School of Music

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School Office: Landini Center for Performing and Fine Arts, room 113
Web site: http://www.indstate.edu/music
E-mail:  ISU-MUSIC@indstate.edu

The mission of the School of Music at Indiana State University is to prepare students for careers and continued study in music education, music business, music performance, and music as a liberal art.   Recognized for its long history of training music educators and members of the music business community, the school offers a range of undergraduate degrees in a personalized environment.   The school provides experiential learning opportunities, develops life-long learning skills, and fosters cultural engagement and international exchange. In addition, the school promotes awareness and appreciation of the musical arts through courses for all Indiana State University students and serves as a cultural resource for the University, the local community, and the state through outreach, special events, and public performances.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Degrees Offered

Students  with a major in the School of Music may earn a bachelor of science, bachelor of arts, bachelor of music, or bachelor of music education degree. Candidates for these degrees must successfully complete the University requirement of a minimum of 120 credits, including Foundational Studies course work, as well as the requirements for the school major.

The bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees offer students flexible programs designed for diverse career opportunities, including positions in the music industry or admission to graduate school. Concentrations are available in music merchandising and music business administration. The bachelor of music degree in performance prepares students for graduate study and performing careers. The bachelor of music degree in composition prepares students for graduate study and composition careers. The bachelor of music education degree prepares students for K-12 licensure in choral/general or instrumental/general music, with the possible addition of instrumental or choral options.

In addition, the school offers a music minor, a music - general music teaching minor (only for Elementary Education majors), and a music industry studies minor housed in the Department of Multidisciplinary Studies. A certificate program is also  available in piano pedagogy at the undergraduate level.

Experiential Learning

Music Business - The Music Business internship is an intensive 6-month internship where a student gains first-hand experience working in the music industry. The student will choose their own place to intern and will work 40 hours a week for 6 months gaining job experience. The student also has the opportunity to network with other professionals in the music industry.

Music Education - Student teachers gain real work experience in music education through mentoring and instruction from a practicing music educator. Student teachers work closely with this professional to learn how to be a better teacher and get first-hand experience in teaching a class. 

Music Composition - Music composition is a highly engaged and experiential program with on-going opportunities for participation in performance ensembles. The culminating experience is a recital that features the student’s original work.

Music for Non-Majors

All music ensembles are open to all University students by audition. Ensembles maintain a regular schedule of concert preparation and performance. For more information, refer to course descriptions and prerequisites in the list of courses. Students interested in auditioning should contact the ensemble director.

Other courses of general interest and value to non-majors may include piano classes, individual performance study (when studio space is available), and numerous Foundational Studies courses.

School Opportunities

The School of Music provides students with numerous opportunities to enhance their musical education through private study and performance in groups such as Wind Orchestra, University Symphony, University Chorale, Wind Symphony, Sycamore Singers, Women’s Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Masterworks Chorale, Marching Sycamores, Sycamore Basketball Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Steel Drum Ensemble. Students are also offered a broad range of academic music courses to explore other dimensions of music outside performance. School of Music facilities include the Landini Center for Performing and Fine Arts, which houses a Recital Hall seating 175; faculty studios and offices; rehearsal rooms for band, choral, orchestral, jazz, and percussion ensembles; and administrative offices. The adjacent Fine Arts Building houses classrooms, two digital keyboard laboratories, a recording studio, additional teaching studios and offices, and beautifully renovated practice rooms. The departmental listening library and its collection of over 25,000 recordings, over 20,000 music books, scores, and music periodicals are available in Cunningham Memorial Library. Students also have access to more than $1.5 million in University-owned instruments. Performances take place in the visually and acoustically attractive Margaret L. Boyce Recital Hall, University Hall, and Tilson Music Hall, an historic art-deco space.

The College of Arts and Sciences, in consultation with the School, assigns each student a faculty academic advisor who has expertise in their degree program. Majors and minors in the School of Music are encouraged to maintain close contact with their advisor, and are expected to work with their advisor prior to registration each semester. Students who do so are more likely to meet their goals and achieve academic success. Students can find their assigned advisor by consulting the college, the school, or their Degree Audit Tools.

SCHOOL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Entering music majors, minors, or transfer students must complete the school application form and successfully complete an audition on their principal instrument or voice. A piano conference and a music theory  assessment are administered to all entering students to determine appropriate placements.

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE STUDY

All music majors must select a principal instrument for their most intensive study in which they will receive at least six semesters of private instruction. Detailed information about semester-by-semester requirements for each instrument is available in the school’s Performance Study Handbook. Musical and technical progress is demonstrated by recitals and in examinations, called juries, before the faculty at the end of each semester. Formal junior and senior recitals are required of majors in performance degrees but are optional for others.

Prior to registering for individual performance study for the first time, students must audition before at least two music faculty members and, if possible, before a committee of music faculty members.  Information about audition preparation is available from the schools web site, www.indstate.edu/music.

All freshmen music majors who successfully complete their entrance audition will register for MUS 178.The outcome of their second semester MUS 178 jury will allow the student to declare a specific music major: MUS 272 (bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of music-composition, or music minors), MUS 274 (bachelor of music education), or MUS 276 (bachelor of music performance).  Music majors studying a secondary instrument or non-majors register for MUS 270. Freshman music minors who successfully complete their entrance audition will register for MUS 272.

Prospective music majors who, through auditions, have received conditional approval on the declared principal instrument must enroll in Music 100. Students must earn a grade of 75 percent or better on their MUS 100 jury, to enroll in MUS 178 for a music major or MUS 272 for a music minor. The hour of credit earned for 100 counts toward graduation but does not count toward a music major. Students may not repeat MUS 100 for the purpose of declaring a music major. Specific repertoire and skill requirements for the MUS 100 jury are available from the instructor.  

Music majors and minors receive one lesson which is at least 50 minutes long per week in the fall and spring semesters. During a five week summer term, students receive two 45-minute lessons per week.

All performance courses require a jury examination. During a summer term, a recital appearance may be an accepted substitute for the jury examination.

A fee of up to $150 is charged for each individual performance study course per semester.

ENSEMBLES

The school offers a variety of both vocal and instrumental ensembles. All music majors must participate in ensembles for at least seven semesters. Students who participate in large ensembles have the option of registering for  a zero credit section once they have registered for 18 credit hours in the semester. Chamber ensembles are only available for one credit. In order to promote a smooth transition into a challenging academic environment, first time, full time freshman music majors and declared music minors may not participate in more than two performing ensembles in their first semester. Music majors with an overall GPA below 2.5 may not participate in more than two ensembles per semester.  This rule applies to all ensembles; any exceptions must be approved by the Director of the School of Music. Transfer students must complete a minimum of two credit hours of ensemble participation at Indiana State University before graduation.  All music students should refer to curricula for specific information concerning ensemble requirements.

ADDITIONAL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL MAJORS AND MINORS

Keyboard Proficiency

All music majors must pass a keyboard proficiency examination before graduation. Music Education and Music Business majors must pass the keyboard proficiency examination before student teaching or their internship. Further information about this requirement is available on the schools web site.  

Event Attendance

A large number of concerts and recitals representing a broad spectrum of musical styles and genres occur every semester. This resource of musical events is an integral part of a musician’s training. All music majors and minors must attend a specified number of concerts, recitals, and Contemporary Music Festival events before graduation.  In addition to those event requirements, Music Education and Music Business Majors have an additional symposium requirement, which also must be completed prior to the Music Education Student Teaching or the Music Business Internship requirement. Transfer students should confer with the Director of the School of Music to determine if credit for previous attendance is applicable. Information concerning this requirement is available in the school office and on the web site.

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