May 14, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2018-2019 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Music, Performance Option, B.A.


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An audition is required for admission to the Music Performance Option (see details below).

Audition Requirements: The BA in Music with the Option in Music Performance is intended for students who wish to pursue instrumental or vocal performance studies within the context of a liberal arts degree. Students may major in Piano, Voice, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone, Bassoon, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double bass, or Percussion Entrance to the Music Performance Option is by audition as follows:

Performance Option-Voice: three contrasting, memorized art songs, including one in a foreign language, that demonstrate classical singing technique at NYSSMA Level VI; applicants also may be requested to sight read; résumé. (Geneseo will provide an accompanist.)

Performance Option-Piano: three contrasting, memorized selections from different time periods, equivalent in difficulty to NYSSMA Level V or VI or Federation Level Very Difficult I; applicants also may be requested to play scales and arpeggios, and sight read; résumé.

Performance Option-Brass, Strings, or Winds: three contrasting selections equivalent in difficulty to NYSSMA Level VI; applicants also may be requested to play scales and arpeggios, and sight read; résumé.

Performance Option-Percussion: three selections equivalent in difficulty to NYSSMA Level VI, one on snare, one on timpani, one on a melodic instrument; applicants also may be requested to tune timpani, play scales and arpeggios on a melodic instrument, and sight read; résumé.

Total Credits in Major Required for Graduation: 45


Option Requirements (22 Credits)


Ensemble Participation (8 Credits)


Piano, Voice, Woodwinds, Brass, Strings, or Percussion for the Performance Option (4 Credits)


(two semesters; *Prerequisite: proficiency at the level of two semesters of MUSC 250 , MUSC 251 , MUSC 252 ,  MUSC 253 MUSC 254 ,  MUSC 255 )

Piano, Voice, Woodwinds, Brass, Strings, or Percussion for the Performance Option (4 Credits)


(two semesters)

Junior Recital (1 Credit)


Senior Recital (2 Credits)


Additional Requirements


Ensemble Participation Requirement: Participation in the following specified performance organizations each semester in the Music Performance Option (NOTE: a maximum of eight credits may be applied to the degree)

  • Music Performance Option-Piano: a MUSC 160  or MUSC 165  organization, or an equivalent activity approved by the Piano Coordinator and participation in weekly Piano Seminar;
  • Music Performance Option-Voice: a MUSC 160  organization (placement by audition and participation in weekly Voice Seminar;
  • Music Performance Option-Woodwind, Brass, or Percussion: MUSC 165  Chamber Symphony, Wind Ensemble, or Jazz Ensemble (placement by audition) and participation in weekly Instrumental Seminar;
  • Music Performance Option-String: MUSC 165  Symphony Orchestra and participation in weekly Instrumental Seminar. maximum of eight credits may be applied to the degree.

Juries and Recital Requirement


  • Jury examination each semester in the Music Performance Option;
  • Performance in a Friday afternoon recital each semester in the Music Performance Option or in some other public, faculty-sponsored event approved by the principal instructor;
  • Solo performance of approximately one-half hour in a shared Junior Recital.

Minimum Competency Requirement


A grade of C- or better is required for all major requirements, including all required coursework and electives. For the Music Performance Option, a grade of C- or better is required for all major requirements, including all general and performance option coursework; all performance organization requirements; all juries and the junior recital.

Department Writing Requirement


Each of the following courses includes a writing assignment in formal prose of about ten pages in length, following one of three approaches - analytical, historical, or a combination of these: MUSC 311 , MUSC 315 , MUSC 331 , MUSC 333 , MUSC 334 , MUSC 335 , MUSC 336 , MUSC 337 , MUSC 338 , and MUSC 339 . The organization of each paper should be clear, the writing appropriately literary, and grammatically and syntactically correct. The ideas should present a logical argument, as suggested by an earlier outline. The paper should be typed and doubled-spaced, with page numbers and one-inch margins. All sources consulted should be cited in a consistent manner in footnotes and a complete bibliography, following the standard format described in The Chicago Manual of Style or Kate Turabian’s Manual for Writers. It is the music historian’s responsibility to oversee the implementation of the writing requirement and to enforce a fair and equal standard for all papers submitted.

Students who plan to attend graduate school are strongly advised to complete two years of foreign language study

Outline/Advising Guide


First Year


Fall (16 Credit Hours)


Spring (16 Credit Hours)


Second Year


Fall (15 Credit Hours)


Third Year


Fall (16 Credit Hours)


Spring (14 Credit Hours)


Fourth Year


Fall (15 Credit Hours)


Spring (15 Credit Hours)


Total Credit Hours: 120


* Prospective majors are strongly encouraged to take MUSC 139  and MUSC 140  in their first year of study and in conjunction with MUSC 189  and MUSC 190 .

*MUSC 250 -MUSC 255  have prerequisite requirements of proficiency at the level of two semesters of the corresponding MUSC 150 -MUSC 155  course.

Where no prerequisites apply, some variation in the order or semester in which courses are taken is possible. Students should consult their academic advisors for additional information

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