;

**Review** Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026

Music B.M. – Instrumental Performance Concentration

Program Overview

College of Performing and Visual Arts

Contact: Dr. Carissa Reddick, Director, School of Music

Location: Frasier Hall 108

Telephone: 970-351-2993

Fax: 970-351-1923

Website: arts.unco.edu/music

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of three parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

The Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance is designed to support development of skills, concepts, and sensitivity essential to a professional musician. It also prepares students for graduate study in music.

Program Admission Requirements

  • Students planning to major in performance are required to audition for admission to the School of Music. Current School of Music admission guidelines and audition requirements are available at: arts.unco.edu/music/apply/.
  • Minimum Proficiencies. Minimum proficiency in music fundamentals and ear training as assessed by the Music Theory Placement Exam to enter MUS 113/114.

Program Requirements:

In all MUS courses, a student must receive C- or better to fulfill degree requirements.

  • Any student receiving lower than a C- in a MUS prefix class for the second time in the same class will be placed on probation. If the student receives lower than a C- a third time in the same class, the student will be removed from the major.
  • After students have fulfilled the requirements for applied lessons in their degree, additional applied lessons will be at the discretion of the studio teacher and Director.
  • All students enrolled in lessons must enroll in a major ensemble. Students that do not have a major ensemble required for the duration of the degree program should follow their degree requirements.
  • Any student receiving a grade below a C- in applied lessons will be placed on probation. A second semester of a grade below a C- in applied lessons will result, upon consent from the area, in removal from the major.
  • A half Junior Recital and full Senior Recital are required for all concentrations.
  • The student must pass an upper-level qualifying examination, before they may enroll in the 400-level instruction. This examination is to be taken by the end of the fourth semester of 200-level instruction. If the student does not pass this examination on the first try, they may retake it once in the subsequent semester. If the student does not pass a second time, they will be removed from the degree.
  • 8 credits of 400-level of instruction (individual instruction) are required.
  • A minimum of 30 non-MUS prefix credits must be taken for the degree.

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits

To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the required major credits.

Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.

Written Communication — 6 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Written Communication courses

Mathematics — 3 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Mathematics courses

Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] –15 Credits

To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.

MUS 143 and MUS 243 are recommended to fulfill Arts & Humanities requirements and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

Select any non-MUS-prefix courses from Arts & Humanities, History and Social & Behavioral Sciences to fulfill the remaining 9 credits as needed of this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list, including at least one course with an IS designation and one course with a MS designation.

See Arts & Humanities, History and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses

Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Natural & Physical Sciences courses

See Liberal Arts Curriculum

2. Required Major — 89 credits

Take all of the following courses:

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 113Music Theory I

3

MUS 114Aural Skills and Sight Singing I

1

MUS 115Music Theory II

3

MUS 116Aural Skills and Sight Singing II

1

MUS 143Musical Styles and ContextLAA1

3

MUS 160Class Piano I

1

MUS 161Class Piano II

1

MUS 213Music Theory III

3

MUS 214Aural Skills and Sight Singing III

1

MUS 215Music Theory IV

3

MUS 216Aural Skills and Sight Singing IV

1

MUS 243History of Music ILAA1

3

MUS 244History of Music II

3

MUS 260Class Piano III

1

MUS 302Form and Analysis

3

MUS 303Instrumentation

2

MUS 307History of Instruments and Instrumental Practice

3

MUS 319Instrumental Techniques and Conducting

2

MUS 426Orchestral Excerpts

1

MUS 100 - take 8 semesters

MUS 426: Take 2 credits. Guitar majors may substitute music electives in consultation with their advisor.

Individual Instruction — 16 credits

Choose one of the following based on your instrument:

Strings

Take 8 credits of each of the courses below:

MUS 273Individual Instruction in Strings

2

MUS 473Continuing Individual Instruction in Strings

2

Harp or Guitar

Take 8 credits of each of the courses below:

MUS 278Individual Instruction in Harp or Guitar

2

MUS 478Continuing Individual Instruction in Harp or Guitar

2

Woodwinds

Take 8 credits of each of the courses below:

MUS 274Individual Instruction in Woodwinds

2

MUS 474Continuing Individual Instruction in Woodwinds

2

Brass

Take 8 credits of each of the courses below:

MUS 275Individual Instruction in Brass

2

MUS 475Continuing Individual Instruction in Brass

2

Percussion

Take 8 credits of each of the courses below:

MUS 276Individual Instruction in Percussion

2

MUS 476Continuing Individual Instruction in Percussion

2

Ensembles — 12-15 credits

Take 12-15 credits of ensembles, based on your instrument.

Major Musical Organization

1

MUS 230Small Ensembles and Chamber Music

1

MUS 430Small Ensembles and Chamber Music

1

Ensemble Course

1

Strings:Take 8 semesters of Major Musical Organization, and take MUS 230 and/or MUS 430 7 times. String students may take MUS 221/421 and/or MUS 228/MUS 448 and/or MUS 229/MUS 429 toward the MUS 230/MUS 430 requirement up to 4 times.

Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion: Take 8 semesters of Major Musical Organization, and take MUS 230 and/or MUS 430 4 times. Wind, Brass, and Percussion students may substitute MUS 221/MUS 421, MUS 228/MUS 448, and/or MUS 229/MUS 429 toward the MUS 230/MUS 430 requirement up to 2 times in consultation with their advisor.

Guitar: Take 8 semesters of MUS 230 and 4 semesters of any ensemble outside of MUS 230.

Music Technology, Business, Industry — 3-4 credits

Take one course from each of the following categories for a total of 3-4 credits:

Music Technology
MUS 209Introduction to Music Technology

2

MUS 313Digital Composition

2

MUS 343Recording Techniques

2

MUS 403Acoustics of Music

2

Music Business and Industry
MUS 251Survey of the Music Business

2

PVA 110Starting a Career in the Arts

1

Remaining Major — 14-18 credits

Take 14-18 credits as needed of any MUS-prefix courses.

3. University-Wide Credits — 0-6 credits*

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 0-6 credits.

*Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.

Four Year Plan

This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.

Year 1 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 113Music Theory I

3

MUS 114Aural Skills and Sight Singing I

1

MUS 160Class Piano I

1

Individual Instruction Course

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Liberal Arts Curriculum

4

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 115Music Theory II

3

MUS 116Aural Skills and Sight Singing II

1

MUS 143Musical Styles and ContextLAA1

3

MUS 161Class Piano II

1

Ensemble Course

1

Individual Instruction Course

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Year 2 – 34 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 213Music Theory III

3

MUS 214Aural Skills and Sight Singing III

1

MUS 243History of Music ILAA1

3

MUS 260Class Piano III

1

Ensemble Course

1

Individual Instruction Course

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Major Elective

2

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:17

Spring Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 215Music Theory IV

3

MUS 216Aural Skills and Sight Singing IV

1

MUS 244History of Music II

3

Ensemble Course

1

Individual Instruction Course

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Major Elective

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:17

Year 3 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 302Form and Analysis

3

MUS 319Instrumental Techniques and Conducting

2

MUS 426Orchestral Excerpts

1

Ensemble Course

1

Individual Instruction Course

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Major Elective

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 307History of Instruments and Instrumental Practice

3

MUS 426Orchestral Excerpts

1

Individual Instruction Course

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Major Elective

2

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

University-Wide Elective

2

Total Credit Hours:14

Year 4 – 26 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

Individual Instruction Course

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Major Elective

3

Major Elective

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:12

Spring Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 303Instrumentation

2

Individual Instruction Course

2

Major Musical Organization

1

Major Elective

3

Major Elective

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Advising Notes –

  • This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete your bachelor’s degree in 4 years. You will meet with the School of Music Retention Coordinator and your faculty advisor every semester to track your progress.

Back to Top