Brass | Strings | Percussion | Woodwinds

Brass
Individual study on any of the brass instruments is available for college credit to MWSU students. Weekly private lessons with one of four artist-teachers conform to a graduated system of proficiency levels and cover music of all styles, from the 17th century to the present. Lessons include study in both performance techniques and pedagogical methods.

Ample opportunity for solo performance is provided throughout the school year. Those brass students who are majoring in music are required to presents a senior recital. Students who elect to enter the performance emphasis program present both junior and senior recitals.

For the instrumental music education major, the department of music offers a two-semester of brass class to be taken in addition to private lessons. This course, designed to give the student playing technique on all brass instruments along with a knowledge of current pedagogical practices, provides the foundation necessary for successful music teaching.

Faculty: Dr. Deborah Freedman (French Horn), Dr. Michael K. Mathews (Low Brass, Director of Instrumental Studies), Stephen Molloy (Trumpet)

Strings
Individual study on any string instrument is available for college credit to MWSU students. Weekly private lessons with artist-teachers conform to a graduated system of proficiency levels and cover music of all styles. Lessons include study in both performance techniques and pedagogical methods.

Ample opportunity for solo performance is provided throughout the school year. Those string students who are majoring in music are required to present a senior recital. Students who elect to enter the performance emphasis program present both junior and senior recitals.

For the instrumental music education major, the department of music offers a two-semester strings class to be taken in addition to private lessons. This course, designed to give students playing technique on all string instruments along with a knowledge of current pedagogical practices, provides the foundation necessary for successful music teaching.

Ensemble performance opportunities include the Missouri Western Philharmonic, a college-community orchestra, designed to teach students the technique of orchestra playing.

String students at MWSU also have the opportunity of auditioning for the St. Joseph Symphony Orchestra, a fully-professional regional orchestra.

Percussion
The percussion program at MWSU trains students to become excellent performers and teachers. Students are given instruction in both percussion literature and percussion pedagogy.

Each student will follow a curriculum sequence that will develop advanced technical and musical skills in all areas of percussion (e.g. snare drum, all mallet instruments, timpani, multi-percussion, drum set, and electronic percussion). In addition to the Percussion Ensemble, there are a wide variety of other ensemble performance opportunities available.

This curriculum is designed to provide the students with a well-rounded percussion experience, yet has the built-in flexibility to allow students the opportunity to specialize in the area of their choice. Practice facilities and equipment are excellent and have been developed to provide the student an optimum learning experience.

MWSU percussion alumni have distinguished themselves as successful performers, public school band directors, studio teachers, and published composers.

Students may apply for departmental and academic scholarships.

Woodwinds
Private lessons with one of Missouri Western's artist-teachers are available for credit on any of the woodwind instruments. The lessons are structured to conform to a graduated system of proficiency levels. They include study in both performance techniques and pedagogical methods for musical styles from the 17th century to the present.

Opportunity for solo and ensemble performance is provided throughout the school year. Students who are majoring on a woodwind instrument present a senior recital. They may also choose to perform recitals in their junior and senior years as a performance emphasis major.

For the instrumental music education major The Department of Music offers a two-semester of woodwinds class to be taken in addition to private lessons. This course, designed to give the student playing technique on all brass instruments along with a knowledge of current pedagogical practices, provides the foundation necessary for successful music teaching.

Faculty: Susan Ford, Richard F. Yeager