Spelman College Department of Music: Prospective Students

 

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Prospective Students

As you explore this area, you will find everything you need to know about The Department of

Music at Spelman College - a great place to learn, grow, and develop as a musician.




The Music Program

The Department of Music offers curricula leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. Students may either major or minor in Music.


Special Entry Requirements

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the College, the incoming student must do the following:

  1. • Complete an audition in person or by video tape in her major medium. Auditions will be evaluated by department faculty members. Audition information may be secured by calling the Department of Music. See Audition Information below for more details.

  2. • Take a theory assessment test. Students with little or no prior music training should plan to take Fundamentals of Music (MUS 100) before taking Music Theory I (MUS 113A). For transfer students, all credits in music from another institution are subject to evaluation by the Department of Music and must be validated upon entrance by examination and audition. Transfer students may have to spend longer than the customary four years to complete the music requirements for the baccalaureate degree at Spelman College.



Music Major Requirements

To receive the B.A. in Music, the student must successfully complete 48 credit hours of music courses with no grade below “C”. The following music courses are required for all majors:

  1. • MUS 000 Music Seminar (0)

  2. • MUS 001 Piano Proficiency Test (0)

  3. • MUS 113A Music Theory I (4)

  4. • MUS 113B Music Theory II (4)

  5. • MUS 113C Music Theory III (4)

  6. • MUS 121 Introduction to World Musics (4)

  7. • MUS 202 Music Technology for Majors* (2)

  8. • MUS 203 Introduction to Music Business* (2)

  9. • MUS 240 Survey of African-American Music (4)

  10. • MUS 313 Orchestration and Arranging (2)

  11. • MUS 321 Form and Analysis I (2)

  12. • MUS 350 History of Western Music I (4)

  13. • MUS 351 History of Western Music II (4)

  14. • MUS 490A, 490B Senior Project (2)

    * Approval pending


Electives

    Music Majors are required to take eight (8) credit hours of elective courses in order to complete the degree in music:

  1. • MUS 011-058 Secondary Applied Instrument (up to 4 credits)

  2. • MUS 130 Women in Music (4)

  3. • MUS 200 Introduction to Music Technology I (2)

  4. • MUS 201 Introduction to Music Technology II (2)

  5. • MUS 209 Counterpoint (2)

  6. • MUS 210 Choral Conducting and Literature (2)

  7. • MUS 288 Arts Journalism: Writing About the Arts (4)

  8. • MUS 302 Jazz Composition and Arranging (2)

  9. • MUS 309 Vocal Literature and Pedagogy (2)

  10. • MUS 310 Vocal Diction for Singers* (2)

  11. • MUS 311 Opera Workshop (2)

  12. • MUS 317 Chamber Music Literature (2)

  13. • MUS 319 Keyboard Literature and Pedagogy (2)

  14. • MUS 330 History of Jazz (4)

  15. • MUS 451/452 Introduction to Composition (2)

    * Required for all vocal performance majors


First Year Suggested Courses

    Although the following courses are not required, they may provide additional support throughout the student’s matriculation.

    Note: These courses do not count for credit towards the degree of Bachelor of Arts.

  1. • MUS 100 Fundamentals of Music (2)

  2. • MUS 120 Music History and Appreciation (4)

  3. • MUS 123-126 Class Piano (1)


The student must also complete the following to fulfill the music major:

  1. • The student must be enrolled in applied music, an ensemble that serves as a laboratory supporting the primary applied music study, and Music Seminar each semester.

  2. • The student must have an applied jury in her major medium evaluated by the faculty each semester, except when she is scheduled to give a Junior or Senior Recital.

  3. • The student must pass a piano proficiency examination before the end of the junior year.

  4. • The student must present an exit project (senior recital, thesis, or composition) during the senior year prior to graduation.



Music Minor Requirements

Students wishing to pursue a music minor must audition for the music faculty and begin the course of study no later than fall semester of the sophomore year. For minors, Music Theory I and II are prerequisites for all other core courses in the department. After acceptance into the minor, the student must complete 32 credit hours of music courses with no grade below “C”. the following music core courses are required for all minors:

  1. • Music Theory I (4)

  2. • Music Theory II (4)

  3. • Introduction to World Musics (4)

  4. • Survey of African-American Music (4)

  5. • History of Western Music I or II (4)


The student must also complete the following to fulfill the music minor:

  1. • The student must be enrolled in applied music, an ensemble that serves as a laboratory supporting the primary applied music study, and Music Seminar for six (6) successive semesters.

  2. • The student must have an applied jury in her major medium evaluated by the faculty each semester, except when she is scheduled to give a 30-minute Recital.

  3. • The student must present a 30-minute recital on her primary instrument.



Programs of Study

  1. • Vocal Performance

  2. • Piano Performance

  3. • Instrumental Performance (brass, woodwinds, percussion, strings)

  4. • Composition

  5. • Choral Conducting



Audition Information

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the College, the incoming student must complete an audition in person in her major medium. Auditions are evaluated by the music faculty.


Purpose of the Audition

The audition provides an opportunity for the candidate to demonstrate her performance ability to the music faculty. The audition is also a way for faculty to determine whether the candidate is likely to be successful as a professional musician. An audition generally lasts between 10-20 minutes.


General Guidelines

  1. •Students who have more than one instrument are encouraged to audition in each area of musical expertise.

  2. •Performance from memory is desirable but not required unless specifically indicated.

  3. •Piano accompaniment for instrumental solos is desirable but not required. Vocalists should be prepared to audition with piano accompaniment. The Department will supply the accompanist.

  4. •All candidates will be examined for tonal memory and ability to match pitch.

  5. •All candidates are encouraged to include a current repertoire, reflecting technical studies, solos, scales, etc.

  6. •Where a great distance is involved, the candidate may submit a recording, preferably in video format. Candidates who submit a recording may be asked to re-audition after arriving on campus.


Specific Guidelines

Keyboard. The candidate should be prepared to perform:

  1. 1.    At least two (2) contrasting pieces from the standard repertoire.

  2. 2.    Scales and arpeggios in any major or minor key.


Orchestral Strings. The candidate should be prepared to perform:

  1. 1.    Two pieces - one slow for tone, vibrato and bow control; one fast for general dexterity.

  2. 2.    Basic major scales and arpeggios.


Percussion. The candidate should be prepared to perform:

  1. 1.    A suitable solo to demonstrate musical and technical ability on the following instruments: snare drum, timpani, and xylophone/marimba.

  2. 2.    Basic rhythm patterns and scales to demonstrate musicality.


Voice. The candidate should be prepared to perform:

  1. 1.    From memory, a minimum of two songs, one of which should be in a foreign language.

  2. 2.    Various vocal exercises to determine range, dexterity, and vocal quality.


Wind /Brass Instruments. The candidate should be prepared to perform:

  1. 1.   A suitable solo or etude to demonstrate musical and technical ability.

  2. 2.   Basic major scales and arpeggios to demonstrate range and sound quality.


Scheduling an Audition

Auditions for the Department of Music are general held during New Student Orientation Week. Be sure to check the orientation schedule when arriving on campus to determine when the auditions will take place.



Forms

First Year Interest Form

Department Auditions