The Bachelor of Music is the initial professional degree in music. Its primary emphasis is on development of the skills, concepts and sensitivities essential to the professional life of the musician. At the center of the instructional program for this degree is the music core curriculum, comprising 27 credits of instruction in aspects of musicianship fundamental to all music degree programs. Included are courses in music theory, aural skills, music history and conducting.

The Bachelor of Music/music education concentration incorporates requirements necessary to qualify for the commonwealth of Virginia’s Collegiate Professional Certificate to teach music in public schools. Reciprocity between Virginia and numerous other states makes it possible for those music education students who become certified to teach in Virginia to obtain certification in those other states.

Applied music achievement levels
Bachelor of Music/performance curricula
- Brass, percussion, strings, woodwinds
- Piano
- Voice
- Jazz studies
Bachelor of Music/music education curriculum

Applied music achievement levels

Eight achievement levels have been established for applied instrumental and vocal study. These levels are explicit in terms of expected repertoire, musicianship/style, technique and sight-reading. While freshmen normally earn Level I at their first semester juries, transfer students may be awarded a higher level based on their entrance auditions. The table below indicates the achievement levels required for graduation with a Bachelor of Music.

Performance: VIII
Jazz: IV in classical studies,* VI in jazz
Music education: VI

* Jazz saxophone students can elect four semesters of classical saxophone study (achieving Level IV) or take two semesters of classical saxophone plus two consecutive semesters of classical flute, clarinet, oboe or bassoon (achieving Level II in both classical saxophone and in the woodwind).

Bachelor of Music/performance curricula

Brass, percussion, strings, woodwinds

		Credits
I. General studies		36

A. University core
	ENGL 200 Writing and Rhetoric Workshop II or equivalent (research and academic writing) (3)
	MATH 131 or STAT 208 (quantitative literacy) (3)
	UNIV 111 and 112 Focused Inquiry I and II (6)
	Approved humanities/fine arts (3)
	Approved natural/physical science (3)
	Approved social/behavioral science (3)
B.	HIST 101 or 102 Survey of European History or HIST 103 or 104 Survey of American History (3)
C.	Directed electives
	Selected from humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, natural/physical sciences, mathematics (6)
D.	Open electives (6)

II. Major studies (applied)		31
	APPM 300-level Private Instruction: Principal Performing Medium (16)
	APPM 370 Large Ensembles¹ (8 or 4)
	APPM 370/390 Ensemble electives² (4 or 8)
	APPM 463 Pedagogy⁵ (2)
	APPM 492 Senior Project: Portfolio Review (1)
	APPM 299 Master Class (0)
	APPM 394 Junior Recital³ (0)
	APPM 494 Senior Recital (0)

III. Music core curriculum		27
	APPM 381 Conducting (2)
	APPM 199 Recital/Convocation Attendance (four semesters) (0)
	MHIS 120 Introduction to World Musical Styles (3)
	MHIS 145-146, 245-246 Theory and Aural Skills I-IV (16)
	MHIS 321, 322 Music History I, II (6)

IV. Supportive courses		26
A.	Supportive courses
	APPM 173-174, 273 Keyboard Skills (3)
	APPM 300-level Private Instruction: Secondary Performing Medium⁴ (3)
	MHIS 305 Form and Analysis I (2)
	MHIS 380 Survey of the Music Industry (3)
B.	Music electives (15)
	Selected from APPM 365, 366 Aural Skills V, VI and any MHIS or MUSC 300- or 400-level course not otherwise required in the student’s curriculum

Total		120

Piano

I. General studies		35

A.	University core
	ENGL 200 Writing and Rhetoric Workshop II or equivalent (research and academic writing) (3)
	MATH 131 or STAT 208 (quantitative literacy) (3)
	UNIV 111 and 112 Focused Inquiry I and II (6)
	Approved humanities/fine arts (3)
	Approved natural/physical science (3)
	Approved social/behavioral science (3)
B.	HIST 101 or 102 Survey of European History or HIST 103 or 104 Survey of American History (3)
C.	Directed electives
	Selected from humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, natural/physical sciences, mathematics (9)
D.	Open electives (2)

II. Major studies (applied)		37
	APPM 300-level Private Instruction: Principal Performing Medium (16)
	APPM 370 Large Ensembles¹ (2)
	APPM 370/390 Ensemble electives² (6)
	APPM 390 Small Ensembles (4)
	APPM 463 Pedagogy (piano) (2)
	APPM 464 Piano Pedagogy Practicum (2)
	APPM 492 Senior Project: Portfolio Review (1)
	APPM 299 Master Class (0)
	APPM 394 Junior Recital³ (0)
	APPM 494 Senior Recital (0)
	MHIS 303, 304 Piano Literature⁵ (4)

III. Music core curriculum		27
	APPM 381 Conducting (2)
	APPM 199 Recital/Convocation Attendance (four semesters) (0)
	MHIS 120 Introduction to World Musical Styles (3)
	MHIS 145-146, 245-246 Theory and Aural Skills I-IV (16)
	MHIS 321, 322 Music History I, II (6)

IV. Supportive courses		21
A.	APPM 274 Keyboard Skills and APPM 373-374 Advanced Keyboard Skills (3)
	APPM 300-level Private Instruction: Secondary Performing Medium⁴ (3)
	APPM 375 Score Reading (1) (offered as a private lesson; requires an override)
	MHIS 305 Form and Analysis I (2)
B.	Music Electives (12)
	Selected from APPM 365, 366 Aural Skills V, VI and any MHIS or MUSC 300- or 400-level course not otherwise required in the student’s curriculum

Total		120

Voice

I. General studies		41

A.	University core
	ENGL 200 Writing and Rhetoric Workshop II or equivalent (research and academic writing) (3)
	MATH 131 or STAT 208 (quantitative literacy) (3)
	UNIV 111 and 112 Focused Inquiry I and II (6)
	Approved humanities/fine arts (3)
	Approved natural/physical science (3)
	Approved social/behavioral science (3)
B.	HIST 101 or 102 Survey of European History or HIST 103 or 104 Survey of American History (3)
C.	Foreign language (Italian, French or German)
	FRLG 101-102 Foreign Languages: ____ (8)
D.	Open electives (9)

II. Major studies (applied)		31
	APPM 300-level Private Instruction: Principal Performing Medium (16)
	APPM 370 Large Ensembles¹ (7)
	APPM 370/390 Ensemble electives (at least 1 credit from 390) (3)
	APPM 385 Opera Theatre⁶ (2)
	APPM 463 Pedagogy (vocal) (2)
	APPM 492 Senior Project: Portfolio Review (1)
	APPM 299 Master Class (eight semesters) (0)
	APPM 394 Junior Recital³ (0)
	APPM 494 Senior Recital⁷ (0)

III. Music core curriculum		27
	APPM 381 Conducting (2)
	APPM 199 Recital/Convocation Attendance (four semesters) (0)
	MHIS 120 Introduction to World Musical Styles (3)
	MHIS 145-146, 245-246 Theory and Aural Skills I-IV (16)
	MHIS 321, 322 Music History I, II (6)

IV. Supportive courses		21
A.	Supportive courses
	APPM 161-162 Lyric Diction (6)
	APPM 173-174, 273 Keyboard Skills (3)
	APPM 300-level Private Instruction: Secondary Performing Medium⁴ (3)
	MHIS 465 Song Literature⁵ (2)
B.	Music Electives (7)
	Selected from APPM 365, 366 Aural Skills V, VI and any MHIS or MUSC 300- or 400-level course not otherwise required in the student’s curriculum

Total		120

Jazz studies

I. General studies		33

A.	University core
	ENGL 200 Writing and Rhetoric Workshop II or equivalent (research and academic writing) (3)
	MATH 131 or STAT 208 (quantitative literacy) (3)
	UNIV 111 and 112 Focused Inquiry I and II (6)
	Approved humanities/fine arts (3)
	Approved natural/physical science (3)
	Approved social/behavioral science (3)
B.	HIST 101 or 102 Survey of European History or HIST 103 or 104 Survey of American History (3)
C.	Directed electives
	Selected from humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, natural/physical sciences, mathematics (6)
D.	Open electives (3)

II. Major studies (applied)		43
	APPM 300-level Private Instruction: Performing Medium (jazz)⁹ (16)
	APPM 300-level Private Instruction: Performing Medium⁸ (classical) (8)
	APPM 370/390 Ensemble electives² (3)
	APPM 390 Ensemble (4 credits jazz orchestra, 5 credits small jazz ensembles)¹⁰ (9)
	APPM 251 and 252 Jazz Improvisation I and II (6)
	APPM 492 Senior Project: Portfolio Review (1)
	APPM 299 Master Class (0)
	APPM 394 Junior Recital³ (0)
	APPM 494 Senior Recital (0)

III. Music core curriculum		27
	APPM 381 Conducting (2)
	APPM 199 Recital/Convocation Attendance (four semesters) (0)
	MHIS 120 Introduction to World Musical Styles (3)
	MHIS 145-146, 245-246 Theory and Aural Skills I-IV (16)
	MHIS 322 Music History II (3)
	MHIS 324 Jazz History (3)

IV. Supportive courses		17/18
	APPM 173-174 Keyboard Skills (2)
	APPM 272 Jazz Piano for the Non-keyboard Player¹¹ (0/1)
	MHIS 147 Jazz Theory and Aural Skills (3)
	MHIS 311 and 312 Jazz Arranging I and II (6)
	MHIS 380 Survey of the Music Industry (3)
	MHIS 405 Jazz Form and Analysis (3)

Total		120/121

Bachelor of Music/music education

I. General studies		30

A.	University core
	ENGL 200 Writing and Rhetoric Workshop II or equivalent (research and academic writing) (3)
	MATH 131 or STAT 208 (quantitative literacy) (3)
	UNIV 111 and 112 Focused Inquiry I and II (6)
	Approved humanities/fine arts (3)
	Approved natural/physical science (3)
	Approved social/behavioral science (3)
B.	HIST 103 or 104 Survey of American History (3)
C.	Directed electives
	Selected from humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, natural/physical sciences, mathematics (6)

		Inst./Choral
II. Major studies (applied)		22/26
	APPM 161-162 Lyric Diction (choral track only) (0/6)
	APPM 300-level Private Instruction: Principal Performing Medium (12)
	APPM 370 Large Ensembles¹ (7)
	APPM 370/390 Ensemble electives (at least one must be chamber ensemble APPM 390) (3/1)
	APPM 299 Master Class (six semesters) (0)
	APPM 394 Junior Recital³ (0)

III. Music core curriculum		27
	APPM 381 Conducting (2)
	APPM 199 Recital/Convocation Attendance (four semesters) (0)
	MHIS 120 Introduction to World Musical Styles (3)
	MHIS 145-146, 245-246 Theory and Aural Skills I-IV (16)
	MHIS 321, 322 Music History I, II (6)

IV. Supportive courses		9
	APPM 173-174 and 273 Keyboard Skills (3)
	APPM 300-level Private Instruction: Secondary Performing Medium⁴ (4)
	MHIS 305 Form and Analysis I (2)

V. Music education/professional education		35/33
	APPM 181, 183-184, 185, 187, 193, 195 Class Lessons in Instruments (7)
	EDUS 301 Human Development and Learning (3)
	MUED 380 Introduction to Music Education¹² (2)
	MUED 381 Methods and Practicum in Elementary Music Education (3)
	MUED 382 Secondary Methods/Practicum and Rehearsal Techniques (4)
	MUED 384 Marching Band Techniques (instrumental track only) (2/0)
	MUED 385 Music Education Technology and Arranging (2)
	MUED 485 and 486 Music Education Student Teaching I and II (12)

Total		123/125

¹	Only one large ensemble each semester may be used to fulfill large ensemble requirements. Large ensembles must be related to student’s area (e.g. instrumental ensemble for instrumentalists, choral ensemble for vocalists). Large ensemble requirements for guitar performance majors are 4 credits.
²	For ensemble electives: Piano majors are required to take 4 out of 6 as a pianist. Guitar majors have 8 credits of ensemble electives. For jazz studies majors, the large and/or small ensembles requirements are completed as approved by their adviser and program director. Pep Band does not satisfy the degree requirement.
³	The proficiency exam for APPM 273 must be completed before registering for APPM 394. The junior recital must be completed prior to student teaching for music education majors.
⁴	Secondary performing medium requirements must be fulfilled on a different instrument. The exceptions are drum set and percussion, which are considered different, as well as classical and jazz guitar. Music education majors must have their secondary instrument approved by their adviser and the director of music education.
⁵	Offered every other year.
⁶	THEA 107 or any 2-credit dance class (DANC) open to nonmajors can substitute with departmental approval.
⁷	In the semester of the senior recital, voice majors may substitute opera theatre for one large ensemble credit.
⁸	Jazz saxophone majors may choose to take four semesters of classical saxophone (achieving level IV) OR two semesters of classical saxophone, as well as two consecutive semesters of classical flute, clarinet, oboe or bassoon (achieving level II in both classical saxophone and the woodwind).
⁹	Within their registered drum set lessons, jazz drummers will also study jazz percussion (vibes) each semester for the third and fourth years.
¹⁰	Jazz studies rhythm-instrument majors will usually fulfill fewer credits with a jazz orchestra.
¹¹	Jazz studies majors may test out of APPM 272.
¹²	Passing Praxis I scores or threshold SAT/ACT scores are prerequisites.