The CCSU Department of Music is dedicated to the development of competent and aesthetically sensitive musicians, intellectually deepened by a broad liberal arts education. Within the context of our music degrees, we prepare musicians for careers as educators, performers, composers, music technology specialists, and scholars while providing all students with strategies to cultivate artistic leadership in their chosen fields. We strive to foster in all students life-long connection and involvement with the art of music. The performance and scholarship of our faculty serves as an artistic and intellectual resource for Connecticut.
A minor is not required for any student pursuing a concentration in the Music, B.A. (Exception: Music, B.A. Music with an External Minor)
Major Requirements (60 Credits)
MUS 102 and three semesters of major ensemble are double counted in Study Area I.
Required Music Courses (42 credits)
Other Requirements
Ensembles required for all Music B.A. students: 4 credits in Ensembles from the course range MUS 141, MUS 142, MUS 143, or MUS 147A.
MUS 178 Applied Lessons for Majors I, and MUS 278 Applied Lessons for Majors, II (two semesters each;1 credit, 1 contact hour)
8 credits of Music Electives required of all Music B.A. students.
Students in any Music B.A. concentration (Performance, Theory and Composition, Jazz Studies, Music Technology, Flexible Music) must take MUS 216 Aural Skills IV (1 credit, 2 contact hour) and MUS 408 Form and Analysis (2 credits; 3 contact hours) as part of those 8 elective credits. The B.A. option for Music with an External Minor is exempt from this requirement.
Major Requirements, Ensembles
All Music B.A. students are required to take 4 credits of major ensembles, MUS 141, MUS 142, MUS 143, or MUS 147A.
Students with a primary instrument in woodwinds, brass, or percussion may take either MUS 142A (Wind Symphony) or MUS 142B (Wind Symphony + Marching Band) in the Fall; they are required to take MUS 142A (Wind Symphony) in the Spring.
MUS 141 Chorus is the required ensemble for students with voice, piano, or classical guitar as the primary instrument.
String students are required to take MUS 143 Sinfonietta when offered, or another approved ensemble as a substitute.
MUS 142 is currently listed here as MUS 142 Wind Band. The new options should be listed here instead as MUS 142A Wind Symphony AND/OR MUS 142B Wind Symphony & Marching Band (depending on the semester cycling).
Concentrations
Performance Concentration (18 credits)
| MUS 378 | Applied Music for Majors III | 1 |
| MUS 478 | Applied Music for Majors IV | 1 |
| MUS 177 | Applied Music | .5 |
| MUS 201 | Listening to Western Art Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries | 2 |
| MUS 367 | Choral Conducting | 2 |
| MUS 380 | Advanced Notation, Sequencing, and Sound Synthesis | 2 |
| MUS 400 | Project in Music | 1-4 |
| MUS 404 | Topics in Performance | 1-3 |
Performance students will take 2 semesters of MUS 177 Applied Music, lessons on a secondary instrument; .5 credit, 30 minutes contact.
Performance students will complete MUS 400 (senior recital) and MUS 404 (program notes), each for 2 credits.
2 credits of MUS 378, and 1 credit of MUS 478.
Performance Concentration: Ensembles
Students in the Performance Concentration will take 4 additional credits of ensembles, in MUS 140, MUS 141, MUS 142, MUS 143.
(See previous note re: MUS 142A, B, and C.)
Jazz Studies Concentration (18 credits)
| MUS 378 | Applied Music for Majors III | 1 |
| MUS 478 | Applied Music for Majors IV | 1 |
| MUS 147A | Traditional Jazz Ensemble | 1 |
| | and/or | |
| MUS 147B | ImprovisatoryJazz Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 213 | Jazz Styles and Chronology | 3 |
| MUS 273 | Jazz Improvisation I | 2 |
| MUS 274 | Jazz Improvisation II | 2 |
| MUS 380 | Advanced Notation, Sequencing, and Sound Synthesis | 2 |
| MUS 400 | Project in Music | 1-4 |
Students in the Jazz Studies Concentration will take:
2 credits of MUS 378, and 1 credit of MUS 478.
1 semester of MUS 400 (senior jazz recital), for 2 credits.
Jazz Studies Concentration: Ensembles
Students in the Jazz Studies Concentration will take 4 additional credits of Jazz Ensembles, MUS 147A or MUS 147B.
Theory and Composition Concentration (18 credits)
| MUS 201 | Listening to Western Art Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries | 2 |
| MUS 295 | Beginning Composition | 2 |
| MUS 395 | Composition | 2 |
| MUS 378 | Applied Music for Majors III | 1 |
| MUS 380 | Advanced Notation, Sequencing, and Sound Synthesis | 2 |
| MUS 390 | Orchestration | 3 |
| MUS 400 | Project in Music | 1-4 |
Theory and Composition students will take:
3 semesters of MUS 378, for 1 credit each.
1 semester of MUS 400 (composition), for 2 credits.
*Requirement Type: Theory and Composition: Ensembles*
Students in the Theory and Composition Concentration will take 2 additional credits of ensembles from the course range MUS 14X.
Music with an External Minor (18 credits)
Students pursing the option of Music with an External Minor will complete 18 credits, as required by their selected Minor outside of the Music Department.
Music Technology Concentration (18 credits)
| MUS 140 | Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 214 | Electro-Acoustic Music and Sonic Art | 3 |
| MUS 380 | Advanced Notation, Sequencing, and Sound Synthesis | 2 |
| MUS 400 | Project in Music | 1-4 |
Students in the Music Technology Concentration will complete one semester of MUS 400 (capstone), for 2 credits.
Music Technology Concentration: Ensembles
Students in the Music Technology Concentration will take MUS 140Q iPad Ensemble (2 credits)
and
1 or 2 additional credits of ensembles from the MUS 14X course range.
Music Technology Electives from CCSU
| MUS 112 | Computer Applications to Music | 3 |
| | and/or | |
| MUS 273 | Jazz Improvisation I | 2 |
| | and/or | |
| MUS 274 | Jazz Improvisation II | 2 |
| | and/or | |
| MUS 301 | Coding for Music | 3 |
| MUS 378 | Applied Music for Majors III | 1 |
Students in the Music Technology Concentration are required to take a total of 9 credits of electives, which may be completed at CCSU, Capital Community College, or Middlesex Community College, as listed here.
As part of the Music Technology electives (9 credits total), students may take (in addition to the academic courses listed):
One or both of the following, for 2-4 credits: MUS 273 (2 credits) and/or MUS 274 (2 credits)
1-3 additional credits of MUS 378 (Music Technology composition lessons)
MUS 301 Coding for Music is a newly-proposed course (3 credits; 3 contact hours). This is listed on the curriculum sheet for the Music Technology Concentration.
Courses Completed at Capital Community College or Middlesex Community College
Students in the Music Technology Concentration are required to take a total of 9 credits of electives, which may be completed at CCSU, Capital Community College, or Middlesex Community College, as listed here. These courses align with existing courses at the two Community Colleges and will be able to be registered at CCSU but completed at the community colleges are as follows:
MUS 117 Audio Production (3 credits)
MUS 118 Electronic Music (3 credits)
MUS 223 Search in Music: Technology & Music Business (students may take 3 - 9 credits of this course.)
MUS 224 Electronic Music Composition & Audio Technology I (3 credits)
MUS 225 Electronic Music Composition & Audio Technology II (3 credits)
MUS 226 Music for Film, TV, Video Gaming and Other Media (3 credits)
MUS 227 Principles of Sound Recording (3 credits)
MUS 228 Audio Mixing and Processing (3 credits)
Flexible Music Concentration (18 credits)
| MUS 378 | Applied Music for Majors III | 1 |
| MUS 367 | Choral Conducting | 2 |
| MUS 380 | Advanced Notation, Sequencing, and Sound Synthesis | 2 |
| | Music electives | 5-13 |
Students in the Flexible Music Concentration will take:
2 semesters of MUS 378, for 1 credit each
8 additional credits of Music electives (MUS XXX), including courses, lessons, and/or ensembles beyond the basic requirements. These are not outlined in the course list, due to the numerous options available.
Flexible Music Concentration: Ensembles
Students in the Flexible Music Concentration will take 4 additional credits of Music ensembles from the course range MUS 14X.
Music with an External Minor (18 credits)
Students pursing the option of Music with an External Minor will complete 18 credits, as required by their selected Minor outside of the Music Department.
Additional Requirements
All students in the BA in Music program with concentrations in Performance, Theory/Composition, and Jazz Studies must successfully pass the Piano Proficiency as detailed. Students doing an external Minor, the Music Technology Concentration, and the Flexible Music Concentration do not have to pass the piano proficiency.
All students must be enrolled in a major ensemble every semester in which they are enrolled as full-time music major. All part-time students must be enrolled in a major ensemble for six semesters. The Department of Music reserves the right to assign students to major ensembles.
The piano proficiency exam may be taken a total of four times, and students must demonstrate a minimum proficiency in all 8 categories to pass. Most students should begin taking this exam during their sophomore year.