Bachelor of Arts Degrees
The liberal arts degree in music affords the student the opportunity to pursue the study of music at the collegiate level and also to combine the study of music with an outside field. In some cases, we have developed some specific areas of emphasis but the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree offers the student a wide array of choices, limited only to his imagination. This degree is popular with students who want to eventually earn an advanced degree in medicine, law, or some other area.
A professional degree in music is a highly concentrated degree with approximately 85 of the 131 hours in music. There is a solid general studies core of subjects included in this degree as well. Most of the students who pursue this degree will go on to graduate school and to more advanced study in music.
Every University of Louisville School of Music student must complete the following degree requirements:
- 2-4 semesters of Piano (individual to major)
- 4 semesters of Theory
- 4 semesters of Music Literature
- Private Lessons
- Principal Ensemble Performance
- Recital Attendance (15 per semester for 6 semesters)\General Education Requirements (hours vary)
Bachelor of Arts in Music with Emphasis in Music General
The liberal arts degree in music affords the student the opportunity to pursue the study of music at the collegiate level and combine it with an outside field. This degree is well-suited for students who want to study music, but do not intend to make music their livelihood. Some of these students go on to earn an advanced degree in medicine, law, or other areas of interest.
Students in the Bachelor of Arts in Music program:
- Develop musical skills and knowledge through music performance experiences as a soloist and in ensembles on a principal instrument
- Develop musical skills and knowledge through the study of music theory, music history and literature, composition and improvisation, and the development of aural skills
- Develop knowledge of cultural perspectives through the study of music from a variety of styles, locations, and periods
Requirements for Emphasis in Music General
Bachelor of Arts in Music with Emphasis in Jazz Studies
The Bachelor of Arts in Music with Emphasis in Jazz Studies degree is aimed at introducing students to elements of jazz within the context of a liberal arts program. The outcome of the degree is to prepare students to develop skills in performing and improvising music in a variety of jazz styles on primary and secondary instruments, and to have an understanding of a variety of performance techniques in jazz, and an appreciation of the jazz tradition through the study of and performance with jazz masters.
Students in the Bachelor of Arts with Emphasis in Jazz program:
- Develop musical skills and knowledge through music performance experiences on a principal instrument and on secondary instruments. Students perform in a stylistically appropriate manner in both traditional and jazz performance settings.
- Develop musical skills and knowledge through the study of music theory and jazz theory, music history and literature, composition and improvisation, and the development of aural skills appropriate to traditional and jazz styles.
- Develop knowledge of cultural perspectives through the study of music from a variety of styles, locations, and periods.
- Develop the ability to improvise in an appropriate jazz style
Requirements for Emphasis in Jazz Studies
Bachelor of Arts in Music with Emphasis in Music & New Media
The Bachelor of Arts Music with Emphasis in Music & New Media degree provides training in digital media concepts and skills necessary for the creation and production of sound for public performance, music albums, digital video, internet applications, interactive media, cinema, commercials, video games, theater, dance, and software development. The program is designed to prepare students for careers in music and new media arts that emphasize presentation, performance, and research with technology, including audio and video production for multimedia communications, music recording, audio and video post-production, video art, sound engineering, sound design for film and gaming, sound art, and computer music composition.
Students in the Bachelor of Arts in Music with Emphasis in Music & New Media program:
- Develop skills and knowledge in audio engineering, acoustics, sound design, electronic music, video generation, and sound art through presentation, performance, and research with technology. Students develop creative new media projects with direct faculty oversight.
- Develop musical skills and knowledge through music performance experiences as a soloist and in ensembles on a principal instrument, and on secondary instruments, including computer-augmented instruments and new interfaces for performance.
- Develop musical skills and knowledge through the study of music theory, music history and literature, composition and improvisation, the analysis of electronic media, and the development of aural skills.
- Develop knowledge of cultural perspectives through the study of music from a variety of styles, locations, and periods.
Requirements for Emphasis in Music & New Media
The School of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM): http://nasm.arts-accredit.org