About the Music Program
The Department of Music offers majors in performance, secondary music education (vocal or instrumental), worship arts, and an associates degree in piano pedagogy. Music may also be selected as a minor, but the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) does not allow teaching certification in music with a music minor. In addition, private lessons, performance ensembles and survey courses provide enrichment for many interested students and community members who are not music majors or minors.
Excellence in music study requires dedication, self-discipline and consistent practice, as well as talent. Private lessons and recital requirements increase performance skill. Group performance develops interaction skills and knowledge of literature. Courses in music theory and history develop musical understanding and knowledge base. Other required courses are designed to develop specific skills, such as the ability to conduct or teach a woodwind instrument. Specific degree requirements are carefully aligned with national and state standards and are designed to provide a balance of skills needed for success in a chosen profession or in graduate study.
Progress made by music majors is monitored in annual “juries” in which the students perform selected compositions and technical skills for the music faculty.
Music students are also required to attend a minimum number of performances each semester. (Details of all music department policies are available in the music department handbook.)
Mission Statement
The
mission of the Music Department at Spring Arbor University is to develop the ability of each student to perform music with
expertise and insight and to understand music
within a context of serious study of the liberal arts, Jesus Christ as the
perspective for learning and critical
participation in the contemporary world.
Admission requirements
Students must perform an entrance audition to be formally admitted as a music major. At the end of the sophomore year, music majors must perform a “sophomore check,” a more elaborate jury including sight reading and technical skills, to be admitted to upper division standing. (Details about requirements for the sophomore check are available in the music department handbook.) Students transferring to Spring Arbor University as juniors or seniors must audition for admission to the program and perform a jury during their first semester on campus.
Majors and Minor
The music department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree - with four options for a major, as well as an associate of arts in piano pedagogy. The majors and minor available are listed below:
Majors:
- Music major
- Music education - instrumental
- Music education - vocal
- Worship Arts - Music
Minors:
Notes on general education: Participation in performance groups for a minimum of two credit hours fulfills the music portion of the fine arts requirement. Music majors and those who have completed two credit hours of a performance ensemble may take selected art courses to fulfill the art portion.
K-12 Music Education Major for secondary certification
The requirements listed in this catalog will qualify the candidate to teach K-12 music on a secondary K-12 certificate. This comprehensive K-12 music-education major does not require a certifiable minor.