About

Are you interested in delivering inspired performances at the highest level of musicianship? Do you want to move audiences through your artistry?

Whatever your instrument, performing is a central piece of your education, both as an undergrad and as a grad student, and it is an experience not to be missed.

It is a crucial part of developing your talent. It is an opportunity to join your classmates and oftentimes your professors in the thrill of a recital in front of an enthusiastic and appreciative audience on campus and on the road. At ECU, you will find yourself on stage a lot.

Your opportunities here are enormous. ECU is a place where the arts hold sway. Performance is part of everyday life, not only for those studying music but also for those in our excellent art, dance, and theatre programs. There is an extensive schedule of events featuring students, faculty members, and visiting artists, making East Carolina a lively center for artistic activity. So you will perform, and you will have the chance to learn from and be entertained by others in concerts, plays, musicals, operas, and exhibitions.

There are many established student ensembles that perform regularly, in addition to groups pulled together for specific projects and productions. Your education is designed to give you the opportunity to be part of one or more of these groups. Many tour each year and perform throughout the United States and abroad. They have appeared by invitation at state, regional, national, and international conventions and festivals in locations including Anaheim, Montreux, Vienna, New Orleans, Jacksonville, New York City, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.

ECU Advantage

Alumni from the ECU School of Music hold faculty positions in music schools across the country, are represented in the top military bands, and can be found on the world's greatest stages performing with orchestras, opera companies and in recital.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Chris Ulffers (102 AJ Fletcher Music Center; 252-328-4270; ulffersj@ecu.edu)

The Music, BM has three concentrations - music therapy, music performance, and music theory-composition.

The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:

I. General education requirements including those listed below - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

    All concentrations:

    A minimum of four semester hours (4 s.h.) and maximum of six semester hours (6 s.h.) of large ensemble may count toward the general education fine arts (GE:FA) requirement. MUSC 1406 - Music History and Literature I * counts 3 s.h. toward the general education social sciences (GE:SO) requirement. MUSC 2248 - Introduction to World Music Cultures** counts as the 3 s.h. general education elective.

    • MUSC 1605 - Opera Theatre
    • MUSC 1615 - Varsity Choir
    • MUSC 1625 - Concert Choir
    • MUSC 1635 - University Chorale
    • MUSC 1665 - Women's Glee Club
    • MUSC 1675 - Chamber Singers
    • MUSC 1706 - Marching Band Field Experience
    • MUSC 1715 - Concert Band
    • MUSC 1735 - Wind Ensemble
    • MUSC 1745 - Symphony Orchestra
    • MUSC 1765 - Symphonic Band
    • MUSC 1775 - Jazz Ensemble

    • MUSC 1406 - Music History and Literature I *
    • MUSC 2248 - Introduction to World Music Cultures *
      • Notes:
      • Approval of the student's major applied instructor and ensemble directors is required for ensemble registration.
      • Music majors may count only two semester hours of  for large ensemble credit.
      • Music majors may not count  toward large ensemble credit.
      • Music majors taking more than 2 s.h. of MUSC 1706 or 1705 must sign a release form (available in the music office). The form will help clarify that hours above the required 2 s.h. of MUSC 1706 will not count as part of a music degree plan at ECU, and that these extra hours may lead to additional hours on a student's transcript before graduation.
      Music therapy concentration:
      • BIOL 1050 - General Biology
      • BIOL 1051 - General Biology Laboratory
    II. Common core - 27 s.h.
    • MUSC 1156 - Basic Musicianship I
    • MUSC 1166 - Basic Musicianship II
    • MUSC 1176 - Basic Musicianship I Laboratory
    • MUSC 1186 - Basic Musicianship II Laboratory
    • MUSC 2406 - Music History and Literature II
    • MUSC 2156 - Basic Musicianship III
    • MUSC 2166 - Basic Musicianship IV
    • MUSC 2176 - Basic Musicianship III Laboratory
    • MUSC 2186 - Basic Musicianship IV Laboratory
    • MUSC 2416 - Music History and Literature III
    • MUSC 3156 - Conducting I
    • MUSC 3166 - Conducting II
    • MUSC 3176 - Basic Musicianship V
    III. Concentrations - 52 s.h.

    (Choose one.) 

      A. Music therapy concentration (52 s.h.)

      This curriculum has been approved by the American Music Therapy Association and completion confers eligibility to take the national certification examination given by the Certification Board for Music Therapists.

        1. Core - 22 s.h.
        • MUSC 2277 - Orientation to Therapy
        • MUSC 2287 - Orientation to Therapy Practicum
        • MUSC 3257 - Music Therapy I: Introduction to Music in Therapy
        • MUSC 3267 - Music Therapy II: The Influence of Music on Behavior
        • MUSC 3357 - Music Therapy Practicum
        • MUSC 3367 - Music Therapy Practicum II
        • MUSC 4277 - Music for Group Activities
        • MUSC 4287 - Music for Group Activities Practicum
        • MUSC 4297 - Music Therapy Practicum IV
        • MUSC 4957 - Psychology of Music
        • MUSC 4967 - Research Methods in Music and Music Therapy
        • MUSC 4987 - Research Methods in Music and Music Therapy Laboratory
        • MUSC 4990 - Clinical Internship
        2. Professional studies - 5 s.h.
        • PSYC 3375 - Abnormal Psychology
        • SPED 2000 - Introduction to Exceptional Children
        3. Additional ensembles - 2 s.h.

        Minimum of 2 semesters of small ensemble (1 s.h. per semester)

          4. Applied music - 22 s.h.

          (guitar, keyboard, percussion, strings or wind, voice)

            a. Applied major - 14 s.h.
            • No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 3 semesters of 3000 level applied.
            • Students must present a half senior recital.
              b. Applied minor - 8 s.h.

              A student who is exempt from any applied minor courses specified must take other applied minor courses to complete the total required hours.

              Choose a major instrument from the following:

                Major instrument: guitar
                • MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
                • MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano
                • MUSC 1205 - Beginning Voice Group I
                • MUSC 1215 - Beginning Voice Group II
                • MUSC 2105 - Intermediate Group Piano
                • MUSC 2115 - Intermediate Group Piano
                • Choose 2 s.h. minor applied elective
                • Choose 2 s.h. minor applied elective
                Major instrument: keyboard
                • MUSC 1205 - Beginning Voice Group I
                • MUSC 1215 - Beginning Voice Group II
                • MUSC 3105 - Functional Guitar Class I
                • MUSC 3115 - Functional Guitar Class II
                • Choose 4 s.h. minor applied electives
                • Choose 4 s.h. minor applied electives
                Major instrument: percussion
                • MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
                • MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano
                • MUSC 1205 - Beginning Voice Group I
                • MUSC 1215 - Beginning Voice Group II
                • MUSC 2105 - Intermediate Group Piano
                • MUSC 2115 - Intermediate Group Piano
                • MUSC 3105 - Functional Guitar Class I
                • Choose 1 s.h. minor applied elective
                • Choose 1 s.h. minor applied elective
                Major instrument: strings or wind
                • MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
                • MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano
                • MUSC 1205 - Beginning Voice Group I
                • MUSC 1215 - Beginning Voice Group II
                • MUSC 2105 - Intermediate Group Piano
                • MUSC 2115 - Intermediate Group Piano
                • MUSC 3105 - Functional Guitar Class I
                • Choose 1 s.h. minor applied elective
                • Choose 1 s.h. minor applied elective
                Major instrument: voice
                • MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
                • MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano
                • MUSC 2105 - Intermediate Group Piano
                • MUSC 2115 - Intermediate Group Piano
                • MUSC 3105 - Functional Guitar Class I
                • MUSC 3115 - Functional Guitar Class II
                • Choose 2 s.h. minor applied elective
                • Choose 2 s.h. minor applied elective
            c. MUSC electives - 2 s.h.
            B. Music performance concentration (52 s.h.)

            Choose an area of study (jazz studies, instrumental or vocal; performance, percussion or piano; sacred music, organ or vocal; performance, string, voice or wind).

              1. Jazz studies, instrumental (52 s.h.)
                a. Applied major - 20 s.h.
                • 8 s.h. applied major (traditional) required.
                • 12 s.h. applied jazz major required.
                • Students must present a half senior recital.
                  b. Applied minor - 2 s.h.
                  • MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
                  • MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano
                  c. Jazz studies - 17 s.h.
                  • MUSC 2095 - Jazz Keyboard Harmony I
                  • MUSC 2096 - Jazz Keyboard Harmony II
                  • MUSC 2195 - Jazz Improvisation
                  • MUSC 2196 - Advanced Jazz Improvisation
                  • MUSC 2258 - History of Jazz Music
                  • MUSC 2295 - Jazz Theory and Arranging I
                  • MUSC 2296 - Jazz Theory and Arranging II
                  • MUSC 4195 - Jazz Seminar
                  d. Pedagogy - 5 s.h.
                  • MUSC 2280 - Introduction to Music Technology
                  • MUSC 4657 - Directed Study in Instrumental Pedagogy for Brass, Percussion, Strings, or Woodwinds
                  e. Additional ensembles - 4 s.h.

                  Choose 4 s.h. from the following:

                  • MUSC 1775 - Jazz Ensemble
                  • MUSC 1855 - Jazz Chamber Music
                  f. MUSC electives - 5 s.h.
                  2. Jazz studies, vocal (52 s.h.)
                    a. Applied major - 17 s.h.
                    • 6 s.h. applied major (traditional) is required.
                    • 11 s.h. applied jazz major is required.
                    • Students must present a half senior recital.
                      b. Applied minor - 2 s.h.
                      • MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
                      • MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano
                      c. Jazz studies - 17 s.h.
                      • MUSC 2095 - Jazz Keyboard Harmony I
                      • MUSC 2096 - Jazz Keyboard Harmony II
                      • MUSC 2195 - Jazz Improvisation
                      • MUSC 2196 - Advanced Jazz Improvisation
                      • MUSC 2258 - History of Jazz Music
                      • MUSC 2295 - Jazz Theory and Arranging I
                      • MUSC 2296 - Jazz Theory and Arranging II
                      • MUSC 4195 - Jazz Seminar
                      d. Pedagogy - 6 s.h.
                      • MUSC 1627 - Italian and English Lyric Diction for Singers
                      • MUSC 2280 - Introduction to Music Technology
                      • MUSC 3637 - Voice Pedagogy
                      e. Additional ensembles - 6 s.h.

                      Choose 6 s.h. from the following:

                      • MUSC 1775 - Jazz Ensemble
                      • MUSC 1855 - Jazz Chamber Music
                      f. MUSC electives - 5 s.h.
                      3. Percussion performance (52 s.h.)
                        a. Applied major - 24 s.h.
                        • No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied.
                          b. Applied minor - 2 s.h.
                          • MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
                          • MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano
                          c. Pedagogy - 3 s.h.
                          • MUSC 4660 - Percussion Pedagogy and Literature
                          d. Additional ensembles - 6 s.h.
                          • A minimum of two semester hours (2 s.h.) of large ensemble (1 s.h. per semester) is required.
                          • A minimum of four semesters of small ensembles is required.
                            e. Music history and literature electives - 6 s.h
                              f. MUSC electives - 6 s.h.
                                g. Free electives - 6 s.h.
                                4. Piano performance (52 s.h.)
                                  a. Applied major - 24 s.h.
                                  • No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied.
                                  • Students must present a full junior recital and full senior recital.
                                    b. Applied minor - 2 s.h.
                                      c. Pedagogy - 6 s.h.
                                      • MUSC 2125 - Basic Keyboard Skills I
                                      • MUSC 2135 - Basic Keyboard Skills II
                                      • MUSC 3707 - Foundations and Principles of Piano Pedagogy
                                      • MUSC 4717 - Advanced Piano Performance Problems
                                      d. Additional ensembles - 4-10 s.h.

                                      A minimum of 2 semesters of accompanying, to be taken consecutively fall and spring, is required.

                                      • MUSC 3455 - Accompanying I
                                      • MUSC 3465 - Accompanying II
                                      • MUSC 4455 - Accompanying III
                                      e. Piano literature and advanced pedagogy - 6 s.h.
                                      • MUSC 4737 - Piano Literature and Advanced Pedagogy I
                                      • MUSC 4747 - Piano Literature and Advanced Pedagogy II
                                      f. MUSC electives - 7 s.h.
                                        g. Free electives - 4 s.h.
                                        5. Sacred music, organ (52 s.h.)
                                          a. Applied major - 16 s.h.
                                          • No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied.
                                          • Students are required to present a full organ senior recital.
                                            b. Applied minor - 9 s.h.
                                            • MUSC 1205 - Beginning Voice Group I
                                            • MUSC 1215 - Beginning Voice Group II
                                            • MUSC 2125 - Basic Keyboard Skills I
                                            • MUSC 2135 - Basic Keyboard Skills II
                                            • 4 s.h. applied piano
                                            • 1 s.h. applied harpsichord
                                            • 4 s.h. applied piano
                                            c. Organ literature and history - 4 s.h.
                                            • MUSC 4667 - Organ History, Literature, and Design I
                                            • MUSC 4677 - Organ History, Literature, and Design II
                                            d. Additional ensembles - 2 s.h.

                                            Select a minimum of 2 semesters of accompanying from the following:

                                            • MUSC 3455 - Accompanying I
                                            • MUSC 3465 - Accompanying II
                                            • MUSC 4455 - Accompanying III
                                            e. Sacred music - 13 s.h.
                                            • MUSC 2476 - Introduction to Service Playing
                                            • MUSC 4417 - Service Playing I
                                            • MUSC 4437 - Service Playing II
                                            • MUSC 4525 - History of Sacred Music and Worship
                                            • MUSC 4526 - Philosophy and Practice of Sacred Music I
                                            • MUSC 4527 - Philosophy and Practice of Sacred Music II
                                            • MUSC 4528 - Sacred Music Internship
                                            f. Advanced conducting - 3 s.h.
                                            • MUSC 4706 - Advanced Applied Conducting
                                              • OR
                                            • MUSC 4716 - Advanced Applied Conducting
                                            g. MUSC electives - 2 s.h.
                                              h. Free electives - 4 s.h.
                                              6. Sacred music, vocal (52 s.h.)
                                                a. Applied major - 16 s.h.
                                                • No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied.
                                                • Students are required to present a full voice senior recital.
                                                  b. Applied minor - 3 s.h.

                                                  A minimum of 3 s.h. is required from the following:

                                                  • MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
                                                  • MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano
                                                  c. Advanced conducting - 3 s.h.
                                                  • MUSC 4706 - Advanced Applied Conducting
                                                    • OR
                                                  • MUSC 4716 - Advanced Applied Conducting
                                                  d. Pedagogy - 6 s.h.
                                                  • MUSC 1627 - Italian and English Lyric Diction for Singers
                                                  • MUSC 1637 - French Lyric Diction for Singers
                                                  • MUSC 1647 - German Lyric Diction for Singers
                                                  • MUSC 3637 - Voice Pedagogy
                                                  e. Additional ensembles - 2 s.h.

                                                  A minimum of 2 semesters of small ensemble is required.

                                                    f. Sacred music - 12 s.h.
                                                    • MUSC 4525 - History of Sacred Music and Worship
                                                    • MUSC 4526 - Philosophy and Practice of Sacred Music I
                                                    • MUSC 4527 - Philosophy and Practice of Sacred Music II
                                                    • MUSC 4528 - Sacred Music Internship
                                                    • MUSC 4906 - Choral Literature I
                                                    • MUSC 4916 - Choral Literature II
                                                    g. MUSC electives - 4 s.h.
                                                      h. Free electives - 7 s.h.
                                                      7. String performance (52 s.h.)
                                                        a. Applied major - 24 s.h.
                                                        • No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied.
                                                        • Students must present at least a half junior recital and full senior recital.
                                                          b. Applied minor - 4 s.h.
                                                          • MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
                                                          • MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano
                                                          • Bowed String majors select 2 s.h.
                                                          • Guitar majors select 2 s.h.
                                                          • Bowed string majors select a 2 s.h. minor.
                                                          • Violin or viola majors select 2 s.h. of cello.
                                                          • Cello or string bass majors select 2 s.h. of violin or viola.
                                                          c. Pedagogy - 3 s.h.
                                                          • MUSC 4657 - Directed Study in Instrumental Pedagogy for Brass, Percussion, Strings, or Woodwinds
                                                          d. Additional ensembles - 6 s.h.

                                                          Performance groups for guitar majors: 

                                                          • A minimum of 2 semesters of large ensemble is required.
                                                          • A minimum of 4 semesters of  is required.
                                                          • A minimum of 4 semesters of large ensemble and a minimum of 2 semesters of  is required.
                                                            e. Music history and literature electives - 6 s.h.
                                                              f. MUSC electives - 4 s.h.
                                                                g. Free electives - 6 s.h.
                                                                8. Voice performance (52 s.h.)
                                                                  a. Applied major - 16 s.h.
                                                                  • No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied are required.
                                                                  • Students are required to present a half junior recital and a full senior recital.
                                                                    b. Applied minor - 2 s.h.
                                                                    • 2 s.h. minor of applied piano is required.
                                                                    • Students are required to pass a departmental piano proficiency examination. In preparation for the exam, students must enroll in  for 2 semesters.
                                                                    • Students desiring further preparation may take piano minor, piano accompanying, , , , and/or  for no credit. 
                                                                      c. Additional ensembles - 4 s.h.
                                                                      • A minimum of 2 semesters of large choral ensemble is required.
                                                                      • A minimum of 2 semesters of  is required.
                                                                        d. Foreign language and diction - 21 s.h.
                                                                        • MUSC 1627 - Italian and English Lyric Diction for Singers
                                                                        • MUSC 1637 - French Lyric Diction for Singers
                                                                        • MUSC 1647 - German Lyric Diction for Singers
                                                                        • Minimum of
                                                                        • Minimum of 6 s.h. of FREN is required.
                                                                        • Minimum of 6 s.h. of GERM is required.
                                                                        • Minimum of 6 s.h. of ITAL is required.
                                                                        e. Voice pedagogy - 3 s.h.
                                                                        • MUSC 3637 - Voice Pedagogy
                                                                        f. Music history and literature - 4 s.h.
                                                                        • MUSC 4496 - Opera History
                                                                        • MUSC 4596 - Historical Development of Solo Vocal Literature
                                                                        g. MUSC electives - 2 s.h.
                                                                          h. Free elective - 1 s.h.
                                                                          9. Wind performance (52 s.h.)
                                                                            a. Applied major - 24 s.h.
                                                                            • No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied.
                                                                            • Students are required to present a half junior recital and full senior recital.
                                                                              b. Applied minor - 2 s.h.
                                                                              • MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
                                                                              • MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano
                                                                              c. Pedagogy - 3 s.h.
                                                                              • MUSC 4657 - Directed Study in Instrumental Pedagogy for Brass, Percussion, Strings, or Woodwinds
                                                                              d. Additional ensembles - 6 s.h.
                                                                              • A minimum of 2 semesters of large ensemble is required.
                                                                              • A minimum of 4 semesters of small ensemble is required.
                                                                                e. Music history and literature electives - 6 s.h.
                                                                                  f. MUSC electives - 6 s.h.
                                                                                    c. Free electives - 6 s.h.
                                                                                C. Music theory-composition concentration (52 s.h.)
                                                                                  1. Applied major - 14 s.h.
                                                                                  • No more than 6 semesters of 1000 level applied and 4 semesters of 3000 level applied.
                                                                                  • Students are required to present a half senior recital.
                                                                                    2. Applied minor - 2 or 6 s.h.
                                                                                      a. Non-keyboard majors (6 s.h.)

                                                                                      2 s.h. minor instrument and the following 4 s.h. of group piano are required.

                                                                                      • MUSC 1105 - Beginning Group Piano
                                                                                      • MUSC 1115 - Beginning Group Piano
                                                                                      • MUSC 2105 - Intermediate Group Piano
                                                                                      • MUSC 2115 - Intermediate Group Piano
                                                                                      b. Keyboard majors (2 s.h.)

                                                                                      2 s.h. minor instrument

                                                                                      3. Areas of emphasis - 32 or 36 s.h.

                                                                                      Choose one area.

                                                                                        a. Theory emphasis
                                                                                          (1.) Advanced theory - 11 s.h.
                                                                                          • MUSC 4327 - Counterpoint
                                                                                          • MUSC 4328 - Language of Post-tonal Music
                                                                                          • MUSC 4506 - Directed Study in Music Theory
                                                                                          • MUSC 4506 must culminate in a project or research paper which will require the approval of a three-m
                                                                                          • MUSC 4536 - Introduction to Schenkerian Analysis
                                                                                          (2.) Composition - 4 s.h.

                                                                                           

                                                                                          • Choose one from:
                                                                                          • MUSC 3326 - Composition
                                                                                          • MUSC 3336 - Composition

                                                                                          • Choose one from:
                                                                                          • MUSC 3366 - Electronic Music Composition I
                                                                                          • MUSC 3386 - Electronic Music Composition II
                                                                                          (3.) Music history and literature electives - 6 s.h.
                                                                                            (4.) MUSC electives - 5 or 9 s.h.

                                                                                            a. Non-keyboard majors (5 s.h.)

                                                                                            b. Keyboard majors (9 s.h.)

                                                                                              (5.) Free electives - 7 s.h.
                                                                                              b. Composition emphasis

                                                                                              A full recital of the student's compositions, approved by the theory, composition, and musicology faculty, must be presented at the end of the senior year.

                                                                                                (1.) Composition options - 14 s.h.

                                                                                                A full recital of the student's compositions, approved by the theory, composition, and musicology faculty, must be presented at the end of the senior year.

                                                                                                Choose one of the following options:

                                                                                                  Electronic music option
                                                                                                  • MUSC 3326 - Composition
                                                                                                  • MUSC 3336 - Composition
                                                                                                  • MUSC 4366 - Advanced Composition in Electronic Media
                                                                                                  Traditional media option
                                                                                                  • MUSC 3326 - Composition
                                                                                                  • MUSC 3336 - Composition
                                                                                                  • MUSC 3366 - Electronic Music Composition I
                                                                                                  • MUSC 3386 - Electronic Music Composition II
                                                                                                  • MUSC 4326 - Composition
                                                                                                  • MUSC 4336 - Composition
                                                                                                (2.) Music history and literature - 6 s.h.
                                                                                                • MUSC 4446 - Music of the Modern and Postmodern Eras
                                                                                                • Music history and literature electives (4 s.h.)
                                                                                                • Music history and literature electives - 4 s.h.
                                                                                                (3.) Advanced theory - 8 s.h.
                                                                                                • MUSC 4327 - Counterpoint
                                                                                                • MUSC 4328 - Language of Post-tonal Music

                                                                                                • Choose one of the following:
                                                                                                • MUSC 4346 - Advanced Orchestration
                                                                                                • MUSC 4536 - Introduction to Schenkerian Analysis
                                                                                                (4.) MUSC electives - 2 or 6 s.h.

                                                                                                a. Non-keyboard students take 2 s.h.

                                                                                                b. Keyboard students take 6 s.h.

                                                                                                  (5.) Free electives - 3 s.h.
                                                                                              For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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