Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance

About

This exciting degree program includes studies in performance, pedagogy, diction, repertoire, opera, and choral activities. You will have numerous opportunities for performing both on- and off-campus in a wide variety of venues, and in collaboration with artist faculty. Guest artist masterclasses are also included throughout each season. This course of study presupposes that you have a strong pre-college background in musical performance. A performance audition is required for entrance into the program.

Required: Admission to Performance Major.

Note: This option requires more than 12 quarters to complete at 15–16 credits per quarter.

Grade Requirement for all majors offered by the Music Department: the minimum acceptable grade for any music course required for graduation (including transferred music courses) is ≥C.

Curriculum & Requirements Curriculum Map

Music Student Handbook

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Vocal Performance Major, Bachelor of Music (BM)

Required Non-Credit Music Components
CONVOCATION AND RECITAL ATTENDANCE (must be repeated each term)
Junior Recital
Piano Proficiency
Required Vocal Performance Courses
MUSC 101
MUSC 102
MUSC 103
MUSIC THEORY I
and MUSIC THEORY II
and MUSIC THEORY III
9
MUSC 104
MUSC 105
MUSC 106
SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS
and SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS II
and SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS III
3
MUSC 121
MUSC 122
PIANO CLASS II FOR MAJORS
and PIANO CLASS III FOR MAJORS
2
MUSC 201
MUSC 202
MUSC 203
MUSIC THEORY IV
and MUSIC THEORY V
and MUSIC THEORY VI
9
MUSC 204
MUSC 205
SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS IV
and SIGHT SINGING AND AURAL SKILLS V
2
MUSC 244MUSIC TECHNOLOGY2
MUSC 250
MUSC 251
MUSC 252
MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE I
and MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE II
and MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE III
12
MUSC 310BASIC CONDUCTING2
MUSC 312ADVANCED CONDUCTING2
MUSC 320
MUSC 321
MUSC 322
DICTION FOR SINGERS I
and DICTION FOR SINGERS II
and DICTION FOR SINGERS III
3
MUSC 323FOREIGN LANGUAGE READING AND COMPREHENSION1
MUSC 324
MUSC 325
VOCAL LITERATURE I
and VOCAL LITERATURE II
4
MUSC 388PERSPECTIVES ON GLOBAL MUSIC4
MUSC 461VOCAL PEDAGOGY3
MUSC 470SENIOR RECITAL2
Applied Music Requirements–must be repeated24
APPLIED INSTRUCTION ON INSTRUMENT OR VOICE
APPLIED INSTRUCTION ON INSTRUMENT OR VOICE
APPLIED INSTRUCTION ON INSTRUMENT OR VOICE
APPLIED INSTRUCTION ON INSTRUMENT OR VOICE
Major Music Ensemble Requirement Options–must be repeated12
MARCHING BAND
WIND ENSEMBLE
SYMPHONIC BAND
ORCHESTRA
SYMPHONIC CHOIR
CONCERT CHOIR
Minor Music Ensemble Requirements –Choose from the following (may be repeated)2
COLLEGIANS
VOCAL JAZZ LAB
CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLES
OPERA & THEATRE VOCAL ARTS ENSEMBLE
POP COMBO
Required Senior Capstone/Thesis
MUSC 490MUSIC SENIOR CAPSTONE4
Total Credits102

Sample Courses

MUSC 320. DICTION FOR SINGERS I. 1 Credit.

Introduction to diction for singers, choral conductors and collaborative pianists. The class introduces International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and its practical application to English, Ecclesiastical Latin, Italian, German and French through both in-class practice and dictionary reference. This course is designed to provide introductory information and develop knowledge of basic IPA symbols, their pronunciation and the implementation of this learning into vocal/choral repertoire.

Catalog Listing

MUSC 324. VOCAL LITERATURE I. 2 Credits.

Pre-requisites: MUSC 322 or permission of instructor.
This course is designed to familiarize students with canonic composers, poets, songs, and chamber works in the English and German languages. By the end of this course, students will be able to discuss hallmarks of each composer’s style and poetic trends depicted in vocal literature. Students will be able to identify major works from each composer’s catalogue, and recognize composers through score identification exercises.

Catalog Listing

MUSC 461. VOCAL PEDAGOGY. 3 Credits.

Pre-requisites: senior standing.
Preparation for teaching individual and class voice in the studio.

Catalog Listing

MUSC 323. FOREIGN LANGUAGE READING AND COMPREHENSION. 1 Credit.

Pre-requisites: MUSC 322 or permission of instructor.
This course is designed to familiarize students with canonic texts that have inspired vocal literature. The course will focus on best practices for building reading and comprehension techniques in Italian, French, and German. By the end of this course, students will be able to roughly translate large portions of canonic text in Italian, French, and German with just a dictionary.

Catalog Listing