Music

Overview

Director: Alan Kaschub, Corthell Hall, Gorham

Professors: Dosman, Kargul, M.Kaschub, Lehmann, Oberholtzer, Parchman, Sonenberg; Assistant Professors: Haslett, Kinne; Professor Emeriti: Cole, Fithian, Martin, Russell; Instructors: Antonacos, Armes, Reichert, Spencer, Wheatley; Adjunct Faculty: Ayan, Davis, Kissack, Williamson, Wilkinson

Artist Faculty Piano: Laura Kargul; Voice: Christina Astrachan, Mary Bastoni, Alexandra Dietrich, David Goulet, Jenna Guiggey, Mary Letellier, Scott Wheatley; Violin: Robert Lehmann, Ferdinand Liva; Viola: Kimberly Lehmann, Robert Lehmann; Cello: William Rounds; Bass: Bronislaw Suchanek; Flute: Krysia Tripp; Oboe: Neil Boyer; Clarinet: Thomas Parchman; Saxophone: Barry Saunders, Bill Street; Bassoon: Wren Saunders; Horn: John Boden; Trombone: Brian Diehl, Mark Manduca; Euphonium: Brian Diehl, Joseph Wilson; Tuba: Joseph Wilson; Percussion: Nancy Smith; Harp: Jara Goodrich; Classical Guitar: Keith Crook; Jazz Guitar: Gary Wittner; Jazz Bass: Bronislaw Suchanek; Jazz Drums: Les Harris, Jr.; Jazz Piano: Chris Klaxton; Jazz Trombone: Chris Oberholtzer; Jazz Trumpet: Chris Klaxton; Jazz Voice: Charles Christenson; Musical Theater Coaching: Edward Reichert

The primary mission of the School of Music of the University of Southern Maine is to prepare musicians for careers in teaching, performing, and related fields. In addition, the school provides support for music education throughout the state of Maine and New England; it actively participates in a mutually supportive relationship with the professional arts community; and it guides present and future audiences toward greater understanding of and appreciation for many different styles of music.

The School presents more than 100 performances and events each year featuring faculty, guest artists, and students.

The School of Music offers: a) courses and performance opportunities for all USM students, b) professional degrees in music education and performance, c) a liberal arts degree in music, d) a minor in music, and e) master’s degrees and certificate programs (Click here for more information on graduate programs).

Students are accepted as undergraduate music majors into one of the following baccalaureate degree programs:

Bachelor of Arts in Music, a liberal arts degree with a major in music;
Bachelor of Music in Music Education, a professional degree in preparation for teacher certification in music K-12;
Bachelor of Music in Composition, a professional degree with intensive study in composition;
Bachelor of Music in Performance, a professional degree with intensive study in voice or orchestral/band instrument or piano, organ, or guitar performance;
Bachelor of Music in Performance-Jazz Studies, a professional degree with intensive study in jazz and classical performance;
Bachelor of Music in Performance-Musical Theater, a professional degree with intensive study in music and musical theater performance, including training in acting and dance (offered in conjunction with the Department of Theatre.); and
Bachelor of Music in Performance-Piano Pedagogy, a professional degree with intensive study in piano teaching.

Admission Requirements

Admission to degree programs in music is based on the following criteria:

performance audition;
test of aural comprehension, rhythmic recitation, and sight singing; and
diagnostic written test of music fundamentals, including intervals, scales, chords, and key signatures.

Applicants in music education will also have an interview. Applicants in musical theater will perform a two-minute monologue and execute a simple movement combination. Applicants in composition will submit recent compositions for portfolio review in addition to a performance audition on an instrument of their choice.

The audition committee will review each auditionee’s complete application to USM, including high school records and recommendations.

Students may apply to the director of the School for advanced placement in music courses, which may be granted through portfolio review or special examination.

Transfer students

At the time of first registration in the School of Music, a transfer student’s transcript will be evaluated. Based upon that evaluation, the student will be held responsible for completing a certain number of semesters of MUS 442 (Recital Class) and major ensemble requirements, regardless of whether the student continues on a full-time or part-time basis.

For music performance and music education majors, the appropriate jury level will be established through a jury held by the end of the student’s first semester of study at USM. Students in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music Composition programs must pass a juried proficiency exam in their applied area of study.

School Policies and Standards

Performance juries

The jury panel will determine the level of performance, grade the performance pass/fail, and submit a written evaluation that will be included in the student’s file.

Progress check juries are a formative assessment of student progress and serve to provide feedback to the student and their applied teacher.

Level juries are a summative assessment of student progress. Students who fail a level jury will be placed on probation. Students who fail two consecutive level juries will be dismissed from the program. Students are required to perform at the appropriate level of competence as established by the music faculty; they may perform required recitals only after attaining appropriate jury levels.

See specific degrees for detailed jury information.

Grading Standards

Students must earn grades of C- or better in all courses that count toward fulfillment of major requirements. Grades of D and F do not fulfill prerequisite requirements. No course may be repeated more than once. Students who fail in the second attempt to pass a course with a grade of Cor better will be dismissed from the program. Additional requirements for music education majors are listed under Program Requirements.

The minimum cumulative grade point average for admission to junior- and senior-level music major courses is 2.25 for the Bachelor of Music in Performance and Bachelor of Arts degrees; it is 2.75 for students pursuing the Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree. Additional requirements for admission to upper-division music education studies are enumerated in the Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree description.

Students who do not meet academic or applied music standards will be placed on probation and may be dismissed if by the end of the following semester they do not meet these standards. Students will be placed on probation or dismissed by the director of the School when they do not meet the standards of the School of Music. While on probation, students should carry a maximum of a 14-hour credit load. Students who have been dismissed may not enroll in music major courses, but may re-audition after one semester.

Applied Music

Students other than music majors and minors will be accommodated for applied music (private lessons) if a teacher’s time is available and will be subject to a fee in addition to the University tuition fee.

An applied music fee will be charged for all applied music (private lessons) and chamber music in addition to course tuition. Private lesson fees for music majors and minors are subsidized by the University; fees for other USM students are unsubsidized.

For a music major, the University will subsidize the fee for up to eight semesters of required lessons. In the case of transfer students, a determination of the number of semesters of subsidized lessons will be made at the time of matriculation. For a music minor, the University will subsidize the applied music fee to a maximum of eight credit hours if the student demonstrates adequate proficiency.

Students registering for applied music must report to the director of the School for assignment to an applied music teacher and scheduling of lessons.

A chamber music fee will be charged to each person for each enrollment in coached chamber music.

Music Core Requirements

To be considered a music major in good standing and to be eligible for applied music subsidies, a student must be making reasonable progress toward the completion of a music degree. Initially, this will be interpreted to mean consistent progress toward completion of the music core and compliance with all other School requirements.

Each student enrolled as a major in a music degree program will take a prescribed course or sequence of courses in the following areas except where noted below:

Music Theory and Aural Skills

Music Theory and Aural Skills 1 through 4, during the first four semesters of study; some degree programs require further study in music theory.

Music History

Multi-Cultural Perspectives of American Popular Music and Jazz
Music History Survey 1
Music History Survey 2

Typically taken continuously from the second through fourth semesters of study; some degree programs require further study in music history.

Functional Piano/Keyboard Skills

Piano Class 1-4
Music Performance - Jazz studies concentration students take Jazz Piano 1 and 2 in lieu of Piano Class 3 and Piano Class 4.
Music Education - Jazz Concentration students may elect to replace Piano Class 3 and Piano Class 4 with Jazz Piano Class 1 and Jazz Piano Class 2. Bachelor of Arts students may exercise this same option.
Piano and organ majors have special requirements-see individual program descriptions; some degree programs require further study in keyboard skills.

Conducting

Basic Conducting (music performance, except jazz studies concentration)
Choral Conducting and Instrumental Conducting (music education)
Jazz studies majors fulfill this requirement through Jazz Pedagogy
Bachelor of Arts students are not required to take a conducting course.

Concert Attendance Policy

All music majors are required to attend a number of concerts and recitals each semester in order to maintain good standing in the School. Failure to meet the requirements of this policy can result in probation and suspension. The policy is administered through MUS 442 - Recital Class .

Accreditation

The School of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Music, B.A.

Bachelor of Music

Minor

Music Minor