Music Division
Professor Stuart Benkert, Interim Chair
The Music Division seeks to cultivate a passion for musical excellence by providing the highest quality education. The department serves the entire University community by offering General Education music courses, opportunities for group musical performance, individual lessons, and beginning classes in piano, voice and guitar, as well as minors in Music. The Bachelor of Music degree is designed to prepare students for the professional life of a musician. Graduates of the program will be able to: 1) effectively read musical scores and detect errors in performance; 2) analyze and identify key elements in musical scores and performances; 3) present a stylistically appropriate performance from standard musical literature.
The requirements for entrance to and graduation from the Music Division are in accordance with the published regulations of the National Association of Schools of Music and the Tennessee regulations for certification of teachers.
The Music Division offers the following two degree programs at the undergraduate level: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a major in Music, the Bachelor of Music (B.M.), with a major in Music. The B.M. degree provides five concentrations: instrumental performance; vocal performance; composition; instrumental music education; vocal music education.
The B.A. degree is offered for students who desire a strong liberal arts background with a major in music. Approximately one third of the four-year B.A. program is in music, and numerous elective hours outside the department permit study in other academic areas.
The B.M. degree is a more concentrated course of study in the major area. Approximately two thirds of the four-year program is in music. The B.M. degree in music education is appropriate for students who plan to teach music in elementary, middle, or high schools. It combines general education with music content and teaching methodology in a highly structured course of study. Students who successfully complete the program are awarded teaching certification upon graduation. All music degree programs represent appropriate preparation for graduate study.
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