The Department of Music
Dr. Gary Behm, Chairperson
CI 119, (406) 657-2350
gbehm@msubillings.edu
www.msubillings.edu/cas/music/
Professors: Behm, Cromley, Robertson
Associate Professor: Barfield*
Lecturer: Sheppard
Professors Emeritus: Perkins, Smith, Sutherland, Thompson
 * Joint Appointment with the Department of Educational Theory and Practice
Undergraduate Degrees and Majors
Bachelor of Arts
Major: Music
Options: Performance, Teaching Certificate
Minor: Music
Advising Information
Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor each semester to confirm that their Plan of Study is accurate and complete. If necessary, changes and updates should be made in order to ensure that program requirements can be completed in a timely manner. In addition, advisors provide assistance in selecting elective courses which support the student’s interests, career plans and Plan of Study.
Academic advising services for all freshmen Arts and Sciences majors are provided through the Advising Center in McMullen Hall, Room 100. Upon declaring a specific major, Arts and Science majors will be assigned to a faculty advisor in their department for upper-division advising. Advising files for all upper-division students are maintained in the departmental office of the program in which the student is majoring. Although advisors are available to assist students in designing their Plans of Study, students are ultimately responsible for meeting degree requirements.
The Department of Music educates musicians by combining a thorough professional training with a sound Academic Foundations. It is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. MSU Billings’ Department of Music stresses high standards of performance, a strong theoretical background, a broad exposure to music history, opportunities in pedagogy, and a significant encounter with other academic disciplines. Implied is the development of the individual as an educated, cultured person with aesthetic values.
The varied functions of music in the world today present many interesting and challenging opportunities to students as teachers, performers, and creative artists. Because of the many areas available to students, the faculty of the Department of Music has established a program of training which allows first-year students to determine the course of study they may wish to follow.
The Bachelor of Arts Major in Music and the Bachelor of Arts Major - Performance Option are designed primarily for those wishing to pursue a well-rounded arts and sciences education. The Bachelor of Arts Degree Major in Music Teaching Certificate Option is designed for students wishing to pursue music teaching careers in the schools. Through an emphasis in music history and theory as well as performance instruction and participation in various ensembles, students receive a background that prepares them for graduate study in musicology, theory and performance.
Program Outcomes for All Music Programs
Theory
Students will demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of music theory. They will do so by analyzing selected works in which they will identify and relate fundamental musical elements such as phrase structure, organization of harmonic elements, and the construction of rhythmic and melodic materials.
History
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the major historical musical styles by placing selected works, for which they will be provided scores and recordings, into appropriate time frames. During this process they will document and comment on elements such as harmonic style, melodic and rhythmic structure, dynamic structure, the use of ornamentation, etc. as they relate to each of the historical style periods.
Students will exhibit a familiarity with significant composers; their compositional styles, and their importance to the development of the art form; from the various historical style periods. They will demonstrate this knowledge in two different formats. 1) The student will categorize and classify composers from a list provided them. In this process they will identify the historical period(s) in which each composer lived and worked, the primary medium(s) in which they worked, and their influences on the art form. 2) From a number of unnamed musical scores, students will identify possible composers, accompanied by rationale for their choice.
Performance
BA & Teaching Certificate
Students will display the technical and musical ability to perform significant musical literature at an advanced level. They will demonstrate this by performing a 30 minute adjudicated solo recital at the end of their senior year. Prior to this recital they must qualify by successfully performing a pre-recital jury for the music faculty.
Performance Option
Students will display the technical and musical ability to perform significant musical literature at an advanced level. They will demonstrate this by performing two one-hour adjudicated solo recitals at the end of their junior and senior years. Prior to each of these recitals they must qualify by successfully performing a pre-recital jury for the music faculty.
NEXT: Bachelor of Arts Degree Major in Music
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