Music Division (Undergraduate)

Return to: School of the Arts

Go to Programs and Course Listings

Faculty

Joel S. Davis, Chair, Professor
Philip L. Copeland, Professor
Grant B. Dalton, Professor
Brad M. Diamond, Professor
Kristin Kenning, Professor; Director, Samford Opera
Mark A. Lackey, Professor
Sharon L. Lawhon, Professor
Brian B. Viliunas, Professor
Michael W. Averett, Associate Professor; Director, Graduate Studies
M. Elizabeth (Beth) McGinnis, Associate Professor
Morgan C. Soja, Associate Professor
Cindy St. Clair, Associate Professor
Emily Snider Andrews, Assistant Professor
Theodore L. Metz, Assistant Professor
Steven A. Potaczek, Assistant Professor
Jonathan P. Rodgers, Assistant Professor
Christopher J. Withrow, Assistant Professor
Joshua M. Gillen, Visiting Assistant Professor

Mission

The Division of Music is preparing musicians to enrich society through a diligent pursuit of excellence.

General Information

Music study at Samford University is essentially a threefold program, including training in basic musicianship, training in specialized professional areas, and studies in the liberal arts. The core of the program is musicianship-continuous study in music performance, including solo and ensemble experiences, along with extensive work in music theory and history. In specialized areas, such as teacher training, commercial music, composition, and music and worship, requirements include training and experiences in the special skills and knowledge appropriate to the respective degree program to equip the graduate to function effectively on the professional level. The liberal arts requirements contribute to the breadth of knowledge appropriate for the professional musician.

In addition to the academic programs, a wide variety of ensembles offer opportunities to both music and non-music majors for meaningful experiences in music making. University ensembles include A Cappella Choir, University Chorale, Samford Opera, Opera Workshop, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Commercial Music Ensemble, Samford Worship Collective, and numerous chamber ensembles.

Accreditation

The Division of Music in the School of the Arts is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the teacher education program is accredited by the Alabama State Department of Education.

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors
Commercial Music Major (B.A.)  with a required concentration in one of the following:
          Music Industry, Music Production, Performance, or Songwriting
Composition Major (B.M.) 
Music Major (B.A.)   
Music Major (B.S.) 
Music Major (B.M.E.) with a required concentration in Instrumental Music  or Vocal/Choral Music 
Music and Worship Major (B.M.) 
Performance: Instrumental Music Major (B.M.) 
Performance: Organ Major (B.M.) 
Performance: Piano Major (B.M.) 
Performance: Piano Major w/Pedagogy Emphasis (B.M.) 
Performance: Voice Major (B.M.) 
Worship Leadership Major (B.A.)  with a required concentration in one of the following:
          Ministry, Songwriting for Worship, or Worship Production

Minors
Commercial Music Minor  
Music Minor  

Interdisciplinary Minor
Worship Leadership Minor *
_______________________________________________________
The Division of Music offers undergraduate programs that meet requirements for the bachelor of arts (commercial music, music, worship leadership), the bachelor of science (music), the bachelor of music (composition; music and worship; performance in instrumental music, organ, piano, piano pedagogy, voice), and the bachelor of music education (music). The music division also offers minors in commercial music, music, as well as the interdisciplinary worship leadership minor.*
———-
*The worship leadership minor is offered in cooperation with the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies .

Student Objectives

Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Music: This degree empowers students to become musicians with artistic, technological, and entrepreneurial skills to thrive in the 21st century. Students choose from one of four unique concentrations within commercial music: music industry, music production, performance, and songwriting. Each concentration aims to instill and foster a do-it-yourself attitude necessary for any entrepreneurial musician, while offering a unique approach to the commercial music industry.

Bachelor of Arts in Music: This degree is designed for students desiring to major in music within the framework of a liberal arts degree. The degree is intended to serve the needs of undergraduate students who are interested in a broad program of general studies and who wish also to develop their musical skills and knowledge.

Bachelor of Arts in Worship Leadership: This degree is designed for students committed to worship ministry in the church and parachurch organizations. Students choose from one of three concentrations: ministry, songwriting for worship, or worship production. Coursework emphasizes the practices of Christian worship and ministry. Upon graduation, students are equipped to pursue full-time worship ministry positions in church and parachurch organizations or graduate studies. 

Bachelor of Music in Composition: This degree is designed for students pursuing a career in the field of music theory and/or composition. Most students in this field continue their study with graduate-level work in the discipline.

Bachelor of Music in Music and Worship: This degree is designed for students committed to vocational music and worship ministry. The program includes coursework in music, worship, ministry, and biblical and religious studies, and a supervised experience in a congregational setting.

Bachelor of Music in Performance: These degrees (instrumental music, organ, piano, and voice) are designed for students highly motivated toward excellence in performance. The student combines studies in basic musicianship and music history with concentrated emphasis in the major performance area.

Bachelor of Music in Performance: Piano with Emphasis in Piano Pedagogy: This degree is designed for piano majors who have a strong interest in teaching as well as performance.

Bachelor of Music Education in Music: This degree (with concentration options of instrumental music and vocal/choral music) is designed for students who wish to prepare for a career as a K-12 music educator and leads to the Alabama Class B teaching certificate. Practical experiences in teaching music are provided in the greater Birmingham area.

Bachelor of Science in Music: This degree is designed for students who would like to combine pre-medical studies with concentrated studies in music.

Admission Policies

Students desiring to major or minor in music must be admitted to the Division of Music in addition to gaining admission to the University. All prospective music majors and music minors must audition in their principal performance area(s) and take a music placement examination. If not admitted, a student may re-audition. A maximum of two (2) auditions is allowed in a single performance area. Non-keyboard majors must also complete a piano placement.

Appointments for auditions and placement examinations will be scheduled upon receipt of School of the Arts application materials, which can be obtained by contacting the Arts Recruiter. Students will be notified of the results of the auditions and will be admitted for registration as music majors only if they have acceptance notices sent by the dean of the School of the Arts and/or the chair of the Music Division.

Transfer students desiring to major in music must audition in the principal performance area(s) and take a placement examination in music theory and piano to determine both acceptance and transfer of credit. Transfer of credit for other music courses is determined by either placement examinations or review of the student’s previous work in an equivalent course.

Non-music majors desiring instruction in applied music may register for private or group instruction only with the permission of the chair.

Grade Restrictions

No grade below C- in music courses (COMU, MUSA, MUSC, WRLD) which are required for any Music Division major or minor will count toward fulfillment of degree requirements.

Recital Requirements

All students seeking a degree in music must present a half-hour degree recital (MUSC 4698 ). Composition and all performance majors have additional performance requirements associated with their SOA 470 (Senior Project: Music)  enrollment. Consult your advisor for details.

Ensembles

Students with an undergraduate major in music must fulfill all ensemble requirements set forth in their degree program. At Samford University the following groups are defined as major ensembles: A Cappella Choir, University Chorale, Commercial Music Ensemble, Musical Theatre Ensemble, Samford Opera, Opera Workshop, Orchestra, Samford Worship Collective, Wind Ensemble, and Marching Band.

The following guidelines also apply:

1. All keyboard principals* must fulfill two of the required major ensemble credits by taking MUSC 1740 (Instrumental Collaboration)  for two semesters. Keyboard principals may fulfill two additional credits of major ensemble requirements by taking two additional credits of MUSC 1740 .

2. All voice principals must take at least four semesters of a major choral ensemble. Voice performance majors must also take a minimum of two semesters of Samford Opera or Opera Workshop.

3. For instrumental principals, all required ensembles must be in the instrumental area.  Additionally, instrumental performance majors must also take two semesters of chamber ensemble.

4. B.A. in worship leadership and B.M. in music and worship majors, regardless of principal performance area, must take at least two semesters of choral ensemble.

5. B.A. in commercial music majors may fulfill up to one credit of ensemble requirements by taking an approved chamber ensemble.

———-

*Keyboard principals include organ, piano, and piano pedagogy majors, plus music majors (B.A. or B.S.) and music and worship majors who choose a keyboard concentration. This also includes any music division major whose Principal Performance Area is piano or organ.

Piano Proficiency

In order to graduate, all non-keyboard majors must complete the piano proficiency examination, unless otherwise stated in their degree requirements. Such students must enroll for piano study each semester until the piano proficiency examination has been passed. All degree candidates must complete piano proficiency requirements before enrolling in a senior recital. Music education majors must complete all piano proficiency requirements before enrolling for student teaching.

Upper-Level Status

Each music major will be evaluated for approval for upper-level status at the end of two years of music study. Consult the Division of Music Manual for Undergraduate Studies for more details.

Performance

One of the most important aspects of a music major’s educational experience is the area of performance. The requirements for number of credits in performance appear in the curricular tables for the various degrees in music.

Progression Policy for Bachelor of Music Education

Once admitted into the bachelor of music education program with a major in music, a 3.00 GPA requirement must be maintained in all areas: cumulative, major courses, and education courses. These GPA requirements also pertain to graduation and certification.

General Education: University Core Curriculum and Distribution Requirements

General Education Distribution Requirements are noted in the individual degree tables. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, see General Education Overview  in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses.

Programs

• Commercial Music Major (B.A.)
• Composition Major (B.M.)
• Music and Worship Major (B.M.)
• Music Major (B.A.)
• Music Major (B.S.)
• Music Major: Instrumental Music Concentration (B.M.E.)
• Music Major: Vocal/Choral Music Concentration (B.M.E.)
• Performance: Instrumental Music Major (B.M.)
• Performance: Organ Major (B.M.)
• Performance: Piano Major (B.M.)
• Performance: Piano Major w/Pedagogy Emphasis (B.M.)
• Performance: Voice Major (B.M.)
• Worship Leadership Major (B.A.)

• Commercial Music Minor
• Music Minor
• Worship Leadership Minor

Courses

• COMU 1810 - Introduction to Music Industry (3)
• COMU 1820 - Music Industry Revenue Streams (3)
• COMU 1970 - Special Topics in Commercial Music (3)
• COMU 2500 - Introduction to Music Technology (3)
• COMU 2501 - Live Sound Technology and Production I (3)
• COMU 2502 - Live Sound Technology and Production II (3)
• COMU 2830 - Recording Techniques I (3)
• COMU 2835 - Recording Techniques II (3)
• COMU 2840 - American Popular Music (3)
• COMU 2850 - Songwriting (3)
• COMU 3470 - Commercial Music Career Development (3)
• COMU 3860 - Music Production (2)
• COMU 3865 - Live Performance and Touring (2)
• MUSC 0080 - Commercial Music Seminar (0)

• MUSA 2160 - Composition (1)
• MUSA 2260 - Composition (2)
• MUSA 2360 - Composition (3)
• MUSA 3160 - Composition (1)
• MUSA 3260 - Composition (2)
• MUSA 3360 - Composition (3)
• MUSA 4160 - Composition (1)
• MUSA 4260 - Composition (2)
• MUSA 4360 - Composition (3)
• MUSC 1560 - Introduction to Composition (2)
• MUSC 4560 - Independent Composition Project (1)
• MUSC 4599 - Senior Composition Recital (0)

• MUSC 1200 - Basic Conducting (2)
• MUSC 3220 - Choral Conducting (2)
• MUSC 3230 - Instrumental Conducting (2)

• MUSC 3151 - Service Playing I (1)
• MUSC 3152 - Service Playing II (1)

• MUSC 1310 - Foundations of Music Education (2)
• MUSC 2331 - Marching Band Techniques (1)
• MUSC 3310 - Materials and Methods of Teaching Music in the Elementary Grades (3)
• MUSC 3311 - Vocal Techniques (1)
• MUSC 3320 - Materials and Methods of Choral Music in the Secondary Grades (3)
• MUSC 3330 - Materials and Methods of Teaching Instrumental Music in the Secondary Grades (3)
• MUSC 3331 - Instrumental Techniques I (1)
• MUSC 3332 - Instrumental Techniques II (1)
• MUSC 3390 - Music Education Practicum (1)
• MUSC 4398 - Music Education Internship (1)
• MUSC 4399 - Student Teaching Grades P-12 (12)

• COMU 3404 - Global Music (3)
• MUSC 1600 - Purpose and Professionalism in Music (1)
• MUSC 1970 - Special Topics (0-3)
• MUSC 2400 - Introduction to Music Literature (2)
• MUSC 2412 - Musicology I: Music of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (2)
• MUSC 3423 - Musicology II: Music of the Baroque and Classic Eras (3)
• MUSC 3433 - Musicology III: Music of the 19th Century to the Present (3)
• MUSC 3970 - Special Topics (1-4)
• MUSC 4421 - Survey of Vocal Literature (2)
• MUSC 4422 - Survey of Choral Literature (2)
• MUSC 4430 - Survey of Symphonic Literature (2)
• MUSC 4440 - Survey of Piano Literature (2)
• MUSC 4450 - Survey of Organ Literature (2)

• MUSC 1500 - Music Fundamentals (3)
• MUSC 1510 - Theory I: The Syntax of Music (3)
• MUSC 1511 - Theory Lab I (1)
• MUSC 1520 - Theory II: Diatonic Harmonic Idioms (3)
• MUSC 1521 - Theory Lab II (1)
• MUSC 2530 - Theory III: Formal and Chromatic Expansion (3)
• MUSC 2531 - Theory Lab III (1)
• MUSC 2540 - Theory IV: Tonal and Post-Tonal Techniques and Materials (3)
• MUSC 2541 - Theory Lab IV (1)
• MUSC 2551 - Keyboard Harmony I (1)
• MUSC 2552 - Keyboard Harmony II (1)
• MUSC 3520 - Choral Arranging (2)
• MUSC 3530 - Orchestration (2)
• MUSC 3531 - Instrumental Arranging (2)
• MUSC 3560 - Theory V: Advanced Analysis (3)
• MUSC 4510 - Counterpoint (3)

• MUSA 0011 - Performance Lab (0)
• MUSC 0999 - Music Seminar/Recital Attendance (0)
• MUSC 1610 - Diction for Singers I (2)
• MUSC 1620 - Diction for Singers II (2)
• MUSC 2649 - Piano Proficiency (0)
• MUSC 4620 - Vocal Pedagogy (2)
• MUSC 4630 - Instrumental Pedagogy (1)
• MUSC 4640 - Piano Pedagogy I (2)
• MUSC 4641 - Piano Pedagogy Practicum I (2)
• MUSC 4643 - Piano Pedagogy II (2)
• MUSC 4644 - Piano Pedagogy Practicum II (2)
• MUSC 4650 - Organ Pedagogy (2)
• MUSC 4698 - Degree Recital (0)
• MUSC 4699 - Performance Recital (0-1)

• WRLD 0010 - Worship Leadership Forum (0)
• WRLD 2110 - Introduction to Worship Leadership (3)
• WRLD 2120 - Worship with All Generations (3)
• WRLD 2130 - Worship Leader Workshop (2)
• WRLD 2310 - Worship Technology and Production (3)
• WRLD 2501 - Live Sound Technology and Production I (3)
• WRLD 2502 - Live Sound Technology and Production II (3)
• WRLD 3130 - Singing the Faith (3)
• WRLD 3140 - Musical Practices in Worship (3)
• WRLD 3210 - The Arts in Christian Faith, Mission, and Worship (2)
• WRLD 3350 - Songwriting for Worship (3)
• WRLD 4140 - Worship Design (3)
• WRLD 4150 - Worship Leadership Practicum (2)
• WRLD 4160 - Senior Project: Worship Leadership (2)
• WRLD 4250 - Special Topics in Worship Studies (2)

The 1000-level courses are designated for the first four successful semesters of ensemble participation.

The 3000-level courses are designated for junior and senior music majors only.

• COMU 1785 - Commercial Music Chamber Ensemble (0-1)

Return to: School of the Arts