Available Minors: Music Composition, Music Business, Music Production

Our music performance curriculum nurtures your aptitude and self confidence while building the real-life skills needed to succeed as a professional musician. You’ll complete a core program that emphasizes a strong foundation in music fundamentals, including harmony, sight-reading, and repertoire – from classical to rock, to jazz and funk, to blues and hip-hop. A McNally Smith education focuses on your career. Our music classes and seminars expose you to the latest technologies and industry trends. Sophisticated music projects provide opportunities for you to perform in video, time based media, gaming, TV, film, themed CDs, and commercial applications.

Recommended Course Schedule
120 Credits (82 major area, 30 liberal arts, and 8 electives)

1st Semester 

• APP 150B Applied Music (2)
• MUS 113B Applied Theory I (2)
• MUS 114B Technique I (1)
• MUS 115B Contemporary Music Literature I (2)
• MUS 104B Sight Reading & Repertoire I (1)
• MUS 107 Music Theory I (2)
• MUS 100K Keyboard Lab I (1)
• MUS 140 Ear Training I (1)
• ENS 150 Large Ensemble (1)
• Liberal Arts Courses*

Total Credits: 13 + Liberal Arts credits

2nd Semester 

• APP 150B Applied Music (2)
• MUS 123B Applied Theory II (2)
• MUS 124B Technique II (1)
• MUS 125B Contemporary Music Literature II (2)
• MUS 105B Sight Reading & Repertoire II (1)
• MUS 121 Music Theory II (2)
• MUS 102K Keyboard Lab II (1)
• MUS 141 Ear Training II (1)
• ENS 150 Large Ensemble (1)
• Liberal Arts Courses*

Total Credits: 13 + Liberal Arts credits

3rd Semester 

• APP 150B Applied Music (2)
• MUS 238B Music Interpretation I (2)
• MUS 224B Technique III (1)
• MUS 106B Sight Reading & Repertoire III (1)
• MUS 211 Music Theory III (2)
• MUS 200K Keyboard Lab III (1)
• MUS 208 Ear Training III (1)
• ENS 100 Ensemble (1)
• MUS 110 Artist and Industry Seminar I (1)
• Liberal Arts Courses*

Total Credits: 12 + Liberal Arts credits

4th Semester 

• APP 150B Applied Music (2)
• MUS 248B Music Interpretation II (2)
• MUS 221 Music Theory IV (2)
• MUS 202K Keyboard Lab IV (1)
• MUS 209 Ear Training IV (1)
• ENS 100 Ensemble (1)
• MUS 108B Sight Reading & Repertoire IV (1)
• MUS 118 History of American Popular Music (3)
• MUS 200 Sophomore Jury (0)
• Liberal Arts Courses*

Total Credits: 13 + Liberal Arts credits

5th Semester 

• APP 350B Applied Music (2)
• MUS 345 Arranging I (2)
• MUS 143 Desktop Music Publishing (1)
• MUS 254 Improvisation Techniques (1)
• ENS 300 Ensemble (1)
• MUS *** Music Elective (MUS, ENS, APP) (2)
• BUS118 Music Economics (3)
• Liberal Arts Courses*

Total Credits: 12 + Liberal Arts credits

6th Semester 

• APP 350B Applied Music (2)
• MUS130 Artist and Industry Seminar II (1)
• MUS 346 Arranging II (2)
• MUS 316 Conducting (1)
• ENS 300 Ensemble (1)
• MUS 300 Junior Recital (1)
• MUS *** Music Elective (MUS, ENS, APP) (1)
• *** *** Upper division electives from any area (3)
• Liberal Arts Courses*

Total Credits: 12 + Liberal Arts credits

7th Semester 

• APP 350B Applied Music (2)
• ENS 300 Ensemble (1)
• MUS 416 Pedagogy (1)
• MUS 416B Pedagogy Lab (1)
• REC 111 Intro to Music Technology (1)
• MUS *** Music Elective (MUS, ENS, APP) (2)
• Liberal Arts Courses*

Total Credits: 8 + Liberal Arts credits

8th Semester 

• APP 350B Applied Music (2)
• MUS 400 Senior Recital (1)
• MUS 401 Senior Jury (0)
• ENS 300 Ensemble (1)
• MUS 480 Creating a Life in Music (3)
• Liberal Arts Courses*

Total Credits: 7 + Liberal Arts credits

Overall Credits: 120 – 90 major and elective, 30 liberal arts*

*Liberal arts requirements vary depending on degree program. Please refer to the course catalog for more information.

Please be aware that there may be adjustments to the semester-by-semester course sequence based upon: Start date, transfer credits, specific department requirements and advisor recommendations.

Bachelor of Music in Performance students are required to:

• Participate in at least one ensemble each semester throughout their academic tenure. (In rare cases, exceptions are granted with Department Head Approval. Ensemble credit for professional ensemble experience is also a rare exception and only approved through the Dean of Academic Affairs).
• Have a minimum of two semesters of a large ensemble experience.
• Complete their “Concert Attendance” forms.