Performance Excellence & Musical Artistry
The Bachelor of Arts in Music at Tougaloo College offers comprehensive training in piano or vocal performance, combining rigorous technical development with deep musical understanding. Our program prepares students for professional performance careers, graduate study, and diverse musical opportunities.
With concentrations in Piano or Vocal Performance, students receive individual instruction, participate in ensembles, and present junior and senior recitals while developing expertise in music theory, history, and analysis.
Program Requirements
The Music major consists of 70 semester hours, of which 30 semester hours are core courses required of all students. In addition, students must complete 20 semester hours of studio instruction in piano or voice. All Music majors must participate in the Concert Choir and/or other musical ensembles unless excused by the Department Chair.
All students must take the Sophomore Written and Piano Proficiency Examinations. Piano Music Majors must complete the Sophomore Piano Major Proficiency Examination. Junior and Senior Music majors are required to present a recital in their performance emphasis. The minimum length for recitals is 30 minutes for the Junior Recital and 60 minutes for the Senior Recital. Each recital must be performed entirely from memory. The Senior Thesis and its defense must be completed and passed before the student is permitted to present the senior recital.
Course Requirements
The Music B.A. program provides comprehensive training in performance, theory, history, and musical analysis. Students choose a concentration in Piano or Vocal Performance while completing core requirements in musicianship and ensemble participation.
CORE MUSIC COURSES
Required Foundation Courses (30 Semester Hours)
These courses provide the essential musical foundation required for all Music majors, developing theoretical knowledge, aural skills, musical literature understanding, and ensemble experience.
This course is designed for study and performance of masterpieces of choral music. Admission is by audition and is open to non-music majors. Daily rehearsal, occasional public concerts, and spring tour are mandatory. Music majors must complete eight semesters of an ensemble (instrumental or choral) for credit to meet the curriculum requirement.
CREDIT: ONE SEMESTER HOURThis is a study of the basic rudiments of music including scales, intervals, triads, rhythm, terminology, and part writing. Sight singing, ear training, analyses, keyboard application, and creative work are included. The student may not enter MUS 114 with less than a grade of "C" for MUS 113.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURSThis is a study of the basic rudiments of music including scales, intervals, triads, rhythm, terminology, and part writing. Sight singing, ear training, analyses, keyboard application, and creative work are included.
Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in MUS 113CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
Performance Seminar is a zero-credit, pass/fail monthly meeting of all music majors and minors for the purpose of student performances, seminars, workshops, special lectures, guest recitals, and listening labs. Music majors must be enrolled in a Performance Seminar each semester for a total of eight (8) semesters. Performance Seminar meets bi-monthly. Offered each semester.
CREDIT: ZERO SEMESTER HOURSSight singing and ear training with emphasis upon diatonic materials. One hour per week.
Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MUS 114CREDIT: ONE SEMESTER HOUR
Sight singing and ear training with emphasis upon diatonic materials. One hour per week.
Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MUS 209CREDIT: ONE SEMESTER HOUR
This course guides the development of listening skills and the ability to use the score as a tool for listening and study. Standard works from the major periods in the history of western music will constitute the main body of the material studied. Offered yearly.
Prerequisites: MUS 113 and MUS 114 or consent of the instructorCREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURS
This course guides the development of listening skills and the ability to use the score as a tool for listening and study. Standard works from the major periods in the history of western music and styles of diverse cultures will constitute the main body of the material studied. Offered yearly.
Prerequisites: MUS 113 and MUS 114 or consent of the instructorCREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURS
This is a continued study of part writing, seventh chords, chromatic harmony, modulation, and some twentieth-century concepts. A composition project required each semester.
Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MUS 113 and MUS 114CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
This is a continued study of part writing, seventh chords, chromatic harmony, modulation, and some twentieth-century concepts. A composition project required each semester.
Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in MUS 113 and MUS 114CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
This course provides piano instruction for non-piano majors. May be taught individually, in pairs, or in small classes. Music majors enrolled in MUS 229 must successfully complete the Sophomore Piano Proficiency Exam (SPPE) in order to pass the course. Music majors will have to re-enroll in MUS 229 if the SPPE is not successfully completed. Offered each semester.
CREDIT: ONE SEMESTER HOURThis course provides piano instruction for non-piano majors. May be taught individually, in pairs, or in small classes. Music majors enrolled in MUS 229 must successfully complete the Sophomore Piano Proficiency Exam (SPPE) in order to pass the course. Music majors will have to re-enroll in MUS 229 if the SPPE is not successfully completed. Offered each semester.
CREDIT: ONE SEMESTER HOURPERFORMANCE STUDIES
Individual Instruction (20 Semester Hours)
Students choose either Piano or Voice as their primary performance area and complete a progressive sequence of individual instruction leading to junior and senior recitals.
These courses provide individual instruction for both majors and non-majors in Piano. One hour of instruction and ten hours of practice per week are mandated. Audition with instructor is required and attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class. Offered each semester.
CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURSThese courses provide individual instruction for both majors and non-majors in Piano. One hour of instruction and ten hours of practice per week are mandated. Audition with instructor is required and attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class. Offered each semester.
CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURSThese courses provide individual instruction for both majors and non-majors in Voice. One hour of instruction and ten hours of practice per week are mandated. Audition with instructor is required and attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class. Offered each semester.
CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURSThese courses provide individual instruction for both majors and non-majors in Voice. One hour of instruction and ten hours of practice per week are mandated. Audition with instructor is required and attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class. Offered each semester.
CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURSThese courses provide individual instruction for both majors and non-majors in Piano. One hour of instruction and ten hours of practice per week are mandated. Audition with instructor is required and attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class. Offered each semester.
CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURSThese courses provide individual instruction for both majors and non-majors in Piano. One hour of instruction and ten hours of practice per week are mandated. Audition with instructor is required and attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class. Offered each semester.
CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURSThese courses provide individual instruction for both majors and non-majors in Voice. One hour of instruction and ten hours of practice per week are mandated. Audition with instructor is required and attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class. Offered each semester.
CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURSThese courses provide individual instruction for both majors and non-majors in Voice. One hour of instruction and ten hours of practice per week are mandated. Audition with instructor is required and attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class. Offered each semester.
CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURSThis course provides guided preparation for the required Junior Piano Recital. One hour of instruction per week and ten hours of practice per week. Attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class is required.
Prerequisites: MUS 115, MUS 116, MUS 215, and MUS 216CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURS
This course provides preparation, presentation, and completion of the required Junior Piano Recital upon completion of the required Piano Hearing with music faculty. One hour of instruction per week and ten hours of practice per week. Attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class is required. Recital must be completed before the student will be allowed to enroll in MUS 415.
Prerequisites: MUS 115, MUS 116, MUS 215, MUS 216 and MUS 315CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURS
This course provides guided preparation for the required Junior Voice Recital. One hour of instruction per week and ten hours of practice per week. Attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class is required.
Prerequisites: MUS 117, MUS 118, MUS 217, and MUS 218CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURS
This course provides preparations, presentation, and completion of the required Junior Voice Recital upon completion of the required Vocal Hearing with music faculty. One hour of instruction per week and ten hours of practice per week. Attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class is required. Recital must be completed before the student will be allowed to enroll in MUS 417.
Prerequisites: MUS 117, MUS 118, MUS 217, MUS 218, and MUS 317CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURS
Performance Concentration Notes
¹Piano Majors Only
²Voice Majors Only
Students choose either Piano or Voice as their primary performance area and complete the corresponding sequence of courses leading to junior and senior recitals.
ADVANCED STUDIES
Upper-Level Courses & Senior Requirements
Advanced courses in music history, analysis, composition, and senior capstone requirements including thesis and senior recital preparation.
This course provides historical and stylistic development of western music from the Renaissance to the Baroque period. Offered in alternate years.
Prerequisites: MUS 211 and MUS 212 or permission of the instructorCREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
This course provides historical and stylistic development of western music from the Baroque period to the present, with emphasis on styles of diverse cultures. Offered in alternate years.
Prerequisites: MUS 211, MUS 212 and MUS 311 or permission of the instructorCREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
This course is a study of 18th Century two-part counterpoint with emphasis upon technique used, J. S. Bach's Two Part Inventions. Composition of an original invention. Offered once per year in alternate years.
Prerequisites: MUS 214CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURS
This is a study of musical structure from its basic elements through large composite forms such as the sonata and the symphony. Analysis and composition projects. Offered once per year in alternate years.
Prerequisites: MUS 214, MUS 313CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURS
This is a required course for the guidance of students in preparation of the Senior Thesis and/or the Music Education Document. The objective of the course is to enable students to analyze in-depth issues and topics in Music Performance and/or Music Education. The course also includes the study of music materials and bibliography with a survey of the style manuals: APA, Turabian, and Richard Wingell's Writing About Music. The course includes two class sessions per week with the expectation of a fully developed research prospectus at the end of the semester.
Prerequisites: MUS 214, ENG 201CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURS
This is a required course for the guidance of students in preparation of the Senior Thesis and/or the Music Education Document. The objective of the course is to enable students to analyze in-depth issues and topics in Music Performance and/or Music Education. The course also includes the study of music materials and bibliography with a survey of the style manuals APA, Turabian, and Richard Wingell's Writing About Music. Students will have the time needed to complete the Senior thesis prior to fulfilling the additional requirement of a senior recital.
Prerequisites: ENG 201, MUS 213, MUS 413CREDIT: TWO SEMESTER HOURS
This course provides guided preparation for the required Senior Piano Recital. Two hours of instruction per week and twelve hours of practice per week. Attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class is required.
Prerequisites: MUS 115, MUS 116, MUS 215, MUS 216, MUS 315, and MUS 316CREDIT: FOUR SEMESTER HOURS
This course provides preparation, presentation, and completion of the required Senior Piano Recital upon completion of the required Piano Hearing with music faculty. Two hours of instruction per week and twelve hours of practice per week are required. Attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class is required.
Prerequisites: MUS 115, MUS 116, MUS 215, MUS 216, MUS 315, MUS 316, and MUS 415CREDIT: FOUR SEMESTER HOURS
This course provides guided preparation for the required Senior Voice Recital. Two hours of instruction per week and twelve hours of practice. Attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class is required.
Prerequisites: MUS 117, MUS 118, MUS 217, MUS 218, MUS 317, and MUS 318CREDIT: FOUR SEMESTER HOURS
This course provides preparation, presentation, and completion of the required Senior Voice Recital upon completion of the required Voice Hearing with the music faculty. Two hours of instruction per week and twelve hours of practice per week. Attendance at bi-monthly Recital Class is required.
Prerequisites: MUS 117, MUS 118, MUS 217, MUS 218, MUS 317, MUS 318, and MUS 417CREDIT: FOUR SEMESTER HOURS
Senior Requirements
¹Piano Majors Only
²Voice Majors Only
All Music majors must complete a senior thesis and defense before presenting their 60-minute senior recital. The recital must be performed entirely from memory and represents the culmination of the student's undergraduate musical study.
Total Program: 70 semester hours