Music

Department Office
Green Music Center 2040
(707) 664-2324
https://music.sonoma.edu/

For faculty information, please see Faculty or the faculty web page

A commitment to active involvement stands at the heart of the music curriculum. Students are involved in many ways—as listeners, performers, composers, critics, or historians. Intelligent and lively participation informs every facet of the department’s various degree programs.

The core curriculum for music majors provides a thorough foundation in such essential skills as keyboard facility, theoretical understanding, aural perception, and analysis of a wide range of music literature. All majors gain experience with both the intuitive and the intellectual processes of the art. The curriculum is designed to place the specialized study of music to provide a foundation for a multitude of careers in music.

The Music Department has been a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music since 1972.

Entrance Auditions

Acceptance into the major is by audition. In order to be accepted as a music major, one must be admitted to the University and must also successfully complete a Music Department audition.

The Department of Music requires all prospective music majors to complete an audition on their major instrument/voice. Applicants are encouraged to perform the audition in person at one of the on-campus audition dates. Applicants living more than 250 miles from campus may submit a video recorded audition. Audition information, requirements and procedures are located in the “Prospective Students” tab on the Music Department homepage. To schedule an audition, applicants should submit an Audition Application Form, found on the department website.

Applicants to the instrumental and vocal performance, music education, and liberal arts programs should perform two selections in contrasting styles that demonstrate accurate rhythms, pitch control, and interpretive awareness (accompaniment is optional). All applicants will be asked to demonstrate selected major and minor scales, sight reading or sight singing skills, and an understanding of basic music theory. Approximate time is 12-15 minutes.

Applicants to the jazz programs are required to perform two standard jazz selections in contrasting style with an Aebersold-type play-along accompaniment track. Jazz Drummers must demonstrate various styles, including medium and up-tempo swing, jazz waltz and various Latin and/or contemporary rhythms. All applicants will be asked to demonstrate selected major and minor scales, sight reading or sight singing skills, and an understanding of basic music theory.

Applicants to the BM Music Education (Pre-Certification) program should submit a one-page statement communicating why they wish to teach.

Applicants to the BM Composition program must complete an audition on a major instrument or voice and submit two notated scores and recordings of their original work.

Applicants may audition on more than one instrument/voice or musical style.

Scholarships

All auditionees are automatically considered for a variety of music scholarships. Scholarship audition information is available on the department website.

Music Use Fee

A nonrefundable fee of $25 per semester is charged for use of Music Department facilities and equipment. University-owned instruments are available free of charge to students in need.

Advising

All students will be assigned a faculty advisor upon admittance, and are expected to consult with their advisor prior to registering each semester.

Lower-Division Program

The core of the lower-division program for music majors is a comprehensive sequence of courses in musicianship, theory, and music literature. The lower-division core includes courses in theory (with emphases in diatonic and chromatic harmony); musicianship (with emphases in solfege/sight-singing skills, notation dictation, rhythmic training); and history (with emphases in Western and non-Western topics).

A minimum grade of C- is required in the following lower-division music courses:

MUS 106 Theory Fundamentals

MUS 109 Intensive Keyboard I

MUS 209 Intensive Keyboard II

MUS 110 Theory I: Diatonicism

MUS 120 Musicianship I

MUS 133-143 Private Instruction

MUS 147 Private Instruction

MUS 160 A: Musicking I

MUS 160 B: Musicking II

MUS 210 Theory II: Chromaticism

MUS 220 Musicianship II

MUS 212 Jazz Harmony & Arranging I

MUS 292 Jazz Piano

MUS 309A Keyboard Proficiency

Freshman music majors are required to enroll in the First-Year Learning Community courses MUS 160A Musicking I and MUS 160B Musicking II, a yearlong sequence in music that satisfies Lower Division GE Areas A3 Critical Thinking and C2 Humanities. MUS 160B meets the World Music requirement for the major.

Lower-division students are allowed to enroll in 300-level music ensembles.

Upper-Division Program

The upper-division program is designed to integrate studies of theory, musicianship, keyboard and aural skills, music history and analysis. Students who wish to specialize in music education, performance or jazz studies take required courses that develop skills specific to these areas.

MUS 310 Theory III: Form and Analysis and MUS 410 Theory IV: 20th Century Techniques must be taken in residence by all students, including transfer students.

MUS 351 Hist of Western Music: 1750-present is designated as a Writing Intensive Course. Students must pass this course with a minimum grade of C- for the degree program and for the graduate writing requirement.

Proficiency Expectations

Basic performance skills and the ability to read standard music notation are prerequisites for the music major. First-year and transfer students will be given a placement examination in music theory during the audition process to determine eligibility for the core theory and musicianship courses. The Department offers preparatory courses in music theory and basic piano keyboard skills for students who need fundamental development. These courses do not count toward the major.

MUS 106 - Fundamentals of Music Theory

MUS 109 - Intensive Keyboard Lab I

MUS 209 - Intensive Keyboard Lab II

Students in all degree programs must demonstrate basic keyboard proficiency, either through performance or by successfully completing one of the following course sequences:

MUS 309A /MUS 309B - Keyboard Proficiency

MUS 292/MUS 392 - Jazz Piano I & II (required for jazz degree programs)

Basic keyboard proficiency is a prerequisite for enrollment in MUS 110 Theory I: Diatonicism.

MUS 320 Musicianship III is a requirement for upper-division music courses.

BM Jazz Studies majors, whether continuing or transfer students, must complete the following courses in residence:

MUS 312 - Jazz Harmony and Arranging II

MUS 389 - Jazz Improvisation III

MUS 392 - Jazz Piano II

MUS 412 - Jazz Composition

MUS 420 - Musicianship IV

MUS 489 - Jazz Improvisation IV

Ensemble Requirement

The Music Department regards continuous experience in active music-making to be an essential part of college music study. The Department offers a variety of large ensembles and chamber ensembles in vocal and instrumental music. Students in the BM and BA degree programs must:

declare a major instrument or voice upon entering their program of study.

enroll in at least one major ensemble specific to their degree program, each semester in residence. Students may participate in additional ensembles each semester.

Depending on the degree program, each concentration has its own unique ensemble requirements. The following information specifies the ensembles necessary to fulfill the ensemble requirement for each degree program, by concentration.

BA Music, Liberal Arts Concentration

The BA Liberal Arts Music degree program requires a minimum of seven (7) semesters of ensembles (for transfer students, each semester in residence). Students may choose between a variety of major ensembles and chamber/minor ensembles.

BM Composition

The BM Composition degree program requires a minimum of eight 8 semesters in major performing ensembles on a declared instrument or voice (for transfers, each semester in residence).

BM Jazz Studies

The BM Jazz Studies degree program requires a minimum of eight (8) semesters of a major jazz ensemble (for transfers, each semester in residence). Ensemble placements are determined through audition, at the discretion of the Director of Jazz Studies.

The following ensembles meet the requirement for the BM Jazz Studies degree program:

MUS 379 - Latin Jazz Band

MUS 390 - Jazz Orchestra

MUS 391 - Concert Jazz Ensemble

BM Jazz Studies majors must participate in a minimum of one (1) semester of MUS 390 Jazz Orchestra.

In addition to Jazz Studies majors must complete one (1) semester in an instrumental ensemble and one (1) semester in a choral ensemble.

BM in Music Education (Pre-Certification) Choral Track

BM in Music Education (Pre-Certification) Choral Track degree program requires a minimum of eight (8) semesters in major choral ensembles (for transfers, each semester in residence).

The following ensembles meet the requirement for the BM in Music Education (Pre-Certification) Choral Track degree program are:

MUS 323 - Concert Choir

MUS 325 - Symphonic Chorus

In addition to the major ensemble requirement, students in the BM Music Education (Pre-Certification) Choral Track must complete a minimum of one (1) semester in a music theater ensemble.

BM in Music Education (Pre-Certification) Instrumental Track

The BM in Music Education (Pre-Certification) Instrumental Track degree program requires a minimum of eight (8) semesters in major instrumental ensembles (for transfers, each semester in residence).

The following ensembles meet the requirement for the BM in Music Education (Pre-Certification) Instrumental Track program:

MUS 227 - Concert Band (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion)

MUS 326 - Guitar Ensemble (required for Guitar majors)

MUS 327 - Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion)

MUS 328 - Symphony Orchestra (required for Strings)

In addition to the major ensemble requirement, students in the BM in Music Education (Pre-Certification) Instrumental Track must complete a minimum of one (1) semester in a choral ensemble and one (1) semester in a jazz ensemble.

BM in Music Education (Pre-Certification) Instrumental Jazz Track

The BM Music Education (Pre-Certification) Instrumental Jazz Track degree program requires four (4) major instrumental ensembles and four (4) major jazz ensembles (for transfers, two (2) semesters of each).

The following ensembles meet the major instrumental ensemble requirement for the BM in Music Education (Pre-Certification) Instrumental Jazz Track:

MUS 227 - Concert Band (Wind, Brass, Percussion)

MUS 326 - Guitar Ensemble (Guitar majors only)

MUS 327 - Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Wind, Brass, Percussion)

MUS 328 - Symphony Orchestra (Strings)

The following ensembles meet the jazz ensemble requirement for the BM in Music Education (Pre-Certification) Instrumental Jazz Track:

MUS 379 - Latin Jazz Band

MUS 390 - Jazz Orchestra

MUS 391 - Concert Jazz Ensemble

In addition to the major ensemble requirement, students in the BM in Music Education (Pre-Certification) Instrumental Jazz Track must complete one (1) semester in a choral ensemble.

BM Performance, Instrumental Concentration

The BM Performance, Instrumental Concentration requires twelve (12) units of a major ensemble and four (4) units of chamber music or minor ensembles (for transfer students, two ensembles each semester in residence).

The following ensembles meet the major ensemble requirement for BM Instrumental Performance, Instrumental Concentration:

MUS 227 - Concert Band (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion)

MUS 326 - Guitar Ensemble (required for Guitar majors)

MUS 327 - Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion)

MUS 328 - Symphony Orchestra (required for Strings)

The following ensembles meet the minor ensemble requirement the BM Performance, Instrumental Concentration:

MUS 329 - Chamber Music Ensemble

MUS 377 - Brass Ensemble

MUS 378 - Percussion Ensemble

Major ensembles for pianists will be determined in consultation with the department chair and the area coordinator, and must include at least four semesters of MUS 329 Chamber Music Ensemble.

In addition to the major ensemble requirement, students in the BM Instrumental Performance, Instrumental Concentration must complete a minimum of one (1) semester in a choral ensemble.

BM Performance, Vocal Concentration

The BM Performance, Vocal Concentration requires eight (8) semesters of major choral ensembles and eight (8) semesters of music theater ensembles (for transfer students, two ensembles each semester).

The following ensembles meet the major ensemble requirement for BM Performance, Vocal Concentration:

MUS 323 - Concert Choir

MUS 325 - Symphonic Chorus

MUS 330 - Musical Theatre Production

MUS 340 - Musical Theatre Scenes Workshop

In addition to the major ensemble requirement, students in the BM Performance, Vocal Concentration must complete a minimum of one (1) semester in an instrumental ensemble.

Private Instruction

The department provides 60-minute private lessons for students in BM programs and 45-minute lessons for students in BA programs.

Bachelor of Music degree programs in Performance, Music Education and Jazz Studies require eight (8) semesters of private instruction course on a declared instrument or voice (for transfer students, each semester in residence).

The BM Composition degree program requires six (6) semesters of private instruction on a declared instrument or voice and six (6) semesters of private instruction in Composition (for transfer students, private instruction in performance and composition is taken each semester in residence).

Private instruction in the BA Liberal Arts, Music program is optional. Students may take up to eight (8) semesters of private instruction, which are counted as elective units.

Repertory Classes and Forums

The BM Performance and BM Jazz Studies programs require students to enroll in eight (8) semesters of the appropriate Repertory Class (Instrumental/Vocal) or Jazz Forum (for transfer students, each semester in residence).

The BM Music Education (Pre-Certification, all tracks) degree program requires students to enroll in four (4) semesters of the appropriate Repertory Class or Jazz Forum (for transfer students, each semester in residence). Students may enroll in additional semesters of Repertory Class or Jazz Forum.

The BM Composition degree program requires students to enroll in six (6) semesters of the appropriate Repertory Class or Jazz Forum, and one (1) semester of MUS 425 Composition Seminar.

MUS 151/MUS 451 - Instrumental Repertory Class (Instrumentalists)

MUS 151/MUS 451 - Vocal Repertory Class (Vocalists)

MUS 426 - Jazz Forum (Jazz musicians)

Juries

Music majors enrolled in Private Instruction courses are required to pass a juried performance that is adjudicated by the Music Department faculty. The jury is intended to monitor the student’s applied progress, and to determine continuation in the program. Repertoire for the jury is selected by the student in consultation with Applied Faculty and Program Director.

Adjudicators assess the performer’s musicality, technique, interpretation, and professionalism. Expectations are based on each student’s level in the program. The minimum passing score for students in any Bachelor of Music degree program is 75%. The minimum passing score for students in the Bachelor of Arts degree program is 65%. The jury grade constitutes 25% of the student’s private lesson grade.

Probation

Students who fall below jury performance level expectations (below 75% for BM; below 65% for BA) are placed on probationary status the following semester. At the end of the probationary semester, the student must register for two jury slots: one to successfully remediate all deficient material assigned from the previous semester, and another to pass assigned material for the current semester. At the discretion of the faculty, a student on probation may be deemed ineligible for state-supported lessons, and may be required to remediate deficiencies at their own expense.

Continuation Jury

A student who has failed two or more consecutive juries may be dismissed from the program, or reassigned to a different degree program. Bachelor of Music students can become Bachelor of Arts students. Bachelor of Arts students can become Music Minors.

Sophomore Assessment

Sophomore music majors in all degree programs are required to submit a Sophomore Self-Assessment Form during the second semester of the sophomore year, in which they articulate their progress during the first two years in the program. The assessment form, grades, jury scores and overall degree progress are reviewed by the faculty as a means of determining continuation in the program.

Capstone Experience

Students enrolled in the BM Performance (Instrumental and Vocal Concentrations) program must complete a Junior Recital (MUS 397, 1 unit) and a Senior Recital (MUS 491, 2 units). The Junior Recital comprises approximately 30 minutes of music. The Senior Recital comprises approximately 55 minutes of music. Information about Recitals is located under the “Current Students” tab on the Department website.

Students enrolled in the BM in Music Education (Pre-Certification) program must complete a Senior Recital (MUS 491, 1 unit) comprised of approximately 35 minutes of music.

Students enrolled in the BM Jazz Studies must complete a Junior Recital (MUS 397, 1 unit) and a Senior Project (MUS 490, 2 units). The Senior Project is a recital performance, unless otherwise determined by the Director of Jazz Studies.

Students enrolled in the BM Composition program are required to complete a Senior Project (MUS 490, 2 units). The main component of the Senior Project in Composition is the creation of original music, its format is determined by the student’s particular compositional interests and in consultation with the student’s composition instructor.

Students enrolled in the BA Liberal Arts, Music program are required to complete a Senior Project (MUS 490, 2 units). The project may take the form of directed research leading to a lecture-demonstration, a recital, an extended composition, a student-instructed course, the preparation of a performing edition, or another project of substantial effort.

Programs

Major

Concentration

Minor

Sample Four-Year Plans

Sample Two-Year Transfer Plans

Other Programs

Music, Music Education, Instrumental Jazz Track, BM, Sample Four-Year Plan