Music Division

Go to Undergraduate Music | Go to Graduate Music | Go to Programs and Course Listings | Go to Ensemble Requirements by Major

Faculty

Joseph Hopkins, Dean, Professor, Voice
Kathryn Fouse, Associate Dean for the Division of Music, Professor, Piano
Eric L. Mathis, Chair, Academic Studies in Music, Assistant Professor, Music and Worship
W. Randall Richardson, Chair, Performance Studies in Music, Professor, Voice
Demondrae Thurman, Director, Graduate Studies, Professor, Low Brass
Donald C. Sanders, Research Professor, Piano, Musicology
Sharon L. Lawhon, Professor, Voice
Ronald R. Shinn, Professor, Piano
Susanne Finch Burgess, Associate Professor, Music Education
Philip L. Copeland, Associate Professor, Choral Music
Grant B. Dalton, Associate Professor, Percussion
Jeffrey Z. Flaniken, Associate Professor, Violin
Joel Scott Davis, Assistant Professor, Music Theory, Composition
Brad Diamond, Assistant Professor, Voice
Kristin Kenning, Assistant Professor, Voice
Mark A. Lackey, Assistant Professor, Music Theory, Composition
Brian B. Viliunas, Assistant Professor, Clarinet
Emily Snider Andrews, Instructor, Music and Worship
Ryan A. Beach, Lecturer, Trumpet
Kenneth D. Berg, Jr., Lecturer, Choral Arranging
Richard F. Cassarino, Lecturer, String Bass
Allison Clough, Lecturer, Class Piano
William J. Dorroh, Lecturer, University Organist
Laura H. Doss, Lecturer, Voice
Angela M. Flaniken, Lecturer, Viola
Laura Beth Gable, Lecturer
Larry E. Hardin, Lecturer, Music Education
Barbara K. Harrington, Lecturer, Flute
Judith S. Hicks, Lecturer, Harp
W. Michael Huebner, Lecturer, Music Theory
Melodie S. King, Lecturer
Stephen B. Knight, Lecturer, University Carillonneur
Kevin J. Kozak, Lecturer, Horn
Sarah J. Lanclos, Lecturer, Class Piano
Daniel E. Lawhon, Lecturer, Organ
Rachel E. Lim, Lecturer, Music Theory
Tariq M. Masri, Lecturer, Bassoon
Margaret E. McGinnis, Lecturer, Class Piano, Musicology
Caroline J. Nordlund, Lecturer, Violin
Samuel Nordlund, Lecturer, Cello
Vicki L. Portis, Lecturer, Music Education
Karlo Senasi, Lecturer, Guitar
Barbara A. Shinn, Lecturer, Class Piano
Brandon S. Slocumb, Lecturer, Marching Band
Christopher Smith, Lecturer, Class Guitar
James B. Sullivan, Lecturer, Oboe
Jaroslaw P. Szurek, Lecturer, Music Appreciation, Assistant Librarian
Sallie V. White, Lecturer, Saxophone

Mission

The mission of the Division of Music at Samford University is to nurture persons by developing musical skills, knowledge, and understanding appropriate to their vocational objectives and personal needs, within the framework of curricular and extra-curricular activities provided at this institution, and to contribute to the fulfillment of the broader mission of the University.

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 program involves study in music performance, solo and ensemble experience, and extensive work in music theory and history. Specialized areas include training in skills and knowledge appropriate to the respective degree program. This equips the graduate to function effectively on the professional level. Liberal arts requirements contribute to the breadth of knowledge needed by the developing musician.

The Division of Music of the School of the Arts is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, and the teacher education program is accredited by the Alabama State Department of Education. 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, Musical Theatre Ensemble, Samford Opera, Opera Workshop, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and numerous chamber ensembles.

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors

Composition Major, B.M. 

Music Major, B.A.   
Music Major, B.S. 

Music Major with a Concentration in Instrumental Music, B.M.E. 
Music Major with a Concentration in Vocal/Choral Music, B.M.E. 

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 with Pedagogy Emphasis, B.M. 
Performance: Voice Major, B.M. 

Minors

Music Minor 
Minor in the Arts (Music)  *
Worship Leadership Minor  *

The Division of Music offers undergraduate programs that meet requirements for the bachelor of arts, the bachelor of science, the bachelor of music education, and the bachelor of music degrees. Degrees offered through the graduate program include the master of music and the master of music education. The music division also offers minors in music, the arts*, and worship leadership*.

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*The minor in the arts is interdisciplinary, offered in cooperation with the Division of Visual Arts and the Department of Theatre and Dance. The worship leadership minor is also interdisciplinary, offered in cooperation with the Department of Religion.

Student Objectives

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 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 religion, 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 premedical 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. 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, School of the Arts, Samford University, Birmingham, AL, 35229. Students will be notified by mail 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.

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 associate dean.

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.

Certification/Proficiencies

Recital Attendance. All music majors and minors are required to attend student, guest artist, and faculty recitals. Weekly attendance at Music Seminar (MUSC 0999 ) is also required. Music majors must complete seven semesters of MUSC 0999 . Music minors must complete four semesters of MUSC 0999 . (See the Division of Music Handbook for 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. The minimum recital requirements are listed in the table above.

Piano Proficiency. All non-keyboard majors must pass a piano proficiency examination before graduating. Such students must enroll for piano study each long 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.

Grade Restrictions. No grade below C- in music courses which are required for a degree with a major or a minor in music will count toward fulfillment of degree requirements. Any grade below C- in sequenced courses (such as Theory and Class Piano) requires that the class be successfully repeated in order for the student to advance to the next course in the series.

Upper Level Standing

Each music major will be evaluated for approval for upper level status at the end of two years of music study. Consult the manual for undergraduate studies for more details.

Ensembles

Students with an undergraduate major in music must register for at least one major ensemble each semester in residence. At Samford University the following groups are defined as major ensembles: A Cappella Choir, University Chorale, Musical Theatre Ensemble, Samford Opera, Opera Workshop, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Marching Band. See the table below for specific ensemble requirements by degree.

The following guidelines apply to ensemble participation by music division majors:

1. Music education students should participate in ensembles in the area in which they plan to student-teach.
2. Vocal/choral music education majors may substitute two credits in Samford Opera, Opera Workshop, or Music Theatre Ensemble for two credits in a major choral ensemble. Music and worship majors with vocal emphasis may complete their required eight ensemble credits in any major vocal ensemble.
3. Vocal performance majors must take a minimum of two semesters of Samford Opera or Opera Workshop, and four semesters of a choral ensemble (either A Cappella Choir or University Chorale). The other two credits may be chosen from any of these ensembles.
4. Organ performance majors, piano performance majors, and music education and music and worship majors with keyboard emphasis must fulfill two of the eight credits of ensemble requirements by taking MUSC 1740 - Accompanying (0-1)  for two semesters. Organ performance majors and piano performance majors may fulfill two additional credits of ensemble requirements by taking two additional credits of MUSC 1740 .
5. Students with keyboard emphasis pursuing the B.M. degree with a major in composition, the B.A. degree with a major in music, or the B.S. degree with a major in music may fulfill two of the eight credits of ensemble requirements by taking MUSC 1740 (Accompanying) for two semesters.
6. Music and worship majors with instrumental performance emphasis must take at least two semesters of a choral ensemble (either A Cappella Choir or University Chorale).
7. Instrumental music performance majors must complete two credits in Chamber Ensembles.

Ensembles: MUSC 1720 , MUSC 1721 , MUSC 1722 , MUSC 1723 , MUSC 1724 ; MUSC 1730 , MUSC 1731 , MUSC 1732 , MUSC 1733 ; MUSC 1739 , MUSC 1740 ; MUSC 3720 , MUSC 3721 , MUSC 3722 , MUSC 3723 , MUSC 3724 ; MUSC 3730 , MUSC 3731 ; MUSC 3733 , MUSC 3739 .

University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements

See University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements  in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses. General Education Requirements are detailed in the individual degree tables, with some exceptions. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, consult the University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements  section for a list of applicable courses.

Graduate Programs and Requirements

Degrees/Majors

Master of Music (M.M.)

Church Music, M.M. 
Piano Performance and Pedagogy, M.M. 
Vocal Performance, M.M. 

Master of Music Education (M.M.E.)

Music: Pattern 1: Traditional Program, M.M.E. 
Music: Pattern 2: Fifth Year Non-Traditional Program, M.M.E. 
Music (National Board Cohort), M.M.E. 

Joint-Degree

Master of Music/Master of Divinity (M.M./M.Div.)

The Division of Music offers graduate programs that meet requirements for the master of music and master of music education degrees. In cooperation with the Beeson School of Divinity , the School of the Arts also offers a joint degree in music and divinity (M.M./M.Div.)

Master of Music in Church Music: The master of music in church music (M.M.) is designed to prepare persons for ministry through music in a church setting. The degree program includes studies in performance and research, in addition to academic and professional coursework in church music and supervised experience in ministry. The degree concludes with a recital and an oral comprehensive examination.

Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy: The master of music in piano performance and pedagogy (M.M.) prepares students to be proficient performers and scholarly musicians who are ready to pursue professional careers as teachers of piano. Emphasis is placed on musical artistry and pedagogical professionalism, together with developing students’ research skills. The degree requires two recitals and an oral comprehensive examination.

Master of Music in Vocal Performance: The master of music in vocal performance (M.M.) prepares students to be proficient performers who are ready to pursue professional careers. Emphasis is placed on musical artistry and professionalism, together with developing students’ research skills. The degree concludes with a recital and an oral comprehensive examination.

Master of Music Education: The master of music education in music (M.M.E.) is designed to prepare students for increasing responsibilities in the field of music teaching. Completion of this degree qualifies the individual for an Alabama Class A teaching certificate. Two distinct programs are offered. The traditional program (Pattern 1) is for persons who hold an Alabama Class B teaching certificate or its equivalent. The fifth year non-traditional program (Pattern 2) is for persons whose previous education does not make them eligible for an Alabama Class B teaching certificate. Both programs conclude with an oral comprehensive examination.

Master of Music Education in Music (National Board Cohort): The master of music education in music with national board cohort (M.M.E.-MNBC) is designed specifically for in-service (practicing) music teachers who hold initial (Class B) certification in K-12 music in Alabama. The cohort design requires 15 months of continuous enrollment from start to finish, comprising two summers of full-time study plus part-time studies (fall and spring semesters) during the in-between academic year. The degree concludes with an oral comprehensive exam in the Division of Music. Class A teacher certification is granted by the State of Alabama’s Department of Education and will be issued by ALSDE upon meeting the Alabama Quality Teaching Standards (AQTS). Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for admission to the program.

Master of Music/Master of Divinity: The M.M./M.Div. joint-degree program, offered in conjunction with the School of Divinity, allows students to use credits from each school as part of the other school’s degree.

Admission

A bachelor of music (B.M.) degree, or an equivalent degree, from an institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music is required for admission to all programs. An applicant whose undergraduate preparation does not meet these specifications may be admitted provisionally, with the requirement that course work stipulated at the time of admission be completed to ensure that preparation is equivalent to that of a graduate of the bachelor of music degree program offered by the Division of Music at Samford. Courses completed in satisfying this requirement must earn a grade of at least B and do not count toward the master’s degree.

Unconditional admission to any program requires a grade-point average of 3.0 or above. Admission to the master of music education programs requires a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) in music courses and on the undergraduate degree as a whole. There will be no exceptions. Minimum GPA for conditional admission to all other programs is 2.5 on a 4-point scale. All applicants for the master of music education programs must have passed the Alabama Educator Certification Testing Program (AECTP) examination. Applicants for the master of music education (traditional program) must also submit minimum scores of 150 on the Music: Content Knowledge Exam (Test #0013) on the Praxis II Examination.

International applicants must contact the director of graduate studies in music for additional procedures.

A complete application includes:

1. The application form and fee ($35).
2. An official transcript from each institution attended since high school. Applicants for the master of music education degrees must provide two official transcripts.
3. Applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT), on which a minimum score of 90 is required.
4. Three (3) recommendations from teachers or supervisors who can assess the student’s competence to undertake graduate study

In addition to application materials, each applicant must audition and interview for the appropriate music performance faculty.

Programs

• Composition Major, B.M.
• Music and Worship Major, B.M.
• Music Major with a Concentration in Instrumental Music, B.M.E.
• Music Major with a Concentration in Vocal/Choral Music, B.M.E.
• Music Major, B.A.
• Music Major, B.S.
• Performance: Instrumental Music Major, B.M.
• Performance: Organ Major, B.M.
• Performance: Piano Major with Pedagogy Emphasis, B.M.
• Performance: Piano Major, B.M.
• Performance: Voice Major, B.M.

• Music Minor
• Worship Leadership Minor

• Minor in the Arts (Music)

• Church Music, M.M.
• Music (National Board Cohort), M.M.E.
• Music: Pattern 1: Traditional Program, M.M.E.
• Music: Pattern 2: Fifth Year Non-Traditional Program, M.M.E.
• Piano Performance and Pedagogy, M.M.
• Vocal Performance, M.M.

Courses

All class instruction courses earn 1 credit.

• MUSC 5933 - Class Brass (1)
• MUSC 5934 - Class Percussion (1)