Music Performance, B.M.

Program Highlights

The Bachelor of Music in Music Performance develops excellence in music performance and prepares you for a career as a professional musical artist or for the private teaching of applied music. Applied areas include: voice, guitar, violin, viola, violoncello, double bass, flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussion. This degree provides opportunities to receive one-on-one pedagogical instruction unique to your instrument or voice, perform a junior and senior recital, and take advanced courses in music theory and musicology. In addition, students will receive professional experiences through teaching in the Millikin Community Arts Academy, internships and service learning projects, and opportunities to work as a professional musician in area ensembles.

Areas of emphasis

There are two areas of emphasis that you can select from in this program.

Vocal Performance - A major in Vocal Performance delivers a comprehensive curriculum of solo, chamber, operatic and large ensemble performance training, with options to develop strengths through additional minors and certificates.
Instrumental Performance - A major in Instrumental Performance delivers a comprehensive curriculum of solo, chamber, orchestral, band and jazz performance training for all primary instruments with options to develop strengths through additional minors or certificates.

Learning goals for this program

Develop rigorous performance competency (solo and ensemble)
Develop extended knowledge in history, theory and conducting
Learn pedagogy and literature for the specific applied performance area

Click here to find the plan of study

Audit Sequence

Music Performance - Instrumental Emphasis

Music Performance - Vocal Emphasis

Courses change each semester, so this list should not be considered a commitment to these individual topics. However, this does represent a list of many of our current and popular courses. The list is provided so that you can begin to imagine your academic career at Millikin in this major.

Music Theory I

Rudiments of music: key signatures, scales, triads, seventh chords. Diatonic harmony, basic rhythm skills, critical listening. Second semester emphasizes diatonic part-writing, analysis of basic modulations, and small forms. **Satisfies University Studies Quantitative Reasoning requirement, Coordinated with MT113, 114. (**Students must meet Quantitative readiness by having a ACT Math sub-score above 21 or Pass MA098 or equivalent)(MT111, MT112)

Music Theory II

Study of chromatic harmony and analysis of larger forms in historical perspective. Coordinated with Ear Training 213. Pre-requisite: MT 112/114. (MT211)

Ear Training I

Emphasis on reading and singing skills, basic solfege. Rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic dictation; error detection. Coordinated with MT111, 112. (MT113, MT114)

Ear Training II

Continue to develop skills acquired in MT 114. Chromatic examples used in dictation, reading, and singing. Co-enroll with Music Theory 211. (MT213)

Class Piano

A four-semester sequence emphasizing the development of reading skills and elementary keyboard technique, as well as certain functional skills: sight- reading, chording, harmonization, transposition, improvisation and reading open scores. Prerequisites: for MU103: placement or MU101; for MU104: MU103 or placement; for MU203: MU 104 or placement; for MU204: MU203 or placement.

Twentieth Century Music

Twentieth Century compositional techniques, with an introduction to jazz and popular harmonic practice. Pre-requisite: MT211/213.(MT212)

Survey of Western Music I

Introduction to the critical study of Western music history, including representative composers, works, and genres, as well as significant concepts and issues, antiquity-1800. Pre-requisite: MT111/113. (MH211)

Survey of Western Music II

Introduction to the critical study of Western music history, including representative composers, works, and genres, as well as significant concepts and issues, 1800-present. Pre-requisite: MT111/113. (MH314)

Introduction to Ethnomusicology

An introduction to the theoretical principles and research tools used in ethnomusicological inquiry. Various musical traditions are explored through performance, recordings, texts, and primary research. Pre-requisites: MH211 and MH314, music majors and minors only. (MH316)

Building the Private Voice Studio

Designed to equip students to build their own private voice studios. Issues addressed include setting up your space, establishing policies, selecting appropriate repertoire and building a music collection, marketing, finances and taxes, incorporating echnology, preparing students for auditions and competitions, and teaching a variety of ages. (MU459)

Form and Analysis

Evolution of musical forms and styles through detailed analysis of scores. Pre-requisites: Music Theory 212 and 214. (MT403)

Conducting

Fundamental conducting techniques, score reading, and interpretive problems for instrumental and choral organizations. Instrumental transposition and instrumentation involved in score reading. Voice techniques involved in the choral score. General rehearsal techniques, seating arrangements, selection of repertoire, and program planning. Pre-requisites: Music Theory 112 and 114. (MT405)

Special Topics in Musicology

Advanced study of a selected topic in musicology. (MH360)

Special Topics in Analysis

Detailed structural analysis of music drawn from a specific repertoire, genre, or compositional style. Possible topics might include but are not limited to the following: counterpoint, Bach cantatas, cyclicism, polyphony, the Classical sonata, song cycles of the 19th and 20th centuries, piano music of Brahms, Expressionism, or Impressionism. Pre-requisites: MT212 and 214. (MT404)