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What majors and minors are offered?
Why should I choose this music program?
Are your programs accredited?
Why is it important that the program
is accredited?
What type of graduate schools and programs
are your graduates attending?
What are the admission requirements
for the program?
As a high school student, how should
I prepare for a music degree?
How can students best prepare to succeed
in their major interest?
What is the typical class size?
How much individualized attention can
students expect in your department?
How do students work together with faculty?
What student organizations are available?
What type of awards have your faculty
and students received?
Has your department received any special
recognition?
Does your department have any unique
partnerships with the music community?
How do the department and the students
provide service to the community?
What
majors and minors are offered?
Students may elect the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, the
Bachelor of Science in Education degree with Vocal and/or Instrumental
Certification, or the Bachelor of Science in Music with an Emphasis
in Business or Music Technology. Performers with advanced skills
and talent may qualify for the Performance Emphasis curriculum.
Minors in Music and Musical Theatre are also available.
Why should I choose this
music program?
Western’s music students are instructed by faculty members
who are active in performance and scholarship and who serve on
professional organizations at the local, regional, state, and
national levels. The faculty, highly trained at leading institutions
across the country, is well prepared to provide students with
relevant instruction in the art of performance and music education,
as well as provide high quality experiences in ensemble performance.
This excellent staff, along with the students, form a “music
family” dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in music.
Are your programs accredited?
The Department of Music is an accredited institutional member
of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
Why is it important that
the program is accredited?
National accreditation is one way to ensure the quality of the
program you choose. The organization providing accreditation (NASM)
ensures the program meets national standards of quality for degree
programs and curriculum content.
What type of graduate
schools and programs are your graduates attending?
Many
of our graduates are choosing to go on to graduate and advanced
professional schools after earning
their bachelor’s degree
from our department. Our graduates are enrolled in, or have completed,
master’s or doctorate programs at University of Missouri-Kansas
City and Columbia, Truman State University, Rice University, University
of Nebraska, University of Kansas, Kansas State University,
and others.
What are the admission
requirements for the program?
A solo audition (instrument or voice) is required of all intended
music majors, and non-music majors wanting to participate in music
ensembles. A variety of scholarships and participation grants
are available that range from partial to full tuition and room
and board (residence halls). Call the department to set up an
audition date.
Before a formal degree program can be declared, the student must
be enrolled on Applied Music-Major Instrument level and pass MUS119
Musicianship 1 and MUS106 Basic Keyboard Skills 1 (if applicable)
with a grade of C or better.
As a high school student,
how should I prepare for a music degree?
Some ways students can help prepare themselves for our music
program include:
- Perform actively in music ensembles
- Take private lessons on their instrument/voice
- Study piano if possible
- Take a course in Music Theory
- Prepare and perform at music contests
- Listen to many kinds of music– classical,
jazz, world, ethnic genres, and pop
styles
How can students best
prepare to succeed in their major interest?
Practice, Practice, Practice!!! Students should strive for the
highest level of performance, attend all classes, and do the homework
required. Students are expected to attend concerts, recitals,
master classes, and other special events, as well as limiting
outside employment.
What is the typical class
size?
Classes for majors (not ensembles) are generally small with 10
to 25 students, except for the first semester Musicianship 1 course.
 How
much individualized attention can students expect in your department?
The faculty is committed to the development of each student.
They are all active in academic advisement and in assisting students
during their college careers. All students receive much individual
attention, especially in one-on-one applied music instruction.
The faculty is proud of the one-on-one contact they have with
students.
How do students work together
with faculty?
Students and faculty work closely together through solo recital
preparation, independent study projects, developing a private
teaching studio, conducting, composition, solo performances at
university and community functions, and music recording projects.
What student organizations
are available?
- Collegiate Chapter of Music Educators
National Conference
- St. Joseph Area Music Teachers
Association
- Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonian (men’s
fraternity)
- Sigma Alpha Iota (women’s
fraternity)
- Pi Kappa Lambda (Honorary Music
Society)
What type of awards have
your faculty and students received?
- Missouri Music Teachers Association
Teacher of the Year
- St. Joseph Mayor’s Award
for Arts Educator
- Missouri Governor’s Teacher
of the Year Award
- A professor received the American
Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers Award
- Student awards in Missouri Music
Teachers Association competitions
Has your department received
any special recognition?
The department has received juried invitations for ensembles
to perform at the Missouri Music Educators Convention.
Does your department have
any unique partnerships with the music community?
- St. Joseph Symphony Orchestra partnership
- St. Joseph Community Chorus and
Chamber Singers partnership
- Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival partnership
- Lingering Melodies partnership
with Heartland Hospice
- Western Institute, Center for Arts,
Culture, and Literacy partnership
- Student performance partnerships
at area churches
- Noontime Concerts series with First
Presbyterian Church
How do the department
and the students provide service to the community?
- Lingering Melodies Hospice performances
- Fraternity community service projects
- Student performers in area churches
and area schools
- The Noontime Concert Series at
First Presbyterian Church
- Touring performances throughout
the region
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