Music Courses
The music program at North Greenville University offers the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education, the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance, and the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Worship Studies. The four components of theoretical skills, style recognition, basic keyboard proficiency, and performance proficiency are inter-related, working together to provide the experiences necessary for the development of effective musicians. Additional components are found in the specialized areas of music worship leadership, music education, and performance.
All students in the music program are required to complete a core curriculum that ensures a broad exposure to our intellectual heritage. The studies include English language and literature, communication, mathematics, computer science, humanities, natural and physical sciences, history, religion, social science, and cultural experiences. The program is intended to integrate liberal arts background study with professional studies to develop well-qualified musicians.
North Greenville University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music and is an “All Steinway” institution.
Mission
The mission of the music program is to enrich the cultural experiences of the general student body and to prepare students for careers in music. Included is the desire to develop musicians who possess the knowledge, skills, and behavior that foster competence in the field.
To this end the School of Music has the following goals:
- To be a vital, contributing member of the local and campus community.
- To assist students to develop cognitive skills in order to be successful musicians in the field or in graduate school.
- To provide opportunities for solo and ensemble performances utilizing a wide range of repertoire.
- To provide concerts, recitals, and master classes that include guest artists in order to expose students to high levels of artistry.
- To work toward strong relationships between the music program and area schools and churches.
Entrance Requirements
New freshmen and transfer students who meet University admissions standards are eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Arts degrees offered by the School of Music. Admission to any specific program of the Bachelor of Arts degree is dependent on the qualifying audition/interview. A qualifying audition is required prior to registration in applied music courses. Students who do not qualify for entrance into the music major sequence in their primary performance area will be placed into the elective applied area. In addition, new freshmen are required to take and pass the theory placement test, scoring at least 20 of 30 points. Those students deficient in basic music fundamentals must enroll in MUSC-1230, Introduction to Music Fundamentals, thereby postponing the music major theory courses until the following fall semester.
For admission to the music degree program the applicant must pass MUAP-2200 or MUAP-2300 (Principal Instrument with a minimum grade of B and complete either MUSC-1430 with a minimum grade of C, or complete MUSC-1230 with a minimum grade of B. The successful applicant must have an overall 2.5 GPA upon admission to the degree program. Admission to North Greenville University does not guarantee admission to the Music Degree programs.
Returning NGU students with course work over six years old will take the theory and history placement exams. All transfer students wishing entrance to upper level music courses must take the theory and history placement exams. If the student fails to make a passing grade, the appropriate course/s must be taken. Any music transfer student or returning North Greenville University student whose Music Education methods courses were taken more than three years prior to entering the Music Education program at North Greenville University or who is preparing to enroll in MUED-4900 Student Teaching and MUED-4390 Student Teaching Seminar, must repeat these courses. The development of new technology and research continues to change both methods and techniques of teaching. For Music Education Technique courses more than six years old, students will need to take placement/performance exams in these courses.
General Information
Applied music credit is based on the number of private lessons taken per week. The student receives one semester hour of credit for each one-half-hour lesson. The student is also required to practice six hours per week for each one- half-hour lesson.
Students with a major in music will be required to participate in ensembles as recommended by the music faculty. Ensemble credit earned beyond the required hours may be counted as elective credit.
Music majors must take applied lessons through their degree program except in the semester they student teach. Excess applied courses may be counted as elective credit.
All music majors taking applied music must attend a required number of professional and student recitals on campus. The Music Education degree is a four-year degree that may require some summer school attendance.
A minimum grade of C is required for any course submitted for fulfillment of major requirements.
A student pursuing the BA in Music Performance will present a 30-minute junior recital and a 50-minute senior recital. A student pursuing a BA in Music, BA in Music Education, and BA in Music Worship Studies will present a 30-minute senior recital. Students must perform before the music faculty at least two weeks prior to their scheduled recitals. The faculty reserves the right to cancel or delay any recital that does not meet standards of excellence set by the faculty.
All non-keyboard principal candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Worship Studies, Music Education, and Music Performance are required to enroll in piano until they have passed the PPE. Students desiring to exempt piano study as a secondary applied area should request an audition/interview with the keyboard faculty. Guidelines for the piano proficiency exam are found in the Music Handbook. Students should complete the exam by the end of their sophomore year. Piano and organ majors/principals will select minor instrument(s).
Further requirements are found in the Music Handbook.
MUAP - Applied Music
Applied lessons are not available to dual enrollment students.
Section 110 Piano
Section 120 Voice
Section 130 Brass
Section 140 Organ
Section 150 Percussion
Section 160 Strings
Section 170 Woodwinds
Section 180 Guitar
The purpose of the general Music program at North Greenville University is to offer a liberal arts-based music curriculum which leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. In keeping with the institution’s mission, this program seeks to enable students to integrate academic discipline and an enriched cultural experience in a Christ-centered environment by offering course work that will develop well-rounded musicians who are equipped to serve as transformational leaders for church and society.
The goals of the Bachelor of Arts in Music program at North Greenville University are that upon successful completion the graduate: 1) will demonstrate a broad base of knowledge in the arts and humanities, the natural and physical sciences, and other social sciences; 2) will demonstrate musical performance and analytical skills; 3) will demonstrate proficiency in the language and grammar of music; and 4) will demonstrate a personal commitment to the art of music.
Requirements
All Bachelor of Arts in Music students take 52 hours in music courses, 44 hours in general studies, and 23-25 hours in non music elective courses, with no more than 12 in one discipline. This degree is a non-certification degree. It may be used for preparation for further degrees in arts administration, music recording/publishing/business, law, etc. All music majors must take applied lessons each semester they are enrolled as students at North Greenville University. All music majors are required to participate in ensembles as assigned by the music faculty each semester during the student's enrollment at North Greenville University.