Bachelor of Music, Concentration in Music Education, B.Mu.

Applicants to the School of Music must meet the entrance requirements of the School of Music and those of Georgia State. Refer to the Undergraduate Admissions section of this catalog for information concerning admission requirements to the university.

Individuals who wish to apply for admission to the School of Music should complete the School of Music application.

Prospective students applying for any Bachelor of Music degree program in any concentration (Performance, Composition, Jazz Studies, Music Education or Music Technology) must perform a live audition before beginning first-year coursework in music. Audition requirements are explained below.

Prospective students applying for the Bachelor of Science degree program in Music Management have two options for admissions consideration:

Option 1:

• You may give a live audition as an instrumental performer or vocalist (see below).

Option 2:

• You may submit a digital portfolio as described below.

Equal consideration will be given to either option. Students need only complete one of these admissions processes.

Admission to the School of Music is based on the level of musical skill demonstrated in the audition and the availability of openings in the various performing areas.

Students who have been absent from the School of Music for twelve consecutive months must re-audition for reentry.

Audition Requirements for Prospective B.Mu. and B.S. Students

The audition requirements are determined by the applicant’s instrument and are not tied to the program of study. These requirements can be found on the School of Music website at music.gsu.edu/undergraduate/audition-information/.

Digital Portfolio for Prospective B.S. Students Only

The School of Music recognizes many musicians today have career aspirations beyond performance, including music management, promotion, arts administration and similar fields. Nevertheless, as a NASM-accredited institution, the School of Music requires every music major to engage in active music-making at some level. For those students who engage in musical activities outside the traditional genres of classical vocal, classical instrumental, contemporary classical music composition or jazz idioms, the School of Music is interested in learning how you engage in the musical arts. The audition portfolio provides a way for students to demonstrate their musical fluency outside traditional genres.

The digital portfolio should contain a minimum of three and a maximum of five audio and/or video recordings (not to exceed five minutes each) that show evidence of the applicant’s significant engagement in music. The successful portfolio will clearly demonstrate facility in non-traditional music making areas, including (but not limited to) computer-based music creation/performance, D.J. turntable mixing and popular musical performance (such as pop/rock band performance videos). Evaluators will base decisions on the overall musical quality and recording quality of the submitted electronic selections.

In addition to the audio and/or video recording submissions, the student is required to create and appear in a 60-second video describing the following:

• Professional musical aspirations and goals,
• How he or she may contribute to the musical life of the School of Music and
• Why Georgia State is a good fit.

Recorded materials will be uploaded via a Web link provided at the time of application and evaluated by faculty of the School of Music.

B.Mu. in Music

Note: B.Mu. students must take a mixture of courses from Area F and Area G during 8 semesters of undergraduate study. First-year and second-year students must enroll in required MUS coursework to avoid a delayed graduation date.

B.Mu. courses to fulfill Critical Thinking Through Writing (CTW) requirement 

B.Mu. students take at least one of the following, as prescribed in concentration Area G requirements.

• MUS 4810 Music History from the Classical Period to the Present-CTW (3)
• MUS 4820 World Music-CTW (3)

Music Education Concentration, Emphasis in Choral/General

Area F: Courses Related to the Major (18)

1. Required Courses (8)
   • MUS 1440 Theory I (3)
   • MUS 1450 Theory II (3)
   • MUS 1540 Aural Skills I (1)
   • MUS 1550 Aural Skills II (1)
2. MUS 10XX Appropriate large ensemble (4) (4 semesters, 1 credit each)*
   • MUS 1060 Wind Ensemble (1)
   • MUS 1061 Wind Orchestra (1)
   • MUS 1062 Concert Band (1)
   • MUS 1070 Orchestra (1)
   • MUS 1080 Men’s Chorus (1)
   • MUS 1080A University Singers (1)
   • MUS 1081 Choral Union (1)
   • MUS 1082 Women’s Chorus (1)
   • MUS 1083 Master Singers (1)
   • MUS 1652 Perimeter College Chorus (1)
   • MUS 1654 Perimeter College Wind Ensemble (1)
   • MUS 1656 DeKalb Symphony Orchestra (1)
   • MUS 1754 Perimeter College Jazz Lab Band (1)
   • MUS 1756 Perimeter College Jazz Ensemble (1)
   • MUS 1758 Perimeter College Chamber Ensembles (1)
     * Ensembles: please not that students are assigned to appropriate ensembles by pool auditions at the beginning of every fall and spring semester.
3. Group Piano (2)
   • MUS 1710 Group Instruction in Piano I (1)
   • MUS 1720 Group Instruction in Piano II (1)
4. Applied Lessons (four semesters) (4):
   • APXX 1001 Applied Music (1)
   • APXX 1002 Applied Music (1)
   • APXX 2001 Applied Music (1)
   • APXX 2002 Applied Music (1)

Area G: Major Courses (67)

1. Performance Requirements (14)*
   • APXX 3001 Applied Music — Junior I (1)
   • APXX 3002 Applied Music — Junior II (1)
   • APXX 4001 Applied Music — Senior I (1)
   • MUS 4010 Performance Laboratory (0) (7 semesters)
   • MUS 3000 Recital I (0) (optional)
   • MUS 30XX Appropriate large ensemble (1) (3 semesters)
     • *Note: MUS 3071 Collaborative Piano (1) may be substituted for one semester of large ensemble.
   • MUS 2710 Group Instruction in Piano III (1)
   • MUS 2720 Group Instruction in Piano IV (1)
   • MUS 2490 Basic Conducting (2)
   • MUS 4480 Choral Conducting (2)
   • Select one:
     • MUS 1730 or MUS 1740 Group Instruction in Voice I or II (2)
     • MUS 4440 Vocal Pedagogy (2)
     • APXX 1000 Applied Music (2 semesters) (2)
2. Theory/Composition Requirements (8)
   • MUS 2440 Theory III (3)
   • MUS 2450 Theory IV (3)
   • MUS 2540 Aural Skills III (1)
   • MUS 2550 Aural Skills IV (1)
3. Music History & Literature Requirement (6)
   • MUS 4800 Music History Antiquity to Baroque (3)
   • MUS 4820 World Music-CTW (3)
4. Music Education Requirements (24). Students must earn a grade of B or higher in these courses.
   • MUS 3310 Introduction to Music Education (3)
   • MUS 3320 General Music in Early Childhood (3)
   • MUS 3330 General Music in Middle and Secondary Schools (3)
   • MUS 3340 Choral Music in the Schools (3)
   • MUS 4260 Practicum in Music Education (3)
   • MUS 4270 (TE) Student Teaching in Music (6)
   • MUS 4290 (TE) Senior Seminar in Music Education (3)
   • MUS 4650 (TE) Opening School Experience (0)
5. Professional Education Requirements (12)
   • EDUC 2110 Investigating Critical & Contemporary Issues in Education (3)
   • EDUC 2120 Exploring Socio-Cultural Perspectives on Diversity in Educational Contexts (3)
   • EDUC 2130 Exploring Learning & Teaching (3)
   • EXC 4020 Characteristics and Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities (3)
6. Choose (3) credit hours to complete a minimum of 127 hours from the following:
   • MUS 1710 Group Instruction in Piano I (1)
   • MUS 1720 Group Instruction in Piano II (1)
   • MUS 2780 Beginning Jazz Improvisation (1)
   • MUS 3010 Basic Improvisation (1)
   • MUS 4110 Instrumentation and Orchestration (3)
   • MUS 4140 Arranging for Chorus (1)
   • MUS 4450 Advanced Tonal Analysis (3)
   • MUS 4460 Analysis of Post-Tonal Music (3)
   • MUS 4730 Computer Applications in Music (2)
   • MUS 4810 Music History Classical to Present-CTW (3)

Music Education Concentration, Emphasis in Instrumental

Area F: Courses Related to the Major (18)

1. Required Courses (8)
   • MUS 1440 Theory I (3)
   • MUS 1450 Theory II (3)
   • MUS 1540 Aural Skills I (1)
   • MUS 1550 Aural Skills II (1)
2. MUS 10XX Appropriate large ensemble (4) (4 semesters, 1 credit each)*
   • MUS 1060 Wind Ensemble (1)
   • MUS 1061 Wind Orchestra (1)
   • MUS 1062 Concert Band (1)
   • MUS 1070 Orchestra (1)
   • MUS 1080 Men’s Chorus (1)
   • MUS 1080A University Singers (1)
   • MUS 1081 Choral Union (1)
   • MUS 1082 Women’s Chorus (1)
   • MUS 1083 Master Singers (1)
   • MUS 1652 Perimeter College Chorus (1)
   • MUS 1654 Perimeter College Wind Ensemble (1)
   • MUS 1656 DeKalb Symphony Orchestra (1)
   • MUS 1754 Perimeter College Jazz Lab Band (1)
   • MUS 1756 Perimeter College Jazz Ensemble (1)
   • MUS 1758 Perimeter College Chamber Ensembles (1)
     * Ensembles: please note that students are assigned to appropriate ensembles by pool auditions at the beginning of every fall and spring semester.
3. Group Piano (2)
   • MUS 1710 Group Instruction in Piano I (1)
   • MUS 1720 Group Instruction in Piano II (1)
4. Applied Lessons (four semesters) (4):
   • APXX 1001 Applied Music (1)
   • APXX 1002 Applied Music (1)
   • APXX 2001 Applied Music (1)
   • APXX 2002 Applied Music (1)

 

Applicants to the School of Music are automatically considered for talent-based scholarships. Program fees include locker, laboratory, and recital expenses associated with certain programs, classes and degree requirements. Students registering for an Applied Music course will be charged an Applied Music fee. For each 1000-level Applied Music course, a $200.00 fee will be charged. For other Applied Music courses, a $350.00 fee will be charged.

The School of Music provides unparalleled opportunities to study and work among an inspiring community of musicians in one of America’s most vibrant urban centers. Students receive exceptional training, are provided with meaningful opportunities and begin serious careers no matter what type of music drives their passion. The goals and outcomes from a graduate degree include:

• Ensuring comprehensive exposure to an array of perspectives as represented by the various faculty approaches to music performance, music history, music theory and teaching styles.
• Honoring the continuing traditions of music-making and pedagogy while exploring new forms and contemporary issues within the various musical fields.
• Developing pedagogical skills and strategies through teaching assistantships for undergraduate-level courses.
• Preparing students for a professional career in music through rigorous performance preparation, exposure to important repertoire and attention to practical business aspects of various musical careers.