Return to the Music Department Home Page
At Trinity, you may participate in music as much as you wish. Many students perform in ensembles, take lessons, and enroll in a class or two. For those students interested in a concentration in music, a minor and several major programs are available.
Major in Music: Students may complete a major in Music within the Bachelor of Arts degree program. Musical studies comprise approximately one-third of the total curriculum, making it possible for many students to complete an additional major in another field of study. Courses include Theory and Comprehensive Musicianship, History and Literature, Applied Music, Ensemble, Conducting and Performance Laboratory. Some combinations of musical studies with other majors include: Music and Communication, Music and Business, Music and Biology, Music and English.
Return to Top of Page Return to Music Department Home Page
Major in Performance: Students interested in a concentration in Performance generally enroll in the Bachelor of Music degree program. Musical studies comprise approximately two-thirds of the total curriculum, and include courses in Theory and Comprehensive Musicianship, Music History and Literature, Applied Music, Ensembles, as well as specialized courses in performance studies, literature and pedagogy, and many opportunities to perform in recitals and concerts.
Return to Top of Page Return to Music Department Home Page
Major in Composition: Within the Bachelor of Music degree, students may complete a program of studies in composition. Courses include Theory and Comprehensive Musicianship, Forms and Analysis, Counterpoint, Orchestration, Electronic Music, and private study in Composition. Musical studies comprise approximately two-thirds of the total curriculum, with the the remaining third in the Common Curriculum.
Return to Top of Page Return to Music Department Home Page
Music Education: Most students completing degrees in music education will choose to teach music in elementary or secondary schools, although a degree in music education can lead to numerous careers. Trinity University is proud of its nationally recognized innovative five-year program in teacher certification. During the first four years, students complete a Bachelor of Music degree in Choral or Instrumental Music. After earning the Bachelor's degree, students complete a summer session and a fifth year internship that includes supervised student teaching in elementary, middle, and secondary schools, where carefully selected teachers and conductors join university faculty members in providing a supportive, realistic initial experience. Upon successful completion of the fifth year internship, students are awarded a Master of Arts in Teaching degree, together, with all-level certification to teach music in the public schools.
In addition to the Common Curriculum, music education students complete musical studies in Theory and Comprehensive Musicianship, Music History and Literature, Applied Music and Ensembles, plus specialized courses in education and music education, including Basic Conducting, Musical Development of Children and Adolescents, Introduction to Music in American Schools, and Techniques of Choral and Instrumental Music.
Return to Top of Page Return to Music Department Home Page
Minor in Music: The minor is designed for students who wish to complete a concentration in music as part of their liberal arts education. The program requires a total of 26 semester hours in music, including Theory and Comprehensive Musicianship, Music History and Literature, Applied Music, Ensemble, and Performance Laboratory.
Return to Top of Page Return to Music Department Home Page
Guidelines for Honors Projects in The Music Department (Updated December 13, 2004): To be considered for honors, a student must satisfy the university’s minimum requirements for scholastic achievement, outlined at the front of the course catalog. In addition, the student must have a music department GPA of 3.5 or above in MUSC courses. Once a student indicates interest in applying for honors, normally in the junior year, the student will consult with a guiding faculty member. By April 25 of the junior year the student will provide a letter of intent and a transcript to the Departmental Honors Committee, which will then make the decision whether to admit the student to the honors program. The Honors Committee will notify the student of her/his application’s success by May 10. (Students who plan to graduate mid-year will be on a different timeline. Consult with the honors committee chair to establish appropriate dates.)
Honors in the music department requires two courses, to be taken consecutively: MUSC 3398, Honors Readings, and MUSC 4398 or 4399, Honors Thesis. Neither course may count toward upper division electives. The scope and requirements for these courses will be at the discretion of the thesis advisor.
The thesis advisor is responsible for grading the student’s performance in MUSC 3398 and 4398/99. The Department Honors Committee’s sole duty is to determine whether the thesis is worthy of honors distinction.
As students approach the thesis stage, normally in either the fall or spring semester of the senior year, they are required to include the following elements as part of their plan of study.
1. A 1-2 page descriptive proposal of the project/thesis/composition, submitted to the faculty advisor no later than two weeks before the end of the Honors Readings course. This proposal will be presented to the Department Honors Committee for discussion and further recommendations. The Honors Committee will adjudicate the honors process, and ultimately make the recommendation for honors to the entire music faculty.2. Completion of the honors thesis in a timely fashion. The faculty advisor will establish a thesis completion date, and the student will be responsible for finishing by that date. Each year the university sets an official date for receipt of completed theses, usually about 10 days before the end of classes. Students pursuing honors must submit their completed theses to the department two weeks prior to that university date. The Department Honors Committee will then review the work and make its recommendation. While there is no minimum page length, it is expected that the student submit a completed work of sufficient dimension and depth to warrant the honors distinction. Under most circumstances this means a thesis of 40-50 pages, or the equivalent project in areas of performance or composition. The thesis advisor will establish a clear framework of expectations for the student in this regard. Bear in mind that enrolling in MUSC 4398 or 4399 does not ensure honors. In most cases, however, it is expected that a student will move toward satisfactory completion of the project and, therefore, receive honors.
3. A formal presentation at the conclusion of the honors project. This will normally take place prior to the end of classes, in the final weeks of the semester. As stipulated by the university honor guidelines, this involves an oral presentation to a committee of no fewer than two members of the faculty: the advisor and a reader with appropriate expertise in the area. It may take the form of a performance, a lecture, an oral presentation, or any other form appropriate for the subject matter. The thesis advisor will establish a clear framework of expectations for length and format.
Upon completion of these elements, the thesis advisor will meet with the Department Honors Committee to discuss the student’s work. The Committee will make a recommendation of honors to the department chair. If honors are awarded, the student will then complete the binding and formatting of the thesis in line with the procedures outlined in the university course catalog. A copy of the thesis will be kept in the university library.
Return to Top of Page
Return to Music Department Home Page