Music and Music Education (BS)
The Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance offers the BS degree in Music and Music Education (for information on the options, please see the individual listings below). The Department also offers minors in Music and Theatre as well as coursework in these three areas that can be applied toward Interdisciplinary Studies majors.
Applicants to all Departmental majors or minors must meet the regular requirements for admission to the University and must also pass an audition/interview with Departmental faculty in their area. Prospective students should contact the Department Chair for audition/interview guidelines and scheduling. Students interested in auditioning for Departmental Talent Grants must do so on specific dates, as outlined in the audition/interview guidelines.
In addition to its academic degrees, the Department sponsors several groups that provide students from across campus with opportunities to perform. These include: Chamber Ensemble, Chamber Singers, University Chorale, Contemporary Dance Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Workshop (combos), The Music Theatre Company, Percussion Ensemble, Piano Ensemble, PSU Theatre, and Symphonic Band. Please contact the Department Office for information about audition requirements and credit-earning opportunities with these organizations.
Degree candidates are required to choose from one of the two options: Music or Music Education. The Music Option allows students to design an individualized program of study based on their musical interests and instrument(s) of choice. Students in the Music Education Option become prepared to teach and supervise vocal, instrumental, and general music from kindergarten through grade 12.
Check all course descriptions for prerequisites before planning course schedule. Course sequence is suggested but not required.
To complete the bachelor’s degree in 4 years, you must successfully complete a minimum of 15 credits each semester or have a plan to make up credits over the course of the 4 years. For example, if you take 14 credits one semester, you need to take 16 credits in another semester. Credits completed must count toward your program requirements (major, option, minor, certificate, general education or free electives).
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| MU 1150 | Piano Class I | 1 |
| MU 1160 | Piano Class II 1 | 1 |
| MU 1210 | Musicianship I | 4 |
| MU 1220 | Musicianship II 2 | 4 |
| MU 2210 | Musicianship III 3 | 3 |
| MU 2225 | Arranging and Composition 4 | 3 |
| MU 3460 | Music In Context I - Music and Identity in the Americas (DICO) | 3 |
| MU 3470 | Music In Context II - Philosophy and Music (GACO,WRCO) | 3 |
| MU | Ensembles (not MUDI) | 7 |
| MU | Performance Studies (two enrollments each at the 1000, 2000, 3000 levels; not MUDI) | 6 |
| Quantitative Reasoning in the Discipline Connection | ||
| Complete one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Mathematics and the Humanities (QRCO) | ||
| Finite Math with Business Statistics (QRCO) | ||
| Statistics I (QRCO) | ||
| General Education | ||
| EN 1400 | Composition | 4 |
| IS 1115 | Tackling a Wicked Problem | 4 |
| MA | Mathematics Foundations | 3-4 |
| PPDI | Past and Present Direction | 3-4 |
| SIDI | Scientific Inquiry Direction | 3-4 |
| SSDI | Self and Society Direction | 3-4 |
| Directions (choose from PPDI, SIDI, SSDI) 5 | 4-8 | |
| INCP | Integrative Capstone | 4 |
| Option Requirements | ||
| Complete one from the following required options: | 49-55 | |
Music | ||
Music Education | ||
| Total Credits | 120-123 | |
- 1
Piano Class II (MU 1160) requires a minimum grade of C in Piano Class I (MU 1150).
- 2
Musicianship II (MU 1220) requires a minimum grade of C in Musicianship I (MU 1210).
- 3
Musicianship III (MU 2210) requires a minimum grade of C in Musicianship II (MU 1220).
- 4
Arranging and Composition (MU 2225) requires a minimum grade of C in Musicianship III (MU 2210).
- 5
Directions should total 16-17 credits because CTDI is waived for BS Music and Music Education.
Music Option
The Music Option allows students to design an individualized program of study. A full-time member of the Music faculty and the Program Coordinator must approve the program of study in the Contract option. Students in the Music Option are strongly encouraged to take 6-8 credits of a foreign language.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MU 2105 | Introduction to Music Technology (TECO) | 4 |
| ME/MU | Contract courses (not MEDI/MUDI) 1 | 6 |
| ME/MU | 3000/4000 level Contract courses (not MEDI/MUDI) 1 | 6 |
| General Education | ||
| WECO | Wellness Connection | 3-4 |
| Electives | 29-32 | |
| Total Credits | 49-51 | |
- 1
At least six credits of Contract courses must be 3000/4000 level and no more than four credits beyond those already required may be in Performance Studies.
Music Education Option
Students who choose the Music Education Option become prepared to teach and supervise vocal, instrumental, and general music from kindergarten through grade 12. The Educator Preparation programs at Plymouth State University are approved by the New Hampshire Department of Education. The University is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE). New Hampshire participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement and, although additional requirements may apply, this agreement makes it possible for a Plymouth State graduate who holds a teaching certificate in New Hampshire to earn a certificate in another state. For further information, please see the Holmes Center for School Partnerships and Educator Preparation section. Requirements for certification may change, subject to changes made by the New Hampshire Department of Education. Teacher candidates can find the most current New Hampshire Department of Education standards at education.nh.gov/index.htm.
The knowledge, skills, and dispositions of teacher candidates shall be assessed regularly by the faculty. One semester prior to the internship semester, the student will receive faculty approval to intern if the student has
- earned a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average at the end of the third year;
- earned a minimum grade of C in all required ME/MU courses; and
- completed all departmental program requirements through the third year.
During the semester prior to the internship, students in this program are required to present a senior solo recital. Students who do not meet these requirements may complete the Music Option.
All teacher candidates who interact with students in public school settings through course-related field experiences, including the Internship in Elementary Music Teaching and the Internship in Secondary Music Teaching, are subject to New Hampshire state legislation that requires a full disclosure criminal records check. This may include fingerprinting. The processing of the criminal records check is conducted at the site school before the clinical experience begins. The fee for this processing is the responsibility of the teacher candidate and is paid directly to the school district. Each new site will require a separate fingerprinting and background check. Inquiries should be directed to the Holmes Center for School Partnerships and Educator Preparation.
In order for teacher candidates to participate in clinical experiences in diverse settings that are essential for their development as teachers and required for accreditation, teacher candidates must be willing and able to travel outside of the Plymouth area beyond walking distances. All Internship in Teaching candidates should plan for and be able to secure their own transportation by the junior year.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Performance Requirements | ||
| MU | Performance Studies (one enrollment at the 4000 level; not MUDI) | 1 |
| ME 4500 | Senior Recital: Music Education | 0 |
| Additional Musicianship Requirements | ||
| MU 2270 | Piano Skills for the Music Classroom 1 | 1 |
| MU 2280 | Advanced Piano Skills for the Music Classroom 2 | 1 |
| Music Education Requirements | ||
| ME 1105 | Foundations of Music Education | 2 |
| ME 1110 | Early Field Experience in Music Education | 1 |
| ME 3110 | Elementary School Music Methods | 3 |
| ME 4200 | Secondary School Music Methods | 3 |
| ME 3530 | Technology for Music Educators | 2 |
| One credit from the following options: | ||
| ME 3510 | Contemporary Ensembles in Public Schools I | 1 |
| or ME 3520 | Contemporary Ensembles in Public Schools II | |
| Conducting Sequence | ||
| ME 2020 | Instrumental Lab | 0 |
| ME 2250 | Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques I | 3 |
| ME 2260 | Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques II | 3 |
| ME 3010 | Choral Lab | 0 |
| Performance Pedagogy Requirements | ||
| ME 1160 | Guitar Class I | 1 |
| ME 2150 | String Methods | 1 |
| ME 3135 | Woodwind Methods | 2 |
| ME 3160 | Percussion Methods | 1 |
| ME 3215 | Brass Methods | 2 |
| MU 1789 | Voice for Educators I | 1 |
| MU 3789 | Voice for the Educator II | 2 |
| Internship in Teaching 3 | ||
| ME 4865 | Internship in Elementary Music Teaching | 5 |
| ME 4875 | Internship in Secondary Music Teaching | 5 |
| ME 4880 | Music Education Internship Seminar | 2 |
| Psychology | ||
| ED 2400 | Child and Youth Development in Context (WECO) | 4 |
| Special Education | ||
| ED 2800 | Inclusive Education and Technology (TECO) | 4 |
| Electives | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 55 | |
- 1
Piano Skills for the Music Classroom (MU 2270) requires a minimum grade of C in Piano Class II (MU 1160).
- 2
Advanced Piano Skills for the Music Classroom (MU 2280) requires a minimum grade of C in Piano Skills for the Music Classroom (MU 2270).
- 3
The Internship in Elementary Music Teaching and the Internship in Secondary Music Teaching require a minimum grade of C in all required ME/MU courses and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00.
Music Option
- Musical artistry in a variety of stylistic periods.
- Competence in music theory, aural skills, technology, and formal structures of diverse styles.
- Understanding of music history and an in-depth understanding of repertory for one’s own performing/creative area.
- Ability to produce, and respond effectively to, constructive critiques on musical matters.
- Competence to write well and speak articulately on music in individual or group situations.
- Ability to find and make connections from musical concepts, ideas, and thought to a broad range of other intellectual and professional contexts.
- Ability to collaborate effectively and professionally in musical contexts.
Music Education Option
- Personal musicianship and performance ability:
- Performing as a soloist and as a member of a musical ensemble accurately and expressively from notation either vocally or instrumentally:
- Improvising to a structured harmonic accompaniment, in a variety of styles, including but not limited to jazz;
- Playing and transposing on piano and guitar;
- Conducting representative musical literature;
- Researching, planning, and presenting a musical performance.
- Aural skills and theory:
- Hearing and correcting individual parts;
- Aurally recognizing a variety of historical and contemporary musical forms and genres;
- Sight-singing;
- Notating music from listening;
- Reading and writing music in
- traditional notation using a variety of clefs; and
- non-traditional notation;
- Making common transpositions;
- Analyzing formal and expressive elements in written music;
- Composing and arranging music.
- Music history and culture:
- Describing the development of Western art music beginning with the Middle Ages;
- Analyzing the role of music in a variety of cultures;
- Describing the music of a variety of cultures.
- K-12 general music pedagogy:
- Developing in students the ability to read and write music in traditional and non-traditional notation;
- Guiding students to express themselves musically through singing, playing instruments, moving purposefully, improvising, composing and arranging;
- Developing in students the ability to describe, analyze and evaluate music and musical performances through a variety of methods including guided listening;
- Creating sequential instruction in music history, its role in culture, and its relationship to other disciplines;
- Designing standards-based curriculum, planning and instruction and assessments including modifications to meet the needs of all learners;
- Using competency-based assessment strategies to determine and communicate student progress and achievement;
- Working with colleagues to provide inter-disciplinary instruction;
- Describing and advocating for a comprehensive K-12 music program;
- Using current technologies and multimedia to
- plan and prepare instruction;
- deliver instruction;
- provide opportunities for music students to create, perform, and respond; and
- amplify and augment performance.
- K-12 music performance pedagogy, the candidate will be able to do (the 1st, 2nd & 3 below bullet points) or (the 1st, 2nd and 4th below bullet points)
- Developing in students the ability to sing and perform expressively alone and with others at a beginning level in healthy, age appropriate ways including:
- tone production in the general and extended ranges of the voice including the changing voice;
- vocal techniques, including, but not limited to diction, breathing, and posture; and
- varied repertoire.
- Developing in students the ability to play and perform expressively alone and with others at a beginning level on classroom instruments, band instruments, and orchestral instruments in healthy, age appropriate ways including:
- tone production;
- articulation;
- fingerings; and
- transposition for commonly used instruments; THE FOLLOWING (3 & 4) IS AN AND/OR COMPETENCY
- Instructing, rehearsing, assessing and refining vocalists throughout their school career and in performances of choral music with knowledge of advanced techniques of:
- tone production in the general and extended ranges of the voice including the changing voice;
- vocal techniques, including, but not limited to diction in English and in foreign languages; and
- varied repertoire, including music of four or more parts, accompanied or a cappella; AND/OR
- Instructing, rehearsing, assessing and refining instrumentalists throughout their school career in performances including advanced techniques of:
- tone production;
- articulation;
- fingerings, including alternate fingerings; and
- transposition for less commonly used instruments.
- Developing in students the ability to sing and perform expressively alone and with others at a beginning level in healthy, age appropriate ways including:
- Music teacher (classroom or private studio at a variety of levels, with specific certification to teach in K-12 public schools)
- Arts administrator
- Conductor/music director
- Composer/creator
- Performer
- Music scholar
- Music therapist (with additional graduate training/certification)
- Educational administrator (Music Education Option)
- Agent (Music Option)
- Producer (Music Option)
- Promoter (Music Option)
- Sound engineer (Music Option)