Department of Music
Department website: https://www.vanguard.edu/academics/academic-programs/undergrad/music
Susanne Reid, DMA, Chair
Mission: To nurture a lifelong pursuit of musical excellence in emerging artists from diverse backgrounds.
The Department of Music offers a Bachelor of Arts in Music (with optional concentration in Worship Leadership); the professional degree, Bachelor of Music: Pre-Teacher Certification (Music Education); and a Music Minor. Elaboration on the following materials can be found in the Music Handbook.
Music Audition
- All students desiring to earn a music degree must contact the Department of Music to audition on their primary instrument.
- Students will be placed in a large ensemble depending on abilities and ensemble needs.
Theory Assessment
- All students will be placed in MUSC-101 Basic Musicianship I and MUSC-105A Class Piano I
- Students may request assessment to be potentially placed in a higher level.
- Transfer students will be required to take a Theory Placement Exam and a Piano Placement Exam, regardless of experience or college courses previously taken.
- MUSC-101 Basic Musicianship I and/or MUSC-106 Basic Musicianship II may be required to prepare the student for MUSC-128 Harmony and Form I.
- Failure to pass MUSC-101 Basic Musicianship I, MUSC-106 Basic Musicianship II and/or Private Music Instruction will result in being dropped from declared degree program, including a Music Minor.
- Bachelor of Music candidates may take longer than 4 years to graduate dependent upon theory placement and chosen course load. Please be advised students continuing beyond 4 years may be ineligible to receive institutional aid.
Piano Proficiency
- Basic piano proficiency skills are required of all music majors for graduation.
- The final exam given in each class piano represents certain sections of the piano proficiency exam. Students who do not pass the final exam will be required to repeat that course until that requirement is passed, preventing them from proceeding to the next piano course.
- Students should pass the class piano sequence or piano proficiency exam prior to applying for:
- Bachelor of Music – MUSC-491C Recital and Research.
- The sections of the piano proficiency exam may be taken at one time or in sections.
Applied Instruction – Primary Instrument
- All Music Majors must select one primary instrument for an area of study (voice, piano, guitar, organ, string, woodwind, brass, or percussion).
- Students are required to enroll in consecutive semesters of study in the same performance medium.
- MUSC-108 Beginning Guitar Class or MUSC-111 Beginning Voice Class may be required to satisfy the first semester of Basic/Applied Instruction, depending on the audition.
- Participation in studio class, department recitals, and performance before a jury at the end of the semester are required in each applied music course.
Basic Instruction – Secondary Instrument
- Students may elect to take piano as their secondary instrument only if their piano proficiency exam is satisfied.
Primary and Secondary Ensemble Requirements
Instrument (B.A. & B.M. Applied Instrument) | Primary Large Ensemble | Second Small Ensemble |
---|---|---|
Flute/Piccolo | Concert Band | Chamber Music |
Oboe/English Horn | Concert Band | Chamber Music |
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet | Concert Band | Chamber Music |
Saxophone | Concert Band | Chamber Music, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo |
Bassoon | Concert Band | Chamber Music |
Trumpet | Concert Band | Chamber Music, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo |
French Horn | Concert Band | Chamber Music |
Trombone | Concert Band | Chamber Music, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo |
Euphonium | Concert Band | Chamber Music |
Tuba | Concert Band | Chamber Music |
Percussion | Concert Band | Chamber Music |
Piano | Concert Choir, Concert Band | Chamber Music, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo |
Harp | String Orchestra, Concert Choir | Chamber Music |
Violin, Viola, Cello | String Orchestra | Chamber Music |
Double Bass | String Orchestra | Chamber Music, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo |
Electric Bass Guitar | String Orchestra, Concert Choir | Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Vanguard Worship Collective |
Guitar | Concert Choir | Chamber Music, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Vanguard Worship Collective |
Electric Guitar | Concert Choir | Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Vanguard Worship Collective |
Voice | Concert Choir | Chamber Music, Vanguard Worship Collective |
Music Courses
Prerequisite: MUSC-105A or placement by examination
Prerequisite: MUSC-101 or placement by examination
Prerequisite: MUSC-106
Prerequisite: MUSC-128
Prerequisite: MUSC-105B or placement by examination
Prerequisite: MUSC-145A or placement by examination
Prerequisite: MUSC-133
Prerequisite: MUSC-128
Prerequisite: MUSC-225
Prerequisite: MUSC-226
Prerequisite: MUSC-131
Prerequisite: MUSC-233
Prerequisite: MUSC-462
Prerequisite: MUSC-273
Prerequisite: MUSC-273
Prerequisite: MUSC-133
Prerequisite: MUSC-133
Prerequisite: MUSC-309
Private Instruction Applied Courses
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Pre- or Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200
Co-Requisite: MUSI-200