BM Music Studies - Instrumental Concentration

The School of Music is committed to excellence in music teaching and learning for all students at Texas State. As part of the greater university community, we provide a liberal education with an emphasis on cultural values through course work in the arts and humanities.  Consistent with our mission statement, the course of study in Music offers both thorough preparation for students pursuing a career in music, and opportunities for all university students who seek to develop and/or enhance musical skill and cultural awareness.

Courses are offered in individual, chamber, and ensemble performance, music education, history, literature, theory, composition, music technology, jazz, Latin, and sound recording. All university students, both music majors and non-music majors, are encouraged to participate in performing ensembles. However, due to the limited availability of private applied music instruction and certain other music classes, the School of Music may use any or all of the following criteria for determining students’ access to these courses:

Those planning careers in music must demonstrate a high level of musical skill, music reading ability, and understanding. To help evaluate musical skills for counseling and placement purposes, the School of Music requires all music majors to pass several evaluations and academic requirements.

Credit by examination is available for Music Theory I - IV and Piano Techniques I - IV only before entering the course sequence at Texas State. Students testing out of one or more of the courses above or the entire proficiency exam(s) must remit $10 to the University's Testing Center (set fee whether receiving credit for one or more courses) before a CR grade will be processed by the Registrar's Office for the course(s). See an academic advisor and the School of Music website for details.

A student who leaves music major status in good standing can be readmitted as a Music major without re-auditioning if returning within twelve (12) months. A music student who fails to complete or pass (note: failing grades are F and U) applied lessons or has not been a Music major at Texas State for more than twelve (12) months (i.e. not enrolling or two W grades in a row) will automatically be moved to a pre-music status by their academic advisor and must re-apply and re-audition to be accepted back as a music major.

Students seeking teacher certification must pass the theory proficiency examination no later than the semester before student teaching. All other music majors must pass the theory proficiency examination before applying for graduation. Theory proficiency requirements are available on the School of Music’s website. Note: No Music Theory Proficiency exam is required for BS students.

All BA, BM – Music Studies, instrumental concentration students seeking teacher certification, and BM – Performance, jazz concentration students must pass the level II piano proficiency exam by the end of their fourth (4th) long semester. BM – Performance, keyboard concentration students must pass the piano majors piano proficiency exam by the end of their fourth (4^th) long semester.

BM – Music Studies, choral concentration students must complete the level IV piano proficiency exam no later than the semester before student teaching. All other BM – Performance majors must complete the level IV piano proficiency exam before applying for graduation. Piano proficiency requirements are available on the School of Music’s website. Note: No Piano Proficiency exam is required for BS students.

Upon completion of four long semesters as a music major, the student’s total record is reviewed by the music faculty in their area to determine if they are prepared to continue in upper-level music study. The Upper Level Competency Review (ULCR) helps music majors determine if they are pursuing the most suitable career/degree. The ULCR is offered at the end of each long semester, and the student must pass before they may enroll in 3000-level courses in the degree area. Specific information and requirements are available in the School of Music Student Handbook and on the School of Music's website.

Transfer students with four or more semesters of music study complete the exam at the end of the first long semester of study at Texas State.

Each semester, various recitals and concerts are presented by students, faculty, and visiting artists. All undergraduate music majors, with the exception of Bachelor of Science students, are required to attend a significant number of these events each semester, through enrollment in Departmental Recital. In addition, applied music instructors may require attendance at all recitals in the student's individual performance area.  The attendance of recitals and concerts outside of the Texas State University campus are eligible for completion of the Departmental Recital requirements with the appropriate documentation. 

All music majors must participate in the appropriate major ensemble for their instrument each semester until all major ensemble requirements for the degree have been completed. No more than one major and one secondary ensemble will be counted toward the student’s degree plan per semester. While not required in the degree plan, continued participation in major ensembles after degree requirements are completed is encouraged.

A senior recital is required for all students enrolled in a Bachelor of Music degree program. Students seeking teacher certification must present the recital no later than the semester before student teaching. Specific requirements for the senior recital are described in the School of Music Student Handbook and on the School of Music's website.

Students majoring or minoring in the School of Music must achieve a grade of “C” or higher (including a CR in Departmental Recital) on all required music (MU, MUSE and MUSP) courses.

Before being allowed to enroll for student teaching, music students must have:

This is a partial listing.

NOTE: Due to copyright laws, students enrolled in private lessons are responsible for purchasing individual scores of solos/etudes required for performance. In addition, students enrolled in voice lessons or instrumentalists preparing for juries/recital performances are responsible for the cost of providing their own collaborative pianist for lessons, rehearsals, and recitals.  A list of School of Music vetted pianists is available at the beginning of each long semester.

As the music program has grown into a large, comprehensive School of Music, so too have the facilities expanded to keep pace with its diversity of ensembles, programs, and students.

At 101 Pleasant Street, the Music Building includes classrooms, faculty studios and rehearsal halls. There are separate rehearsal facilities for bands, orchestra, choirs, jazz, and Latin music ensembles, chamber groups, and opera. The facility also contains the 149-seat Music Building Recital Hall, the Schneider Music Library, a black box theatre, over 30 practice rooms, an electronic piano laboratory, a multi-station music computer lab, two instrument checkout rooms, faculty offices, and the administrative office suite.

The Performing Arts Center on Moon Street includes an acoustically superb 312-seat recital hall. Equipped with two Steinway D concert grand pianos and a beautiful custom-built Flemish-replica harpsichord, the hall hosts performances by international guest artists, music faculty, and some student ensembles. It is a learning laboratory for student degree recitals. Another venue, the Patti Strickel Harrison Theater, provides a state-of-the art theater with orchestra pit for Texas State Opera Theatre productions.

Evans is the largest performance hall on campus with a seating capacity of 933. The university's wind bands, orchestra, and University Arts events utilize Evans as a performance site. Evans also contains two Steinway concert grand pianos.

The Fire Station Studio is located near campus on Guadalupe Street and is available for both Texas State and non-Texas State persons to rent for commercial purposes. The studio houses the School of Music's sound recording technology program and contains a multipurpose recording facility and television/film sound stage housing four control rooms, three tracking spaces, a large-format fully automated SSL mixing console, CD mastering gear, and numerous professional microphones and outboard devices.

Located on Pleasant Street, Colorado houses the Texas State Balinese Gamelan and 16 additional practice rooms with digital pianos.

Offering music an additional 5 offices and 3 teaching studios, Lampasas is the second oldest building on campus and was beautifully renovated in 2012.

Located across from Strahan Coliseum, the Bobcat Marching Band field includes a standard 100+ yard field, multi-level director's tower, and newly completed equipment storage facility.

The Schneider Music Library, centrally located in the Music Building, provides convenient access to scores, sound recordings, DVDs, music education materials, and a number of music reference sources.

The Music Computer Center located in the Music Building features 24 high-end Mac workstations with MIDI controllers, a teacher station, a scanner workstation, and 2 administrator stations.