Music
Methodist University’s Music program seeks to facilitate transformative experiences in the classroom, on the stage, and in the audience, so that every student might develop a lifelong passion for music.
Program Status
Effective Fall 2024, the A.A. and B.A. programs in Music are in teach out and no longer accepting new students.
Common Career Paths
Some of the top jobs for those with a Music bachelor degree include musician, singer, music director, composer, music teacher, musical instrument repairer and tuner, music tutor, and more.
Common Salary Ranges for Graduates
As mentioned above, there’s a long list of career opportunities for those with Music degrees. But, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average annual salary for the following positions (which may require additional education) in North Carolina in 2021:
- Music director and composer: $52,550
- Musical instrument repairer and tuner: $39,020
- Music teacher (postsecondary): $71,760
- Tutor: $39,760
Average Tuition Cost
The average cost for an incoming residential freshman to attend MU is less than $18,000 – similar to the cost of attending one of the big-box public schools, but with the enhanced value of a highly-regarded private school with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
While tuition varies, depending on a student’s financial aid package, it’s important to know that the average financial award for an incoming residential freshman at MU is more than $34,000.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
More than 97% of MU students receive some form of financial aid, with the University offering more than $24 million annually to students for scholarships. If a student is active military, family of active military, or a veteran, they may also qualify for MU’s military education benefits.
Major Requirements
The Music major consists of 64-73 credits, distributed as follows:
Foreign Language Requirement
6 credits
One language through the 1020 level (1010 and 1020) or demonstration of competence. German, French, or Italian are recommended.
Required Academic Courses
34-37 credits
| MUS 1070 Aural Skills I (1) | MUS 2600 Music and Culture (1) |
| MUS 1080 Aural Skills II (1) | MUS 2610 Music Theory III (3) |
| *MUS 1600 Music Fundamentals (3) | MUS 2620 Music Theory IV (3) |
| MUS 1610 Music Theory I (3) | MUS 3110 Music History: Ancient Through Baroque (3) |
| MUS 1620 Music Theory II (3) | MUS 3130 Music History: Classic Through Romantic (3) |
| MUS 2070 Aural Skills III (1) | MUS 3610 Conducting (3) |
| MUS 2080 Aural Skills IV (1) | MUS 4190 Music History: 20th–21st Century (2) |
* MUS 1600 is required if a student does not pass the diagnostic exam.
Select two courses (6 credit hours) from MUS 4640, MUS 4650, MUS 4660.
| MUS 4640 Orchestration (3) | MUS 4660 Form and Analysis (3) |
| MUS 4650 Introduction to Composition and Arranging (3) |
Required Applied Courses
16-22 credits
| **MUS 0710 Concert Attendance (0) | ***MUS 1750-4750 Piano Proficiency (0-4) |
| MUS 0800 Half Recital (In major instrument or voice) (0) | MUS 3370 Applications of Piano Literature (Piano Majors ONLY) (2) |
| **MUS 1140-4810 Applied Piano, Organ, Voice, Strings, Woodwinds, Percussion, or Brass (2) |
**MUS 0710 must be taken and passed for a total of 6 semesters.
**Applied lessons (MUS 1140-4810) must be taken and passed for 8 semesters: a total of 16 credit hours on one instrument or voice. Therefore, continuous enrollment in the major instrument is required until a minimum of 16 continuous credit hours of applied lessons (C or better) is completed. Percussionists must complete no fewer than 16 credit hours of applied lessons, with at least 10 credit hours in applied orchestral percussion. Instrumental majors (winds, brass, and percussion) are required to participate in Athletic Bands for no fewer than two years.
*** All music majors whose primary instrument is not piano are required to pass the piano proficiency exam to graduate. Students must enroll in the piano proficiency sequence (MUS 1750-4750) until the exam is successfully passed. Students who pass MUS 4750 (Piano Proficiency IV), but who have not passed the piano proficiency exam must register for MUS 1770 or 1780 (Piano for Non-Music Majors/ Proficiency) until passing the piano proficiency exam.
Required Ensemble Courses
8 credits
| MUS 3260 (1)/MUS 3270 (1) Guitar Ensemble | MUS 3860 (1)/MUS 3870 (1) Grace Notes |
| MUS 3280 (1)/MUS 3290 (1) Noblemen | MUS 3900(1)/MUS 3910 (1) Chamber Orchestra |
| MUS 3480 (1)/MUS 3490 (1) Concert Band |
Note: If Guitar Ensemble is not offered, students may take one of the other ensembles for equal credits. Piano majors may accompany a choral ensemble for equal credits, if qualified to do so, or play in one of the other ensembles.
Music Minor Requirements
The Music minor consists of 16 credits, distributed as follows:
Required Academic Courses
8-11 credits
| MUS 1070 Aural Skills I (1) | MUS 1610 Music Theory I (3) |
| MUS 1080 Aural Skills II (1) | MUS 1620 Music Theory II (3) |
| *MUS 1600 Music Fundamentals (3) |
* MUS 1600 is required if a student does not pass the diagnostic exam for theory.
Required Applied Courses
4 credits
| **MUS 0710 Concert Attendance (0) | **MUS 1140-4810 Applied Piano, Organ, Voice, Strings, Woodwinds, Percussion, or Brass (2, 2) |
**MUS 0710 must be taken and passed for a total of 4 semesters as well as participation in required student recitals once per semester.
Required Ensemble Courses
4 credits
| MUS 3260 (1)/MUS 3270 (1) Guitar Ensemble | MUS 3860 (1)/MUS 3870 (1) Grace Notes |
| MUS 3280 (1)/MUS 3290 (1) Noblemen | MUS 3900(1)/MUS 3910 (1) Chamber Orchestra |
| MUS 3480 (1)/MUS 3490 (1) Concert Band |
Note: No senior recital is required for the minor in music.
Secondary Instrument/Voice Minor Requirements
The minor in Secondary Instrument/Voice is available to music majors only.
Required Academic Courses
8-11 credits
| MUS 1070 Aural Skills I (1) | MUS 1610 Music Theory I (3) |
| MUS 1080 Aural Skills II (1) | MUS 1620 Music Theory II (3) |
| *MUS 1600 Music Fundamentals (3) |
* MUS 1600 is required if a student does not pass the diagnostic exam for theory.
Required Applied Courses
8 credits
| **MUS 0710 Concert Attendance (0) | **MUS 1140-4810 Applied Piano, Organ, Voice, Strings, Woodwinds, Percussion, or Brass (2, 2, 2, 2) |
**MUS 0710 must be taken and passed with applied lessons (MUS 1140-4810) as well as participation in required student recitals once per semester.
Required Ensemble Courses
4 credits
| MUS 3260 (1)/MUS 3270 (1) Guitar Ensemble | MUS 3860 (1)/MUS 3870 (1) Grace Notes |
| MUS 3280 (1)/MUS 3290 (1) Noblemen | MUS 3900(1)/MUS 3910 (1) Chamber Orchestra |
| MUS 3480 (1)/MUS 3490 (1) Concert Band |
Note: No senior recital is required for the minor in secondary instrument/voice, however students must perform on semester student recitals and juries.
Associate of Arts (A.A.) Concentration Requirements
The Music concentration consists of 29-32 credits, distributed as follows:
Required Academic Courses
17-20 credits
| MUS 1070 Aural Skills I (1) | MUS 2070 Aural Skills III (1) |
| MUS 1080 Aural Skills II (1) | MUS 2080 Aural Skills IV (1) |
| *MUS 1600 Music Fundamentals (3) | MUS 2600 Music and Culture (1) |
| MUS 1610 Music Theory I (3) | MUS 2610 Music Theory III (3) |
| MUS 1620 Music Theory II (3) | MUS 2620 Music Theory IV (3) |
* MUS 1600 is required if student does not pass the diagnostic exam
Required Applied Courses
8 credits
| **MUS 0710 Concert Attendance (0) | **MUS 1140-4810 Applied Piano, Organ, Voice, Strings, Woodwinds, Percussion, or Brass (2) |
**MUS 0710 must be taken and passed with applied lessons (MUS 1140-4810) for 4 consecutive semesters.
Required Ensemble Courses
4 credits
| MUS 3260 (1)/MUS 3270 (1) Guitar Ensemble | MUS 3860 (1)/MUS 3870 (1) Grace Notes |
| MUS 3280 (1)/MUS 3290 (1) Noblemen | MUS 3900(1)/MUS 3910 (1) Chamber Orchestra |
| MUS 3480 (1)/MUS 3490 (1) Concert Band |
If Guitar Ensemble is not offered, students may take one of the other ensembles for equal credits. Piano majors may accompany a choral ensemble for equal credits, if qualified to do so, or play in one of the other ensembles.
Note: No senior recital is required for the Associate of Arts. Students must participate (perform) in student recitals once a semester as part of the applied lesson requirement.
Contact
Scott Marosek, D.M.A.
