Fall Semester (14 cr.)
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Music
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Major Map: B.A. Music
Music has occupied a central role in the Fisk experience since the University's opening in 1866. The Fisk Jubilee Singers'® first historic tour established a reputation for excellence in musical performance and preserved the rich heritage of the Negro Spiritual. Today, Fisk continues to provide students the opportunity to develop individual talent, appreciation, and aesthetic sensibility. The Fisk University Music Discipline is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
With full-time faculty for brass, organ, piano, voice, and woodwind instruction, the department has a sound history of combining conservatory-style training with African-American traditional music, and provides excellent education with a broad-based technical competency and proficiency in preparing students for careers in music. Strong leadership qualities and personal and musical growth are nurtured by the provision of a creative atmosphere.
The acclaimed composer-musicologists John W. Work Sr., John W. Work Jr., and John W. Work III were Fisk alumni and members of the faculty. Dr. Joyce Bolden ’53 became the first African-American woman to serve on the Commission for Accreditation of the National Association of Schools of Music, Dr. Kaye George Roberts ‘71, the first African-American woman to complete the orchestral conducting program at Yale University.
Learning Outcomes Upon completion of required courses in Music, Music Education or Music Performance, the student will:
- Apply the essential concepts of music to personal and professional situations.
- Demonstrate creativity and stylistic performance practices applicable to diverse musical genres.
- Demonstrate the influence of culture on music composition and performance.
- Recognize important historical periods in music and combine elements of theory and composition in the art of composing and arranging.
- Support and lead the role of music and music education in today's multicultural and diverse world.
- Demonstrate musical service.
- Demonstrate leadership, professionalism, and pedagogical skill.
GET THE COURSES YOU NEED
| Fall Semester (17-18 cr.) |
| MUS 201 (prerequisite, C or above in MUS 102) |
| MUS Principal Applied Instrument (Strings MUS 221, Guitar MUS 231, Brass MUS 241, Piano MUS 251, Organ MUS 261, Voice MUS 271, Woodwinds MUS 291) (1 credit) |
| MUS Secondary Applied Instrument (non-keyboard students take MUS 250A, leading to the piano proficiency exam; prerequisite: must complete MUS 150B with C or above) (1 credit) |
| MUS 226 University Choir (this specific ensemble is required of all BA Music students) |
| MUS 157 Seminar in Music Performance and Literature (MUS 157 and/or MUS 158 must be passed with a C or above for eight semesters) |
| CORE Courses: CORE 201, CORE A |
| Foreign Lang: FREN 101, SPAN 101 or other foreign language. |
| Spring Semester (18 cr.) |
| MUS 202 (prerequisite, C or above in MUS 201) (4 credits) |
| MUS Principal Applied Instrument (Strings MUS 222, Guitar MUS 232, Brass MUS 242, Piano MUS 252, Organ MUS 262, Voice MUS 272, Woodwinds MUS 292) (1 credit) |
| MUS Secondary Applied Instrument (non-keyboard students take MUS 250B, leading to the piano proficiency exam; prerequisite: must complete MUS 150A with C or above) (1 credit). The Piano Proficiency Exam is administered in MUS 250B |
| MUS 226 University Choir (this specific ensemble is required of all BA Music students) |
| MUS 158 Seminar in Music Performance and Literature (MUS 157 and/or MUS 158 must be passed with a C or above for eight semesters). The Sophomore Proficiency Recital is performed in MUS 158. |
| CORE Courses: CORE B |
| Foreign Lang: FREN 102, SPAN 102 or other foreign language |
| Fall Semester (17-18 cr.) |
| MUS 323 Conducting 1 (offered in Fall of even years; see your advisor) |
| MUS Principal Applied Instrument (Strings MUS 321, Guitar MUS 331, Brass MUS 341, Piano MUS 351, Organ MUS 361, Voice MUS 371, Woodwinds MUS 391) (1 credit) |
| MUS Ensemble (MUS 224, 225, 227 or 228) See the University Bulletin for the ensemble requirement. |
| MUS 157 Seminar in Music Performance and Literature (0 credits) |
| CORE Courses: CORE D |
| Foreign Lang: FREN 200, SPAN 200 or other foreign language (4 credits) |
| General Elective: (outside the music discipline) (4 credits) |
| Spring Semester (17-18 cr.) |
| MUS 324 Conducting 2 (offered in Spring of odd years; see your advisor) |
| MUS Principal Applied Instrument (Strings MUS 322, Guitar MUS 332, Brass MUS 342, Piano MUS 352, Organ MUS 362, Voice MUS 372, Woodwinds MUS 392) (1 credit) |
| MUS Ensemble (MUS 224, 225, 227 or 228) See the University Bulletin for the ensemble requirement. |
| MUS 158 Seminar in Music Performance and Literature (0 credits) |
| CORE Courses: CORE 260 Humanities (3 credits) |
| General Electives: (outside the music discipline) (4 credits) |
| Fall Semester |
| MUS Principal Applied Instrument (Strings MUS 421, Guitar MUS 431, Brass MUS 441, Piano MUS 451, Organ MUS 461, Voice MUS 471, Woodwinds MUS 491) (2 credits) |
| Music Ensemble (See University Bulletin for specific ensemble requirements) (1 credit) |
| MUS 157 Seminar in Music Performance and Literature (0 credits) |
| MUS 281 Independent Study (2-4 credits) |
| MUS 307 Music History and Literature (4 credits) |
| CORE Courses: CORE 360 |
| General Electives: (bring total hours to 120) |
| Spring Semester |
| MUS Principal Applied Instrument (Strings MUS 422, Guitar MUS 432, Brass MUS 442, Piano MUS 452, Organ MUS 462, Voice MUS 472, Woodwinds MUS 492) (2 credits) |
| Music Ensemble (See University Bulletin for specific ensemble requirements) (1 credit) |
| MUS 158 Seminar in Music Performance and Literature (0 credits) |
| MUS Seminar Recital (Strings MUS 420, Guitar MUS 430, Brass MUS 440, Piano MUS 450, Organ MUS 460, Voice MUS 470, Woodwinds MUS 490) Students studying with an adjunct professor will register for MUS 450. |
| MUS 307 Music History and Literature (4 credits) |
GET RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
- Embrace performances in studio classes and Seminar.
- Attend recitals and performances of artists for your instrument, regardless of genre.
- Observe NATS or MTNA auditions.
- Observe or compete in NATS or MTNA auditions.
- Perform at University functions.
- Apply to programs such as UNCF/Mellon Fellows program.
- Consider unpaid internships with volunteer programs.
- Apply for unpaid and paid internships.
- Begin examining and talking with graduate schools for the Master of Arts in music.
- Apply for graduate schools and jobs in music.
GET CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY
- Discuss social relevancy in appropriate courses, including MUS 157 and MUS 158.
- Begin performing for nursing homes as guided by your private instructor.
- Volunteer or observe with after school programs.
- Consider and be considered by the social music fraternities (Phi Mu Alpha; Sigma Alpha Iota)
- Work with churches, nursing homes and others to increase your opportunities to perform.
GET THINKING GLOBALLY
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Volunteer to work in the Upon These Shoulders project in the Spring Semester to work with musicians, artists, and poets.
- For voice students, consider careful diction in repertoire that may correspond to the language you are studying.
- Look for opportunities to learn about the cultures that produced the repertoire you are playing or singing.
- Seek opportunity for summer travel abroad through UNCF programs or University-sponsored programs.
- Consider focusing your independent study/research in music project on a topic that relates to something other than the predominant culture of the University.
GET READY FOR LIFE AFTER GRADUATION
- Focus on career goals and choose plan based on plans after graduation (BA Music, BS in Music Education, BMus in Performance).
- Understand which plan you have and learn to correctly articulate the name of the plan. There are no concentrations for the BA music major: "I am a music major. My instrument is piano/voice/etc." If appropriate, "My minor is music business/mathematics/computer science/etc."
- Prepare repertoire list in for your instrument based on all solo repertoire learned in high school.
- Update repertoire list to reflect first year of study; project repertoire through the Sophomore year, including the Sophomore Recital.
- Design resume (seek counsel from music advisor as well as Career Services)
- Investigate graduate programs that fit your interest. Begin speaking with graduate advisors at these institutions. Begin application process to certain schools that may require it.
- Apply to graduate programs and decide where to go.
WHERE COULD I GO AFTER GRADUATION?
The following graduate schools have recently accepted Fisk music graduates for the masters:
Austin Peay State University, Clarksville
Belmont University, Nashville
Bowling Green State University, Ohio
California State University, Northridge
Concordia College, Montreal, Quebec
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro
The Ohio State University, Columbus
Roosevelt University, Chicago
Tennessee State University, Nashville
University of Illinois, Springfield
University of Leads, England
The doctorate is a longer process:
Kristi King, Ed.D., University of Illinois
Kaylina Madison, Ph.D. in progress, University of Kentucky
Morris Thomas, Ph.D., Morgan State University