Major and Minor Requirements
At Carthage, students can major or minor in music. Students who choose to major in music may pursue an emphasis in choral or instrumental music education, church music, performance, piano pedagogy, music theatre, or jazz studies. Please see requirements for the major, minor and each emphasis below.
Please note: Current students should follow the printed version of the College Catalog, and work with their advisors and the department chair to ensure all requirements are met.
Music Major & Minor
Emphases in Music
Music Theatre Major
Recitals
Applied Music
Honors in the Major
Music Major & Minor
Major in Music
An audition before members of the music faculty is required for entrance into the music major. At the end of their sophomore year, all music majors are evaluated for junior standing. They must show they have fulfilled repertoire requirements in their performance area through the sophomore year, and they must satisfactorily perform 15-20 minutes of music from that list. If this junior-standing jury is insufficient in either repertoire or performance, the faculty may admit the student provisionally to junior standing in the major, or advise the student to discontinue the music major.
A major in music consists of the following courses:
MUS 1010 Music Theory I (3 credits)
MUS 1020 Aural Skills I (1 credit)
MUS 1030 Music Theory II (3 credits)
MUS 1040 Aural Skills II (1 credit)
MUS 2010 Music Theory III (3 credits)
MUS 2020 Aural Skills III (1 credit)
MUS 2030 Music Theory IV (3 credits)
MUS 2040 Aural Skills IV (1 credit)
MUS 0160 Keyboard Skills I (1 credit)
MUS 0170 Keyboard Skills II (1 credit)
MUS 0180 Keyboard Skills III (1 credit)
MUS 0190 Keyboard Skills IV (1 credit)
MUS 3050 Music History I (4 credits)
MUS 3060 Music History II (4 credits)
MUS 400T Music History Depth Elective (4 credits)
MUS 0700 Recital Attendance (0 credits, 8 terms)
Music education emphasis students are exempt during the term in which they student-teach.
Applied Lessons in the principal area (8 credits, 1 credit each term)
Ensemble Participation (0 credits, 8 terms)
Music majors are placed in an approved ensemble in their principal performing area.
Total credits: 40
Minor in Music
The Music Department offers a minor in music. Its requirements are:
MUS 1010 Music Theory I (3 credits)
MUS 1020 Aural Skills I (1 credit)
MUS 1030 Music Theory II (3 credits)
MUS 1040 Aural Skills II (1 credit)
MUS 0700 Recital Attendance (0 credits, 4 terms)
MUS 2110 Introduction to Western Music History (4 credits)
Choose one:
MUS 3050 Music History I (4 credits)
MUS 3060 Music History II (4 credits)
Applied music lessons in the principal performance area (4 credits, 1 credit each term)
Ensemble participation (0 credits, 4 terms)
Music minors are placed in an approved ensemble in their principal performing area.
Total credits: 20
Emphases in Music
The requirements listed above represent the minimum requirements for a music major or minor. In addition to the basic Bachelor of Arts in Music, emphases in specific areas are available. The emphases in Music Education — Vocal and Instrumental — meet current Wisconsin licensure requirements and they also meet the standards of the National Association of Schools of Music.
For students who seek further depth and skills development, emphases are also available in Vocal Performance, Instrumental Performance, Church Music, Piano Pedagogy and Jazz Studies. An interdisciplinary major in Music Theatre is also offered by the department.
Emphases in Music Education
Emphasis in Vocal Music Education
Emphasis in Instrumental Music Education
Emphasis in Church Music
Emphasis in Vocal Performance
Emphasis in Instrumental Performance
Emphasis in Piano Pedagogy
Emphasis in Music Theatre
Emphasis in Jazz Studies
Emphases in Music Education
Carthage offers an emphasis that meets licensure requirements in both vocal and instrumental areas. In addition to the information regarding the emphases listed below, students should also consult the Education Department section of the Carthage College catalog for information about the Teacher Licensure Program and information about courses required of all special fields licensure candidates.
In addition to the core music major, the following courses are required of students pursuing an emphasis in Vocal Music Education:
MUS 1180 Introduction to Music Education (2 credits)
MUS 2090 Global Music Education (2 credits)
MUS 2180 Basic Conducting (2 credits)
MUS 3110 Choral Conducting (2 credits)
MUS 3140 Learning About Instruments (1 credit)
MUS 3200 Field Experience (0 credits)
MUS 4210 General Music Methods (4 credits)
MUS 4220 Vocal Music Methods (4 credits)
Satisfactory half recital (0 credits)
Additional notes: If voice is not the principal performing area, at least two credits of applied music must be in voice.
Total additional credits for an emphasis in Vocal Music Education: 17
In addition to the core music major, the following courses are required of students pursuing an emphasis in Instrumental Music Education:
MUS 1180 Introduction to Music Education (2 credits)
MUS 2050 Woodwind Techniques (1 credit)
MUS 2060 Brass Techniques (1 credit)
MUS 2070 Percussion Techniques (1 credit)
MUS 2080 String Techniques (1 credit)
MUS 2090 Global Music Education (2 credits)
MUS 2180 Basic Conducting (2 credits)
MUS 3100 Instrumental Conducting (2 credits)
MUS 3200 Field Experience (0 credits)
MUS 4210 General Music Methods (4 credits)
MUS 4200 Instrumental Music Methods (4 credits)
Satisfactory half recital (0 credits)
Choral ensemble participation (0 credits, 1 term)
Total additional credits for an emphasis in Instrumental Music Education: 20
Emphasis in Church Music
In addition to the core music major, the following courses are required of students pursuing an emphasis in church music:
MUS 2180 Basic Conducting (2 credits)
MUS 3040 Hymnology (2 credits)
MUS 3080 Liturgics (2 credits)
MUS 3090 Church Music Program (2 credits)
MUS 3110 Choral Conducting (2 credits)
MUS 3130 Choral Literature (2 credits)
MUS 3150 Service Playing and Improvisation I (1 credit)
MUS 3160 Service Playing and Improvisation II (1 credit)
MUS 4030 Practicum in Church Music (2 credits)
Full senior recital (thesis) (0 credits)
Total additional credits for an emphasis in Church Music: 16
Emphasis in Vocal Performance
In addition to the core music major, the following courses are required of students pursuing an emphasis in Vocal Performance:
MUS 2180 Basic Conducting (2 credits)
MUS 400T Vocal Pedagogy (2 credits)
MUS 2490 Vocal Diction and Literature (4 credits)
MUS 2210 Opera (4 credits)
Additional applied lessons in the principal performance area (4 credits)
Satisfactory half recital (0 credits)
Satisfactory full recital (0 credits)
Additional notes: Students in the vocal performance track are strongly encouraged to participate in the opera lab class and J-Term opera productions. Electives in acting and dance are strongly encouraged.
Total additional credits for an emphasis in Vocal Performance: 16
Emphasis in Instrumental Performance
In addition to the core music major, the following courses are required of students pursuing an emphasis in Instrumental Performance:
MUS 2180 Basic Conducting (2 credits)
MUS 3010 Form and Analysis (2 credits)
MUS 400T Pedagogy in Performing Area (4 credits)
MUS 2000 Symphonic Literature (4 credits)
Additional applied lessons in the principal performance area (4 credits)
Satisfactory half recital (0 credits)
Satisfactory full recital (0 credits)
Total additional credits for an emphasis in Instrumental Performance: 16
Emphasis in Piano Pedagogy
In addition to the core music major, the following courses are required of students pursuing an emphasis in piano pedagogy:
MUS 2180 Basic Conducting (2 credits)
MUS 2510 Piano Pedagogy and Literature I (2 credits)
MUS 2520 Piano Pedagogy and Literature II (2 credits)
MUS 3510 Practicum in Piano Pedagogy (2 credits, 1 credit each term)
MUS 4100 Piano Literature (4 credits)
Additional applied lessons in principal performing area (4 credits)
Satisfactory full recital (0 credits)
Total additional credits required for an emphasis in Piano Pedagogy: 16
Emphasis in Jazz Studies
In addition to the core music major, the following courses are required of students pursuing an emphasis in jazz studies:
MUS 2180 Basic Conducting (2 credits)
MUS 0080 or 0090 Jazz Ensemble or Jazz Combo (0-4 credits, 4 terms)
MUS 3170 Jazz Arranging I (2 credits)
MUS 3180 Jazz Arranging II (2 credits)
MUS 2130 Jazz Improvisation I (1 credit)
MUS 2140 Jazz Improvisation II (1 credit)
Satisfactory full recital (0 credits)
Total additional credits for an emphasis in jazz studies: 12-16
Music Theatre Major
The Carthage Music Department houses the music theatre major, which includes courses in music, theatre and dance. Students who intend to major in music theatre must pass an entrance audition for both the music and theatre departments. The following courses comprise the Bachelor of Arts in music theatre:
MUS 1010 Music Theory I (3 credits)
MUS 1020 Aural Skills I (1 credit)
MUS 1030 Music Theory II (3 credits)
MUS 1040 Aural Skills II (1 credit)
MUS 2110 Introduction to Western Music History (4 credits)
MUS/THR 3400 Music Theatre History (4 credits)
MUS 0250 Private Voice (1 credit each term, 8 terms)
MUS 0160 Keyboard Skills (1 credit)
MUS 0170 Keyboard Skills (1 credit)
MUS 0180 Keyboard Skills (1 credit)
MUS 0190 Keyboard Skills (1 credit)
MUS 0010, 0020, 0030 or 0240 Ensemble Participation for four terms (0-8 credits)
MUS 0700 Recital Attendance (0 credits, 4 terms)
MUS/THR 2620 Music Theatre Workshop (0-8 credits, 4 terms)
THR/EXS Applied Dance Electives (4 credits, 1 credit each term)
THR 2110 Acting I (4 credits)
THR 3110 Acting II (4 credits)
THR 2900 Play Reading and Analysis (4 credits)
THR 2910 Play Production I (4 credits)
THR 2920 Play Production II (4 credits)
Either:
THR 2260, 2270, or 2280 History of Theatre (4 credits)
Total credits for a Bachelor of Arts degree in music theatre: 56
Recitals
Applied music students have opportunities nearly every week to participate in regular recitals, either within each studio or in department-wide recitals that feature students from all the performing areas. The department believes these recitals are important in broadening students' experience with live music and in expanding their knowledge of solo literature, and requires all who study applied music to attend them.
Students in the performance emphases must perform in studio and departmental recitals and must present two satisfactory solo recitals. Normally, they give a half-hour recital in the junior year and a full-hour recital in the senior year. Students in the church music emphasis give a full recital, traditionally during the senior year. Students in the music education emphasis give one half recital in the junior or senior year. All recitals are presented only with permission of the music faculty, following a pre-recital jury. In order to satisfy the recital requirements of each emphasis, recitals must include an interesting and representative program and demonstrate a high level of performing competency.
Applied Music
The Music Department offers private and class instruction in applied music to music majors and minors, and within limitations of staff, to non-music majors as well. Music majors must take their applied music lessons within the Music Department unless the department approves an exception. Outstanding students, normally music majors completing an emphasis in performance, may elect two private lessons per week in one applied area.
Areas:
Class Lessons
MUS 0160 Keyboard Skills I (1 credit)
MUS 0170 Keyboard Skills II (1 credit)
MUS 0180 Keyboard Skills III (1 credit)
MUS 0190 Keyboard Skills IV (1 credit)
MUS 0200 Class Voice (1 credit)
MUS 0210 Class Guitar (1 credit)
Private Lessons (may be repeated)
MUS 0150 Private Piano (1 credit)
MUS 0250 Private Voice (1 credit)
MUS 0450 Private Organ (1 credit)
MUS 0550 Private Instrument (1 credit)
MUS 0650 Private Conducting (1 credit)
Honors in the Major
The Carthage Music Department offer music majors the opportunity to graduate with honors in the major. Please see department chair for details.
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