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DEPARTMENT OFFICE
Music 127
Phone: (323) 343-4060
Fax: (323) 343-4063
E-mail: music@calstatela.edu
Website: www.calstatela.edu/academic/music

The Faculty

Professors: David N. Connors, Paul De Castro, James Ford, Sara Graef, Susan W. Kane, John M. Kennedy, Beverly Stein.

Associate Professors: Ross Levinson, Emily Moss (Chair), Steve Wight.

Assistant Professors: Christopher Gravis.

Emeriti: Francis H. Baxter, William Belan, Jeffrey W. Benedict, Millie Burnett,  Lu Elrod, Robert M. Fowells, Deborah Holland, Ellen King Kravitz, JoAn D. Kunselman, Thomas Miyake, Milton Stern, Vito G. Susca, Olga Termini, Maurine Timmerman, Patti W. Schliestett Wiggins.

The Department of Music offers both liberal arts and professional degree programs leading to the Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, Master of Music, and the Master of Arts degree in Music. Undergraduate students pursuing degrees in other fields may also declare music as a minor. All students at Cal State L.A. may choose from an array of music courses to enrich their general education and cultural life experiences while enrolled at the university.

The Department of Music provides many opportunities for creative performance activities, both for music majors and for students with careers in other disciplines who also wish to pursue personal development in the performing arts.

Undergraduate degree programs in Music provide students with a broad foundation in music theory and history that is grounded in perspectives of culture, place and era. Competence in artistic performance is strongly valued and is contextualized to the area of emphasis that each student pursues.
Undergraduate degree programs also emphasize preparation for successful graduate study for students who wish to pursue higher education beyond the baccalaureate degree.
There are two types of undergraduate degree programs offered at Cal State LA.; The Bachelor of Arts degree program and the Bachelor of Music degree program.

The Bachelor of Arts degree serves the needs of students whose primary interests are music theory, history and literature, or those who wish to pursue a liberal arts education with an emphasis in music. The degree also allows students to pursue individual interests in music to prepare them for careers in music or music-related careers.

The Bachelor of Music degree is a rigorous curriculum for students who wish to prepare for a specific professional career in music or for those who wish to reach a professional caliber of music attainment within the bachelor of music degree program. Students may pursue specialized study in vocal, instrumental, or keyboard performance; composition; jazz studies; and music education (credential preparation).

Students who wish to enroll as an undergraduate music major are required to perform an audition before a faculty panel upon entrance. Students may audition in voice, piano or on another instrument that is taught in the Department of Music.
Bachelor of Arts degree students are expected to demonstrate evidence of previous music study sufficient for success in a university music program. Candidates for the Bachelor of Music degree must demonstrate significant technical and artistic accomplishment in at least one area of vocal or instrumental performance before being admitted to this professional degree program. Candidates for the Bachelor of Music major may apply either before or after enrolling in the Department of Music at California State University, Los Angeles.
To complete a degree in music, students are required to develop their performance ability and to appear in at least one student solo or ensemble recital or concert each year. All music majors must demonstrate progress in the study of their major performing medium (instrument or voice) before a faculty jury at the end of each semester.

Individual instrumental and vocal applied music lessons are only available to music majors who have passed the performance audition and the music theory placement examinations. Students enrolled in individual voice or instrumental instruction are required to enroll in one unit of appropriate ensemble for each unit (half-hour) of private instruction received. Participation in an appropriate large ensemble is required of all students enrolled in applied lessons. Participation in performance organizations is required during the semesters in which students are registered for applied music credit. After large performance ensemble performance requirements are met students will fulfill remaining ensemble requirements by selecting from the following MUS courses:

The Music Department Handbook contains other policies and regulations, including a concert attendance policy, which pertains to all music majors and minors. It is each student’s responsibility to obtain a copy of the handbook and to become familiar with its contents. Failure to comply with policies and regulations outlined in the handbook may affect continued enrollment in the program and/or eligibility for graduation.

Students who demonstrate competence in performance and theory above the minimum requirement may earn advanced standing. Lower division students may register for and earn credit in upper division performance courses.

Music majors are required to attend six (6) music department concerts or recitals per semester. Students participating in a performance will be credited automatically. Students who enter Cal State LA as freshmen will be required to complete six (6) semesters of

Piano Proficiency Requirement

All students have their piano skills evaluated upon entrance to the degree program through a piano placement examination. Students who are identified as needing instruction in piano skills are required to enroll in class piano instruction based on the results of the placement exam (MUS 1031, 1032 and/or 2031, 2032). All students are required to demonstrate piano skills by passing a piano proficiency examination, MUS 2033 or complete MUS 2032 (Class Piano Instruction IV) with a grade of C or better before being approved for graduation. Music majors who demonstrate adequate piano skills upon entrance to their degree program, may complete the piano proficiency examination and use units from the recommended instruction in class piano (MUS 1031, 1032 and 2031, 2032) as elective units. Bachelor of Arts in Music students may use the elective units for additional coursework in music or another field, with the approval of their music degree adviser. Bachelor of Music students must use the elective units for additional coursework in music, with the approval of their music degree adviser. 

Programs for this Department

Undergraduate Major

• Music, B.A. 
• Music, BMus  

Undergraduate Minor

• Music Minor  

Graduate Major

• Master of Music 
• Music, M.A.  

Credential

• Music Credential Program  

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