The baccalaureate degrees awarded by the School of Music represent numerous individual programs of study designed to meet diverse professional and personal interests.
Music Education - This program allows the prospective music teacher an opportunity to achieve vocal and instrumental certification in grades K-12 while developing performance and pedagogical skills. Specific program requirements are listed on p. 269.
Performance/Music Education (4½-year program) - The performance standards of this program are the same as for the performance degree, with the additional requirements of the music education program. A special audition of a rigorous nature before a committee is required of students desiring to be performance/music education majors. For entering freshmen, this may occur as their entrance audition to the School of Music. However, most students interested in the performance/music education degree wait until the end of their first or second semester for their audition. In the audition the student must exhibit the potential to fulfill, with distinction, the recital obligations of the program. Specific program requirements are listed on p. 275.
Performance - A special audition of a rigorous nature before a committee is required of students desiring to be performance majors. For entering freshmen, this may occur as their entrance audition to the School of Music. However, most students interested in the performance degree wait until the end of their first or second semester for their audition. In the audition the student must exhibit the potential to fulfill, with distinction, the recital obligations of the program. Specific program requirements are listed on p. 282.
Collaborative Emphasis: The performance standards are the same as for the piano performance degree, with additional emphasis on collaborative performance. Students must meet every performance standard (including semi-annual juries, proficiency examinations, and two full solo recitals) expected of piano performance majors. The degree is supplemented with intensive study of foreign languages, diction, chamber music, duo sonata and art song literature, and opera. This program focuses careful attention on the technical and musical skills of the young solo pianist, while providing a solid foundation for further study as a collaborative pianist. Specific program requirements are listed on p. 286.
Recording - This degree program combines rigorous study of music with courses in electroacoustic music, audio production, and music recording. In addition to passing a standard music audition, applicants for this program must have a personal interview with the faculty and staff who teach in the recording program, and submit a letter of recommendation that supports the applicants technical aptitude. Ideally, applicants should have completed advanced mathematics (e.g. trigonometry, calculus), and physics courses. Tape recordings illustrating the applicants' recording expertise may be submitted, but are not required. Specific program requirements are listed on p 289
Music Theory - To be admitted to the music theory degree program, an interview/audition with a committee from the music theory faculty is required. This should be done during the second semester of the freshman year when possible. Each major must maintain a B average in music theory courses required for the major and meet the jury requirements of the performance instrument area. A piano proficiency examination is required at the end of the fifth semester of study. In the event of a piano deficiency, additional study will be required. Questions pertaining to the degree should be addressed to the chair of the department. Specific program requirements are listed on p. 295.
Composition - Students wishing to major in composition must submit some representative scores (at least two) of their compositions and, if possible, a recording of these works. Prospective majors must pass a performance audition on their major instrument. Although students may apply and be accepted into the major as freshmen, most are admitted after they have completed a year of composition study at Ithaca College. Every student, however, must pass a review by the composition faculty after one year in the program in order to continue as a composition major. Specific program requirements are listed on p. 298.
All undergraduate composition majors must take a piano proficiency examination by the end of their junior year of study. Graduate students must take the exam during the first year of study. The exam should be scheduled by the student with the composition faculty. The exam is pass/fail. A failure will require the student to retake the exam. The exam may be taken a maximum of three times. Failure to pass the exam will cause the student to be dropped from the composition program.
· Unprepared portion: Sight-read in a reasonable tempo and with consistent rhythm a Bach four-part chorale; accompany in any style a given melody; improvise, utilizing various piano textures, a convincing short composition of approximately two minutes duration; extract and perform the basic harmonic/chordal movement from a portion of a classic period orchestral score.
· Prepared portion: Perform any Bach two or three part invention; perform any Debussy prelude.
Music in Combination with an Outside Field - This program allows students to combine the bachelor of music with a sequence of courses in another discipline. Specific program requirements are listed on p. 291.
Jazz Studies - This program provides the opportunity for students to major in jazz studies, although, with the exception of jazz guitar majors, the private performance lessons are in the classical idiom. Jazz guitar majors may study the electric instrument in the jazz idiom for this degree but must audition on both the nylon-string classical guitar and the electric guitar. Specific program requirements are listed on p. 293.
Undeclared - This option provides the opportunity for incoming students to begin study in the School of Music while deciding on a specific degree program. Generally, undeclared students follow the music education curriculum for the individual's specific instrument. Students must decide on a degree program by the fifth semester of study. It is not possible to graduate as an undeclared music major.
Music - This program provides the opportunity for students to major in music and to pursue substantive studies in the liberal arts. Specific program requirements are listed on p. 300.
Musical Theater - This is a performance-based professional program designed for the student who is interested in a career in musical theater. The program, a joint offering of the Department of Theatre Arts in the School of Humanities and Sciences and the School of Music, offers students the option of either a vocal or dance concentration within the context of an acting major. A combined theater/music audition is required of all students interested in this degree (cross-listed under the Department of Theatre Arts, School of Humanities and Sciences). Specific program requirements are listed on p. 225.
This program allows the prospective music teacher an opportunity to achieve vocal and instrumental certification in grades K-12 while developing performance and pedagogical skills.
Senior Block Student Teaching: Vocal or Instrumental (552-46800 or 552-46900) represents the cumulative experience in the music education curriculum. A total commitment on the part of the student teacher to his or her senior teaching assignment is expected by Ithaca College. The student teacher is not involved in private lessons, rehearsals, seminars, or performances in the School of Music during the student teaching assignment. Eligibility for senior student teaching involves the following prerequisites. (specific program requirements are listed on p. 269):
· A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.30
· Successful completion of music theory courses 551-13100, 551-13200, 551-23100, and 551-23200
· Successful completion of sightsinging courses 551-13300, 551-13400, 551-23300, and 551-23400
· A minimum cumulative average of C+ in major performance area
· Completion of Choral Conducting (552-30100 and 552-30200), or Instrumental Conducting (552-30300 and 552-30400) with a minimum cumulative average of C+
· Completion of Student Teaching and Seminar: Vocal (552-36900 and 552-37000) or Student Teaching and Seminar: Instrumental (552-37100 and 552-37200) with a minimum cumulative average of C+
· Successful completion of core subjects in each of the following emphases:
A. Vocal Emphasis
1. Classroom Instruments (552-34600) with a minimum grade of C+.
2. Music in the Elementary School (552-36700) with a minimum grade of C+.
3. General and Choral Music in the Secondary School (552-36800) with a minimum grade of C+.
B. Instrumental Emphasis
1. Secondary instruments through the junior year with a minimum cumulative average of C+
2. String Pedagogy (552-34700) for string majors with a minimum grade of C+
· Successful completion of proficiency examinations in each emphasis. These exams are normally completed during Block I of the spring semester of the junior year. For proficiency requirements see pp. 4-7 of the Student Teaching Handbook.
Students who fail to achieve the above academic criteria must meet with the department chair to arrange the necessary remedial course work.
The senior student teaching program is based on the belief that certain competencies fundamental to successful teaching can best be fostered in the environment in which the teaching will generally occur. Therefore, the senior student teaching program is a cooperative effort on the part of this institution and cooperating secondary schools. An application requesting a student teaching assignment must be submitted by the student by February 15 of the academic year immediately preceding the student teaching assignment. Students are required to preregister for Senior Block Teaching: Vocal (552-46800) or Senior Block Teaching: Instrumental (552-46900) during the semester immediately preceding the student teaching assignment. Student teaching is to be completed during the fall (block I or II) or in the spring (block II). Vacation periods coincide with the calendar of the cooperating school district during the assignment. Students are not assigned to teach in a public school they have attended as students.
Students are encouraged to live in the community or the school district where they are assigned to teach. Although the student is not charged for meals during the student teaching assignment period, a charge is assessed for on-campus housing commitments that students have made. Arrangements for housing in the assigned community are the responsibility of the student teacher. Help in making housing arrangements can be sought through the cooperating teacher, the principal's or superintendent's offices, local real estate agencies, or former student teachers. Commuting any great distance, especially from Ithaca, may be dangerous, time consuming, and could lead to an inadequate teaching experience. Most cooperating teachers are involved in some evening and weekend teaching duties and the student teacher is expected to participate in all of these duties. Married students, if they desire, may be placed in schools close to Ithaca as a convenience to their families.
Vocal-instrumental crossover is available for students who want to have a teaching experience in the vocal or instrumental area opposite to that of their major performance field. Performance credits remain in the original major with curricular adjustments as described below.
Piano, voice, or guitar majors electing an instrumental crossover must have performance capability on a wind, string, or percussion instrument equal to Grade IV level of the NYSSMA manual. This is determined by audition with the chair of the music education department, the appropriate performance faculty member, and a member of the instrumental music education faculty. The audition determines the amount of study necessary on that instrument. Provision for a second private lesson is made in the program for four semesters. Private lessons beyond a fourth semester are subject to the elective private lesson fee. Membership is required in a major instrumental performing group (on the second instrument) each semester, and in choral ensemble for two semesters. The student must follow the curriculum of music education - instrumental.
Wind, string, or percussion majors electing a vocal crossover must audition with the chair of the music education department, the appropriate performance faculty member, and a member of the vocal music education faculty either on piano or in voice. They must complete two years of private voice study unless waived by the audition committee. Deficiencies may demand further study in private lessons subject to the elective applied music fee. Membership in choral ensemble is required each semester, and in instrumental ensemble for two semesters. The student must follow the curriculum of music education - vocal.
Students in the crossover program enroll for 3 credits of private instruction on the major instrument/voice; they have a weekly half-hour lesson, attend weekly repertoire class, and perform a jury at the end of the semester. Students in the crossover program must enroll for 1 credit of private instruction on the crossover instrument/voice; they have a weekly half-hour lesson.
The credits earned in private lessons on the crossover instrument may be counted as music electives.
Credits earned in private lessons on the crossover instrument beyond the four semesters provided for in the program are subject to a private lesson fee in accordance with the schedule shown under "Expenses" (p. 321), and may be counted as music electives.
This program is designed for students who want a program combining both the instrumental and the vocal music education components. Successful completion normally requires nine semesters of study. Procedures follow those outlined under vocal-instrumental crossover but include the academic and pedagogical requirements of both four-year vocal and instrumental programs.
Complete information concerning prerequisite course work, proficiency exams, assignments, procedures and policies, and other information can be found in the Handbook for Senior Student Teaching in Music Education.
