Music

Undergraduate Program Information

MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES STATEMENTS

The mission of the NMSU Music Department is:

To prepare students for professional careers and/or the pursuit of advanced degrees in music and music-related fields
To empower our students to be life-long learners by providing a foundational education in music supported by our strong commitment to teaching, performance, scholarship and service
To provide impactful opportunities for our diverse student body to perform, study, create and experience music
To serve as an artistic destination for our community at an Hispanic-serving institution in the southwest U.S. border region

Vision Statement: We seek to elevate the role of music as essential to society, both as an expressive art form and an integral component of a universal education.

We will continue to:

Enhance our public presence in the region as a destination for all students and for the community as a place of artistic and musical excellence
Lead in the development of adaptive and relevant programs and curricula based on the needs of an ever-changing society
Raise our profile through outstanding instruction, student success and retention, faculty scholarship and performance, and the engagement of our ensembles with the community, statewide and regionally, and with all students, regardless of major
Foster a learning environment that recognizes the changing needs and special culture of our community, and promotes diversity and openness in our programs and instruction and in the music we study and perform.

The Department of Music values:

Access – we believe everyone in our community, regardless of background or experience, should have the opportunity to experience music in their lives
Elevation – we believe that by offering superior musical opportunities we can improve the quality of life for students and our community
Inclusion – we believe that individual expression and identity should be reflected in our musical experiences and is vital for both personal and institutional success

Admission into the Program

For a student to be officially accepted as a Music major or minor, he/she must do the following:

perform an audition for a panel of no less than three Music faculty members
- one of whom must be the director of his/her program area
- one of whom must be the applied teacher of the student's principal instrument

Any student declaring Music as his/her major may be accepted for a one-semester probationary period. During that first semester, the Music faculty will determine if the student has the necessary skills and work ethic to continue as a major. The student's course work, ensemble participation and applied jury will be the basis for the decision to allow the student to continue or not.

Departmental Requirements for all Bachelor’s Degrees (Music Core)

A student must earn a grade of C- or better in all departmental requirements for any degree in the Department of Music. All students wishing to pursue a music degree must audition. Contact the department for current audition requirements.

If students change major(s) or minor(s) or do not complete the requirements for the minor at the time of graduation, they may only count a maximum of 9 credits of the applied/occupational credits toward graduation.

Recital Requirements for Music Performance and Education Degrees

Bachelor of Music

All performance majors are required to give a half recital (30 minutes of music) in the junior year and a full recital (60 minutes of music) in the senior year.

Bachelor of Music Education

All music education majors will give a half recital (30 minutes of music) in their major performance area.

B.A. Degree Program of Study/Capstone Project

All B.A. Degree Students must submit and have approved a Program of Study by the end of their Sophomore year. Programs of study will be submitted to the B.A. Degree coordinator and will determine a focus for elective courses and the Capstone Project. The Capstone Project will be derived from the program of study.

Applied Music Requirements for All Music Degrees

Music Education and Music Performance degrees require at least two semesters of applied music study at the 430 level. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music (any track) must complete at least four semesters of applied music study at the 230 level and at least two semesters at the 330 level. B.A. students may take applied lessons at the 430 level, but it is not a requirement for this degree path.

All students enrolling in applied music will audition and obtain permission from an applied teacher before enrolling for applied music credit.

Students may obtain further information by contacting the music department.

Other Music Requirements, Fees and Regulations

A Piano Proficiency Examination is required of all music performance and music education majors. Each student must enroll in Functional Piano or Applied Piano every semester, until the Proficiency is passed. Detailed requirements may be obtained from the Department of Music office. Students must pass the piano Proficiency Exam before presenting a Senior Recital.
Qualitative grade-point average for graduation in music is 2.0 or higher. All grades in required music courses must be C- or better.
An instrument rental fee is charged each semester for students using university instruments. Consult the music department concerning these fees.
All applied students pay an additional fee. Consult the music department concerning these fees.
Outside groups and individuals must have special permission to use music department facilities. Contact the music office for additional information.

Music Ensemble

All students majoring or minoring in Music, must enroll and participate in the ensemble appropriate for their particular degree plan. The appropriate ensemble will be determined by degree requirements in consultation with the student's advisor and ensemble directors. The student must enroll each and every semester he/she is considered full-time until the degree requirements are met, for a minimum of 8 semesters (Music Performance), 7 semesters (Music Education), 6 semesters (B.A. Degrees). Any student receiving any kind of financial assistance through the Music Department must enroll each and every semester while he/she is attending NMSU. Music Education Students will not receive Music Scholarship funds during their semester of Student Teaching. For more information, contact the Music Office.

Music Scholarships and Awards

Scholarships and grants for music majors are administered through the performance areas. To be eligible for a music major scholarship or grant, students must first be admitted into the program. Program admission requirements include an audition for a panel of no less than three Music faculty members. One must be the major ensemble director of his/her program area (band, choir, opera, orchestra, keyboard). One must be the applied teacher of the student's principal instrument and the other must be a full-time Music faculty member from any area. Specific audition information and requirements for each performance area can be found on the Auditions page .

In order to have all paperwork processed before the beginning of the Fall semester, students are encouraged to have all scholarship and financial aid application materials in to the Office of Financial Aid by March 1.

The most up to date information on scholarships and grants can be obtained from the Coordinator of Scholar Dollar$ in the office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences in Breland Hall.

For more information on any of the following scholarships please call (575) 646-2421 or email music@nmsu.edu.

Service awards for non-majors are available based upon ensemble need and funding availability. For more information regarding these awards or to set up an audition, please contact one of the following:

Winds and Percussion: (575) 646-2304
Vocal: (575) 646-2304
Strings: (575) 646-1647
Keyboard: (575) 646-2228

Graduate Program Information

The Master of Music degree is offered in the following areas of study: Conducting, Music Education and Performance. Applicants are expected to have an undergraduate degree in music or music education equivalent to that represented by the BM or BME degree from New Mexico State University. The music department does not require the Graduate Record Exam, but does expect each applicant to possess graduate-level language and writing skills. For admission into the Master of Music degree program, all applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 and submit at least two letters of recommendation from music professionals. An audition, either in person or by recording, is required for entrance into the Performance or Conducting programs. Auditions will be based upon, but not limited to, prescribed repertory.

For acceptance into the Music Education program, the applicant must have completed a Bachelor of Music Education degree comparable to the one offered by NMSU or take the requisite undergraduate courses at NMSU leading to state licensure before enrolling in graduate courses. (Contact the Music Department for details.)

Note: The degree offered is a Master of Music. The student's official transcript and diploma will only indicate that degree. The area of study (Conducting, Music Education, Performance) will not be included as part of the official degree title.

Recital Requirements for Performance and Conducting

A graduate recital plus an analytical paper are required of all candidates in Performance and Conducting. Students must be enrolled in their applied area during the semester the recital is given. A minimum of 60 minutes of music is required for all Performance recitals. A minimum of three major works for the appropriate ensemble is required for all Conducting recitals. The recital may only be given after at least 6 hours of graduate applied or conducting courses have been successfully completed.

Program of Study and Committee Selection

After admission, each student must successfully complete MUSC 471 Graduate Theory Review before subsequent enrollment in other music theory courses. He or she must also successfully complete MUSC 477 Graduate Music History Review before subsequent enrollment in other music history courses.

During the first semester of study, a tentative Program of Study is planned, documented and filed by the student in consultation with the advisor in his or her major field. The Program of Study is subject to approval by the Music Department Head and the Graduate Music Committee. The student will also select, in consultation with his or her advisor, an advisory committee consisting of the advisor, and two additional faculty members.

Candidacy

In order to qualify for candidacy the student (except those in the online Music Education program) must meet the Graduate School requirement of 12 credits of graduate work in residence and must show evidence of a satisfactory quality of work in the required courses, demonstrate the desired progress in his or her performance area and, where required, submit a recital program, thesis topic, or project proposal for approval.

Thesis

A thesis is optional in Music Education and is encouraged for students considering completion of a terminal degree. Music Education candidates not writing a thesis must develop and complete an approved project before the oral examination.

Final Examination

All Master of Music candidates must take a final comprehensive oral examination. The final oral examination may not be scheduled until the graduate recital (with analytical paper) is completed or a final draft of the Music Education project or thesis has been approved by the candidate’s advisor.

Fees

Fees, in addition to tuition, will be assessed for all applied hours and recitals. (Consult the Music Department for details).

Degrees for the Department

Bachelor Degree(s)

Master Degree(s)

Minors for the Department

Music - Undergraduate Minor

Professor, Fred Bugbee, Department Head

Professors Chaffin, Kaplan, Shearer, Spitzer; Associate Professors Daughtrey, Espinoza, Mapp, Martinez-Rios, Smyth, L. Van Winkle, Vega-Albela; Assistant Professors Moore, College Associate Professors R. Taylor

F. Bugbee, Department Head, D.M.A. (Eastman School of Music)– percussion, history; L. Chaffin, Ph.D. (Texas Tech)– theory, composition; S. Daughtrey, D.M. (Indiana University)-- vocal coordinator, diction, pedagogy; J. Espinoza, M.M. (Carnegie Mellon)-- viola, ear-training; A. Kaplan, Ph.D. (NYU Manhattan School of Music)– low brass; M. Mapp (Kansas University)- Director of Bands, conducting; J. Martinez-Rios, M.M (Western Michigan)– Orchestra Director, viola; M. Moore, D.M.A. (Kansas University)-- clarinet, woodwind techniques; J. Shearer, D.M.A. (Eastman School of Music)– graduate coordinator, history; S. Smyth, D.M.A. (Kansas University)- Athletic Bands, music education; L. Spitzer, D.M.A. (USC)– piano, history; R. Taylor, D.M.A (Arizona)– saxophone, theory; L. Van Winkle, D.M.A. (Arizona) flute, ear-training; D. Vega-Albela M.M. (Western Michigan)--violin

Music Courses

MUSC 1110G. Music Appreciation: Jazz

3 Credits (3)

This course explores the ideas of music in society and its cultural relevance and is designed to increase the students’ appreciation of music as well as to enhance their listening skills. Students are introduced to various periods, styles, and composers of music and become acquainted with knowledge and appreciation of Jazz from various cultures and times.

Learning Outcomes

Develop a vocabulary of musical terms, and be able to describe music using those terms
Demonstrate knowledge of composers, their music and their relationship to historical periods
Recognize how music played and plays a political, social, and cultural function
Identify well-known pieces and the historical and social context in which they were composed
Demonstrate basic understanding of music notation and musical communication