Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Music
Nature of the Program
The performance curricula are especially designed for students wishing to prepare themselves as performers or as teachers of a particular instrument or voice. The program focuses on individual and ensemble musicianship, music theory and history, instrument or voice pedagogy, and the University's General Education Foundations curriculum. The BM in Music Performance offers three areas of emphasis:
- Piano
- Voice
- Instrumental
- Flute
- Oboe
- Clarinet
- Saxophone
- Bassoon
- Horn
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- Euphonium
- Tuba
- Percussion
- Violin
- Viola
- Cello
- Double Bass
- Harp
- Guitar
Admissions for 2027-2028
For first-time freshmen, acceptance into an undergraduate music degree program is contingent upon admission to WVU and admission to the School of Music.
For the BA Music Performance Degree, admission to the School of Music requires completing a School of Music Application and a successful audition.
Students transferring from another WVU major or another institution will need to complete a School of Music Application and a successful audition.
Major Code: 3716
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 27 | |
| Music Performance Program Requirements | 29 | |
| Music Performance Major Requirements | 66 | |
| Total Hours | 122 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 | 25 | |
| MUSC 191 | First-Year Seminar | 2 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Music Performance Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Music Convocation | ||
| MUSC 189 | Music Convocation (5 semesters) | 0 |
| Theory & Analysis | ||
| MUSC 161 | Aural Theory 1 | 2 |
| MUSC 163 | Aural Theory 2 | 2 |
| MUSC 261 | Aural Theory 3 | 2 |
| MUSC 162 | Written Theory 1 | 3 |
| MUSC 164 | Written Theory 2 | 3 |
| MUSC 262 | Written Theory 3 | 3 |
| MUSC 130S | Piano Class 1 | 1 |
| MUSC 131S | Piano Class 2 | 1 |
| MUSC 132S | Piano Class 3 | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 2-3 | |
| Instrumentation and Orchestration | ||
| Popular Music Analysis Seminar | ||
| Songwriting: Composition and Analysis | ||
| Counterpoint, 16th Century | ||
| Counterpoint, 18th Century | ||
| Analysis of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Music | ||
| Compositional Techniques in Contemporary Music | ||
| Electronic Music Production | ||
| Techniques for Electronic Music Performance | ||
| Jazz and Commercial Music Harmony | ||
| Counterpoint, 20th Century | ||
| Musicology | ||
| Select one of the following (GEF 8): | 3 | |
| Introduction to Music | ||
| American Popular Music | ||
| Music and the Immigrant Experience | ||
| Introduction to History of Jazz | ||
| Music in World Cultures | ||
| Hip Hop Nation: Musical and Conceptual Foundations of a Cultural Revolution | ||
| Music in Appalachia | ||
| MUSC 270 | History of Western Musical Traditions 1 (GEF 6) | 3 |
| MUSC 271 | History of Western Musical Traditions 2 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 29 | |
Music Performance Major Requirements
Music Performance Majors must complete the Music Courses and one of the Applied Performance Areas of Emphasis: Instrumental, Piano, or Voice.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Performance Study | 24 | |
Applied Music Study (MUSC 121-127, 221-227, 321-327, 421-427) | ||
| Conducting | ||
| MUSC 200S | Fundamentals of Conducting | 2 |
| Methods and Pedagogy | 2 | |
| Methods and Pedagogy | ||
| Literature & Reperatory | 2 | |
| Literature and Repertory | ||
| Music Technology or Industry | 2-3 | |
| Introduction to Music Industry | ||
| Introduction to Recording Technology | ||
| Introduction to Pro Tools | ||
| Ensemble | 12 | |
Major & Chamber Ensembles | ||
(See Area of Emphasis for list of acceptable ensembles.) | ||
| Electives | ||
| Upper-Division Academic Music (300- or 400-level) Electives | 3 | |
| Unrestricted Music Electives | 3-5 | |
| Capstone | ||
| MUSC 488 | Recital | 2 |
| Area of Emphasis | 14-16 | |
Instrumental Performance (14 Hours) | ||
Piano Performance (14 Hours) | ||
Voice Performance (16 Hours) | ||
| Total Hours | 66 | |
- *
Credits may vary. Refer to the School of Music Requirements for policies related to fulfilling the Major Ensemble and Chamber Ensemble requirements.
- **
Prerequisite for MUSC 270 or MUSC 271.
Areas of Emphasis
Instrumental Performance Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Lessons * | 8 | |
Applied Music Study (MUSC 121-127, 221-227, 321-327, 421-427) | ||
| Ensembles: List of acceptable Ensembles for the Instrumental Area of Emphasis | ||
| Major Ensembles | ||
| Eight (8) semesters from the following: | ||
| Band: Wind Symphony | ||
| Band: Symphonic | ||
| Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble 1 | ||
| Jazz Ensemble 2 | ||
| Chamber Ensembles | ||
| Four (4) semesters from the following: | ||
| Chamber Music: Brass | ||
| Chamber Music: Guitar | ||
| Chamber Music: Strings | ||
| Chamber Music: Woodwind | ||
| Chamber Music: Vocal | ||
| Chamber Music: New Music | ||
| Chamber Music: Other | ||
| Chamber Music: Brass Choir | ||
| Chamber Music: Percussion 1 | ||
| Chamber Music: Percussion 2 | ||
| Chamber Music: Jazz Small Group | ||
| Gamelan | ||
| Steel Band | ||
| African Music Ensemble | ||
| Brazilian Music Ensemble | ||
| Experiential Music Ensemble | ||
| Fife and Drum Ensemble | ||
| Appalachian Music Ensemble | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
Upper-Division Academic Music (300- or 400-level) Electives ** | ||
| Total Hours | 14 | |
- *
One additional credit each semester.
- **
To be chosen in consultation with your advisor.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MUSC 121-127D | 4 | MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 | MUSC 121-127D | 4 |
| MUSC 161 | 2 | MUSC 131S | 1 |
| MUSC 162 | 3 | MUSC 163 | 2 |
| MUSC 130S | 1 | MUSC 164 | 3 |
| MUSC 191 | 2 | MUSC 189 | 0 |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | GEF | 3 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 | MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 221-227D | 4 | MUSC 221-227D | 4 |
| MUSC 261 | 2 | MUSC 270 | 3 |
| MUSC 262 | 3 | Select one of the following: | 2-3 |
| MUSC 132S | 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| MUSC 189 | 0 | ||
| Unrestricted Music Elective | 2 | ||
| MUSC Chamber Ensemble | 1 | MUSC 189 | 0 |
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | ||
| Unrestricted Music Elective | 1 | ||
| 17 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MUSC 321-327D | 4 | MUSC 321-327D | 4 |
| MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 | MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC Chamber Ensemble | 1 | MUSC Chamber Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 189 | 0 | MUSC 189 | 0 |
| MUSC 200S | 2 | Select one of the following: | 2 or 3 |
| MUSC 271 | 3 | ||
| GEF 2 | 4 | ||
| Upper Division Academic Music Elective | 3 | ||
| GEF | 3 | ||
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MUSC 421-427D | 4 | MUSC 421-427D | 4 |
| MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 | MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC Chamber Ensemble | 1 | MUSC Chamber Music Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 433 | 2 | MUSC 434 | 2 |
| Upper Division Academic Music Elective | 3 | Upper Division Academic Music Elective | 3 |
| GEF | 3 | GEF | 3 |
| MUSC 488 (Capstone) | 2 | ||
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
Piano Performance Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Lessons * | 8 | |
Applied Music Study (MUSC 123B, 223B, 323B, 423B) | ||
| Ensembles: List of acceptable Ensembles for the Piano Area of Emphasis | ||
| Major Ensembles | ||
| Select two (2) credits minimum from the following: | ||
| Band: Wind Symphony | ||
| Band: Symphonic | ||
| Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Chamber Singers | ||
| University Mountaineer Chorus | ||
| Mountaineer Singers | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble 1 | ||
| Jazz Ensemble 2 | ||
| Chamber Ensembles | ||
| Select two (2) credits minimum from the following: | ||
| Chamber Music: Piano-4 Hand | ||
| Chamber Music: New Music | ||
| Chamber Music: Other | ||
| Chamber Music: Other-Vocal Accompaniment | ||
| Gamelan | ||
| Steel Band | ||
| African Music Ensemble | ||
| Brazilian Music Ensemble | ||
| Experiential Music Ensemble | ||
| Taiko Ensemble | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
Upper-Division Academic Music (300- or 400-level) Electives ** | ||
| Total Hours | 14 | |
- *
One additional credit each semester.
- **
To be chosen with your advisor.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MUSC 123B | 4 | MUSC 123B | 4 |
| Ensemble | 1 | Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 161 | 2 | MUSC 163 | 2 |
| MUSC 162 | 3 | MUSC 164 | 3 |
| MUSC 130S | 1 | MUSC 131S | 1 |
| MUSC 191 | 2 | MUSC 189 | 0 |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | GEF | 3 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 | MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 223B | 4 | MUSC 223B | 4 |
| MUSC 261 | 2 | MUSC 270 | 3 |
| MUSC 262 | 3 | Select one of the following: | 2 or 3 |
| MUSC 132S | 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| MUSC 189 | 0 | ||
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | ||
| MUSC 189 | 0 | ||
| GEF 2 | 4 | ||
| 17 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MUSC 323B | 4 | MUSC 323B | 4 |
| MUSC Chamber Ensemble | 1 | MUSC 189 | 0 |
| MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 | MUSC Chamber Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 271 | 3 | Select one of the following: | 2 or 3 |
| MUSC 200S | 2 | ||
| MUSC 189 | 0 | ||
| GEF | 3 | ||
| Music Electives | 5 | ||
| GEF | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MUSC 423B | 4 | MUSC 423B | 4 |
| MUSC Chamber Ensemble | 1 | MUSC Chamber Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 433 | 2 | Upper Division Academic Music Elective | 3 |
| Upper Division Academic Music Elective | 3 | Unrestricted Music Electives | 2 |
| GEF | 3 | MUSC 434 | 2 |
| GEF | 3 | ||
| MUSC 488 (Capstone) | 2 | ||
| 13 | 17 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
Voice Performance Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ensembles: List of acceptable Ensembles for the Voice Area of Emphasis | ||
| Chamber Singers * | ||
| Opera | ||
| Lyric Theatre ** | ||
| Language | 16 | |
| Diction for Singers: English and Italian | ||
| Diction for Singers: German and French | ||
| Coaching for Singers *** | ||
| Special Topics **** | ||
| Total Hours | 16 | |
- *
Eight (8) semesters
- **
Four (4) semesters
- ***
Repeated three (3) times
- ****
Language Related Study
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MUSC 126 | 3 | MUSC 126 | 3 |
| MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 | MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 130S | 1 | MUSC 131S | 1 |
| MUSC 161 | 2 | MUSC 163 | 2 |
| MUSC 162 | 3 | MUSC 164 | 3 |
| MUSC 191 | 2 | MUSC 189 | 0 |
| ENGL 101 | 3 | Select one of the following: | 3 |
| GEF | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MUSC 226 | 3 | MUSC 226 | 3 |
| MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 | MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 132S | 1 | MUSC 269B | 3 |
| MUSC 261 | 2 | MUSC 189 | 0 |
| MUSC 262 | 3 | Select one of the following: | 2 or 3 |
| MUSC 189 | 0 | ||
| MUSC 269A | 3 | ||
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | ||
| MUSC 270 | 3 | ||
| GEF | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MUSC 326 | 3 | MUSC 326 | 3 |
| MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 | MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 404S | 1 | MUSC 189 | 0 |
| MUSC 478 | 1 | MUSC 404S | 1 |
| MUSC 271 | 3 | MUSC 478 | 1 |
| MUSC 200S | 2 | Language | 3 |
| MUSC 189 | 0 | ||
| Upper-Division Academic Music Elective | 3 | Music Technology or Industry | 2 or 3 |
| GEF | 3 | ||
| GEF | 3 | ||
| 17 | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MUSC 426 | 2 | MUSC 426 | 3 |
| MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 | MUSC Major Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC 404S | 1 | MUSC 404S | 1 |
| Language | 3 | MUSC 434 | 2 |
MUSC 493Language Related Topic | MUSC 478 | 1 | |
| MUSC 478 | 1 | MUSC 488 (Capstone) | 2 |
| MUSC 433 | 2 | Upper-Division Academic Music Elective | 3 |
| GEF | 3 | Unrestricted Music Elective | 1 |
| 13 | 14 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Music Performance
Upon Completion of the BM in Music Performance, students will be able to:
- Perform with facility, self-expression, and concert success on their primary instrument or voice. For voice students, this includes appropriate use of foreign languages and diction.
- Demonstrate artistic proficiency and flexibility as a performer and collaborator in varied settings, including chamber ensembles and large conducted ensembles.
- Demonstrate ability to apply knowledge of compositional form, historical context, performance practices, extended techniques, nontraditional notation, and current issues to the performance of Western classical music.
- Practice the necessary skills for professional success.
- Apply the necessary skills to maintain their physical and mental health while creating a career of sustainability and longevity.