Program Overview:
The Bachelor of Arts program is designed for students to pursue a major of music in a liberal arts setting. Bachelor of Arts in Music Majors receive training in music theory, music history, keyboard, applied music, and performing ensembles.
Program Contacts:
To email the Department Chair,
Michael Lister, Bachelor of Arts in Music coordinator
Program Webpage:
BA in Music
Program Requirements:
Auditions
An audition with members of the Music Department faculty is required for everyone who wishes to major in Music at The College of Saint Rose. For examples of appropriate audition repertoire, please consult the College of Saint Rose Music Website and the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) manual, Levels V and VI, or the equivalent manual from another state music education association. Sight-reading may be required.
Percussionists should demonstrate skills on at least two of the following percussion units: snare drum, timpani, keyboard percussion, multiple percussion, or drum set. It is strongly recommended that all percussionists demonstrate ability to perform on keyboard percussion instruments.
String applicants must prepare scales and two contrasting works or movements. For examples of appropriate audition repertoire, please consult the College of Saint Rose Music Website and the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) manual, Levels V, and VI, or the equivalent manual from another state music education association.
Pianists are expected to perform at least two contrasting solos from the standard classical repertoire. For examples of appropriate audition repertoire, please consult the College of Saint Rose Music Website.
Organists will perform a solo organ selection, play a hymn, and demonstrate manual and pedal technique.
Brass and Woodwinds should prepare approximately 10 minutes of music from two contrasting selections of difficulty level grades 5-6. For examples of specific audition repertoire, please consult the College of Saint Rose Music Website and the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) manual, Levels V, and VI, or the equivalent manual from another state music education association. Saxophone students with jazz experience are encouraged to also perform a jazz piece. It is recommended that saxophone auditions be performed on the alto saxophone and clarinet auditions be performed on the Bb soprano clarinet.
Guitar and Double bass Bachelor of Arts in Music majors must audition on classical literature and use acoustic instruments.
Vocalists should present from memory two solos from classical vocal repertoire listed as Level V or VI in the NYSSMA manual, or an art song or aria listed in a comparable document from the student's home state if applying from out of state. One solo should be sung in English and the other in Italian, German or French. An accompanist will be provided.
In addition to an audition on voice or instrument, applicants for the Bachelor of Arts Composition Track will submit a sample of an original composition in the form of at least two scores and, if possible, recordings (live performances whenever possible over MIDI representations are preferred).
In addition to an audition on voice or instrument, applicants for the Bachelor of Arts Conducting Track will submit a video recording of the applicant conducting an ensemble in the performance of one work (the performance need not be from a concert but may be made in a rehearsal setting).
In addition to an audition on voice or instrument, applicants for the Bachelor of Arts Music History/Theory Track will submit a sample of writing in the form of one large or two small academic papers that demonstrate the applicant's scholarly aptitude as well as the ability to write analytically, communicate clearly, and with detail. For incoming freshmen, the topic of those papers needs not be about music; but all applicants accepted into the Music History/Theory track will, at the end of the sophomore year, submit an extended paper or two short paper on a topic in music theory or history to continue in the program.
Students accepted into the music department who wish to be considered for a different major within the music department, must reapply and/or audition for the appropriate faculty.
Transfer Credit and Advanced Placement Theory Credit
Entering students with an advanced placement grade of 4 or 5 in the written and/or aural section of the AP Music Theory Exam will be advanced to MUS 201 Music Theory III and/or MUS 203 Ear Training and Sight Singing, respectively.
Acceptance of transfer credit will be evaluated at the time of entry by way of course placement tests in the appropriate areas at the time of audition and through a review of student transcripts. Based upon skill and work, music faculty may approve up to 4 semesters of applied lessons.
Music Talent Awards
Music talent awards and academic scholarships are available to qualified entering students on the basis of their musical and academic abilities. Music talent scholarship recipients are required maintain a minimum average of 3.0 in their music courses and a minimum cumulative average of 2.0. Those who perform at an acceptable level on a secondary instrument or voice that may serve the needs of Department ensembles are also eligible for awards.
As part of the responsibility for accepting this award, students will be required to perform in 1 to 2 ensembles in addition to the required performing ensemble, as determined by the Talent Award Committee. This responsibility is required for seven semesters for Music Industry and Music Education majors and eight semesters for Bachelor of Arts in Music majors. Students seeking scholarship beyond the standard 8-semester sequence may submit their request to the Talent Award Committee for consideration.
Applied Music
Applied music instruction on their principal instrument or voice is required of all Music majors. All Bachelor of Arts in Music majors are required to complete eight semesters of applied study on their major instrument as specified in their given tracks. Repertoire Class and Music Convocation are required for each semester registered for applied lessons. Students are required to successfully complete an Upper Divisional Jury at before advancing to their fifth semester of applied lessons. Semester and annual juries are part of the assessment tools used in applied study. Please consult specific syllabi for detailed requirements.
Major Ensembles
Bachelor of Arts in Music majors are required to participate in the major performing group appropriate to their applied concentration for eight semesters. All transfer students are required to take a minimum of four semesters of their major performing ensemble at The College of Saint Rose.
MUS 291 Masterworks Chorale: Participation in this ensemble is required of all vocal, piano, and guitar Music Education majors and all vocal and piano Music Industry majors.
MUS 292 Wind Ensemble: Participation in this ensemble is required of all brass, woodwind and percussion majors, as well as students receiving talent awards for the above categories. MUS 290 Symphonic Band may be substituted in this area for proper placement after an approved successful audition each semester.
MUS 287 Jazz Guitar Ensemble: Participation in this ensemble is required of all Music Industry guitar and electric bass majors. Music Industry guitar and electric bass majors who unsuccessfully audition for this group are required to participate in Masterworks Chorale until they are able to successfully audition for the Jazz Guitar Ensemble.
MUS 289 Symphony Orchestra: Participation in this ensemble is required of all music majors whose applied area is violin, viola, cello, harp or double bass.
Small Ensembles
All Bachelor of Arts in music majors are required to complete four semesters of small ensembles appropriate to their applied Degree Track. These ensembles include: Instrumental Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Choir, Brass Choir, Flute Choir, Woodwind Quintet, Double Reed Ensemble, Brass Quintet, Trombone Choir, Chamber Winds, Madrigal Singers, Opera Workshop, Women’s Chorale, Baroque Flute Ensemble, Men’s Glee Club, Clarinet Choir, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Saxophone Ensemble, Mixed Vocal/Instrumental Ensemble, Vocal/String/Piano Chamber Music Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Strings.
All music majors may participate in non-required major and small ensembles as well.
Overall Music Student Requirements
Music majors are required to earn a minimum grade of C in all required music courses. Any and all of these courses in which a student receives a grade below C, are required to be repeated at Saint Rose until a grade of C or higher is attained. All entering Freshman Music Majors are required to pass a basic musicianship test. Students who do not pass this exam will be placed in MUS The Music Fundamentals class, MUS 110, before being placed in MUS 101.
Music students will be assessed on their knowledge of and familiarity with a body of music literature selected by the music faculty in MUS 302.
All music students, major and/or minor, will be required to take a Music Theory/Ear training placement test. Those students who do not achieve a passing score will be placed into MUS 110 (Fundamentals of Music) as a prerequisite to MUS 101 (Music Theory I).
Concert Attendance Requirements
Students enrolled in music degree programs are required to attend ten live performances per semester as a member of the audience. Performances that will fulfill the concert attendance requirement are those presented by college and university ensembles, college student recitals, college faculty recitals, professional orchestras, chamber ensembles, soloists, student playbacks and selected commercial music performances which are approved by the music faculty of the individual Repertoire classes (MUS 100).
Students are required to arrive before the beginning of the concert and stay until the end. For performances at The College of Saint Rose, students are required to submit programs signed by a member of the Saint Rose music faculty as evidence of attendance. For performances not at The College of Saint Rose, a program signed at the concert by a concert participant, or someone related to the performance, is required. The programs are to be submitted to their Repertoire Class Instructor (MUS 100) in accordance with the class syllabus.
Piano Proficiency (MUS 484)
Bachelor of Arts in Music majors are required to pass the piano proficiency prior to being approved to begin their capstone project. It is administered during final exam week and may be taken during subsequent semesters until passed. Students will play scales, progressions, four-part open score, harmonization, solo repertoire, and an accompaniment for four performers. Prerequisites: MUS 281 and MUS 282.
Final Projects
Bachelor of Arts in Music majors are required to perform/produce a capstone project (MUS 450), which is congruent with and specified within their Degree Track.
Bachelor of Arts in Music
Basic Musicianship and Performance (36 credits)
Music Theory and History (24 credits)
1 additional course is to be taken from the following:
Ear Training and Solfege (8 credits)
Keyboard Harmony (4 credits)
Major Performing Ensembles:
8 semesters at 1 credit, based on applied area
Small Ensembles (4 at 0 or 1 credit)
Degree Track (14 credits)
Students will select a degree track by the end of their sophomore year. Students will need to complete any additional audition requirements specific to their chosen track before being accepted into the track.
Vocal Performance Track: core requirements plus 8 semesters each of applied lessons (MUS 393), repertoire class (MUS 100) and convocation (MUS 200). 6 additional credits to be taken from MUS 434 (Vocal Diction), MUS 435 (Vocal Pedagogy), and other courses in vocal performance. The final project/capstone for the Instrumental Performance Track consists of a recital/concert performance of approximately 50 minutes.
Instrumental Performance Track: core requirements plus 8 semesters each of applied lessons (MUS 393), repertoire class (MUS 100) and convocation (MUS 200). 4 semesters of chamber music (MUS 268), and 2 additional credits to be taken from courses in instrumental performance. The final project/capstone for the Instrumental Performance Track consists of recital/concert performance of approximately 50 minutes.
Keyboard Performance Track: core requirements plus 8 semesters each of applied lessons (MUS 393), repertoire class (MUS 100) and convocation (MUS 200). 6 additional credits to be taken from Piano Pedagogy and other courses in piano performance. The final project/capstone for the Instrumental Performance Track consists of recital/concert performance of approximately 50 minutes.
Composition Track: core requirements plus 4 semesters in MUS 393 (Applied Voice or Instrument), 4 semesters in MUS 394 (Secondary Lessons in Applied Voice or Instrument), 4 semesters in MUS 397 (Applied Composition), 8 semesters in repertoire class (MUS 100) and Convocation (MUS 200), and 6 additional credits to be taken from Orchestration (MUS 334) and other courses in composition. The final project/capstone for the Music Composition Track consists of a performance/lecture where an original composition is presented.
Conducting Track: core requirements plus 4 semesters in MUS 393 (Applied Voice or Instrument), 4 semesters in MUS 394 (Secondary Lessons in Applied Voice or Instrument), 4 semesters in MUS 395 (Applied Conducting), 8 semesters in repertoire class (MUS 100) and Convocation (MUS 200), and 6 additional credits to be taken from MUS 223 (Choral Techniques), MUS 334 or 341 (Orchestration or Choral Arranging) and other courses in conducting. The final project/capstone for the Conducting Track consists of conducting an ensemble in a 30 minute concert/performance setting.
Music History/Theory Track: core requirements plus 4 semesters in MUS 393 (Applied Voice or Instrument), 4 semesters in MUS 394 (Secondary Lessons in Applied Voice or Instrument), 4 semesters in repertoire class (MUS 100), 8 semesters in Convocation (MUS 200), and 10 additional credits to be taken from courses in Music History and Theory. The final project/capstone for the Music History/Theory Track consists of presenting an academic paper on a musical subject.
Students who wish to change degree tracks will need to undergo all additional audition requirements as indicated in the specific track.
Liberal Education (41 credits)
Summary: B.A. in Music (Total credits 122)
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Core Curriculum
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36
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Degree Track
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14
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Major Performing Ensembles
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8
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Capstone
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1
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Liberal Education Courses
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41
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Electives
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22
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Culminating Academic Experiences:
Final Projects
Professional Accreditation:
The College of Saint Rose, sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, Albany Province, is chartered by the Board of Regents of New York State. All of its degrees and programs are registered and its professional programs fully approved by the Board of Regents through the New York State Education Department.
The College of Saint Rose is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (267-284-5000) The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. http://www.msche.org
The Department of Music at The College of Saint Rose is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, a specialized accrediting agency recognized by the U. S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. http://nasm.arts-accredit.org/
Minor(s):
Complete minors listing
Participation in the Saint Rose Instrumental Jazz Ensemble must be fulfilled by performance on instruments traditionally associated with the large jazz ensemble tradition. These include saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, drum set and guitar.
Admissions and Financial Aid Information:
The Undergraduate Admissions Office begins review of Freshman applications each fall in late September for the following Fall. Students are encouraged to submit a complete an application as early as November. The Admissions Team will return a decision on complete applications within just three weeks. The College awards academic scholarships at the same time.
What Makes an Application Complete
- Online or Paper application (fee waived for online applicants!)
- Official High School Transcripts
- Official Transcripts for any College Level Courses
- SAT or ACT scores (See Test Optional FAQ's)
- Letter of Recommendation from a Counselor or Teacher
- Essay or Graded Paper
- Applicants may also apply via the Common Application Online.
- Art applicants are required to complete a portfolio review.
Admissions contact information (telephone number, admissions web pages)
Scholarships and Financial Aid
See Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid section for more information.
The Bottom Line
The total cost of The College of Saint Rose (including tuition, fees, room and board) is one of the lowest of any private college in the Northeast, and we still award more than $25 million in Saint Rose scholarships, grants and financial aid.
Take a look at our bottom line, and view a cost comparison with a four-year public institution.
More about Financial Aid
Financial Aid is defined as any grant, scholarship, loan, or employment opportunity given with the express purpose of assisting you with education-related expenses to make you education affordable. Financial Aid is awarded on the basis of student need and the availability of funds.
The Admission and Financial Aid teams have designed a Guide to Scholarships and Financial Aid to help prospective students and families get to the bottom line and find that The College of Saint Rose is one of the lowest of any private college in the Northeast--while maintaining powerful academic opportunities.
Find Out More: