Division of Music and Fine Arts

Amber James, D.M.A., Chair

The Division of Music and Fine Arts offers the following degrees: a BA in Music and, in conjunction with the School of Education, a BA in Music Education. In addition, the Division of Music and Fine Arts offers minors in Christian Worship and in Music. General elective courses are also offered in aesthetics and art.

Mission

Within the context of the mission of Southern Wesleyan University, the mission of the Division of Music and Fine Arts is to provide a quality music curriculum within a Christian environment. To accomplish this mission, each program within the division will: (1) integrate various aspects of the Christian faith into each course, attempting to instill within the student an awareness of the practical outworking of biblical principles; (2) equip the student with the competency necessary to excel in a variety of musical settings.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of every music major’s course of study, competence must be demonstrated in a knowledge and/or realization of performance, musicianship, composition, improvisation, music history, repertory, music technology, conducting, orchestration, instrumental methods, and analytical techniques. The student will synthesize many of the concepts studied in these subject areas in preparation for a culminating event, the senior recital.

Accreditation

Southern Wesleyan University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

General Requirements for Music Majors

Students planning to enter the four-year program of study in music should be prepared to audition. They should evidence skill in sight-reading, tone and pitch production, proper phrasing, and general musicianship on their major instrument.

Students who do not meet minimal requirements in these areas will be asked to acquire further skills before registering for the freshman level of applied music.

All music majors are required to study an applied major and an applied minor instrument. At the end of each semester, they will be examined by the music faculty through jury performance in the area of applied study.

Levels of performance will be assigned by the music faculty, and students will be permitted to advance to the next level upon the successful completion of studio lessons and semester juries.

Senior Recital

All majors must complete the highest level in their applied major instrument and present a thirty-minute recital during the senior year before graduation. A preliminary recital hearing before the music faculty is required of all students. Further information regarding recital criteria is available in the Division of Music and Fine Arts Handbook.

Ensemble Requirement

Every music major is required to participate in an ensemble for each semester of enrollment. The music faculty will designate which large and small ensembles fulfill the ensemble-participation requirement.

Piano Proficiency

All music majors must pass a piano proficiency exam to graduate. Students are required to be registered for piano study each semester until reaching proficiency.

Recital Hour and Diction Lab

Each music major or minor is required to attend and participate in the division’s recital hour concurrently with each semester of private voice/instrument instruction.

Every voice major is required to enroll in four semesters of diction lab corresponding to each of the four different foreign languages under study.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Minor