The Department of Music offers a Bachelor of Arts in music within the context of a liberal-arts curriculum. Students acquire practical knowledge of music performance and composition through individual study as well as participation in one or more of the department’s several ensembles. Development of the student’s vocal and/or instrumental technique is enhanced by the study of musicianship, theory, and history, which impart a deeper understanding of the structure of music and the cultural forces that shape it.

The Major offers three curricular tracks, among which students may choose a concentration:

1. Music - General
2. Music - Composition
3. Music - Performance
4. Music - Music Industry

Time to graduate is four years:

Freshman year: preparatory courses MUS001 and MUS010. Alternatively, students must pass a diagnostic examination at the beginning of their sophomore year and place into MUS 030 and MUS 031 or above. Transfer students must either take the diagnostic exam or have the equivalent courses articulated.

Students declare a Major in Music in the General or Performance Track by the end of their freshman year. Students that wish to declare a Major in Music within the Composition Track must first take MUS 037 and pass an audition. Please refer to the Examinations and Auditions section for more information.

Sophomore year: lower division requirements; piano proficiency.

Junior year: upper division requirements (130AB, 138, 112ABC), track requirements, and electives.

Senior year: upper division track requirements, and electives.

For more information, please refer to the sections Performance, Undergraduate Advising, and Voice and Instrument Lessons

Requirements

The following information was extracted from the UCR 2021-22 Catalogue. Students should always refer to the most recent catalog at https://catalog.ucr.edu.

The major requirements for the B.A. degree in Music are as follows:

1. Participation in a major ensemble each quarter, sophomore through junior years (9-18 units): MUS 160, MUS 161, MUS 162, MUS 163, MUS 164, MUS 165, MUS 166 (E-Z)
    
2. Lower-division requirements (1-25 units)
   1. MUS 030A, MUS 030B, MUS 030C (12 units or proficiency)
   2. MUS 031A, MUS 031B, MUS 031C (12 units or proficiency)
   3. MUS 080P (1 unit and piano proficiency)
       
3. Upper-division requirements  (24-36 units)
   1. MUS 112A, MUS 112B, MUS 112C (12 units)
   2. MUS 130A, MUS 130B (8 units)
   3. MUS 131A, MUS 131B, MUS 131C (12 units or proficiency)
   4. MUS 138 (4 units)
       
4. Upper-division track requirements:

Choose from one of the following tracks

1. Music – General (28 units)
   28 units from the following: MUS 113, MUS 114, MUS 115, MUS 116, MUS 117, MUS 118, MUS 119, MUS 120, MUS 121, MUS 122, MUS 123, MUS 124, MUS 125, MUS 126, MUS 127, MUS 128, MUS 133, MUS 134, MUS 135, MUS 136, MUS 137, MUS 139, MUS 140, MUS 145A, MUS 145B, MUS 146, MUS 150A, MUS 150B, MUS 150C, MUS 150D, MUS 151, MUS 152, MUS 153, MUS 154 (E-Z), MUS 155 (E-Z), MUS 191 (E-Z) (no more than 4 units)
    
2. Music – Composition (24 units)
   4 units from the following: MUS 136, MUS 144, MUS 147, MUS 157
   MUS 134, MUS 145A (8 units)
   MUS 149(12 units)
    
3. Music – Performance (26 units)
   (1)  12 units from the following: MUS 180 (E-Z), MUS 181 (E-Z)
   (2)  12 units from the following: MUS 113, MUS 114, MUS 115, MUS 116, MUS 117, MUS 118, MUS 119, MUS 120, MUS 121, MUS 122, MUS 123, MUS 124, MUS 125, MUS 126, MUS 127, MUS 128, MUS 133, MUS 134, MUS 135, MUS 136, MUS 137, MUS 139, MUS 140, MUS 145A, MUS 145B, MUS 146, MUS 150A, MUS 150B, MUS 150C, MUS 150D, MUS 151, MUS 152, MUS 153, MUS 154 (E-Z), MUS 155 (E-Z), MUS 187, MUS 191 (E-Z).
   (3) MUS 167 (1 or 2 units)
    
4. Music - Music Industry

(1) Lower-division requirements (19-45 units)

1. Harmony - MUS 030A/B/C (12 units or proficiency)
2. MUS 080P (1 unit or piano proficiency)
3. UCR Chorale or Chamber Singers – MUS 162 or MUS 163 (3 units = 3 quarters)
4. Improvisation/Ensemble: Select from the following ensembles (3 units = 3 quarters): MUS 160, MUS 161, MUS 162, MUS 163, MUS 164, MUS 165, MUS 166(E-Z) MUS 169; MUS 170; MUS 174; MUS 175A; 175B; MUS 177; MUS 178; MUS 179; Modular Synth Ensemble (New Course)
5. 4-8 units from the following: MUS 007; Mus 008; MUS 009; MUS 011; Mus 014; MUS 015; MUS 023
6. 4-8 units from the following: MUS 044; MUS 037
7. 4-14 units from the following:
   • BUS 020 (4) Financial Accounting and Reporting
   • ECON 003 (5) Introduction to Microeconomics or ECON 003H
   • STAT 048 (5) Statistics For Business

A successful portfolio review is required to advance to upper-division standing.

(2) Upper-division requirements (27-46 Units)

Note

Students seeking a teaching credential are advised to take MUS 133, MUS 150A, MUS 150B, MUS 150C, MUS 150D, MUS 151, and MUS 152. Consult the Graduate School of Education for credential requirements.

Examinations and Auditions

The ability to play simple piano music is required of all majors. Students lacking keyboard proficiency when the major is declared must enroll in MUS 080P to prepare them for the proficiency examination, administered by the Department’s piano instructor. Alternatively, students with previous keyboard experience can request to take the proficiency examination instead of enrolling in MUS 080P This examination should be passed by the junior year. Consult the department for examination requirements.

Students that wish to declare a Major in Music within the Composition Track must 1) complete MUS 037 with a grade C or higher, and 2) present three diverse works (one of which must be realized through music notation) to the composition faculty during a brief audition at the end of the sophomore year. If entering as a Junior, transfer composition students will need to schedule an audition upon arrival to campus. The MUS 037 prerequisite can be waived at the faculty’s discretion.

All students intending to enroll in MUS 030A must take a music theory diagnostic examination, which is given at the beginning of instruction.

MUS 031A, MUS 031B, and MUS 031C are taken until proficiency for admission to MUS 131A is achieved. The completion of MUS 131A, MUS 131B, and MUS 131C is required for graduation.

All students normally participate in a major ensemble each quarter. Admission to any ensemble course is by consent of the instructor. Orchestra, concert band, chorale, chamber singers, and jazz ensemble have audition requirements. Please refer to the section Performance for updated information.

Juries

Juries are mandatory for Music juniors and seniors enrolled in the Performance Track. Students must play for two of them, on two different quarters, within each academic year. Students do not play for juries the quarter in which they perform a senior recital. Juries are optional for non-Music Majors, and Music Majors who are not in the Performance Track but who are nevertheless taking Voice & Instrument lessons at the Department. Please note that an instructor may require that a student participate play for juries even if they are not in the Performance Track.

Fees

An additional course fee will be charged at the time of registration for the following courses: MUS 080 (E-Z) - $300 for ten half-hour lessons per quarter, MUS 081 (E-Z) - $300 for ten half-hour lessons per quarter, MUS 180 (E-Z) - $600 for ten one hour lessons per quarter, and MUS 181 (E-Z) - $600 for ten one hour lessons per quarter. A limited number of scholarships will be made available.