School of Music

Return to: Instructional Program Information

The School of Music of Campbellsville University serves as an instrument of the University in music training and the stimulation of creative and professional work in music. Specifically, the School of Music provides music study within the University’s mission, core values, and goals.

The School of Music attempts to broaden the education of every student in the University by providing a wide range of experiences in music; by offering class instruction, which seeks to develop an understanding of music as a communicative art, its place in life, and its value to the individual; and by offering specialized training in musical skills.

The School of Music assists students in preparation for careers as professional performers, teachers, or church musicians by providing competency-based courses that lay a technical and broad cultural foundation and equip music students in their fields of interest and endeavor.

The School of Music guides students in attaining academic, spiritual, vocational, cultural, and social values through professional training, musicianship, and the liberal arts concept.

Graduate Study

Master’s degrees are available in music. See the Graduate catalog for information.

Degree Plans

The School of Music offers programs of study leading to the Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree, or the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.

Bachelor of Music: The area of concentration in this program is either Music Education or Vocal Performance.

Bachelor of Arts: The area of concentration in this program is Music in general or Theory-Composition emphasis.

Bachelor of Science: The area of concentration in this program is Worship Arts.

Accreditation

The Campbellsville University School of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

Programs of Study

Music (leading to the Bachelor of Arts)

This program concentrates on music in general, without specialization toward music education, vocal performance or worship arts. It prepares students for graduate study and/or careers in performance, composition, or college/private teaching in music. This is accomplished through the following emphases: (1) developing personal musicianship/performance skills; (2) acquiring knowledge of music literature, music history, and music theory (3) understanding the philosophy of music; and (4) mastering a variety of music-related techniques and methods.

Additionally, this program offers an emphasis in theory and composition.
Students who want more freedom to take courses outside the field of music may be interested in pursuing the Music Area leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree.

Music Education (leading to the Bachelor of Music)
This program prepares students to teach music in primary and secondary schools. This is accomplished through the following emphases: (1) understanding the philosophies of music and music education; (2) mastering techniques and methods for teaching music ; (3) developing personal musicianship/performance skills; and (4) acquiring knowledge of music literature, music history; and music theory.

Vocal Performance (leading to the Bachelor of Music)
This program prepares students for graduate study and/or careers in vocal performance. This is accomplished through the following emphases: (1) developing personal musicianship/performance skills; (2) acquiring knowledge of music literature, music history, and music theory; (3) mastering of voice science, pedagogy, and vocal literature; and (4) mastering a variety of performance-related techniques and methods.

Worship Arts (leading to the Bachelor of Science)
This program prepares and equips students to face the needs of today’s Christian Church. This is accomplished through the following emphases: (1) understanding the role of music in the mission of the twenty-first-century Christian Church; (2) understanding the philosophies of music, worship, and ministry/worship leadership; (3) mastering techniques and methods for music ministry/worship leadership through rigorous training in music and a foundation in biblical studies; (4) developing personal musicianship/performance skills.

Music Performance Grants

Grants in varying amounts are available based on student ability and willingness to participate in two or more musical ensembles. Auditions are held throughout the year. For more specific information, contact the School of Music Office via email (music@campbellsville.edu) or telephone (270-789-5237).

Requirements and Opportunities for Hearing Music

Music students have many opportunities to attend concerts and recitals on and off-campus. The performances include, but are not limited to, recitals by faculty, students, and guest artists and concerts by large and small vocal/choral and instrumental ensembles.

Music majors are required to attend a minimum of 90 recitals and/or concerts before participating in graduation. Students should earn at least 50 recitals by the Sophomore Barrier and 80 recitals before giving a Senior Recital Hearing. Worship Arts majors should earn 80 recitals before enrolling in MUS 420 Internship II.

Music minors are required to attend a minimum of 45 recitals and/or concerts before participating in graduation.

Applied Music (private lessons)

All music students should enroll each semester in applied music until the requirements for the specific degree have been fulfilled. Applied music students must take a jury at the end of each semester; however, jury examinations are not required once a student has completed the number of credit hours required in applied study, nor when applied study is taken as an elective.

All music students taking applied music will perform at least once a semester in an afternoon General Recital. First-year students may be exempt from this requirement (in their first semester of applied studies) at the judgment of their applied instructors.

When a music major is completing half of the applied study, the jury exam serves as the Sophomore Barrier. On this occasion, the music faculty evaluates the student’s progress and potential in both coursework and applied music. After successfully completing this barrier, all music majors pursuing a degree must present a Junior Recital between 20 and 25 minutes.

For B.A. Theory/Composition majors, the sophomore barrier in composition must be completed before the Junior Recital in their applied performance area. The Junior Recital is the culminating performance for BSM Worship Arts students.

All music majors pursuing a B.A. or B.M. degree must perform at least one-half (30 minutes) of an evening recital during their senior year. The music faculty has the discretion to grant permission to students to give a one-hour evening recital.

Piano Proficiency

It is strongly recommended that music majors complete the Piano Proficiency before their junior year or no later than prior to the Senior Recital Hearing. For keyboard majors, completing the Piano Proficiency Exam is a prerequisite to the Sophomore Barrier. All other music majors must have completed Part I of the Piano Proficiency and earned at least 50 recital credits.

Vocal and Conducting Proficiency

Every student who completes a major in music should be able to use effectively their natural instrument, the voice and conduct an ensemble. For this reason, each music major is required to pass Vocal and Conducting Proficiency requirements. These may be met through coursework or by examination. Music majors must fulfill this requirement before their Senior Recital Hearing.

Upper Division

The music faculty reviews the work of all students seeking a degree program in music at the end of their sophomore year. The progress and potential of the student in both course work and applied music will be considered. If in the opinion of the Music Faculty, the student has made satisfactory progress and shows the potential to complete the upper-level courses satisfactorily, s/he will be approved to pursue the completion of a degree in music.

Return to: Instructional Program Information