Music Performance
Graduates from the Music Performance program at Methodist University will be able to excel in creating high-level, creative musical performances.
Program Status
Effective Fall 2024, the B.M. program in Music Performance is in teach out and no longer accepting new students.
Common Career Paths
Some of the top jobs for those with a Music Performance bachelor degree include musician, music instructor, music director, musical instrument repairer, and so much more.
Common Salary Ranges for Graduates
As mentioned above, there’s a long list of career opportunities for those with a Music Performance degree. 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 teacher: $71,760
- Music director and composer: $52,550
- Musical instrument repairer and tuner: $39,020
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 Performance major (Voice) consists of 65-72 credits, distributed as follows:
Required Academic Courses
31-34 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 4190 Music History: 20th–21st Century (2) |
| MUS 2080 Aural Skills IV (1) |
* MUS 1600 is required if a student does not pass the diagnostic exam for theory.
Select two courses (6 credits) from the following:
| MUS 4640 Orchestration (3) | MUS 4660 Form and Analysis (3) |
| MUS 4650 Introduction to Composition and Arranging (3) |
Required Applied Courses
16-20 credits
| **MUS 0710 Concert Attendance (0) | ***MUS 1750-4750 Piano Proficiency (0-4) |
| MUS 0800 Half Recital (In Voice) AND MUS 0900 Full Recital (In Voice) (0) | **MUS 1310-4310 Applied Voice (2) |
**MUS 0710 must be taken and passed for a total of 6 semesters.
**Applied lessons (MUS 1310-4310) must be taken and passed for 8 semesters: a total of 16 credit hours of Applied Voice. Therefore, continuous enrollment is required until a minimum of 16 continuous credit hours of applied lessons (C or better) is completed.
*** 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
Select 8 credits from Noblemen or Grace Notes:
| MUS 3280 (1)/MUS 3290 (1) Noblemen (required for all male voice students) | MUS 3860 (1)/MUS 3870 (1) Grace Notes (required for all female voice students) |
Required Methods Courses
10 credits
| MUS 1650 English/Italian Diction (2) | MUS 3610 Conducting (3) |
| MUS 2650 French/German Diction (2) | MUS 3611 Vocal Pedagogy (3) |
Note: In addition to the program requirements above, it is recommended that Music Performance majors also complete two semesters of a foreign language (French, German, or Italian 1010-1020).
Instrumental Major Requirements
The Music Performance major (Instrumental) consists of 62-71 s.h. distributed as follows:
Required Academic Courses
31-34 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 4190 Music History: 20th–21st Century (2) |
| MUS 2080 Aural Skills IV (1) |
* MUS 1600 is required if a student does not pass the diagnostic exam for theory.
Select two courses (6 credits) from the following:
| MUS 4640 Orchestration (3) | MUS 4660 Form and Analysis (3) |
| MUS 4650 Introduction to Composition and Arranging (3) |
Required Applied Courses
16-20 credits
| **MUS 0710 Concert Attendance (0) | ***MUS 1750-4750 Piano Proficiency (0-4) |
| MUS 0800 Half Recital (In major instrument) AND MUS 0900 Full Recital (In major instrument) (0) | **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 12 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 (minimum)
| MUS 3260 (1)/MUS 3270 (1) Guitar Ensemble | 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.
Required Methods Courses
3-5 credits
| MUS 3370 Applications of Piano Literature (Piano Majors ONLY) (2) | MUS 3610 Conducting (3) |
Note: In addition to the program requirements above, it is recommended that Music Performance majors also complete two semesters of a foreign language (French, German, or Italian 1010-1020).
Contact
Scott Marosek, D.M.A.
