May 07, 2024

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

Music Performance B.M., with Jazz Studies Concentration

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TOTAL DEGREE HOURS: 120

The Music Performance degree is a degree for students who wish to pursue a career in music. Students interested in a B.M. degree may choose between concentrations in: Performance, Contemporary Commercial Music, Jazz Studies, or Acoustic & Electronic Composition. This degree program requires 120 credit hours of study that include private study on the student’s principal instrument and participation in ensembles. Additionally, students complete music theory, history and literature sequences, and take additional coursework in their chosen concentration. Graduates from BM programs at USF find themselves in very competitive positions for graduate study and musical careers. Admission into the BM in music degree requires an audition on your major instrument.

University Admissions - College of The Arts

Admission to the University is based on the University’s Undergraduate Admission Requirements that may be found by clicking on the following links:

Freshman: https://www.usf.edu/admissions/freshmen/admission-information/requirements-deadlines.aspx
Transfer: https://www.usf.edu/admissions/transfer/admission-information/index.aspx
International: https://www.usf.edu/admissions/international/admission-information/index.aspx

State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites - Music Performance B.M.

Following Florida BOG Regulation 8.010, state mandated common course prerequisites are lower-division courses that are required for progression into the upper division of a particular baccalaureate degree program. Students wishing to transfer to USF should complete an A.A. degree at a Florida College System institution. Some courses required for the major may also meet General Education requirements thereby transferring maximum hours to the university.

Transfer students should complete the State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites at the lower level prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at a Florida College System institution, they must be completed before the degree is granted. Successful completion of the common prerequisites alone does not guarantee a student admission into the degree program.

Unless stated otherwise, a grade of C is the minimum acceptable grade in prerequisite courses.

Music Theory Requirement (12-13 credits)

MUT X111 Music Theory 1 or MUT X121 Music Theory I-Integrated - 3 credit hours
MUT X112 Music Theory II or MUT X122 Music Theory II-Integrated - 3 credit hours
MUT X116 Music Theory III or MUT X126 Music Theory III-Integrated - 3-4 credit hours
MUT X127 Music Theory IV-Integrated or MUT X117 Music Theory IV - 3 credit hours

Piano Proficiency Requirement (28 credits) - Repeat the course work for 4 semesters.

MVK X111* Keyboard Skills - 1 - 2 credit hours
MVK X112* Class Instruction - Freshman - Keyboard - 1 credit hour
MVK X121* Keyboard Skills III - 2 credit hours
MVK X122* Keyboard Skills IV - 2 credit hours

* USF accepts competency test credits (Secondary Piano Proficiency by examination).

Student Focus Requirement (4 credits) - This is defined as courses under one of the specified prefixes that constantly maintain the digit 1 or 2 (depending upon which course) while allowing 0-9 to replace each “X.” The prefix varies depending upon the student’s focus (i.e., Brass, Strings, Woodwinds, etc.) Two examples of possible courses for MVB X011 are MVB 1011 or MVB 1311. Two examples for MVW XX2X are MVW 2223 and MVW 2222.

Repeat the course work for 2 semesters:

MVJ XX1X Applied Music: Jazz - 2 credit hours
MVK XX1X Applied Music: Keyboard - 2 credit hours
MVO XX1X Applied Music: Other - 2 credit hours
MVP XX1X Applied Music: Percussion - 2 credit hours
MVS XX1X Applied Music: Strings - 2 credit hours
MVV XX1X Applied Music: Voice - 2 credit hours
MVW XX1X Applied Music: Woodwinds - 2 credit hours
MVH XX1X Historical Instruments - 2 credit hours
MVB XX1X Applied Music: Brasses - 2 credit hours

National Accreditation Requirement (16 credits) - Music program national accreditation requires minimum semesters of exposure in specified coursework.

Repeat the course work for 4 semesters.

MUN X000-X999 Music Ensembles - 4 credit hours

Additional Requirement (4-6 credits)

MUT X272 ET, SS & KBD Harmony I - 1 credit hour
MUT X276 ET, SS & KBD Harmony II - 1 credit hour
MUT X277 ET, SS & KBD Harmony IV - 3 credit hour
MUT X271 ET, SS & KBD Harmony I - 1 credit hour

MUT X221 1st YR Sight Singing I - 1 credit hour
MUT X222 1st YR Sight Singing II - 1 credit hour
MUT X226 1st YR Sight Singing I - 1 credit hour
MUT X227 1st YR Sight Singing IV - 1 credit hour

MUT X241 Aural Theory I - 1 credit hour
MUT X242 Aural Theory II - 1 credit hour
MUT X246 Aural Theory III - 1 credit hour
MUT X247 Aural Theory IV - 1 credit hour

Music Performance Required Courses: (28 credit hours)

Music Performance Supporting Required Courses: 1 course; 0 credits

The following course is a supporting course for this major. It is required for the major. The degree will not be awarded if this course has not been taken by the end of the student’s final semester.

All B.M. degree students must register and pass MUS 2010 for six semesters. A passing grade requires a minimum of seven recorded attendances at School of Music concert/recital events each semester.

MUS 2010 - Recital Attendance Credit(s): 0

Music Performance Major Core: 6 courses; 14 credits

Music History: 3 courses; 8 credit hours

MUH 3300 - Music History/Medieval and Renaissance Credit(s): 2
MUH 3301 - Music History/Baroque and Classic Credit(s): 3
MUH 3302 - Music History/Romantic and 20th Century Credit(s): 3

Major (Restricted) Elective: 1 course; 3 credits

MUH 4801 - History of Jazz Credit(s): 3

Senior Seminar: 1 course; 1 credit hour

MUS 4935 - Music Senior Seminar Credit(s): 1
“S/U” grade only

Basic Conducting: 1 course; 2 credit hours

MUG 3104 - Basic Conducting Credit(s): 2

Jazz Studies Concentration: 6 courses; 14 credit hours

Concentration Core: 6 courses; 14 credit hours

Jazz Studies: 6 courses; 14 credit hours

MUT 2641 - Jazz Theory and Improvisation I Credit(s): 2
MUT 2642 - Jazz Theory and Improvisation II Credit(s): 2
MUT 3663 - Advanced Jazz Improvisation I Credit(s): 2
MUT 3664 - Advanced Jazz Improvisation II Credit(s): 2
MUT 3353 - Jazz Composition and Arranging I Credit(s): 3
MUT 3354 - Jazz Composition And Arranging II Credit(s): 3

Additional Information - Music Performance B.M.

Other Requirements

JUNIOR RECITAL FOR BM DEGREES: A public recital (must be shared with another junior recital) will be given during the student’s junior year. The student should have achieved junior classification as defined by the university and should be enrolled at the 3000 level in applied music, which would normally occur during a student’s third year of study. Credit may be granted to transfer students for junior recitals completed at other institutions. This recital should have been completed during the student’s junior year at that institution and a request for recognition of that recital should be made in writing to the applied division coordinator. No studio teacher is under any obligation to accept these transfer recitals.

SENIOR RECITAL FOR BM DEGREE: A public recital will be given during a student’s senior year. The student should have achieved senior classification as defined by the university and should be enrolled at the 4000 level in applied music, which would normally occur during a student’s fourth year of study. A senior recital performed at another institution will not satisfy graduation requirements for USF. The recital must be performed on the USF campus and the student must be enrolled in the studio of a USF faculty member during the term of said recital unless written permission to deviate from this policy is obtained from the School of Music Director.

GPA Requirements

Major GPA (All USF courses which are applied to major requirements): 2.0
General Education GPA (All USF courses which are applied to General Education requirements): 2.0
USF GPA: 2.0
Overall GPA: 2.0

Grading Requirement

All music majors must earn at least a C- in every music course required for their degree program. Sequel courses may not be taken until prerequisites are satisfied with appropriate grades or waivers.

Research Opportunities

Undergraduate students in any degree program are able to participate in undergraduate research. Several options exist to show mentored undergraduate research activity on a student’s official transcript. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate research course should consult with their academic advisor to understand how the credit will apply towards the degree requirements. If no credit is needed, students may be eligible to enroll in the 0-credit IDS 4914 course. This course will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office of High Impact Practices and Undergraduate Research (HIPUR) is able to assist with further inquiries.

Advising Information

USF students schedule advising appointments online through USF Archivum Platform. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor each semester to discuss course planning, degree progression, and career preparation.

For questions, MusicAdvise@usf.edu

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