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Music Education/K-12 Major

Requirements total 82 hours. This includes the 39 hours from the Music core, 14 hours of additional Music courses, and 29 hours of professional education courses.

Graduation Requirements

In addition to fulfilling all college graduation requirements, BA degree requirements, School of Education requirements, Illinois State Board of Education certification requirements, and major course requirements, in order to graduate with a major in Music Education/K-12, a student must meet the following requirements:

1. Perform a solo entrance audition in his or her intended primary performance medium (i.e., voice, piano, organ, guitar, harp, percussion, or an orchestral string, brass, or woodwind instrument) and gain acceptance into the major
2. Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or more in applied study (i.e., private lessons) in that primary performance medium, completing at least 8 hours of credit in lessons at the 25x, 35x, or 45x level in that medium and enrolling in lessons in that medium during every semester of full-time enrollment in the program
   a. This requirement cannot be met by combining lesson credits in two or more performance media (e.g., voice and piano).
   b. Music Education/K-12 majors who have already completed eight or more semesters of lessons at the 25x, 35x, or 45x level in the primary performance medium with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher are not required to enroll in private lessons in the primary performance medium during the clinical practice semester.
3. Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or more in all courses with the prefixes MUE, MUH, MUT, or MUW (whether required or elective)
4. Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or more in the large ensemble appropriate to the primary performance medium, as assigned by the School of Music—typically MUZ 270 Concert Choir for vocalists and some pianists, organists, and guitarists; MUZ 280 Symphonic Band for brass and woodwind players, percussionists, and some pianists, organists, and guitarists; or MUZ 290 Orchestra for string players (including harpists, but not guitarists)—enrolling in that ensemble during every semester of full-time enrollment in the program
   a. In addition to regular on-campus rehearsals and performances and participation in the fall performing ensembles retreat:
              i. Enrollment in the Concert Choir requires participation in local church concerts throughout the year, tours during the college spring break and/or the month of May, and in oratorio and music theater rehearsals and performances.
              ii. Enrollment in the Orchestra requires participation in oratorio and music theater rehearsals and performances.
              iii. Enrollment in the Symphonic Band requires participation in local church concerts throughout the year, tours during the college spring break and/or the month of May, and in pep band rehearsals and performances.
   b. This requirement cannot be met by combining credits in two or more ensembles (e.g., choir and band).
   c. Music Education/K-12 majors who have already completed eight or more semesters of enrollment and participation in the assigned large ensemble with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher are not required to enroll in that ensemble during the clinical practice semester.
5. Demonstrate keyboard proficiency appropriate to the major, emphasis area, and primary performance medium (as stipulated by the School of Music) in a practical examination administered by members of the piano faculty (at times scheduled during finals week each semester), enrolling in keyboard skills classes and/or private piano lessons (i.e., MUZ 156, 161, 162, 256, 261, 262, 356, or 456) each semester until all proficiency requirements have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the examiners (or to the satisfaction of the private lesson teacher, for students whose primary performance medium is piano or organ)
6. Declare a secondary concentration area (i.e., either choral or instrumental), and fulfill all requirements of that concentration

Additional Certification Requirements:

Candidates must pass the Illinois Test of Basic Skills and all certification tests in order to complete their program. Candidates are required to comply with all state certification requirements that are in place at the time of application for certification. Consult specific general education requirements listed in the School of Education.

Updated to 2008-09 Catalog