School of Music

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The School of Music at Campbellsville University serves as a vital part of the University, focusing on music training while promoting creative and professional work in music. The School of Music offers music programs that align with the University’s mission, core values, and goals.

The School of Music aims to broaden the education of every student at the University by providing a wide range of experiences in music; offering class instruction that develops an understanding of music as a communicative art, its role in life, and its value to the individual; and providing specialized training in musical skills.

The School of Music promotes the development of students preparing for careers as professional performers, teachers, or church musicians by offering competency-based courses that establish a technical and broad cultural foundation. These courses equip music students in their specific fields of interest and pursuit.

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 concentration area in this program is either Music or an emphasis on Theory-Composition.

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

Accreditation

Campbellsville University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

Programs of Study

Music (leading to the Bachelor of Arts)

This program focuses on music in general, without specialization in 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 and 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 music theory and composition. Students who wish to pursue more flexibility in selecting 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 and 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 Scholarships

Music scholarships of varying amounts are awarded based on the student’s abilities and availability to participate in musical ensembles. Auditions are held throughout the year. For more 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. These performances include, but are not limited to, recitals by faculty, students, guest artists, and concerts by large and small vocal, choral, and instrumental ensembles.

Music majors must 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 must attend at least 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 their 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. If the student has made satisfactory progress and shows the potential to complete the upper-level courses satisfactorily, they will be approved to pursue the completion of a degree in music.

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 Proficiency

Undergraduate music students who have not passed MUS 143 Voice Class I or an applied voice jury must take a Vocal Proficiency Examination. The Vocal Proficiency must be completed before the student’s 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.

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