William R. Green, Dean
Department of Music Education
LuAnn Holden, Chairperson
Department of Music Performance Studies
Douglas Warner, Chairperson
Department of Musicianship Studies
Phillip Thomas, Chairperson
Graduate Studies in Music
Brad Moffett, Director
National Association of Schools of Music
The Lee University School of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). NASM has been recognized by the United States Department of Education as the agency responsible for the accreditation of all music curricula. NASM is a constituent member of the American Council on Education. In the field of teacher education, the Association cooperates with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The services of the Association are available to all types of degree-granting institutions in higher education and to non-degree-granting institutions offering pre-professional programs or general music training programs.
School of Music Statement of Purpose
To achieve its goal of inspiring students, the School of Music immerses them in the formative experience of making music with others and for others, fostering creativity; and it provides deep, engaging encounters with great music, all under the mentorship of music professionals and scholars who are committed to the mission of Lee University. To achieve its goal of equipping students, the School of Music provides one-on-one studio instruction, ample opportunities for solo and ensemble performances, and classroom instruction in music history and literature, theory and analysis, musicianship, and a host of discipline-specific subjects.
The School of Music serves the University campus and the broader community by maintaining a variety of music ensembles that are open to interested and talented students and community members, by providing music for chapel and other worship services, and by offering frequent high-quality concerts performed by our own musicians as well as by guest artists. No matter the context, the School of Music believes that the ultimate purpose of music is to honor God, and that the appropriate response to the experience of music is gratitude and adoration for the Creator, who is the source of every good and perfect gift.
School of Music Goals
The Lee University School of Music seeks to demonstrate its commitment to Lee University’s Expanded Statement of Institutional Purpose and its own Statement of Purpose through the following stated goals:
1. To implement a comprehensive curriculum in applied study, solo and ensemble performances, musicianship studies, and major-specific courses.
2. To counsel and mentor students in scholarly pursuits, artistic advancement, and faith development.
3. To support a faculty of highly qualified music professionals who are committed to teaching, scholarship, and student advising.
4. To provide staff, facilities, equipment, and resources necessary for student preparation and performance at the highest level.
5. To engage in Christian stewardship and service at the university, in the church, and in the community, the region, and the world.
The School of Music offers the Bachelor of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Science in Music (Emphasis in Music Business), Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Music in Music and Worship, and Bachelor of Music in Performance degrees.
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MUSIC
While developing performance and ensemble skills, understanding music in the broader context of the humanities is the priority of this major. It also provides a sizable percentage of elective hours, making it an attractive option for students who wish to pursue a second major.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MUSIC (Emphasis in Music Business)
Offered in cooperation with the School of Business and the Department of Communication Arts, this degree provides multidisciplinary instruction to students desiring careers in the music industry, especially as performers, songwriters, arrangers, or entrepreneurs. Building on a core of music classes, the degree culminates with a specialized project.
BACHELOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION
Offered in cooperation with the Helen DeVos College of Education, a degree in music education leads toward teacher licensure for the student pursuing a career in elementary or secondary schools. This program provides the pedagogical and musical preparation needed for students to succeed as music educators. The program meets all requirements for K-12 music education certification through the Tennessee Department of Education.
BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN MUSIC AND WORSHIP
Designed to equip students for musical leadership in a variety of ministry settings, this program develops knowledge and skills through intensive musical study supported by a broad general core. Special emphasis is given to an understanding of the biblical guidelines for worship and music along with opportunities for practical application of skills. Performance literature includes a well-selected balance of standard repertory and contemporary selections.
BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN PERFORMANCE
A student with significant talent and experience in music may audition for this highly selective degree program. Its primary focus is to prepare the student for study in performance at the graduate level, a performance career, and/or studio teaching. Study of specialized pedagogy and literature completes the music core of theory, history, and analysis.
Official Acceptance to the School of Music
Requirements for acceptance of a student to the School of Music which must be completed prior to registration are:
- Admission to the University.
- An audition in the primary area of applied study (instrumental, keyboard, or voice).
- The demonstration of skills that can be developed to enable the student to serve successfully as a performer, music educator, church musician, or music entrepreneur; any deficiencies must be completed during the first year.
- The completion of a music theory placement exam.
- The completion of a piano placement evaluation.
Piano Proficiency Requirement
The Piano Proficiency requirement is a part of an ongoing effort to prepare graduates in music in the best and most thorough manner possible. We require it because the development of basic, functional keyboard skills is considered essential to success in most musical careers.
Initial assessment of keyboard proficiency occurs prior to enrollment in all music degrees, with the exception of the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree (no proficiency required). Any student who demonstrates degree-appropriate skills is deemed proficient without additional coursework.
Before initial matriculation as a music major, each student’s functional piano skills are evaluated by the piano faculty. This may result in either of the following outcomes: (1) the student’s skills are deemed proficient in all areas, or (2) the student is assigned to the appropriate level of piano study: MUSG 111, MUSG 112, MUSG 121, MUSG 122, OR MUSA 102PI. Students deemed proficient in all areas are not required to enroll in piano.
Unless deemed proficient in all skills prior to initial matriculation, students in degrees requiring keyboard proficiency must enroll in piano (class or applied) every semester until all aspects of the proficiency are passed. Students must be enrolled in piano to play any proficiency exam.
Successful completion of the requirement is prerequisite to student teaching for music education majors. Complete details regarding this requirement are provided in the School of Music Handbook.
Advanced Academic Work for Credit (AP, IBP)
Students receiving a score of four or better on the 1996 version (or later) of the Advanced Placement Examination in Music Theory or a score of six on the International Baccalaureate Programme (IBP) HL exam in Music Theory will be granted proficiency credit for Theory I (MUST-111, 3 credit hours) and Aural Skills I (MUST-112, 1 credit hour). Evidence of qualification for such placement must appear in the student’s advising folder and will take the place of a score on the Music Theory Placement Examination required by the School of Music.
Requirements for Upper-Division Study
Requirements for admission into upper-division study are:
- A minimum 2.0 overall grade point average in all music courses.
- The attainment of a 2.0 overall grade point average at the completion of 58 semester hours.
- The successful completion of an Upper Division Admission Examination (UDAE), a special hearing given before a committee of music faculty members during the fourth semester of primary applied music study.
- Transfer students with more than 58 hours must have a minimum 2.0 grade point average in music as well as a minimum 2.0 overall grade point average and must perform the UDAE during their first semester of study at Lee. Placement in upper-division study as the result of an audition is conditional until successful completion of the UDAE.
Chamber Music Requirements
Undergraduate students pursuing professional degrees in music (Music and Worship, Music Education, Music Performance) at Lee University must participate in public chamber music performances during their academic programs. These performances may be presented through scheduled chamber music concerts, ensemble concerts, or student recitals. Evidence of chamber music presentations must be included in the students’ files and documentation presented with the recital application for their senior recitals. For this purpose, chamber music performances are considered music performed by a small ensemble, with one performer to a part.
Recital/Project Requirements
Guidelines governing all degree recitals/projects:
- Applications must be submitted by published deadlines.
- Performances that vary from the requirements for the student’s degree program-including length and format-must have approval of the appropriate Department Chair.
- All recitals/projects require hearings by appropriate faculty committees.
Requirements for the various degree programs:
- Bachelor of Arts in Music: a thirty-minute recital or thesis in the senior year
- Bachelor of Music Education: a thirty-minute recital in the senior year
- Bachelor of Music in Music and Worship: a thirty-minute recital in the senior year
- Bachelor of Music in Performance: a thirty-minute recital in the junior year and a one-hour recital in the senior year
- Bachelor of Science in Music (Emphasis in Music Business): a senior project in the senior year
Performance Seminar Requirements
Every student majoring in music is required to enroll in and successfully complete Performance Seminar (MUSA-185) for seven semesters. Graded on a pass/fail basis, this course receives zero hours of credit. A passing grade is based on the attendance of nine of the Performance Seminar offerings per semester and nine additional music events. Performance Seminar meets every Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. in the Squires Recital Hall in the Center for the Humanities Building.
Because the School of Music believes that music is a performance art, each student is required to perform at least once per academic year in a Performance Seminar class, a studio recital, or a masterclass program. Students pursuing a Performance degree must perform in an approved venue once per semester. Any student who does not fulfill the performance requirement within the academic year will receive a failing grade for Performance Seminar in the spring semester.
Exceptions to this policy require an approved academic petition submitted to the Dean of the School of Music prior to the conclusion of the semester. The Performance Seminar requirements for transfer students are determined on an individual basis by the Dean of the School of Music.
Performance Ensemble Requirements
In order for students to participate in the university’s traveling ensembles, they must be enrolled at Lee in good academic standing as a full-time student.
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music or Bachelor of Science in Music (Emphasis in Music Business) degree are required to enroll in four semesters of a required ensemble (MUSE-101) according to the area of their primary instrument. In addition to the above requirement for large ensemble participation, all majors in the BA in Music and BS in Music programs are required to successfully complete two semesters of any combination of the following small ensembles:
- MUSE 102BR Brass Choir
- MUSE 102CM Chamber Music (instrumental or vocal)
- MUSE 102JE Jazz Ensemble
- MUSE 102MT Musical Theatre Workshop
- MUSE 102OT Opera Theatre
- MUSE 102PE Percussion Ensemble
- MUSE 102SJ Small Jazz Ensemble
- MUSE 102ST Chamber Strings
- MUSE 102VL Voices of Lee
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Music Education degree are required to enroll in six semesters of a required ensemble (MUSE-101) according to the area of their primary instrument and three to four semesters of an elective ensemble (MUSE-102), depending on the specific major. For instrumental majors, this must include one semester of Choral Union in order to partially fulfill choral/vocal preparation competencies for instrumental music education majors. Students majoring in Music Education must have completed all ensemble requirements prior to the student teaching semester and may not participate in a performance ensemble during the student teaching semester.
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Music and Worship degree are required to enroll in six semesters of a required ensemble (MUSE-101) according to the area of their primary instrument and four semesters of an elective ensemble (MUSE-102).
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Performance degree are required to enroll in six semesters of a required ensemble (MUSE-101) according to the area of their primary instrument and four semesters of elective ensemble (MUSE-102). Two credits of the 10 total ensemble credits must be Chamber Music (MUSE-102CM) for instrumental and keyboard majors, or Opera Theater (MUSE-102OT) and/or Chamber Music (MUSE-102CM) for vocal majors. These two credits may count toward degree completion as Required or Elective ensembles.
Non-degree
Music Performance Studies
Go to information for this department.
Bachelor of Music
Music Education
Go to information for this department.
Bachelor of Music Education
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Music Education, Instrumental Non-Keyboard, K-12 Licensure (MUSIA.BME)
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Music Education, Instrumental, K-12 Licensure, Piano Emphasis (MUSKI.BME)
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Music Education, Vocal/General, K-12 Licensure (MUSVA.BME)
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Music Education, Vocal/General, K-12 Licensure, Piano Emphasis (MUSKA.BME)
Endorsement
Musicianship Studies
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Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Science
