Music, B.A. | Music | SUNY Buffalo State University

About the Program

Music Department
Rockwell Hall 203
(716) 878-6401
https://music.buffalostate.edu

Accredited by National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)

The Bachelor of Arts in Music degree is designed to provide candidates with broad musical knowledge and applied experiences in a liberal arts context, offering opportunities to integrate music into a variety of disciplines. Candidates have the option of choosing a Music Industry, Performance, or General Studies concentration as part of the degree. 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.

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)

Required Courses (20 credit hours)

Musicianship (20 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
MUS122 INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC STUDIES AND CAREERS | 2 - Credit Hours
MUS218 AURAL PERCEPTION I | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS219 AURAL PERCEPTION II | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS230 MUSIC THEORY I | 3 - Credit Hours
MUS231 MUSIC THEORY II | 3 - Credit Hours
MUS318 AURAL PERCEPTION III | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS319 AURAL PERCEPTION IV | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS321 COMPOSITION, IMPROVISATION AND ARRANGING | 2 - Credit Hours
MUS330 MUSIC THEORY III | 3 - Credit Hours
MUS331 MUSIC THEORY IV | 3 - Credit Hours

Music History and Literature (12 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
MUS206 FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC 1900-1950 | 3 - Credit Hours
MUS302 MUSIC HISTORY: ANTIQUITY THROUGH BAROQUE | 3 - Credit Hours
MUS303 MUSIC HISTORY: CLASSIC THROUGH MODERN | 3 - Credit Hours
MUS440 ETHNOMUSICOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
Choose Either General Program Requirements or Performance Concentration Requirements Below

General Program Requirements

Applied Music (4 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
MUS171 APPLIED MUSIC I | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS173 APPLIED MUSIC II | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS271 APPLIED MUSIC III | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS273 APPLIED MUSIC IV | 1 - Credit Hours

Music Ensemble/Primary (6 credit hours)
Selected from the following:

Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
MUS111 ACCOMPANYING FOR PIANISTS | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS313 CHAMBER CHOIR | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS314 WIND ENSEMBLE | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS335 BUFFALO STATE CHORALE | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS390 UNIVERSITY PHILHARMONIA | 1 - Credit Hours

Capstone (1 credit hour)
Earn at least 1 credits from the following:
MUS491 CAPSTONE IN MUSIC | 1 - 3 Credit Hours

Music Electives (10 credit hours)
MUS courses selected by advisement

Performance Concentration Requirements
Completion requirement

Applied Music (8 credit hours)
Earn at least 8 credits from the following:
MUS110 ACCOMPANIST COACHING SESSION | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS173 APPLIED MUSIC II | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS271 APPLIED MUSIC III | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS273 APPLIED MUSIC IV | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS371 APPLIED MUSIC V | 1 - 2 Credit Hours
MUS373 APPLIED MUSIC VI | 1 - 2 Credit Hours
MUS471 APPLIED MUSIC VII | 1 - 2 Credit Hours
MUS473 APPLIED MUSIC III | 1 - Credit Hours

Music Ensemble/Primary (8 credit hours)
Selected from the following:

Earn at least 8 credits from the following:
MUS111 ACCOMPANYING FOR PIANISTS | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS290 PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS313 CHAMBER CHOIR | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS314 WIND ENSEMBLE | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS335 BUFFALO STATE CHORALE | 1 - Credit Hours

Music Ensemble/Secondary (2 credit hours)
MUS courses selected by advisement

Junior Recital (1 credit hour)
Earn at least 1 credits from the following:
MUS495 SPECIAL PROJECT | 1 - 3 Credit Hours

Capstone (1 credit hour)
Earn at least 1 credits from the following:
MUS491 CAPSTONE IN MUSIC | 1 - 3 Credit Hours

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

All College Electives (34 credit hours)
Completion requirement

120 Total Credit Hours
Completion requirement
Music Industry Concentration

General Education 23 Requirements (33 credit hours)

Required Courses (54 credit hours)

Musicianship (18 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
MUS112 APPLIED MUSIC | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS218 AURAL PERCEPTION I | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS219 AURAL PERCEPTION II | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS230 MUSIC THEORY I | 3 - Credit Hours
MUS231 MUSIC THEORY II | 3 - Credit Hours
MUS318 AURAL PERCEPTION III | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS319 AURAL PERCEPTION IV | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS330 MUSIC THEORY III | 3 - Credit Hours
MUS331 MUSIC THEORY IV | 3 - Credit Hours

Music History and Literature (12credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
DMP340 HISTORY OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC | 3 - Credit Hours
MUS201 SURVEY OF WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY | 3 - Credit Hours
MUS208 SURVEY OF WORLD MUSIC CULTURES | 3 - Credit Hours
DMP350 ELECTRONIC MUSIC COMPOSITION I | 3 - Credit Hours

Music Ensemble/Primary (4 credit hours)
Selected from the following:

Earn at least 4 credits from the following:
MUS290 PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS313 CHAMBER CHOIR | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS314 WIND ENSEMBLE | 1 - Credit Hours
MUS335 BUFFALO STATE CHORALE | 1 - Credit Hours

Music Ensemble/Secondary (2 credit hours)
MUS courses selected by advisement

Music Industry (6 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
DMP221 INTRODUCTION TO SOUND RECORDING AND REINFORCEMENT | 3 - Credit Hours
DMP222 MUSIC BUSINESS | 3 - Credit Hours

Special Project (1 credit hour)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
MUS491 CAPSTONE IN MUSIC | 1 - 3 Credit Hours

Music Industry Electives (6 credit hours)
Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
DMP250 FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC PRODUCTION | 3 - Credit Hours
DMP321 RECORDING TECHNIQUES | 3 - Credit Hours
DMP430 GAME AUDIO | 3 - Credit Hours

All College Electives (33 credit hours)
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.

120 Total Credit Hours