About the Program

Accredited by National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)

The Bachelor of Arts in Music degree is designed to provided candidates with broad musical knowledge and applied experiences in a liberal arts context, offering opportunities to integrate music into a variety of disciplines. All Music Department faculty participate in varied instructional aspects of the BA degree, teaching courses in music theory, history, literature, and aural perception, leading instrumental and vocal ensembles, and offering applied studio instruction.

About the Music Department

203 Rockwell Hall
1300 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-6401
Fax: (716) 878-6402
https://music.buffalostate.edu/

Admission Requirements

In addition to successful matriculation to the University, all music majors must complete a successful music performance audition and an interview with music faculty. Audition information can be found at this link: https://music.buffalostate.edu/audition

Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate:

1. the ability to hear, identify, and work conceptually with the elements of music - rhythm, melody, harmony, structure, timbre, texture
2. an understanding of and the ability to read and realize musical notation
3. an understanding of compositional processes, aesthetic properties of style, and the ways these shape and are shaped by artistic and cultural forces
4. an acquaintance with a wide selection of musical literature, the principal eras, genres, and cultural sources
5. the ability to develop and defend musical judgments
6. ability in performing areas at levels consistent with the goals and objectives of the specific liberal arts degree option being followed
7. understanding of procedures for realizing a variety of musical styles
8. knowledge and/or skills in one or more areas of music beyond basic musicianship appropriate to the individual's needs and interests, and consistent with the purposes of the specific liberal arts degree option being followed
9. the ability to read at sight with fluency demonstrating both general musicianship and, in the major performance area, a level of skill relevant to professional standards appropriate for the particular music concentration
10. a rudimentary capacity to create derivative or original music both extemporaneously and in written form

Program Requirements

General Education 23 Requirements
33 credit hours 33
Required Courses (32 credit hours)
Musicianship (20 credit hours)
MUS 122 INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC STUDIES AND CAREERS 2
MUS 218 AURAL PERCEPTION I 1
MUS 219 AURAL PERCEPTION II 1
MUS 230 MUSIC THEORY I 3
MUS 231 MUSIC THEORY II 3
MUS 318 AURAL PERCEPTION III 1
MUS 319 AURAL PERCEPTION IV 1
MUS 321 COMPOSITION, IMPROVISATION AND ARRANGING 2
MUS 330 MUSIC THEORY III 3
MUS 331 MUSIC THEORY IV 3

Music History and Literature (12 credit hours)
MUS 206 FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC 1900-1950 3
MUS 302 MUSIC HISTORY: ANTIQUITY THROUGH BAROQUE 3
MUS 303 MUSIC HISTORY: CLASSIC THROUGH MODERN 3
MUS 440 ETHNOMUSICOLOGY 3

Choose either General Program or Performance Concentration Below
All College Electives 34
Total Credit Hours 120

General Program Requirements
Applied Music (4 credit hours)
MUS 171 APPLIED MUSIC I 1
MUS 173 APPLIED MUSIC II 1
MUS 271 APPLIED MUSIC III 1
MUS 273 APPLIED MUSIC IV 1

Music Ensemble/Primary (6 credit hours)
Selected from the following:
MUS 111 ACCOMPANYING FOR PIANISTS (1)
MUS 313 CHAMBER CHOIR (1)
MUS 314 WIND ENSEMBLE (1)
MUS 335 BUFFALO STATE CHORALE (1)
MUS 390 UNIVERSITY PHILHARMONIA

Capstone (1 credit hour)
MUS 491 CAPSTONE IN MUSIC 1-3
Music Electives (10 credit hours)
MUS courses selected by advisement

Performance Concentration
Applied Music (8 credit hours)
MUS 171 APPLIED MUSIC I 1
MUS 173 APPLIED MUSIC II 1
MUS 271 APPLIED MUSIC III 1
MUS 273 APPLIED MUSIC IV 1
MUS 371 APPLIED MUSIC V 1-2
MUS 373 APPLIED MUSIC VI 1-2
MUS 471 APPLIED MUSIC VII 1-2
MUS 473 APPLIED MUSIC III 1

Music Ensemble/Primary (8 credit hours)
Selected from the following:
MUS 111 ACCOMPANYING FOR PIANISTS (1)
MUS 290 PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA (1)
MUS 313 CHAMBER CHOIR (1)
MUS 314 WIND ENSEMBLE (1)
MUS 335 BUFFALO STATE CHORALE (1)

Music Ensemble/Secondary (2 credit hours)
MUS courses selected by advisement
Junior Recital (1 credit hour)
MUS 495 SPECIAL PROJECT 1-3

Capstone (1 credit hour)
MUS 491 CAPSTONE IN MUSIC 1-3

Music Elective (1 credit hour)
MUS course selected by advisement

Music Industry Concentration

General Education 23 Requirements
33 credit hours 33
Required Courses (54 Credit Hours)
Musicianship (18 Credit Hours)
MUS 112 APPLIED MUSIC 1
MUS 218 AURAL PERCEPTION I 1
MUS 219 AURAL PERCEPTION II 1
MUS 230 MUSIC THEORY I 3
MUS 231 MUSIC THEORY II 3
MUS 318 AURAL PERCEPTION III 1
MUS 319 AURAL PERCEPTION IV 1
MUS 330 MUSIC THEORY III 3
MUS 331 MUSIC THEORY IV 3

Music History and Literature (12 Credit Hours)
DMP 340 HISTORY OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC 3
MUS 201 SURVEY OF WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY 3
MUS 208 SURVEY OF WORLD MUSIC CULTURES 3
DMP 350 ELECTRONIC MUSIC COMPOSITION I 3

Applied Music (4 Credit Hours)
MUS 171 APPLIED MUSIC I 1
MUS 173 APPLIED MUSIC II 1
MUS 271 APPLIED MUSIC III 1
MUS 273 APPLIED MUSIC IV 1

Music Ensemble/Primary (4 Credit Hours)
Selected from the following:
MUS 290 PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA 1
MUS 313 CHAMBER CHOIR 1
MUS 314 WIND ENSEMBLE 1
MUS 335 BUFFALO STATE CHORALE 1
*Through advisement, students pursuing a Music Industry concentration will be encouraged to take music industry-related courses in fields including but not limited to Business and Communications, as part of their fulfillment of All College Electives.

Music Ensemble/Secondary (2 Credit Hours)
MUS courses selected by advisement
Music Industry (6 Credit Hours)
DMP 221
INTRODUCTION TO SOUND RECORDING AND REINFORCEMENT 3
DMP 222
MUSIC BUSINESS 3
Special Project (1 Credit Hour)
DMP 495
SPECIAL PROJECT 1
Capstone (1 Credit Hour)
MUS 491
CAPSTONE IN MUSIC 1-3
Music Industry Electives (6 Credit Hours)
Selected from the following:
DMP 250
FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC PRODUCTION 3
DMP 321
RECORDING TECHNIQUES 3
DMP 430
GAME AUDIO 3
All College Electives 33
Total Credit Hours 120