Music

Prospective Students

Faculty Biographies

Westmont Ensembles

Course Web Sites
 

Music Brochure

Private Lessons

Scholarship Application
 

Scholarship Auditions
 

Music Curriculum

Associate Professors G. Brothers (chair), S. Butler, S. Hodson, J. Weddle
 
Description of the Major. The music major is designed to develop musical skills, knowledge, and attitudes. Professors place special emphasis on encouraging and developing creativity. Students majoring in music may complete a liberal arts music program or may elect to complete a track in music education, music performance, music composition, or world music.
 
Distinctive Features. The music major at Westmont is distinctive in the great amount of personal attention given students and the emphasis on drawing out and developing creativity. The major consists of three main areas of investigation: theory/composition, history and performance. Students completing the world music track travel abroad for study at Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya.
 
Career Choices. Traditionally, people have tended to view a music major as useful for persons who wish to perform or teach. Many students are finding rewarding careers in music outside of performing and teaching. Exciting opportunities exist in church music, music publishing, music management, music business, recording, broadcasting and other areas. The music major at Westmont is designed to provide a solid foundation in music and yet offer enough flexibility for a student to earn a legitimate liberal arts degree and prepare for a variety of careers.
 
Requirements for a Major: 48-58 units
Required Major Core: 30 units
 
Required Lower-Division Courses: 10 units
MU 10 Principles of Music I (3)
MU 11 Musicianship Lab I (1)
MU 12 Principles of Music II (3)
MU 13 Musicianship Lab II (1)
MU 15 Conducting (2)
Required Upper-Division Courses: 20 units
MU 110 Principles of Music III (3)
MU 111 Musicianship Lab III (1)
MU 112 Principles of Music IV (3)
MU 113 Musicianship Lab IV (1)
MU 120 History of Western Music I (4)
MU 121 History of Western Music II (4)
ART 131 Theory and Criticism in the Arts (4)
 
Notes:
1. All incoming music majors will be required to take a basic music proficiency entrance exam. Those students who do not pass the exam will be required to complete MU 1 before beginning the Principles sequence. The two units for MU 1 will not be counted toward the major.
2. All incoming music majors will be required to take a piano proficiency exam. Students who do not pass the exam will be required to take MUA 5 or MUA 50 until the exam is passed. MUA 5 units will not be counted toward the major.
 
In addition to the above core, all majors must complete one of the following tracks:
 
A. Liberal Arts Music Track: 18 units
 
Required MU Courses: 4-6 units
MU Electives (lower or upper-division)
Required Applied Music Courses: 12-14 units
Private Instruction: Minimum of 6 units in one area.

MUA 30/130 Private Composition (1)
MUA 40/140 Private Organ (1)
MUA 50/150 Private Piano (1)
MUA 55/155 Private Harp (1)
MUA 60/160 Private Guitar (1)
MUA 70/170 Private Voice (1)
MUA 80/180 Private Orchestral Instrument (1)
Required Ensembles: Minimum of 6 units in a major ensemble.
MUA 71/171 College Choir (1)
MUA 81/181 Wind Ensemble (1)
MUA 83/183 Chamber Orchestra (1)
 
B. Music Education Track: 26 units
 
Required MU Upper-Division Courses: 8 units
MU 115 Advanced Conducting (2)
MU 184 Music for Children (3)
MU 185 Music in the Secondary Schools (3)
Required Applied Music Courses: 18 units
Pedagogy: (4)
MUA 165 Brass Instrument Techniques (1)
MUA 166 Woodwind Instrument Techniques (1)
MUA 167 String Instrument Techniques (1)
MUA 168 Percussion Instrument Techniques (1)
MUA 175 Vocal Techniques (2)
Private Instruction: (8) Minimum of 6 units in one performance area.
MUA 30/130 Private Composition (1)
MUA 40/140 Private Organ (1)
MUA 50/150 Private Piano (1)
MUA 55/155 Private Harp (1)
MUA 60/160 Private Guitar (1)
MUA 70/170 Private Voice (1)
MUA 80/180 Private Orchestral Instrument (1)
Required Ensembles: Minimum of 6 units in a major ensemble.
MUA 71/171 College Choir (1)
MUA 81/181 Wind Ensemble (1)
MUA 83/183 Chamber Orchestra (1)
 
C. Music Performance Track: 28 units
 
Required Upper-Division Courses: 6 units
MU 193 Senior Recital (2)
Upper-Division Elective (4)
Required Applied Music Courses: 22 units
Required Private Instruction: 16 units, with a least 12 of those units in one performance area.

MUA 40/140 Private Organ (1-2)
MUA 50/150 Private Piano (1-2)
MUA 55/155 Private Harp (1-2)
MUA 60/160 Private Guitar (1-2)
MUA 70/170 Private Voice (1-2)
MUA 80/180 Private Orchestral Instrument (1-2)
Required Ensembles: Minimum of 6 units in a major ensemble.
MUA 71/171 College Choir (1)
MUA 81/181 Wind Ensemble (1)
MUA 83/183 Chamber Orchestra (1)
 
D. Music Composition Track: 28 units
 
Required Upper-Division Courses: 6 units
MU 193 Senior Recital (2)
Upper-Division Elective (4)
Required Applied Music Courses: 22 units
Required Private Instruction: 16 units, with a least 12 of those units in composition.

MUA 30/130 Private Composition (1)
MUA 40/140 Private Organ (1-2)
MUA 50/150 Private Piano (1-2)
MUA 55/155 Private Harp (1-2)
MUA 60/160 Private Guitar (1-2)
MUA 70/170 Private Voice (1-2)
MUA 80/180 Private Orchestral Instrument (1-2)
Required Ensembles: Minimum of 6 units in a major ensemble.
MUA 71/171 College Choir (1)
MUA 81/181 Wind Ensemble (1)
MUA 83/183 Chamber Orchestra (1)
 
E. World Music Track: 18 units
 
Required MUS Courses: 6 units
Taught at Daystar University, Nairobi, Kenya
MUS 412 Survey of World Music (3)
MUS 111 Music in Africa (2)
MUS 114 African Music Ensemble (1)
Required Applied Music Courses: 12 units
Private Instruction: 6 units in one area:

MUA 30/130 Private Composition (1)
MUA 40/140 Private Organ (1)
MUA 50/150 Private Piano (1)
MUA 55/155 Private Harp (1)
MUA 60/160 Private Guitar (1)
MUA 70/170 Private Voice (1)
MUA 80/180 Private Orchestral Instrument (1)
Required Ensembles: 6 units in a major ensemble
MUA 71/171 College Choir (1)
MUA 81/181 Wind Ensemble (1)
MUA 83/183 Chamber Orchestra (1)
 
Requirements for a Minor: 24 units
 
MU 10 Principles of Music I (3)
MU 11 Musicianship Lab I (1)
MU 12 Principles of Music II (3)
MU 13 Musicianship Lab II (1)
Four units of the following:
MU 20 Survey of Music (4)
MU 120 History of Western Music I (4)
MU 121 History of Western Music II (4)
Four units of the following:
MUA 30/130 Private Composition (1)
MUA 40/140 Private Organ (1)
MUA 50/150 Private Piano (1)
MUA 55/155 Private Harp (1)
MUA 60/160 Private Guitar (1)
MUA 70/170 Private Voice (1)
MUA 80/180 Private Orchestral Instrument (1)
Four units of the following:
MUA 71/171 College Choir (1)
MUA 81/181 Wind Ensemble (1)
MUA 83/183 Chamber Orchestra (1)
MU Electives: (4)
 
Note: All incoming music minors will be required to take a basic music proficiency entrance exam. Those students who do not pass the exam will be required to complete MU 1 before beginning the Principles sequence. The two units for MU 1 will not be counted toward the minor.
 
Sample Four-Year Program
 
FIRST YEAR
Fall Spring
MU 10 (3) MU 12 (3)
MU 11 (1) MU 13 (1)
MUA 5 (1) MUA 5 (1)
MUA 71, 81 or 83 (1) MUA 71, 81 or 83 (1)
MUA (Private Lessons) (1-2) MUA (Private Lessons) (1-2)
RS 10 or 20 (4) RS 10 or 20 (4)
Distribution/Elective (2) Distribution/Elective (4)
PEA 32 (1) PEA Elective (1)
SECOND YEAR
Fall Spring
MU 15 (2) MU 112 (3)
MU 110 (3) MU 113 (1)
MU 111 (1) MUA 5 (1) (As needed)
MUA 5 (1) (As needed) MUA 71, 81 or 83 (1)
MUA 71, 81 or 83 (1) MUA (Private Lessons) (1-2)
MUA (Private Lessons) (1-2) MU or MUA Track Elective (1-4)
RS 1 (4) Distribution/Elective (8)
Distribution/Elective (4) PEA Elective (1)
PEA Elective (1)
THIRD YEAR
Fall Spring
MU 112 (3) MU 121 or ART 131 (4)
MU 113 (1) MUA 171, 181 or 183 (1)
MU 120 (4) MUA (Private Lessons) (1-2)
MUA 171, 181 or 183 (1) MU or MUA Track Elective (1-4)
MUA (Private Lessons) (1-2) Distribution/Elective (8)
RS Upper-Division requirement (4)
Distribution/Elective (4)
FOURTH YEAR
Fall Spring
MUA 171, 181, or 183 (1) MU 121 or ART 131 (4)
MUA (Private Lessons) (1-2) MUA 171, 181 or 183 (1)
MU or MUA Track Electives (8) MUA (Private Lessons) (1-2)
Distribution/Elective (8) MU or MUA Track Elective (1-4)
Distribution/Electives (8)
 
Lower-Division Course Descriptions
 
MU 1 Basic Musicianship (2) A course designed to acquaint students with the basics of music reading, writing and performing. (Not applicable to major requirements but may be required of music majors with deficiencies.)
MU 10 Principles of Music I (3) Basic music theory in preparation for musicianship and further studies. Emphasizes learning the theory of music through compositional, analytical, notational, and aural skills.
MU 11 Musicianship Lab I (1) Sight singing and ear training.
MU 12 Principles of Music II (3) Prerequisite: MU 10. Continuation of MU 10. Emphasis on diatonic materials through secondary dominants, chord symbols, and tonal counterpoint.
MU 13 Musicianship Lab II (1) Continuation of MU 11.
MU 15 Conducting (2) Prerequisite: MU 12 or consent of instructor. An introduction to basic conducting skills.
MU 20 Survey of Western Music (4) An historical survey of the music of European culture. (GE)
MU 21 Survey of World Music (4) A survey of the music of non-western cultures. (GE)
 
Upper-Division Course Descriptions
 
MU 110 Principles of Music III (3) Prerequisite: MU 12. Continuation of MU 12. Emphasis on chromatic materials, modulation, and early 20th century procedures.
MU 111 Musicianship Lab III (1) Continuation of MU 13.
MU 112 Principles of Music IV (3) Prerequisite: MU 110. Continuation of MU 110. Emphasis on contrapuntal techniques in the 20th century.
MU 113 Musicianship Lab IV (1) Continuation of MU 111.
MU 115 Advanced Conducting (2) Prerequisite: MU 15. Advanced conducting techniques. Students may choose to emphasize choral or instrumental conducting.
MU 117 Orchestration (2) Prerequisite: MU 12. Practical study in orchestration and arranging.
MU 118 Form and Analysis (2) Prerequisite: MU112. Examination of fundamental principles of musical form; analysis of representative tonal works.
MU 120 History of Western Music I (4) Prerequisite: MU 12. A study of the development of music through the great eras of history. Concentrates primarily on Western music in the context of a global arena, making comparisons to non-Western music where appropriate. (GE)
MU 121 History of Western Music II (4) Continuation of MU 120. (GE)
MU 122 Music in the Worshipping Church (4) A practical and philosophical study of music in the worship of the Christian Church, including a survey of the historical development of worship and worship music and an assessment of current styles. (GE)
MU 184 Music for Children (3) A course designed to provide ideas and tools for instruction in music by elementary school teachers.
MU 185 Music in the Secondary Schools (3) A study of philosophies, materials, and techniques of music in American secondary schools.
MU 190 Practicum (1-4) Practical field experience in music administration, business, music production, church music, and related areas.
MU 193 Senior Recital/Project (2)
 
Applied Music Courses
 
Class Lessons (1)
Not applicable to major requirements, but may be required of music majors with deficiencies. May be repeated up to four semesters.
MUA 5 Preparatory Piano (1)
MUA 6 Class Guitar (1)
MUA 7 Class Voice (1)