Music, BM with EC-12 Teacher Certification

Music Degree Programs

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi offers three distinct degree programs, a minor in music, and a minor in music industry.

• Music, BA 
• Music, BM with EC-12 Teacher Certification 
• Performance (Instrumental), BM 
• Performance (Voice), BM 

The mission of the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Department of Music is to assist students in the development of their aural, aesthetic, and analytical capacities in music. This mission is accomplished within a nurturing, student-centered environment where faculty and students strive together for attainment of the following program goals:

1. To prepare music majors for successful professional careers in music education, studio teaching, music industry, and performance;
2. To provide music courses for all students that will acquaint them with fundamental music skills, various musical styles, historical periods and literature, the functions of music in the community, and to provide opportunities to participate in the live performance of music;
3. To encourage students to be continually aware of music as an art form, and to seek opportunities for creative experiences and personal enrichment that are inherent in the study, performance, and production of music; and
4. To contribute to the artistic and cultural life of the community by providing public concerts and recitals, and other forms of appropriate musical involvement of faculty and students.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

Music Courses Designed Specifically for Non-Majors

Music course offerings of special interest to students majoring in fields outside music include various kinds of ensemble experience:

Admission to Music Degree Programs

Degree-seeking music majors are expected to perform at increasingly higher levels of technical and artistic performance throughout the course of undergraduate study. Assessment of growth in performance is accomplished at the final examination for each semester of Principal Studio enrollment. This consists of a performance before a jury committee composed of music faculty members. Jury committees are charged with two tasks: first, they recommend an advisory jury grade to each student’s studio teacher, and second, they determine if students will pass to the next course in the studio sequence. In order to avoid a situation in which a student attempts the pursuit of a music degree for which there is little or no practical hope of success, the following procedures governing admission to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi music degree programs are closely followed.

All music majors share a common first-year music course enrollment, consisting of Musicianship I and II, Aural Training I and II, Class Piano I and II, First Year Principal Applied Studio I and II, and an appropriate major ensemble. The jury examination for First Year Principal Applied Studio II will serve as an application audition for the Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Music with Teacher Certification. Jury committees will approve applications based upon the jury performance and recommendation of the student’s principal studio instructor. Because the Bachelor of Arts program is more broadly focused and not as dependent upon performance, students who are not accepted into the Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Music with Teacher Certification programs may continue with the BA. Transfer students who have completed two or more semesters of principal studio at another institution should audition for admission to the BM or BMTC degrees at auditions held during the first week of classes each semester for that purpose. Students may attempt to qualify for the Bachelor of Music or the Bachelor of Music with Teacher Certification program only twice.

Ensemble Participation and Requirements

1. Every full-time music major must enroll, participate and receive a passing grade in a major ensemble every semester except the student teaching semester.
2. Major ensemble requirements must be satisfied in the following ways:
   • A student in any instrumental music degree program whose major instrument is a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument must register for MUEN 1122 Concert Band (1 sch)/MUEN 3122 Concert Band (1 sch), MUEN 1123 Symphonic Winds (1 sch)/MUEN 3123 Symphonic Winds (1 sch) and/or MUEN 1124 Concert Orchestra (1 sch)/MUEN 3124 Concert Orchestra (1 sch) or as assigned by the instrumental ensemble directors and the applied teacher, based on auditions as required.
   • A student in any instrumental music degree program whose major instrument is an orchestral stringed instrument must register for MUEN 1124 Concert Orchestra (1 sch)/MUEN 3124 Concert Orchestra (1 sch) or
   • A student in any vocal/choral/general music degree program must register for MUEN 1151 University Singers (1 sch)/MUEN 3151 University Singers (1 sch) or MUEN 1153 Chamber Choir (1 sch)/MUEN 3153 Chamber Choir (1 sch) as assigned by the choral ensemble director and the applied music teacher, based on auditions as required.
   • Pianists or guitarists in instrumental music degree normally enroll in MUEN 1151 University Singers (1 sch)/MUEN 3151 University Singers (1 sch) to fulfill the ensemble requirement. If they play a wind band or orchestral instrument well enough, they may enroll in concert band or orchestra instead.
3. Exceptions to these policies will be made only with the approval of the student’s applied teacher, the Department Chair and the appropriate ensemble director.

Policy on Course Substitutions

At times, it may be necessary for a student nearing graduation to substitute a secondary applied lesson for a techniques course when there are class scheduling conflicts.  In such cases, the students may be allowed to enroll in an applied lesson with the instructor or instructors in that area in lieu of that specific methods course.  Courses may include Woodwind Techniques I (MUSI 3166), Woodwind Techniques II (MUSI 3167), Brass Techniques I (MUSI 3168), Brass Techniques II (MUSI 3169), Voice Techniques (MUSI 3170), Percussion Techniques (MUSI 3188), and String Techniques (MUSI 3189).  These substitutions are exceptions to be determined on a case-by-case basis by permission of the Music Department Chair.

Policy on Repeated Music Courses

Students majoring and/or minoring in music will have three opportunities to earn a “C” or better in all MUSI, MUAP, MUEN and MIND courses required on the student’s degree program/plan.  Students who do not earn a “C” or better on the third attempt of a class will not be allowed to continue in courses restricted to music majors and minors, with the exception of non-major applied lessons and ensembles.

Program Description

Bachelor of Music with Teacher Certification

This is the appropriate professional degree for students who seek careers in elementary and/or secondary music education. Degree tracks in vocal and instrumental music are available. This degree leads to Texas EC-12 teacher certification in music.

The Bachelor of Music with Teacher Certification curriculum has been designed to ensure reasonable competence in all graduates, but it is rigorous and time consuming. Although the program can be completed in 9 regular semesters, it requires very heavy course loads to do so. Students whose personal learning styles do not respond well to such pressure, or those who must continue partial employment, should consider attending several summer sessions and/or extending their programs to 10 full semesters. In all cases, however, students are strongly urged to consult with the Music Department Chair or their assigned faculty advisor prior to beginning the program and frequently throughout.

All students seeking the Bachelor of Music with Teacher Certification degree must complete a 122 hr. set of Common Requirements consisting of the Core Curriculum Program (42 hrs.), Common Musicianship coursework (40 hrs.), Common Pedagogy Core (10 hrs.), and Teacher Education Core (27 hrs.). In addition, a 10 hr. Track Specific Techniques Block must be completed.

Student Learning Outcomes

Student will:

• be able to assess and critique student performances
• have knowledge of music theory, history, literature, and culture
• be able to structure and apply appropriate music pedagogy to form effective instruction in classrooms or ensembles

Specific Degree Requirements

All music majors must meet all general University and College graduation requirements, including First Year Seminars, regardless of the following specific degree requirements, unless specifically excused. All music degrees require MUSI 1307 Elements of Musical Style (3 sch), which also meets the Core Curriculum Program Fine Arts requirement. Understanding and Enjoying Music (MUSI 1306 Understanding and Enjoying Music (3 sch)) cannot count towards any degree requirement of the Bachelor of Music with Teacher Certification. No music coursework with a grade lower than “C” will be counted toward the completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Music, the Bachelor of Music with Teacher Certification, or the Bachelor of Music in Performance, with the following exception. In order to progress to the next level of applied principal lessons (MUAP courses), a student must earn at least an “A” or “B” in his/her lessons and also be recommended to advance by the jury committee. A student who does not advance to the next level of lessons, as recommended by the jury committee, can earn no higher than a “C” in applied music. Students who do not advance in lessons due to their ineligibility to take the Basic Music Skills Assessment due to other factors (i.e. theory sequence issues) are not held to this grading policy.

General Requirements

¹

Full-time, first time in college students are required to take university seminar.

• USSE 1201 University Seminar (2 sch)

Program Requirements

¹

Students with adequate keyboard skills may substitute Secondary Piano Studio courses for Class Piano I-IV with permission of the Music Department Chair.

²

Students are not required to take the instrumental techniques course that includes their own major instrument.

Other Certification Requirements

For more information on teacher certification requirements, see the College of Education section of this catalog. Students should also consult the Certification Office of the College of Education for complete and current information about teacher certification requirements.

Upon satisfactory completion of all subject field and teacher education core courses, a student may register for the subject field certification examination, called TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards). A student wishing to take the TExES prior to program completion must satisfy the following:

1. Make pre-specified acceptable scores on TExES practice tests, or departmental equivalent, and participate in practice test review and analysis session.
2. Provide official permit with signature of Department Chair or designated person for each teaching field on the student’s certification plan.

Students must also qualify to take the Professional Development TExES.

Course Sequencing

Courses

Music Courses

Music Ensemble Courses