Department of Music

Special Admission Requirements—Undergraduate All new entrants to the Department of Music must present a successful audition in voice or on an instrument. Generally, auditions are held according to a published schedule, but special appointments may be arranged where necessary, and applicants may submit tapes when auditions are not feasible. Auditions should include technical exercises, scales and arpeggios, and at least three compositions of different periods and in different styles.

Students wishing to be admitted to freshman classification as majors in applied music areas must demonstrate on:

Piano, the ability to play any scale or arpeggio in moderately rapid tempo, hands together; standard studies, such as Czerny, Op. 299, Bk. 1; easier classical sonatas; a short romantic work; and a work by Bach equivalent to an Invention or Prelude and Fugue.

Organ, no previous study of the organ, but the same entrance requirements as piano majors.

Violin, the ability to perform studies of the difficulty of Kreutzer Etudes and works of the grade of the Viotti Concerto in G Major 3 and the Mozart Third Concerto in G Major.

Voice, a good natural voice and the ability to sing simple songs on pitch with correct phrasing and musical intelligence, and sing from memory 2 selections of contrasting styles.

Orchestral instruments, a thorough knowledge of the basic technique of the chosen instrument; students must bring their own instruments; previous study of piano desirable.

Students wishing to be admitted to freshman classification as majors in jazz studies must demonstrate:

A thorough knowledge of the basic technique of the chosen instrument; basic improvisation skills as they relate to standard jazz literature.

Academic Minors

A music student may elect to pursue an academic minor in other undergraduate schools and colleges at Howard University. Such minors will usually require 18 hours of credit which may be taken concurrently with the prescribed music curriculum. Students electing an academic minor may expect to add 6 to 12 hours to the number normally required for graduation. The selection of an academic minor must be declared in writing and submitted to the music advisor and the student must consult with the appointed advisor in the academic field. The academic minor does not replace music minors required in the various curricula.

Private Lessons

Private lessons are available to non-music majors at a fee set by the University.

Special Degree Requirements—Undergraduate Students Practice studios are provided by the Department of Music for authorized persons only. Students enrolled in applied music courses are expected to practice daily.

Recital attendance is an important part of the music student’s training and is required for 75 percent of all Department of Music sponsored recitals in each semester. A grade of unsatisfactory (U) will result if this minimum requirement is not met. Department of Music sponsored recitals include the weekly student recitals, senior recitals, faculty recitals, and recitals and lectures by visiting artists.A student receiving an unsatisfactory (U) grade in Student Recital must complete satisfactorily a 3-credit music course outside of the curricular requirements, selected by the student with the advisor’s approval. A request for change of applied music instructor may be considered before the junior year and may not be made without permission of the Department of Music chairman. The Performance Examination (jury) is required each semester of all students who have completed two full semesters of Applied Music study at the major or minor level. In the area of Ear Training, students are required to pass a Comprehensive Examination following MUSB 004 and MUSB 012 in order to pass these courses.The Technical Examination is a comprehensive examination required of students taking major or minor courses in Applied Music.

The Proficiency Examination is required of non-keyboard music majors enrolled in Functional Piano courses for two years. This examination is also required of all music education majors as a prerequisite for student teaching. It may be taken at the end of any semester during the freshman or sophomore year upon recommendation of the piano instructor. Additional study, which may be required to pass the proficiency examination, will be on a noncredit basis.

Performance requirements in the form of recital appearances are made by the students in their area of specialization. Recital descriptions and requirements follow.

Major Qualifying Recital: a 30- to 40-minute qualifying recital in the second semester of the sophomore year, required of students who desire certification for upper-level study as Applied Music majors.

Senior Major Recital: a solo recital, of at least one hour in length, required of all graduating seniors in applied music.

Senior Minor Recital: given jointly by two students (in exceptional cases, three students). Music education majors of special attainment in their Applied minor may be granted permission to give a full recital, upon recommendation of their instructor and approval of the applied music faculty.

Student Recital: weekly Recital is essentially a “performance laboratory.” Beginning with the sophomore year, majors in applied music are required to appear on student recitals twice each semester. Applied music minors must appear at least once each year beginning in the sophomore year.Ensembles: all music students must participate for six semesters in a large ensemble of their area of performance, and two semesters in a small ensemble of their choice The following ensemble experiences are available according to categories: Orchestral Instruments-Concert Band, Marching Band, Orchestra (available through the Consortium); Vocal-University Choir, University Chorale, University Collegium; Keyboard -accompaniment for large and small ensembles; Jazz Studies -Jazz Ensembles; Music Education (Instrumental) -Orchestra is required for 6 semesters for string players. Six semesters of Band are required for wind and percussion players.

The following individual degrees and course requirements are subject to revision. Please note for senior standing of Music Education majors it is required to pass piano, sight singing, and teaching proficiency. In addition one must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.5, and a minimum 2.5 in Music Education and Education courses.