Music (BM) in Performance with an Emphasis in Piano

This program is offered by the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts/Department of Music and is only available at the St. Louis main campus.

Program Description

The bachelor of music in performance is a pre-professional degree designed to prepare students who wish to pursue a future in the professional music world as a performing artist or studio teacher. This degree requires an emphasis in orchestral instruments, jazz, piano or voice.

The piano emphasis is designed to prepare students who wish to pursue a future in the professional music world as a performer in orchestras, chamber music, as a soloist or collaborator, or building an independent multi-faceted career. In addition to solo recitals, majors in this emphasis are expected to participate in chamber music ensembles and to serve regularly as vocal, instrumental or ensemble accompanists.

Performance majors with a piano emphasis may perform in University-sponsored ensemble concerts, including choral concerts, musical theatre performances or Opera Studio as designated by the faculty.

All performance majors must spend a minimum of one hour per week accompanying vocalists and/or instrumentalists, beginning with the sophomore year or earlier at the discretion of the teacher.

Students with a piano emphasis are expected to perform in a student recital at least twice every semester.

The bachelor of music in performance conforms to the guidelines specified by the National Association of Schools of Music for accreditation. Webster University is a full member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this degree program, in addition to departmental outcomes, the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate the effective expression of music through technical proficiency, knowledge of style and communication of musical character.
• Synthesize theoretical and historical knowledge and integrate them into performance.
• Demonstrate in performance different musical styles of piano music, and make appropriate stylistic choices.
• Perform diverse repertoire in ensembles and chamber music.

Admission and Audition Requirements

To be admitted as an undergraduate music major or music minor, applicants must complete an audition/interview with the music faculty and complete various diagnostic examinations. Auditions are arranged through the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Specific information on the audition requirements for each music degree program is available from the department’s website. Priority consideration for performance scholarships is given to students who complete all admission requirements before February 28 of the application year.

Performance Requirements

Much of the music that we make is collaborative in nature, with a mix of keyboard, wind, brass, string and percussion instruments and voices. So that performance majors develop an ability to work with others beyond an accompanist, all performance majors presenting junior and senior recitals will include on each recital or in a Thursday student recital at least one 3-minute work that includes collaboration with a performer other than or in addition to piano. Works longer than 3 minutes are encouraged.

Degree Requirements

For information on the general requirements for a degree, see Baccalaureate Degree Requirements under the Academic Policies and Information section of this catalog.

• 90-91 required credit hours
• Applicable University Global Citizenship Program hours, with accommodations for the bachelor of music
• Electives

Global Citizenship Program for Bachelor of Music

• GLBC 1200 Global Cornerstone Seminar
• 6 credit hours from courses designated ‘Roots of Cultures’ (One course with the MUSC prefix can fulfill GCP and major requirements simultaneously.)
• 3 credit hours from courses designated ‘Social Systems & Human Behavior’
• 3 credit hours from courses designated ‘Global Understanding’
• 3 credit hours from courses designated ‘Physical & Natural World’ or ‘Quantitative Literacy’
• KEYS 4XXX Global Keystone Seminar

NOTE: Except where specified otherwise, the above courses must not also satisfy major requirements. GCP skills requirements may be fulfilled with the courses above, courses in the major, or electives. 'Arts Appreciation' is satisfied in meeting the requirements for the major.

Required Courses

Core Music Courses

• MUSC 1010 Music Theory and Aural Skills I (4 hours)
• MUSC 1020 Music Theory II (3 hours)
• MUSC 1820 Aural Skills II (2 hours)
• A minimum of 6 credit hours chosen from the following:
  • MUSC 1370 Jazz Keyboard Theory I (3 hours)
  • MUSC 2050 Songwriting Theory (3 hours)
  • MUSC 3060 Topics in Music Analysis (2-3 hours)
  • MUSC 3065 Topics in Music Analysis (2-3 hours)
• MUSC 2060 Social and Cultural Approaches to Music (3 hours)
• MUSC 2070 Music in Western Culture (3 hours)
• A minimum of 4 credit hours chosen from the following:
  • MUSC 3160 Topics in Musicology (1-3 hours)
  • MUSC 3165 Topics in Musicology (1-3 hours)
  • MUSC 3170 Jazz History (3 hours)
  • MUSC 3520 History of Popular Styles (3 hours)
  • MUSC 4040 Music of the Twentieth Century (3 hours)
• MUSC 4700 Advanced Topics in Music (taken in junior or senior year only) (2-3 hours)
• MUSC 0200 Candidacy Examination (0 hours)
• MUSC 0500 Senior Overview (0 hours)

Performance Courses

• MUSC 2601, MUSC 3001, MUSC 4001 Applied Piano (eight semesters required) (24 hours)
• MUSC 0890 Recital Attendance (six semesters required) (0 hours)
• MUSC 0990 Master Class (taken every semester) (0 hours)
• MUSC 0300 Junior Recital (0 hours)
• MUSC 0400 Senior Recital (0 hours)

Major Ensemble
8 hours over eight semesters, as approved by advisor, to be selected from:

• MUSC 4900 Webster University Chorale (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4910 Webster University Chamber Singers (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4920 Webster University Aurelia (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4940 Webster University Orchestra (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4955 Webster University Jazz Singers (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4980 Webster University Wind Ensemble (1 hour per semester)

Supportive Courses

• MUSC 1700 Keyboard Skills for Pianists I (2 hours)
• MUSC 1750 Keyboard Skills for Pianists II (2 hours)
• MUSC 2002, MUSC 2502, MUSC 2004, MUSC 2504 Secondary Instrument (six semesters required) (6 hours)
• MUSC 3070 Orchestration I (3 hours)
• MUSC 3410 Conducting I (3 hours)
• MUSC 4030 Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint (3 hours)
• MUSC 4170, MUSC 4175 Piano Literature I, II (4 hours)
• MUSC 4260, MUSC 4270 Piano Pedagogy I, II (4 hours)
• MUSC 4950 Webster University Chamber Music Ensembles (4 hours)