedule a junior and senior recital.
  • Keyboarding Proficiency: All music majors must demonstrate keyboard proficiency, which is assessed throughout the final quarter of the keyboarding sequence.
• Music Core Sequences
  • The music core sequence starts with 100-level courses in theoretical and analytical skills, aural skills, and keyboarding skills.
  • Students then take 200-level courses in these subjects, followed by a year of 300-level musicology courses.
• Music Performance Core Requirements
  • Conducting: Students must complete MUS 351 - Basic Conducting.
  • Upper-Division Music Theory: Students must complete two courses from a list of options, including MUS 322, MUS 324A, MUS 324B, MUS 326, MUS 334, MUS 335, MUS 422, MUS 424, and MUS 434.
  • Upper-Division Musicology: Students must complete MUS 442 - Seminar in Musicology.
  • Junior Recital: Students must enroll in MUS 399 during the quarter the Junior Recital is performed.
  • Senior Recital: Students must enroll in MUS 499 during the quarter a Senior Recital is performed.
• Chamber Music: Performance students must complete a minimum of four courses of chamber music, with options including MUS 275, MUS 278, MUS 280, MUS 281, MUS 283, MUS 284, MUS 303, MUS 475, MUS 478, MUS 480, MUS 481, MUS 483, MUS 484, and MUS 485.
• Primary Instrument Requirements: Students must complete specific requirements for their primary instrument, including pedagogy, electives, applied lessons, and major ensemble courses.

Primary Instrument Requirements

The primary instrument requirements vary depending on the student's instrument. The requirements for each instrument are as follows:

• Brass:
  • Pedagogy: Students must complete MUS 466 - Applied Music Pedagogy and MUS 466E - Applied Music Pedagogy/Professional Practices.
  • Electives: Students must complete a minimum of 8 credits of electives, including additional chamber ensemble, lessons, history, theory, conducting, and survey courses.
  • Applied Lessons: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of applied lessons, with a minimum of three credits completed in MUS 414F-J.
  • Major Ensemble: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of major ensemble courses, including MUS 271, MUS 272, MUS 273, MUS 371, MUS 372, MUS 471, MUS 472, and MUS 473.
• Guitar:
  • Pedagogy: Students must complete MUS 466 - Applied Music Pedagogy.
  • Fretboard Harmony/Guitar History: Students must complete MUS 367 - Fretboard Harmony and MUS 468A - Guitar History and Repertory.
  • Applied Lessons: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of applied lessons, with a minimum of three credits completed in MUS 416.
  • Major Ensemble: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of major ensemble courses, including MUS 271, MUS 272, MUS 273, MUS 371, MUS 372, MUS 471, MUS 472, and MUS 473, as well as MUS 282 - Guitar Ensemble.
• Percussion:
  • Pedagogy: Students must complete MUS 466 - Applied Music Pedagogy and MUS 466E - Applied Music Pedagogy/Professional Practices.
  • Electives: Students must complete a minimum of 8 credits of electives, including additional chamber ensemble, lessons, history, theory, conducting, and survey courses.
  • Applied Lessons: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of applied lessons, with a minimum of three credits completed in MUS 414K.
  • Major Ensemble: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of major ensemble courses, including MUS 271, MUS 272, MUS 273, MUS 371, MUS 372, MUS 471, MUS 472, and MUS 473.
• Piano:
  • Applied Music Literature: Students must complete MUS 467 - Piano Literature.
  • Advanced Piano Pedagogy: Students must complete MUS 466A - Applied Music Pedagogy: Piano I and MUS 466C - Applied Music Pedagogy: Piano II.
  • Applied Lessons: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of applied lessons, with a minimum of three credits completed in MUS 412.
  • Major Ensemble: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of major ensemble courses, including MUS 271, MUS 272, MUS 273, MUS 371, MUS 372, MUS 471, MUS 472, and MUS 473, as well as MUS 276 - Piano Accompanying and MUS 476 - Advanced Piano Accompanying.
• Strings:
  • Pedagogy: Students must complete MUS 466 - Applied Music Pedagogy and MUS 466E - Applied Music Pedagogy/Professional Practices.
  • Electives: Students must complete a minimum of 8 credits of electives, including additional chamber ensemble, lessons, history, theory, conducting, and survey courses.
  • Applied Lessons: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of applied lessons, with a minimum of three credits completed in MUS 413A-E.
  • Major Ensemble: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of major ensemble courses, including MUS 271, MUS 272, MUS 273, MUS 371, MUS 372, MUS 471, MUS 472, and MUS 473.
• Voice:
  • Intro to Voice Studies: Students must complete MUS 166A - Introduction to Voice Studies A and MUS 166B - Introduction to Voice Studies B.
  • Vocal Diction: Students must complete MUS 366A - Vocal Diction: English and Italian, MUS 366B - Vocal Diction: German, and MUS 366C - Vocal Diction: French.
  • Advanced Applied Pedagogy Voice: Students must complete MUS 466B - Applied Pedagogy: Voice I and MUS 466D - Applied Music Pedagogy: Voice II.
  • Applied Lessons: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of applied lessons, with a minimum of three credits completed in MUS 415.
  • Major Ensemble: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of major ensemble courses, including MUS 271, MUS 272, MUS 273, MUS 371, MUS 372, MUS 471, MUS 472, and MUS 473.
• Woodwinds:
  • Pedagogy: Students must complete MUS 466 - Applied Music Pedagogy and MUS 466E - Applied Music Pedagogy/Professional Practices.
  • Electives: Students must complete a minimum of 8 credits of electives, including additional chamber ensemble, lessons, history, theory, conducting, and survey courses.
  • Applied Lessons: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of applied lessons, with a minimum of three credits completed in MUS 414A-E.
  • Major Ensemble: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of major ensemble courses, including MUS 271, MUS 272, MUS 273, MUS 371, MUS 372, MUS 471, MUS 472, and MUS 473.

University Graduation Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must also meet the university's graduation requirements, which include:

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement

By completing the Music — Performance Concentration, BMus program and meeting the university's graduation requirements, students will be well-prepared for a career in music performance and education.