The Music Department seeks to develop students’ God-given talents by training skilled musicians for Christian service, fostering aesthetic discernment in varying styles of music and providing opportunities for performing, creating and serving God and the community through music. The Music Department offers majors in music leading to a bachelor of music degree in performance (with primary applied areas in any traditional instrument, voice, or piano) or music education. A bachelor of arts degree in music and a bachelor of science degree in music business are also available.
Prospective music majors should contact the Music Department before or at the same time they apply to the University to make arrangements for an audition. Performance scholarship and grant money is allotted to outstanding students based upon their auditions and other University criteria. Performance grant application forms may be obtained at any time by calling the Music Department secretary at 260-359-4262. Music audition days are normally held at the beginning of the spring semester of each academic year.
Several assessments are made to ensure that each music student is progressing sufficiently and has a reasonable expectation of completing the degree program in four years. All students enrolled in private applied lessons must complete a performance jury at the end of each semester. Freshmen will interview with the music faculty at the end of the second semester to evaluate the viability of continued study. Sophomores in the bachelor of music degrees will take the upper divisional qualifying exam in their primary applied area at the end of the second semester, in lieu of a jury, to determine their eligibility for advancement to upper division applied lessons. All candidates for the bachelor of music and candidates for the bachelor of arts will take the piano proficiency exam, typically after four semesters of class piano or private study, and will take similar proficiency exams in voice and guitar. All students majoring in music will take MU 115 and two hours of applied music to be counted in fulfillment of core requirements.
Bachelor of Music in Performance
Students who choose the performance major in the bachelor of music degree must complete MU 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 178, 301, 302, 303, 304, 341, and 342; pass a piano proficiency exam; and give a one half-hour and one-hour recital. In addition to the basic performance requirements, students whose primary applied area is voice must take FR 111; GM 111; MU 241, 242, 344, 365, 385; MU A01-04; eight semesters of MU P12 (eight credits); four semesters of MU P30 (0 credit); four semesters of applied voice for two credits; four semesters of upper division applied voice for two credits; and eight semesters of MU ALAB. Students whose primary applied areas are wind, string or percussion must take MU 236, 237, 335, 346, 380; MU A01-04; participate in at least one major instrumental ensemble (MU P20 or P21) for eight semesters (eight credits); one semester of MU P22 (one credit); four semesters of applied instrument for two credits; four semesters of upper division applied instrument for two credits; eight semesters of MU ALAB; and participate in a second ensemble for four semesters. Students whose primary applied area is piano must take MU 335, 347, 382; participate in at least one major ensemble (MU P12, P20, P21) for eight semesters (eight credits); one semester of MU P22 (one credit); four semesters of MU P31; four semesters of applied piano for two credits; four semesters of upper division applied piano for two credits; applied study in a secondary instrument or voice (two credits for two semesters); eight semesters of MU ALAB; and an elective in music (two hours). The bachelor of music performance major prepares students for graduate school and college teaching as well as for professions such as solo and ensemble performance, accompanying, conduction, church music ministry, private teaching and teaching at private Christian academies.
Bachelor of Music in Music Education Leading to Teacher Licensing
The music education major in the bachelor of music degree provides the student with two possible licensing programs that permit the student to teach in pre-kindergarten through grade twelve. Students must be accepted into the Teacher Education Program no later than the fall semester of the junior year. In addition to the required music courses, all music education students must complete PY 111 Introduction to Psychology, ED 212 Introduction to Education, ED 236 Educational Psychology, SE 232 Education of the Exceptional Learner, ED 364 Assessment Strategies for Secondary Educators (or ED 362 Assessment Strategies for Elementary Educators), MU 234 Elementary General Music Methods, MU 325 Middle School Music Methods, either MU 427 Instrumental Methods and Communication or MU 429 Choral Methods and Communication, ED 395 Multicultural Practicum, ED 440 Topics and Problems and ED 450 or 460 Student Teaching in Elementary or Secondary school.
To complete the music education major in the bachelor of music degree with a concentration in all-grade vocal and general music students must complete MU 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 178, 241, 242, 301, 302, 303, 304, 335, 338, 341, 342, 360, 385; MU A01-A04 and A08 (unless in applied area); two semesters of applied voice or applied piano for one credit; two semesters of applied voice or applied piano for two credits; three semesters of upper division applied voice or applied piano for two credits; seven semesters of MU ALAB; seven semesters of MU P12; pass the piano proficiency exam; and give a 25-minute senior recital. Piano may be the major applied area, in which case, a student must complete four semesters of applied voice.
To complete the music education major in the bachelor of music degree with a concentration in all-grade instrumental and general music students must complete MU 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 178, 236, 237, 301, 302, 303, 304, 335, 341, 342, and 360; MU A01-A04 and MU A06 and A08 (unless in applied area); two semesters of applied instrument for one credit; two semesters of applied instrument for two credits; three semesters of upper division applied instrument for two credits; seven semesters of MU ALAB; MU P22 for two semesters; seven semesters of one major instrumental ensemble (MU P20 or P21); pass the piano proficiency exam; and give a 25-minute senior recital. Piano may be the major applied area, in which case, a comprehensive proficiency on a secondary instrument must be demonstrated.
Bachelor of Arts
The music major in the bachelor of arts degree is a general liberal arts degree for the student interested in music but not seeking a career in public-school teaching or performance. Students who choose the music major in the bachelor of arts degree must complete MU 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 178, 301, 302, 303, 304, 341, and 342; MU A01, A02, and A08 (unless in applied area); six semesters of applied lessons for one credit; six semesters of MU ALAB; and six semesters of major ensembles (MU P12, P20, P21) for one credit.
Bachelor of Science in Music Business
The music business major in the bachelor of science degree is designed for those students interested in operating a commercial music enterprise, such as a retail music store or private lesson studio or in working in the sound recording or commercial music industry. Students in this program complete MU 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 178, 265, 285, 342; MU A01; MU A02; six semesters of applied study; six semesters of MU ALAB; two semesters of MU P22; seven semesters for credit of a major ensemble (MU P12, P20, P21); AC 241, 242; BA 252, 281, 351; OA 215CG, 215DB; two courses from any 300 or 400 level business course, including OA 371; and 12 hours either on-campus or off-campus at the Contemporary Music Program of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities. Students who select the on-campus program must complete MU 497 and ten hours from MI 304; MU 301, 320, 321, 322, 323, 335, 338. Students who select the off-campus program at the Contemporary Music Program of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities must complete CMC 300, 301, 302; and courses to complete one of the following tracks. The artist track requires CMC 406, 407 and 408. The business track requires CMC 412, 413 and 414. The technical track requires CMC 409, 415 and 416.
Minor in Music
A minor in music may be earned by completing 22 hours in music courses, including MU 110, 111, 115, 178; six semesters of a major ensemble for 0 credit (MU P12, P20, or P21); six credits of applied music lessons; six semesters of MU ALAB; and nine additional elective hours from any music course listing.
Courses in Music
Courses in Applied Music
Private instruction, with emphasis on acquiring a functional knowledge of the language and grammar of music and developing instrumental technique and interpretive skills, is required for all music majors and minors. Private studio work includes a study of standard literature from all periods of music history. Bachelor of music students will receive 12 full-hour lessons per semester in their major instrument and are required to practice one hour per day for each credit hour of applied instruction. Applied students must also attend a weekly area lab, participate in formal and informal recitals and the ensemble appropriate to their instrument and attend a specified number of concerts and recitals for which they are asked to write critical reviews. Music majors may also register for private instruction on a minor instrument, usually a half-hour lesson per week for one credit hour.
Only students who are music majors or minors or who have permission from the Music Department may register for private music lessons. If room is available in the studio teacher’s schedule, non-majors may audition for the music faculty for permission to study applied music. Preference is given to theatre and ministry and missions majors.
Bachelor of arts students taking applied music designated for one credit meet for 12 half-hour lessons per semester. Students taking private lessons pay an applied lesson fee in addition to regular tuition. The fee amount is determined by whether the student is taking a half-hour or full-hour lesson. No refund of lesson fees is made once arrangements have been made with the instructor.
Class applied instruction is offered every semester in piano, voice and guitar; and these classes are open to all Huntington University students regardless of major.
Students pursuing music performance or music education programs who have minimal piano background will normally enroll in Class Piano I-IV, MU A01-04, for their first four semesters of piano study, after which they will be expected to pass a piano proficiency exam and may elect private lessons. Study emphases for non-keyboard music majors and minors are functional keyboard skills rather than repertoire.
Bachelor of music degree students will normally enroll in Class Voice I, MU A06, in the freshman year and in Class Guitar I, MU A08, in the sophomore year. Applied Instruction, MU A10-MU A29, is taken for two credits in the primary applied area and one credit in the minor area during the freshman and sophomore years, after which the student is required to pass an upper divisional qualifying exam. Upon passing the exam, students register in upper division applied instruction, MU A30-A49, for two credits. Students in music education programs register for two-credit lessons for three semesters, culminating in a 25-minute recital. Students completing the music performance program must register for upper division applied lessons for four semesters, culminating in an hour recital. All students registered for applied lessons (MU A10-A49) must also register for applied music lab (MU ALAB).
Music Ensembles
Participation in music ensembles will enhance a functional knowledge of the language and grammar of music. Ensembles are open to any student, regardless of major, and credits earned by participation in an ensemble will apply toward the general education Core requirement of one creative studio arts experience. Students may register in an ensemble for 0 or 1 credit. Students registered for 0 credit will receive grades which are posted on the official transcript but do not affect the grade point average.
Contemporary Music Center Program
Artist Track
Business Track
Technical Track