Program Requirements

The Music (B.A.) curriculum offers a basic education in music with two options for concentration: Commercial Music, or Composition. In addition, this degree offers the opportunity to minor in a non-music area. The Music Education major leads to Pennsylvania certification to teach all areas of music in public schools. The Music Performance major gives students the opportunity to focus on performance skills. Music (Music and Worship) prepares students to lead worship ministry through music in a local church.

Music Application and Audition. An audition is required of all students who wish to major in music. After acceptance into the University as an entering student, a prospective music major should schedule a music audition through the Music Office. Specific audition requirements vary based on intended degree, concentration and major performing area. Please visit www.messiah.edu/music for a complete detailed listing of audition requirements. From the Department of Music homepage, choose “Prospective Students.”

Concert Attendance and Performance Expectations. Each semester in residence, all music majors, with the exception of Music (Business) and Music (Music and Worship), are required to register for MUSI 001 Concert Attendance. This is a period devoted to solo and small group performance. At the beginning of each semester, students will be given a schedule of Wednesday meetings of Concert Attendance (generally 6 per semester) which students are required to attend, and at which, attendance will be taken. Additionally, students will be required to choose and attend any 8 departmentally approved performances (in which they are not a performer) each semester. All music majors, except those in the Music (Business) and Music (Music and Worship) degrees, will also perform a jury in their applied performance area at the end of each semester in which they are registered for applied lessons.

Keyboard Proficiency Policy. All music majors, except those in the Music (Business) and Music (Music and Worship) degrees, will register for Keyboard I in order to prepare for the Piano Proficiency Exam. Students who successfully pass the Piano Proficiency Exam at the end of the Fall semester will fulfill the other keyboard credit with any music course. Students who do not pass (or attempt) the Piano Proficiency exam in the fall will register for Keyboard II in the Spring semester. Students who do not pass the Piano Proficiency Exam at the end of the Spring Semester, will register for MUAP Piano lessons until the exam is passed at the end of their Sophomore year or second year as a music major. Students are allowed three attempts to pass the Piano Proficiency Exam.

Music Ensemble Requirements. All Music Majors (B.A./B.S./B.M) are required to earn a specific number of credits in music ensembles (MUEN) to fulfill graduation requirements, based on degree type and concentration.

Additionally, most majors require a particular distribution of MUEN participation based on major, concentration and applied performance area.

Students may register for either .5 credit or for 0 credits for music ensembles, but they MUST complete both the total number of MUEN credits and meet the distribution requirement of ensemble participation. For example, a string performance student doesn’t need 4 credits of MUEN 121 Symphony Orchestra, but they must register and participate in 8 semesters of the ensemble. They might register for zero credits during some semesters.