BA in Music

Why pursue a music degree at North Central College?

If you're looking to become a musician, at North Central you’ll find a wealth of performance and music production opportunities, if you're looking to become a musician. Choose from more than 20 instrumental and vocal groups, including large and small ensembles, jazz combos, musical theatre, and opera workshops. You’ll perform in a grand concert hall and in more intimate settings. Working closely with professionally active faculty, you’ll receive plenty of one-on-one attention and even private lessons in class and out. Whether your goal is to become a composer or understand the evolution and importance of music, our music program is made to provide you with the foundation you need to excel in the music business. In other words, participate in a music program that will give you the tools and opportunities you need to carve your own performance niche.

You have the encouragement and ability to combine your fine art education with a variety of interdisciplinary studies such as communications, studio art, musical theater, etc. Our comprehensive curriculum allows you to learn more about music and your other academic interests simultaneously.

You can also:

• Shape your classes, music lessons, and performances around your particular areas of interest in the performing arts.
• Learn more and refine your skills through private lessons guided by musically trained instructors that have professional education experience.
• Enroll in a variety of music and music-related courses, ranging from conducting to composition to music theory, from a wide spectrum of choral and instrumental faculty.
• Audition for ensemble scholarships.
• Continue your passion for the performing arts and apply to great music graduate programs, as our previous graduate classes have!

Music, BA

The B.A. in music is designed for the student interested in obtaining a wide range of musical experiences without focusing on performance or music education. The concentration includes a global perspective and technological perspective with an emphasis on research and writing.

Major Requirements

Core Music Courses

• MUSI 101 - Music Theory I
• MUSI 102 - Music Theory II
• MUSI 108 - Aural Skills I
• MUSI 156 - The World of Music
• MUSI 258 - Music Now
• MUSI 285 - Introduction to Music Technology
• MUSI 301 - Doing Music History
• MUSI 302 - Doing Ethnomusicology
• MUSI 380 - Music As Social Life: The Field of Ethnomusicology
• MUSI 385 - Computer and Electronic Music

One of the following:

• MUSI 347 - Elements of Instrumental Conducting
• MUSI 348 - Elements of Choral Conducting

Capstone

• MUSI 491 - Music Capstone Project

Additional Requirements

• Language (in addition to the B.A. Degree Requirements) or Music Internship
• Completion of Study Abroad, Study Away, Chicago Semester, or other approved Experiential Learning Opportunity
• Completion of requisite concert attendance. Six concerts per semester while enrolled as a music major, unless student teaching or studying abroad.
• Private piano lessons with NCC faculty until successful completion of the Piano Proficiency Exam.

Additional Requirements for the BA Degree

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language.

Jazz Studies, BA

The Jazz Studies track is designed for students who wish to pursue careers as jazz performers, arrangers, composers, or jazz educators and for students planning to go to graduate school in related areas. Jazz majors are required to take a rigorous core of jazz harmony and aural skills, jazz improvisation, jazz history, and jazz arranging and composition courses. Each semester in the program, students will take applied studio lessons on their primary instrument/voice, as well as participate in a jazz combo and a large ensemble, performing on that instrument. They will also take applied jazz piano lessons until completion of the Jazz Piano Proficiency Examination. Their program of study culminates with the presentation of their Senior Jazz Concert.

Entrance into the Jazz Studies performance track is determined by audition with the jazz faculty.

Music Performance, Composition Track/Instrumental Track/Piano Track/Vocal Track, BA

The Music performance track is designed for students who wish to pursue careers as performers, private studio teachers, or composers; and for students planning to go to graduate school in related areas. Music Performance majors are required to take a rigorous core of music theory, history, techniques/pedagogy, and applied lessons on their primary instrument or voice. Students are required to be in a large ensemble performing on their major instrument/voice every semester (except for piano). Entrance into the music performance track is determined by audition with the music department.

A North Central education integrates career preparation with rich academic study. Our faculty encourages you to refine and apply your knowledge in an interconnected world. Here you'll learn to think independently and work globally to solve problems and lead.

Careers

Recent graduates of music include:

• Performance (vocal, instrumental, jazz, musical theatre)
• Composition and arranging
• Private studio teaching
• Music library science
• Arts management