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Department of Music Learning Outcomes Entrance Requirement The Department of Music at La Sierra University is committed to helping the serious music student develop a life-long engagement with music as performer, composer, and listener. By providing the essential tools for making and responding to music, it is the aim of the following student learning outcomes to create a “whole” musician with the requisite skills, experiences, and artistic sensibilities that have the potential to continually inform and transform the musical life during and after formal study. Thus, at the completion of music studies at La Sierra University, the student will have developed: Applicants for bachelor degrees in music must pass an entrance audition. This audition may be performed before entering the University as part of the admissions process, or by the end of the second quarter of residence. Students from the local area are expected to audition in person; others may submit a good quality video recording. Auditions should demonstrate the applicant’s musical and technical ability and should be comprised of two contrasting pieces, totaling 10-20 minutes in length. 1. A seeing ear and a hearing eye. Further defined, students should be able to recognize, identify, and create, given notation and/or sound, simple to complex patterns and structures as they relate to the musical elements of pitch, duration, amplitude, and timbre. 2. A theoretical foundation of music. Analytical techniques, from simple to advanced, are presented as tools to help in understanding and internalizing musical form and content. This leads to the student’s development as “analyzer and evaluator” in becoming a qualified listener. 3. The ability, given sound and/or notation, to respond to, perform and shape the elements of music. This suggests being able to manipulate these elements within the student’s role as listener (both analytical and evaluative), performer, or composer, in a stylistically coherent and informed manner. 4. A working knowledge and practical understanding of the history of music and musical styles. Primarily based on the European-centered tradition, but also observed from world traditions, this study informs the student’s role as listener, performer and composer. 5. An understanding and application of appropriate pedagogical techniques, methods and tools as they relate to the variety of demands placed on today’s music teacher. Depending on the student’s area of emphasis, this means gaining effectiveness in the implementation of methodologies in primary and secondary areas of musical expertise as they relate to age group and discipline. 6. Refined technical and interpretive skills necessary for informed solo and collaborative performance appropriate to the degree. 7. A basic competency in music technology. These elements include digital notation, sequencing, MIDI sequencing, audio recording, and web integration of multi-media objects. 8. A broad base of experiences on which to build a personal philosophy of music. In light of the above outcomes, this means being able to appreciate music of worth, and distinguish between what is long-lasting and what is fad, in secular and sacred styles. La Sierra University Undergraduate Bulletin Applicability to Major Programs For students majoring in music, the following conditions apply: 1. Individual music instruction must be under the direction of the music faculty. 2. Transfer students must take a minimum of 6 units of individual instruction courses in their primary field at this University. 3. All majors, regardless of their concentration, must fulfill the piano proficiency requirement as stated in the Department of Music Student Handbook. 4. Candidates for the Bachelor of Music degree are required to present recitals as indicated in the various concentrations. See the Department of Music Student Handbook. 5. A music major must fulfill the requirements as outlined in the Department of Music Student Handbook to be considered in good standing. Handbooks may be obtained from the Music Department office. Individual Instruction Individual instruction is offered with or without credit. Credit is earned as follows: 1. Attendance at nine lessons per quarter, with a minimum of five practice hours a week for each unit of credit. 2. Participation in public recitals and master classes as specified by the instructor. 3. Successful completion of a final evaluation. Music Ensemble Requirement All music majors, except those in Music Technology, must be enrolled in one of the major ensembles of the University each quarter. Students are required to audition in their declared performance area, and will be placed in the appropriate ensemble. 191