Music

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Address:  102 Thomas Fine Arts
Phone:  906-227-2563
Fax:  906-227-2165
Web Address:  https://nmu.edu/music/
Department Email:  music@nmu.edu

Music at NMU

The NMU Department of Music prepares music majors for professional careers in music. The department also provides instruction in music for minors and non-majors, and musical performances by students and faculty. By these means, the department provides artistic and cultural enrichment for the university and the surrounding community (2009, NMU Board of Trustees).

The Department of Music is NMU’s resource for those seeking a comprehensive music education and for all who wish to enrich their lives through involvement in, and enjoyment of music. Its academic purpose is to advance the university’s mission by providing undergraduate programs for professional training in music, studies in music as a liberal art, and opportunities for the general university student in applied study, music courses, and ensemble performance. On a broader level, it exists to enrich the present culture, preserve artistic heritage, and facilitate the emergence of new creative expressions. The Department pursues these purposes through the following goals:

•Provide undergraduate programs and curricula of the highest quality for students aspiring to careers in music and music education.

•Provide non-majors with opportunities to explore musical interests and develop musical skills and knowledge.

•Contribute to the cultural enrichment of the university, community, and region through concerts, recitals, guest artists, and educational offerings, as well as through faculty scholarship in teaching and performing, and conducting.

•Support public school music education through outreach to schools, advocacy for the arts, and campus events, including festivals, teacher in-service, summer music camps, and other offerings.

•Maintain a positive teaching, learning, and artistic environment that attracts and retains a high-quality and diverse student body and faculty.

•Enhance the life of the university community through service performances at commencement, athletic events, and other university occasions.

The department offers two undergraduate degrees-Bachelor of Music Education (Vocal or Instrumental), and Bachelor of Arts/Science with a Major in Music. Non-majors may also pursue a 16-credit music minor.

The department provides opportunities for music instruction and performance to all students and the general public. Lessons, classes, and ensembles are open to non-majors. A schedule of ensemble concerts, student and faculty recitals, guest artist performances, and educational events is offered each semester. The department fosters public school music education first of all by graduating high-quality music educators, hosting festivals and camps, providing in-service education for teachers, and by sending faculty and ensembles out to schools to perform and teach. The department serves the university through the marching band (home football games and other campus functions) and pep bands (hockey and women’s basketball games), by arranging student and faculty musical performances for university events, and by co-sponsoring cultural activities with other academic departments.

Northern Michigan University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

Ensembles and Student Organizations

• University Orchestra
• Symphonic Band
• Wind Ensemble
• Marching Band
• Jazz Band
• University Choir
• Arts Chorale
• Opera Theatre Workshop
• Chamber Ensembles
• Pep Band
• NAfME (National Association for Music Education)
• NMU ACDA (American Choral Directors Association - Student Chapter)
• NMU Friends of Jazz (NMU Student Organization)
• Mu Beta Psi (Music Fraternity)

Department Facilities

The department is housed in the Russell Thomas Fine Arts building (TFA), which serves as the instructional and rehearsal facility. In addition to classrooms and faculty studios, this building also has 28 individual practice rooms, two large rehearsal halls (instrumental and choral), and an electronic piano lab. Recitals and concerts are performed in the 303-seat Reynolds Recital Hall (in the Hedgcock Building), which houses a Walker digital organ and two Steinway grand pianos (9-foot Model D, and 7-foot Model B).

Department/Program Policies

Entrance Requirements

Students must meet all entrance audition requirements (as outlined on the Department of Music website - https://nmu.edu/music/auditions) in order to major in music. Please contact the department directly for detailed information.

Performance Requirements

A classification system defines four performance levels. All entering freshmen and transfer students who have had no previous university-level performance study are assigned to the 100 performance level. All transfer students with previous university-level performance study are auditioned and assigned the 100 performance level until completing the departmental proficiency exams.

The performance regulations are as follows:

A classification system defines three performance levels. All entering freshmen and transfer students are assigned to the 100-level.

1. Each student in the Bachelor of Music Education program must complete a minimum of seven credits of performance study, and must be promoted to the 300-level before enrolling in  MU 490 - Senior Recital .
2. Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree must complete a minimum of four credits of performance study, and must be promoted to the 300-level before enrolling in  MU 491 - Senior Project .
3. Lessons at any performance level may be repeated for credit any number of times.
4. Students take performance lessons and ensembles in their major performing area to satisfy the performance requirement. Students electing a double major must meet the requirements of both areas they select, including ensemble requirements.

Double performance classes in a single instrument or voice may be necessary for transfer students to make up deficiencies or to qualify for requirements. (See the Music Department Student Handbook.)

Generally, students study in their major performing area to satisfy the performance requirement. Students electing a double major must meet the requirements of areas they select, including ensemble requirements.

Grade Point Average Requirements

All music curriculum core courses must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher. A student can have no more than five repeats of “failed” courses in the music major or minor.

A minimum grade point average of 3.00 is required for the Bachelor of Music Education degree, and all candidates are required to satisfy all of the teacher selection and retention standards outlined in the School of Education section of this catalog.

A minimum grade point average of 2.70 is required for the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees.

Piano Level Requirements

Instrumental majors must complete Class Piano 2 (MU 106 ) with a grade of “C” or higher, or test out of this requirement (equivalent to the final exam in Class Piano 2). Choral majors must pass Class Piano 3 (MU 140 ) or test out of this requirement (equivalent to the final exam in Class Piano 3).

Large and Small Ensemble Requirements

Music majors are required to participate in a large ensemble appropriate for their area of specialization (as specified by the faculty) during every semester. Large ensembles include marching band, symphonic band, wind ensemble, jazz band, university choir, arts chorale, Marquette Choral Society (with approval of vocal faculty), and university orchestra. Wind, brass, and percussion majors in the Bachelor of Music Education curriculum are required to enroll in marching band for a minimum of two semesters during the course of their degree. Exceptions must be approved by the student’s primary lesson instructor, the appropriate ensemble conductors, and the Department Head.

Ensembles are all .5 credit classes. Most music majors participate in multiple ensembles in any given semester. Majors may audition for the ensembles of their choice, but the faculty reserves the right to assign students to ensembles or limit participation in order to maintain balance in sections, broaden a given student’s performing experience, or prevent over-commitment. The ensemble directors, performance teacher, and student will discuss pertinent issues and may confer with Department Head as needed.

Additional Requirements

Piano majors who elect the choral specialization must take MU 170 - Class Voice  (or vocal performance lessons for a minimum of one semester).

All music majors must reserve 1-2 p.m. Fridays for the Department of Music Forum. This zero-credit course features student recitals, seminars and studio classes, and it also provides a mechanism for grading required concert attendance.

Programs

• Music Major

• Secondary Education K-12 Music Major

• Music Minor

Courses

• MU 001 - Music Forum/Concert Attendance
• MU 101 - Theory 1
• MU 102 - Aural Skills 1
• MU 103 - Class Piano 1
• MU 104 - Theory 2
• MU 105 - Aural Skills 2
• MU 106 - Class Piano 2
• MU 108 - Arts Chorale
• MU 108A - Arts Chorale
• MU 111 - University Choir
• MU 111A - University Choir
• MU 112 - Marquette Choral Society
• MU 112A - Marquette Choral Society
• MU 113 - Symphonic Band
• MU 113A - Symphonic Band
• MU 114 - Marching Band
• MU 114A - Marching Band
• MU 115 - Wind Ensemble
• MU 115A - Wind Ensemble
• MU 116 - University Orchestra
• MU 116A - University Orchestra
• MU 117 - Jazz Band
• MU 117A - Jazz Band
• MU 118 - Chamber Ensemble
• MU 118A - Chamber Ensemble
• MU 120 - Percussion Ensemble
• MU 120A - Percussion Ensemble
• MU 122 - Jazz Improvisation
• MU 125 - Music in Society [HUME]
• MU 127 - The Beatles: Their Music, Their Times [HUME]
• MU 128 - Musical Notation Software
• MU 130 - Introduction to Rock Music [HUME]
• MU 131 - Performance 1
• MU 140 - Class Piano 3
• MU 141 - Performance 1
• MU 141H - Performance 1
• MU 142 - Class Piano 4
• MU 143 - Secondary Instrumental Methods
• MU 145 - Introduction to Music Literature [HUME]
• MU 146 - Classroom Instruments
• MU 148 - Elementary Guitar Class
• MU 149 - Music in the Elementary School
• MU 150 - Percussion Class
• MU 151 - Performance 1
• MU 161 - Performance 1
• MU 161G - Contemporary Guitar
• MU 170 - Class Voice
• MU 171 - Performance 1
• MU 172 - Diction for Singers
• MU 174 - Opera Theatre Workshop
• MU 181 - Performance 1
• MU 186 - Composition/Arranging Lessons
• MU 188 - Conducting Lessons
• MU 201 - Theory 3
• MU 202 - Aural Skills 3
• MU 204 - Theory 4
• MU 208 - Conducting 1
• MU 209 - Conducting 2
• MU 210 - Aural Skills 4
• MU 211 - Orchestration and Arranging
• MU 212 - Choral Methods
• MU 218 - Introduction to Music Education
• MU 222 - Basic Jazz Improvisation
• MU 230H - High Brass Class
• MU 230L - Low Brass Class
• MU 231 - Performance 2
• MU 241 - Performance 2
• MU 251 - Performance 2
• MU 260L - Lower Strings Class
• MU 260U - Upper Strings Class
• MU 261 - Performance 2
• MU 261G - Contemporary Guitar 2
• MU 265 - Piano Pedagogy
• MU 271 - Performance 2
• MU 280D - Double Reeds Class
• MU 280F - Flute Class
• MU 280S - Single Reeds Class
• MU 281 - Performance 2
• MU 290 - Body Mapping for Musicians
• MU 295 - Special Topics in Music
• MU 298 - Directed Studies in Music
• MU 301 - Music History 1
• MU 302 - Music History 2
• MU 303 - Music History 3
• MU 304 - Form and Analysis
• MU 320 - Survey of Jazz, from its Origins to the Present [HUME]
• MU 325 - World Music [HUME] [GCIT]
• MU 331 - Performance 3
• MU 341 - Performance 3
• MU 345A - Marching Band Practicum
• MU 345B - Symphonic Band Practicum
• MU 349 - Methods and Materials in Music Education/Elementary
• MU 350 - Methods and Materials in Music Education/Secondary
• MU 351 - Performance 3
• MU 361 - Performance 3
• MU 361G - Contemporary Guitar 3
• MU 371 - Performance 3
• MU 381 - Performance 3
• MU 490 - Senior Recital
• MU 491 - Senior Project
• MU 492 - Internships in Music Entrepreneurship, Music Management and Marketing

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