Music (MUSC)

Return to: College of Visual and Performing Arts

The School of Music offers a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree with emphases in music education, performance, and composition and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree for students whose interests lie in acquiring a broad, liberal education.

Audition Procedures

Undergraduate admission for music majors is a two-part procedure. Every student must be accepted by the Office of Admissions and the School of Music in order to pursue a degree. The School of Music accepts students after they have successfully completed an audition, interview, and basic musicianship screening. While students may designate themselves as intended music majors when applying to the university, they do not formally achieve that status until all of the above procedures have been completed successfully. Students who wish to enroll in the composition emphasis must also submit written examples of their works. Prospective students may contact the School of Music for regularly scheduled audition and screening dates. Performance study is available in voice, piano, organ, woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings, guitar, and harp.

Requirements

Music majors are expected to attend a specified number of recitals, concerts, and convocations. Music majors must attain a minimum grade of C in all 100- and 200-level music courses required for graduation in their degree program.

Depending on the emphasis chosen, all senior music majors are required to present a full or partial recital, submit a composition or research project, or complete an equivalent assignment. No credit is awarded. 

Cooperative Education/Internship in Music

Music majors of upper-division standing are eligible to submit an application for a cooperative education/internship experience. Those students selected for the program may work full or part time with approved employers complementary to students’ career goals. Accredited experiences include composition and arranging (MUSC 413A), recording techniques (MUSC 413B), performance (MUSC 463A), and a variety of areas within the music industry (MUSC 463B). Variable S/U credit assigned on the basis of the length and/or nature of employment. Credit does not apply towards requirements in a major in music, and students are limited to a maximum of 8 semester hours of cooperative education/internship credit in the School of Music.

Interested students should consult with a faculty member closely associated with the appropriate field. As the student approaches junior academic standing, he or she may apply to the School of Music for participation in NIU’s Cooperative Education/Internship Program. Applications will be reviewed on the basis of academic GPA, instructor recommendation(s), professional promise, and demonstrated interest and competence in the area of study. The student must possess a minimum 2.50 overall GPA with a minimum 3.00 GPA in course work offered by the School of Music. All students (including transfers) must have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours in the School of Music.

All internships are approved by the School of Music and coordinated by the Cooperative Education/Internship Program. The latter office requires completion of an application and resume. These courses may be taken concurrently with or following regular curricular offerings in the classroom such as MUSC 462, Survey of the Music Industry.

Music Faculty

Paul Bauer, D.M., Northwestern University, professor, director
Tim Blickhan, D.M.A., University of Illinois, professor, assistant director, coordinator of graduate studies
Gregory Barrett, D.Mus., Indiana University, associate professor
Gregory Beyer, D.M.A., Manhattan School of Music, assistant professor
Thomas Bough, D.M.A., Arizona State University, assistant professor
Ronald Carter, M.A., University of Illinois, professor
Ricardo Castañeda, M.M., Northwestern University, applied artist
Robert Chappell, M.M., University of North Texas, Distinguished Teaching Professor
Glenda Cosenza, D.M.A., Temple University, associate professor
Arthur Davis, M.M., University of Illinois, assistant professor
Stephen R. Duke, M.M., University of North Texas, Distinguished Research Professor
John Fairfield, M.M., Northwestern University, professor
Robert Fleisher, D.M.A., University of Illinois, professor
John Floeter, B.M., DePaul University, applied artist
Tom Garling, M.M., University of Miami, applied artist
William Goldenberg, D.Mus., Indiana University, Distinguished Teaching Professor
Fareed Haque, B.M., Northwestern University, associate professor
Brian Hart, Ph.D., Indiana University, associate professor
Janet Hathaway, Ph.D., New York University, assistant professor
John E. Hatmaker, Ph.D., University of Iowa, visiting assistant professor
Nancy Henninger, M.M., American Conservatory of Music, applied artist
Richard T. Holly, M.M., East Carolina University, professor
Richard Hoskins, M.M., Northwestern University, applied artist
Eric Johnson, D.M.A., University of Illinois, associate professor
Harold Kafer, Ph.D., University of North Texas, professor
JeongSoo Kim, D.M.A., New England Conservatory, assistant professor
Edward Klonoski, Ph.D., Ohio State University, associate professor
William Koehler, D.M.A., University of Texas, Austin, Presidential Teaching Professor
David Maki, D.M.A., University of Michigan, assistant professor
Peter Middleton, M.A., University of California, professor
Brett Mitchell, D.M.A., University of Texas, Austin, assistant professor
Ann Montzka, M.M., Northern Illinois University, applied artist
Myron B. Myers, M.M., University of Southern California, professor
John K. Novak, Ph.D., University of Texas, associate professor
James Phelps, D.M.A., University of North Texas, associate professor
Willie Pickens, B.S., University of Wisconsin, applied artist
Mark Ponzo, D.M.A., Eastman School of Music, professor
Diane Ragains-Slawin, M.M., Chicago Conservatory of Music, professor emeritus
Amy Rhodes, Certificate of Performance, Northwestern University, applied artitst
Marlene Rosenberg, B.M., University of Illinois, applied artist
Charles Schuchat, B.M., Northwestern University, associate professor
Robert L. Sims, Artistic Diploma, Northwestern University, associate professor
Linc Smelser, M.M., Northern Illinois University, applied artist
Mathias J. Tacke, Diploma, Northwest German Music Academy, professor
Liam Teague, M.M., Northern Illinois University, assistant professor
James Tucker, M.M., University of Wisconsin, applied artist
Rodrigo Villanueva, M.M., University of North Texas, assistant professor
Jui-Ching Wang, M.M., Northern Illinois University, assistant professor
Melvin Warner, M.M., University of Southern California, professor emeritus
Ronnie Wooten, D.M.A., Michigan State University, associate professor
Richard Young, M.M., Catholic University, professor

Admission to programs in the School of Music is limited. See “Limited Admissions and Limited Retention Requirements” in the Admission section of this catalog.

Return to: College of Visual and Performing Arts