BS Music Education

The Music Program seeks to create an environment conducive to the development of musical understanding and appreciation, creativity, utilization of technology and artistic performance. Specific objectives are to achieve personal and professional growth through the development of artistic sensitivity in the music-making; to contribute to the understanding and development of aesthetic insight to empower individuals for discovering and achieving personal improvement; to develop a cross-fertilization of musical styles and world music through research, scholarship, performance, creative expression and utilization of technology; to prepare professionally competent musicians; and to provide the musical knowledge, skill, and experience for those who wish to build a teaching career in music.

The department offers extra-curricular and co-curricular activities which are open to all students regardless of their major. All prospective students wishing to declare a major in music must successfully complete and pass an audition which will include the performance of a prepared piece representative of the student’s current musical and technical skills; scales (and/or rudiments for percussionists); sight reading; basic ear training; a music theory diagnostic; and an interview with the music faculty.

The SMSU Music Program is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music. For further information and advising recommendations refer to the Music Program Student/Faculty Handbook available in the Music Program Office.

Music degree candidates must receive a grade of “C” or better in all music courses in order for those courses to count toward graduation. Furthermore, all music majors must maintain a 2.7 GPA in order to graduate.