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Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

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Music B.M. – Piano Concentration

Program Overview

College of Performing and Visual Arts

Contact: Lei Weng, D.M.A., Head, Keyboard Area

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 Piano 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 piano 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.
  • Students are required to take MUS 100 8 times.
  • After students have fulfilled the requirements for lessons in their degree, additional lessons will be at the discretion of the studio teacher and Director.
  • Any student receiving a grade below a C- in lessons will be placed on probation. A second semester of a grade below a C- in lessons will result, upon consent from the area, in removal from the major.
  • A half Junior Recital and full Senior Recital are required.
  • 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.
  • 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 80 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. 

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 — 80 credits

Take all of the following (64 credits):

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 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 271Individual Instruction in Piano

2
MUS 302Form and Analysis

3
MUS 323Choral Techniques and Conducting

2
MUS 348Accompanying and Coaching I

2
MUS 349Accompanying and Coaching II

2
MUS 352Piano Pedagogy I

2
MUS 353Piano Pedagogy II

2
MUS 403Acoustics of Music

2
MUS 415Keyboard Literature I

2
MUS 416Keyboard Literature II

2
MUS 471Continuing Individual Instruction in Piano

2
Major Musical Organization

4

MUS 100: Take 8 times

MUS 271: Take 8 credits

MUS 471: Take 8 credits 

Ensembles (4 credits)

Choose 4 credits from the following:

MUS 228UNC Early Music Ensemble

1
MUS 229UNC Contemporary Music Ensemble

1
MUS 230Small Ensembles and Chamber Music

1
MUS 429UNC Contemporary Music Ensemble

1
MUS 430Small Ensembles and Chamber Music

1
MUS 448UNC Early Music Ensemble

1

Take two of the following music technology or industry courses (3-4 credits)

MUS 209Introduction to Music Technology

2
MUS 251Survey of the Music Business

2
MUS 313Digital Composition

2
MUS 343Recording Techniques

2
PVA 110Starting a Career in the Arts

1

Remaining Major (8-9 credits)

Take 8-9 credits from MUS-prefix coursework.

3. University-Wide Credits — 9 credits*

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 9 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 143Musical Styles and ContextLAA1

3
MUS 271Individual Instruction in Piano

2
Ensemble Course

1
Major Elective

1
Major Musical Organization

1
Liberal Arts Curriculum

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 271Individual Instruction in Piano

2
Ensemble Course

1
Major Elective

1
Major Musical Organization

1
Liberal Arts Curriculum

3
University-Wide Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:15

Year 2 – 33 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 271Individual Instruction in Piano

2
Ensemble Course

1
Major Elective

2
Major Musical Organization

1
University-Wide Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:16

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
MUS 271Individual Instruction in Piano

2
Ensemble Course

1
Major Elective

3
Major Musical Organization

1
Liberal Arts Curriculum

3
Total Credit Hours:17

Year 3 – 28-32 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0
MUS 302Form and Analysis

3
MUS 323Choral Techniques and Conducting

2

MUS 348Accompanying and Coaching I

2
and
MUS 352Piano Pedagogy I

2
or
MUS 415Keyboard Literature I

2

MUS 471Continuing Individual Instruction in Piano

2
Liberal Arts Curriculum

4
Total Credit Hours:13-15

Piano Core: Take MUS 348 and MUS 352 (offered Fall even years, e.g., Fall 2024) or MUS 415 (offered Fall odd years, e.g., Fall 2025)

Spring Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 349Accompanying and Coaching II

2
and
MUS 353Piano Pedagogy II

2
or
MUS 416Keyboard Literature II

2

MUS 471Continuing Individual Instruction in Piano

2
Major Elective

2
Liberal Arts Curriculum

3
Liberal Arts Curriculum

3
University-Wide Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:15-17

Piano Core: Take MUS 349 and MUS 353 (offered Spring odd years, e.g., Spring 2025) or MUS 416 (offered Spring even years, e.g., Spring 2024)

Year 4 – 25-29 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0
MUS 348Accompanying and Coaching I

2
and
MUS 352Piano Pedagogy I

2
or
MUS 415Keyboard Literature I

2
MUS 403Acoustics of Music

2
MUS 471Continuing Individual Instruction in Piano

2
Liberal Arts Curriculum

3
University-Wide Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:12-14

Piano Core: Take MUS 348 and MUS 352 (offered Fall even years, e.g., Fall 2024) or MUS 415 (offered Fall odd years, e.g., Fall 2025)

Spring Semester

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0
MUS 349Accompanying and Coaching II

2
and
MUS 353Piano Pedagogy II

2
or
MUS 416Keyboard Literature II

2
MUS 471Continuing Individual Instruction in Piano

2
Major Elective

3
Liberal Arts Curriculum

3
University-Wide Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:13-15

Piano Core: Take MUS 349 and MUS 353 (offered Spring odd years, e.g., Spring 2025) or MUS 416 (offered Spring even years, e.g., Spring 2024)

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. 

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