Music - Undergraduate

Music

Evans, Arnold, Benoit, Eckerty, Heffner, Lau, Motter, Poulsen

Department Mission Statement

We are a distinctively student-centered music department that believes strongly in the creative and intellectual growth of every student. We are committed to serving:

1. students choosing to major in music,
2. students majoring in other academic areas but who enjoy participation in the department,
3. the cultural environment of the larger community.

We are committed to preparing each student for a successful life in music after Simpson. Our program offers a variety of classroom and performance experiences that enable our students to graduate fully prepared to become highly effective music educators and performers, enter quality graduate programs, or use music successfully in related fields.

Through our concerted efforts, students and the community at large will come to realize that music moves beyond the realm of entertainment and that an understanding of and appreciation for music can profoundly enrich our lives.

Simpson College is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

Degrees

The Department of Music provides a broad plan for the study of music. In order to serve all types of music students, courses leading to the following degrees are offered:

Bachelor of Music with a major in performance or music education. Bachelor of Arts, with a major in music.

Piano The study of piano is a combination of professional preparation and cultural pursuit. For professional students a thorough course is followed, including the early clavecinists, the works of Bach, and the sonatas of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven. In addition to composers of the Romantic and Impressionist schools, stress is placed on 20^th-century music, including the works of Griffes, Barber, Schoenberg, Bartok, Prokofiev, and Ginastera. Piano students are given instruction and experience in techniques of accompanying when appropriate.

Organ Representative compositions from all major periods and styles of organ composition are taught, with particular emphasis on major composers of the 18^th- , 19^th- , and 20^th-centuries. In addition, emphasis is placed on preparing organ students in the area of church service playing. A thorough piano background is required of beginning organ students.

Voice The ultimate goals are beautiful tone, dependable technique, a musical style of singing and knowledge of repertoire from the 17^th-century to the present. Emphasis is placed on the use of the voice as a natural instrument. Repertoire is chosen to foster technical development. During the course of four years, the student gains experience singing in at least three foreign languages.

Guitar, Woodwind, Brass and Percussion Instruments The goal of the instrumentalist is to attain the highest degree of proficiency and artistry possible within the limits of the individual talent. This is accomplished by a thorough study of solo literature, technical material, etudes, and orchestral excerpts. Transposition is taught for those instrumentalists who require a working knowledge of that skill. Typical of literature performed by Simpson instrumentalists are works of Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Strauss, Hindemith, and Haydn. Technical and etude materials and scales are included in the studies. Emphasis is placed on developing and mastering the appropriate techniques applicable to each instrument.

Strings Although the music department does not offer a major in orchestra strings, playing in the Simpson College and Community Orchestra and taking lessons in string instruments are available to students. Private instruction includes technical studies as well as study of the standard repertory from the Baroque period to the 20^th-century. A string methods class provides music education majors with an introduction to string pedagogy.

Ensembles Ensemble organizations for credit include The Simpson College Chamber Singers, College Choir, Chorale, Madrigal Singers, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, College and Community Orchestra, and Opera Workshop. Two credits in ensemble per year are required of Bachelor of Music students and participation in at least one ensemble is required each semester of full time academic work. Each ensemble is awarded one credit per semester. Students with a voice concentration are required to enroll in Chamber Singers, Choir or Chorale each semester. Students with instrumental concentrations are required to be in the Symphonic Band or the College and Community Orchestra each semester. In addition, numerous non-credit ensembles are available. They comprise the Instrumental Chamber Music (MUS 014 ) and Opera (MUS 015 ) offerings.

Jury At the end of each semester, final examinations in applied music are conducted by a jury composed of selected faculty members. All students enrolled in applied music are required to perform a jury.

Piano Requirements All students in the Bachelor of Music program or with a Bachelor of Arts major in music are encouraged to study piano and are required to pass a piano proficiency examination. This examination may be taken at any regularly scheduled time, but is required of all students before they may register (normally after the fourth semester) for 300-level courses in music. No student may register for student teaching until he/she has passed this examination. The proficiency exam must be passed one full semester before student teaching is undertaken. Students must enroll continuously in piano until the proficiency exam is passed if the exam was not passed on the first attempt.

Recital Requirements Bachelor of Music in Performance students are required to perform full recitals in both the junior and senior years. Bachelor of Music in Music Education students are required to perform a full recital in the senior year. A half recital is required of Bachelor of Arts students with a major in music in the senior year. All degree seeking candidates must be enrolled in the applied music area of concentration when degree recitals are performed. The senior recital is normally performed in the seventh or eighth semester of attendance. Any exceptions must be approved by the department chair. Attendance at weekly music convocations, visiting artist recitals, ensemble and opera performances, faculty recitals, all senior and junior performance major recitals is required of the major in music. All full-time degree-seeking candidates must be enrolled in Music 001 Recital Attendance, each semester of attendance.

Performance Major Admission to the Performance Major is determined by audition for the music faculty at the end of the sophomore year or its equivalent. Until this audition is successfully completed, a student is not a Performance Major.