Academic Catalog 2016-2018 > Undergraduate Degree Programs > Music (BA, Minor), Music with a Concentration in Performance (BA)

Music (BA, Minor), Music with a Concentration in Performance (BA)

The Department of Music, Dance, and Performing Arts offers courses designed to give students a broad understanding and appreciation of the intellectual, social, and spiritual values of music in the individual’s cultural life through performance, the study of theory and literature, participation in performing ensembles, and other related music studies. Musical skills are cultivated by an extensive program of music theory, ear training and studies in a chosen applied area (instrumental, vocal or compositional). The undergraduate curriculum is comprehensive because of the faculty’s fundamental belief in the reciprocal influences of performance, scholarship, and individual creativity, all of which, in turn, prepare the student for further graduate study or to proceed on a path toward a chosen profession.

The department welcomes non-music majors to participate in performing ensembles, to study an instrument or voice in group or private study, to learn about music through the department’s history and appreciation courses, and to study music humanistically through the General Education Program.

Two types of curricula are offered to the music major. The Bachelor of Arts degree is designed for those students who wish to study music as part of the liberal arts program irrespective of specific career goals, or for students who plan careers in music which require a broader general education, along with solo performance or compositional studies (e.g., teaching K-12, musicology, music history, music theory, music criticism, music business, music therapy, or arts management). The content of the Bachelor of Arts with a Concentration in Performance includes a strong emphasis upon performance, along with supportive studies in music, and Dominican’s program of General Education. Students in both programs are required to audition, which may be done at the campus, or submitted in a digital format. For more information about the audition, contact the Music Department.

Program Learning Outcomes

Music graduates will demonstrate:

1. Competency in music theory, aural skills and formal structure of diverse styles.
2. Understanding of music history as evidenced by ability to differentiate style periods, performance practices and representative composters and their works.
3. Performance skills that exhibit technical proficiency and effective artistic expression, in their primary performance mediums.
4. Ability to engage in cooperative and inclusive learning, and creative expression through ensemble studies and performances.

Performer’s Seminar

Music students are encouraged to develop performance skills through participation in MUS 1000/MUS 3000, Performer’s Seminar.

Eight semesters of Performer’s Seminar are required of all music majors, while two semesters are required of music minors. MUS 1000/MUS 3000 functions as a lab of each student’s applied study, and credit does not count toward the total number of units required for graduation. Transfer students will enroll in Performer’s Seminar for the semesters in residence at Dominican.

Performer’s Seminar includes a weekly class period in which students perform for each other or hear presentations by faculty and other professional musicians. In addition, students are required to attend both on and off-campus musical events. A calendar providing the dates for all required performances is distributed to students at the beginning of each semester.

Applied Music and Recitals

Music majors are required to take eight semesters of private applied study. This study will culminate in Junior and/or Senior recitals. For the Bachelor of Arts degree, students are required a culminating Senior recital of 30 minutes, or a creative project. For the Bachelor of Arts with a Concentration in Performance, Junior (30 minutes) and Senior (60 minutes) recitals are required.

In addition, music majors will enroll in a secondary applied area for four semesters (4 units). Normally, for all non-keyboard majors the secondary applied area will be piano. However, if non-keyboard majors pass the piano proficiency prior to completing the secondary applied music requirements, these students may choose another instrument or voice, or continue with piano until the secondary requirements are met.

Music minors are required four semesters of private applied study in an instrument or voice.

Students who are not music majors are encouraged to enroll in private applied study. Supplementary fees are required for all private lessons. Contact the Music Office for a fee schedule.

Ensembles

Participation in ensembles is an integral part of the music major and minor experience. Music majors are required eight semesters of ensembles and music minors are required four semesters. Students receiving music scholarships are required two ensembles each semester. The second ensemble may be taken for credit or non-credit, depending on the student’s academic needs.

For required ensembles, students should choose those which best support the needs of the applied concentration (for example, voice students should choose choral ensembles). Students are encouraged, however, to enroll in additional elective ensembles outside the applied concentration, as long as minimum performance standards for the ensembles are met.

Piano concentrations may be allowed to count accompanying as elective ensemble credit if approved by the chair of the department.

Students who are not music majors or minors are encouraged to participate in ensembles.

Auditions are required for all ensembles.

Juries

At the end of each semester, music majors enrolled in applied music are required to perform for a faculty jury in a final examination. The examination covers the student’s applied work for the semester and serves as an evaluation of the student’s overall progress in applied studies. Secondary and music minor applied study is not subject to jury examination.

Piano Proficiency

Each music major whose applied area is not keyboard is required to pass the piano proficiency. The piano proficiency requirements include all major and white-key minor scales with I-IV-V7-I chord progressions, a simple melody with chordal accompaniment by ear, a simple four-part chorale or hymn, and a simple piano solo. Entering students may attempt the piano proficiency exam during the orientation period just prior to the first semester of study (see Academic Calendar). Students who do not pass the proficiency at this time will be required to enroll in MUS 2652, Piano Class, each semester until the requirements are completed. Every attempt should be made to complete the Piano Proficiency by the end of the Sophomore year. Four units of MUS 2652 may be counted as the secondary applied music requirement for all non-keyboard music majors. Any piano units beyond these four, taken prior to passing the proficiency, do not count toward the total needed for graduation.

Facilities

The Music Program is housed in Angelico Hall, which has studios, classrooms, practice rooms, and a MIDI lab, an auditorium seating 850, the Department of Music, Dance, and Performing Art's office, and offices of the music faculty. The program owns twenty-five pianos, two of which are concert grands (including a Bösendorfer 9’6” Imperial Grand), as well as a number of harpsichords, harps, string instruments and percussion equipments. The music and recording library, housed in the Archbishop Alemany Library, has a collection of over 5,000 recordings and 10,000 scores.

The Archbishop Alemany Library houses the largest music collection in Marin County, including the complete works of many composers, major collections, an extensive reference section in most languages, and the major musical bibliographic tools for research.

In addition, all Dominican students have access to the Naxos Classical Music Library (over 65,000 discs), the Naxos Jazz Music Library (over 3500 discs), and the Naxos Sheet Music Library (powered by Freehand Music) through the Archbishop Alemany Library.

Transfer Students

Credit from accredited institutions with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0) or better in courses paralleling those in the Department of Music curriculum generally will be accepted. Acceptance of transfer credit in applied music will be determined by audition at the time of entrance. Transfer students should refer to the Transfer Credit Policies section of this Catalog.