Tennessee Wesleyan College

Music Major

TWC's Choir and Chorale include more than 50 of the brightest and most gifted students from across the region. The group has traveled and performed around the world, including performances at the Lincoln Center in New York City and for our troops in Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany.

Special Information for Music Majors

1. Admission to the Department of Fine Arts

The student is encouraged to declare his/her major in music at the earliest possible time because of the professional aspects of the music curriculum. In addition to the general requirement for admission to the college, the student must meet the following requirements of the Department of Fine Arts.

Each student will perform in his/her major medium an audition, either in person or by recording. This audition will be used to ascertain the student's level of performance and to make recommendations concerning the student's placement in applied music. Only on the basis of the audition will he or she be recommended for acceptance as a music major. Students are encouraged to audition the semester prior to their enrollment. Audition appointments may be made by contacting the Chairperson:
Department of Fine Arts, Tennessee Wesleyan College; 204 E. College St.; Athens, Tennessee 37303

Each student will take a music placement test to determine his or her musical knowledge and aptitude.

2. Piano and Voice Proficiency

All students majoring in music must meet a prescribed level of proficiency in voice and piano or register for piano and voice until the requirement is met. This requirement should be met by the beginning of the senior year. The proficiency examinations test the student's ability to use the piano and voice as tools within the framework of his or her future professional activities. The tests are given at the end of each semester and are taken with the consent of the student's instructor in each area. Entering students who are prepared to take the examinations may do so before their first semester of registration.

3. Applied Music Lessons

All students enrolled in a music curriculum receive applied music training in voice, piano, organ, or guitar. The following formula is used to credit the study of applied music: One semester hour of credit: one half-hour of instruction per week and a minimum of one-hour of practice per day. Two semester hours of credit: one hour of instruction per week and a minimum of two hours of practice per day. (This is considered the normal load for a music major.)

Three semester hours of credit: one hour of instruction per week and a minimum of three hours of practice per day.

4. Applied Music Evaluations

Evaluations by a committee composed of the student's instructor and at least two other members of the music faculty will be held at the conclusion of each semester of applied music study. The committee will decide the grade for the examination. The teacher's and the committee's grades determine the final grade. The student may notregister for 300-level applied music without the consent of the committee.

5. Music Ensembles

All music majors are required to earn 7-8 semester hours of credit through participation in Concert Choir. The purpose of this requirement is to acquaint the student with the best music literature in the ensemble medium through actual performance. Auditions are held each semester before registration. Assignment to

Concert Choir is made at the discretion of the organization director. A maximum of 8 semester hours may be earned toward graduation.

6. Outside Performances

Permission to take part in musical activities apart from the regularly scheduled offerings of the Department of Fine Arts must be obtained from the student's applied music instructor. The music faculty reserves the right to limit and prohibit student participation in music ensembles or solo performance outside the Department of Fine Arts if such participation impedes desired musical growth.

7. Student Recitals

Students pursuing a course of study leading to a Bachelor of Music Education degree will present a graduation recital (normally 30 minutes) during the senior year. Students pursuing a course of study leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in music will present a recital in the junior year (normally 30 minutes) and a graduation recital in the senior year (normally one hour). A committee hearing is required of all students for degree recitals, which are in partial fulfillment of academic requirements. All recitals must be presented to the music faculty and approved at least two weeks prior to the date of the recital. The student is responsible for the cost of recording and technicians' services during the recital. Further details are available in the Fine Arts Department.THE MAJORS

8. Fulfillment of Graduation Requirements

a. All music majors are required to maintain an average of C or better in the theory course sequence.
b. The student must give any required recitals during a term in which he or she is enrolled in the applied area of study.
c. All other department requirements for graduation must be completed while the student is enrolled in the College.
d. The student must take at least three hours of credit at the 300 level in his or her principle applied area.