Undergraduate Degree Requirements

4-year course planner for BA in General Music

4-year course planner for BA in Music with concentrations in Composition, Theory, or Music History

Core music curriculum required of all BA music majors:

• Music 187-188, 287-288, 387-388 (Individual Study in Performance I–VI)
• Music 121 (dedicated section restricted to music majors): Writing About Music
• Music 246: Music History I: Music from 1200 to 1750
• Music 247: Music History II: Music from 1750 to the Present
• Music 74-75: Piano Skills I-II
• Music 171-172, 271-272: Sight-Singing and Dictation I-II-III-IV
  • or Music 371-372: Intensive Sight-Singing and Dictation
• Music 173-174, 273-274: Harmony, Counterpoint, and Keyboard Skills I-II-III-IV
• 4 semesters of large ensemble (Music 156, 158, 253, 258, 259, or 356)
• 2 semesters of a small ensemble (Music 68, 244, 2551, 2561, 2571, 291, or other courses by permission)
• 4 Listening Exams
• 6 semesters of Music 100 (Recital Attendance)
• Senior Concentration Exam

Additional requirement for General Music degree:

• Music 301W (Topics in Musicology) or 302W (Topics in Non-Western Music)

Additional requirements for Music History concentration:

• Music 301W (2 semesters on different topics) or Music 301W and 302W. If Music 302W is not elected, another course in non-Western music (such as Music 122) must be taken in addition to the courses listed here.
• Music 377 (Form and Analysis)
• Music 390 (Senior Project in Music History)

Additional requirements for Music Theory concentration:

• Music 301W: Topics in Musicology
• Music 373: Model Composition and Score Reading
• Music 374: Twentieth-Century Techniques
• Music 377: Musical Form and Analysis

Additional requirements for Composition concentration:

• Music 301W: Topics in Musicology
• Music 329: Composers’ Workshop
• Music 330: Undergraduate Composition Tutorial
• Music 373: Model Composition and Score Reading
• Music 374: Twentieth-Century Techniques
• Music 270 (Conducting I), 276 (Instrumentation), or 381 (Arranging and Composing)

Progress Evaluations (performance juries) are required each May for all BA students enrolled in individual lessons (Music 187-188, 287-288, 387-388). Three Progress Evaluations must be passed prior to graduation.

4-year course planner for BMus in Music Education

There are two possible concentrations in the Music Education major: instrumental and choral. Students must select at least one concentration, but those wanting to obtain the broadest possible professional preparation may elect to take both sequences. See also the suggested course sequence for the Music Education program.

Core music curriculum required of all music education majors:

• Music 148-149, 248-249, 348-349 (Individual Study in Performance I–VI)
• Music 121 (dedicated section restricted to music majors): Writing About Music
• Music 246: Music History I: Music from 1200 to 1750
• Music 247: Music History II: Music from 1750 to the Present
• Music 122 (Writing Musical Culture) or 302W (Topics in Non-Western Music)
• Music 171-172, 271-272: Sight-Singing and Dictation I-II-III-IV
  • or Music 371-372: Intensive Sight-Singing and Dictation
• Music 173-174, 273-274: Harmony, Counterpoint, and Keyboard Skills I-II-III-IV
• Music 374: Twentieth-Century Techniques
• Music 377: Musical Form and Analysis
• 7 semesters of large ensemble (Music 156, 158, 253, 258, 259, or 356)
• 4 Listening Exams
• 6 semesters of Music 100 (Recital Attendance)
• Senior Concentration Exam

The following music education courses are required for both the instrumental and choral concentrations.

• Music 270, 370: Conducting I-II
• Music 381: Composing and Arranging for School Ensembles
• SEYS 221: Human Development and Learning I**
• EECE 310W: Children in Cultural Contexts I: Child Development**
• EECE 340: The Early Development of Language and Literacy**
  • or SEYS 340: Language, Literacy and Culture in Education**
• ECPSE 350: Foundations of Special Education (taken concurrently with Music 366)

** All School of Education courses require weekly observation/attendance visits at an elementary and/or secondary school.

The following music education courses are required for both the instrumental and choral concentrations.

• Music 267: Introduction to Music Education. Must precede all other music education courses (all courses listed below), with a minimum grade of B– required to continue as a music education major. The final exam for this class will include an interview with the music education faculty and a performance on your primary performance medium (instrument or choral) at the minimum level of a solid “A” for a NYSSMA level V piece or higher.
• Music 365: Seminar in Teaching Music: Elementary (Spring semester only)
• Music 366: Seminar in Teaching Music: Secondary (Fall semester only; taken after Music 365)
• Music 369: Student Teaching (requires minimum 3.0 in Music 365/366)

Additional music education courses for the instrumental concentration:

• Music 161: Group Instruction in Upper Strings
• Music 162: Group Instruction in Lower Strings (recommended)
• Music 163: Group Instruction in Woodwinds
• Music 167: Group Instruction in Brass
• Music 168: Group Instruction in Percussion
• Music 269: The School Instrumental Program (Music 161-168 should be taken before Music 269)

Additional music education courses for the choral concentration:

• Music 75: Piano Skills 2 (must have satisfied the requirements of MUS 74)
• Music 164: Group Instruction in Guitar
• Music 265: Applied Keyboard Skills
• Music 266: Vocal Pedagogy
• Music 268: The School Choral Program

In addition to the degree requirements listed here, students must pass three Progress Evaluations (performance juries) on their major instrument, plus three examinations in keyboard skills. The three Progress Evaluations, held each year in May, must be passed prior to student teaching.

4-year course planner for BMus Performance (Orchestral Instruments, Guitar, or Percussion)

4-year course planner for BMus Performance (Piano or Organ)

4-year course planner for BMus Performance (Voice)

Core music curriculum required of all performance majors:

• Music 151-152, 251-252, 351-352, 451-452 (Individual Study in Performance I–VIII)
• Music 121 (dedicated section restricted to music majors): Writing About Music
• Music 246: Music History I: Music from 1200 to 1750
• Music 247: Music History II: Music from 1750 to the Present
• Music 301W: Topics in Musicology
• Music 122 (Writing Musical Culture) or 302W (Topics in Non-Western Music)
• Music 74-75: Piano Skills I-II
• Music 171-172, 271-272: Sight-Singing and Dictation I-II-III-IV
  • or Music 371-372: Intensive Sight-Singing and Dictation
• Music 173-174, 273-274: Harmony, Counterpoint, and Keyboard Skills I-II-III-IV
• Music 270: Conducting I
• Music 374: Twentieth-Century Techniques
• Music 377: Musical Form and Analysis
• 8 semesters of large ensemble (Music 156, 158, 253, 258, 259, or 356)
• 4 Listening Exams
• 6 semesters of Music 100 (Recital Attendance)
• Senior Concentration Exam
• Senior recital

Additional requirements for orchestral instruments, guitar, and percussion only:

• 6 semesters of Chamber Music (Music 2551) or other small ensembles (68, 244, 2571, 291) by permission)
• 6 semesters of Music 282 (Survey of Repertory) in the appropriate instrumental area. (Note: guitarists are exempted from Music 282.)

Additional requirements for piano majors only:

• 6 semesters of Music 282: Survey of Piano Repertory
• 4 semesters of Music 2551 (Chamber Music) or other small ensembles by permission
• 1 semester of Music 283: The Art of Keyboard Collaboration
• 2 semesters of Music 286: Practical Accompanying
• 1 additional semester of Music 2551 or 286

(Note: Organ and harpsichord majors follow a slightly modified version of these requirements. All keyboard performance majors are exempted from Music 74-75.)

Additional requirements for voice majors only:

• 4 semesters of Music 2561 (Opera Studio), 2551 (Chamber Music), or other small ensembles by permission
• 4 semesters of Music 282: Survey of Vocal Repertory
• Music 129, 130, 229, 230: Italian, German, French, and English Diction, respectively

Progress Evaluations (juries) are required each May for all BMus Performance majors. Students must pass three Progress Evaluations prior to scheduling the senior recital.

This program is for students who have been accepted into the BMus Performance program but also wish to pursue teacher certification. For the first two years, students follow the standard BMus Performance curriculum above, including the Pathways General Education requirements. Beginning in the sophomore or junior year, students add the music education sequence and School of Education courses required for certification. Typically, at least one additional year of study is required to fulfill all requirements. After four years, the student graduates with the Bachelor of Music degree and is automatically admitted to the advanced certificate program. For the fifth year, the student enrolls in the post-baccalaureate certificate program to complete the remaining requirements for initial certification, including student teaching in the final semester.

Examinations

In addition to course examinations, the School of Music requires students to take exams upon application to the program (qualifying and placement exams), during their course of study (annual listening exams and performance evaluations), and at the end of the course of study (senior concentration exam).

The four Listening Examinations are based on an extensive selection of important musical works. The repertoire lists are available here. Students are expected to take one of these examinations during each year of study. Each hour-long examination involves identification of the composer, work, and movement for each excerpt played; the minimum passing grade is 70. All four examinations are given each semester. Students are individually responsible for preparing for these examinations.

Performance Evaluations (also called Progress Evaluations or juries) are required of ALL undergraduate music majors each spring. For Bachelor of Music performance majors, the Senior Recital takes the place of the senior performance evaluation. For other students, Senior Recitals may replace Evaluations with permission from the appropriate faculty.

Students are asked to prepare two (for Bachelor of Arts music majors) or three (for Bachelor of Music students) pieces of contrasting styles to perform before a faculty jury. The evaluations take place in May; watch the bulletin board near the Music Office for the date, instrument and time of your evaluation. It is assumed that you will take a Performance Evaluation on the instrument (or voice) for which you receive individual lessons. Any instrument changes need to be approved.

Students are expected to present pieces at a minimum NYSSMA Level 5 for freshmen and NYSSMA Level 6 for all other students. Examples of recommended pieces can be found in the NYSSMA manual on reserve in the Music Library. These are only examples. Speak to your teacher regarding appropriate pieces for your evaluation.

Online searches are available to locate possible NYSSMA pieces for most instruments. To locate NYSSMA pieces held in the Queens College Music Library, go to OneSearch and type in “[your instrument] NYSSMA” in the search box (e.g., “violin NYSSMA”). In the results list, click on individual titles to see the NYSSMA level. To search for specific levels, type in “[your instrument] NYSSMA level 5” (e.g., “flute NYSSMA level 5”).

Please note that not all instruments have been labeled in OneSearch. We appreciate your patience as we work to add NYSSMA tags for all instruments. Remember that these pieces are just suggestions.

For more information on using OneSearch, or any Music Library resources, please visit the Music Library homepage.

In order to remain in good standing in the undergraduate degree program, students must make progress judged to be satisfactory by a faculty jury. Poor performance on the Progress Evaluation may result in academic probation or suspension from the music major.

The Senior Concentration Examination is required of all music majors preparing for graduation. It includes both written and oral components and tests knowledge of history, theory, and analysis. There is also a required performance component. An informational meeting occurs in approximately the fifth week of each semester; students who wish to take the Senior Concentration Examination should watch their e-mail closely for announcement of this meeting, which provides guidance on applying and preparing for the exam. Students must pass at least three of the four Listening Examinations before applying for the Senior Concentration.

Attendance Policy

(For chamber music, individual lessons, and large ensembles)

The School of Music expects regular and punctual attendance at lessons and rehearsals. Excused absences caused by illness or unavoidable personal circumstances must be reported directly to the instructor. Students who do not do so may face dismissal from the ensemble or from the School of Music.

There are fifteen weeks in each semester: fourteen weeks of classes and rehearsals plus a week of final examinations. Students receive thirteen weeks of individual lessons. Excused absences, if reported sufficiently in advance, will be made up at the discretion of the instructor; lessons missed by the instructor will be rescheduled. Substantial deviations from this policy should be brought to the attention of the Director.