About Music Program at Pitt State
Philosophy and Goals
The goals of the Department of Music are aimed toward fulfilling the educational and cultural needs of four interdependent groups of people: music students, the university community, area public schools, and residents of our four-state area.
One of the department's primary functions is to prepare students for elementary and secondary music teaching and to serve students pursuing objectives leading to college teaching and professional performance. We endeavor to provide optimum opportunities for the achievement of excellence in both the applied and academic music subjects in all degree programs.
The cultural life of Pittsburg State University and the area which it serves is enriched by the many musical performances presented by Department of Music faculty recitals, student recitals, chamber music concerts, concerts by our large ensembles, opera productions and the Solo and Chamber Music Series. As a student, you are an important part of sustaining these cultural offerings.
The goals of the department and its surrounding public schools are clearly inter-related in seeking to strengthen the musical education of our students. Some of the educational services provided by the department include clinics, master classes, workshops, instrument demonstrations, concerts, guest conducting, teacher consultation, pre-college applied lessons, Music Festivals for students from elementary schools through high school, PSU Jazz Festival, Four State Band Festival, adjudication, and program evaluation. Cooperative services provided by public school teachers involve supervising student teachers, providing opportunities for class observation, participating in student MENC seminars, and working with student tutors.
The department attempts to maintain a balance among its many diverse functions while striving for excellence in each area.
Mission Statement
Our Mission is to:
- instruct and inspire those whose professional goals include the creation, performance, critical assessment, and teaching of music;
- to offer courses to the general student body that will enhance their understanding as well as appreciation of all music;
- provide leadership within the University and the four-state region in all matters pertaining to the musical art and to music;
- make available to the university community and area residents opportunities to participate in musical activities. These include individual and group study and performance for pre-college and college students, as well as continuing music learning and performance experiences for the music faculty and those in the surrounding region;
- maintain and enhance our outreach and program of service and assistance to area public schools and other educational/professional organizations by acting as adjudicators, clinicians, guest conductors, and consultants; and
- contribute to the enhancement of the cultural life of the university and the region through the performance and sponsorship of frequent and varied concerts and recitals.
Bachelor of Music with Elective Studies in an Outside Field
Students will:
- Understand, apply, and integrate foundational concepts of musical study in theory, aural skills, history, composition, and improvisation.
- Demonstrate the ability to learn independently, make inquiries, think critically, discover solutions, and integrate knowledge into their academic, professional and musical areas of study.
- Develop and demonstrate effective communication skills, including artistic self-expression, with diverse audiences through multiple media.
- Acquire a basic understanding of diverse musical systems and traditions across the world, and develop a sensitivity to and awareness of cultural and societal differences, and their contribution to an interdependent global consciousness.
- Acquire a basic understanding of technology and professional skills, along with knowledge of specific technological developments within area of specialization.
- Perform music from a variety of different styles and time periods in solo and ensemble (large and chamber) settings at a level appropriate for the area of specialization, with sufficient technical and musical skills requisite for artistic self-expression.
- Utilize piano for personal music study and instruction.
- Demonstrate interdisciplinary attainment by completing the requirements for a minor in a discipline outside of music.
- Present a capstone project that reflects their academic and musical work. For this project, students will develop, organize, document, and present a project synthesizing their musical and interdisciplinary studies or perform a solo recital of at least 40 minutes in duration.
Bachelor of Music in Music Performance
Students will:
- Demonstrate a level of performance to prepare themselves for professional performance opportunities and/or graduate study through a mastery of technical accuracy and musical expression on their instrument/voice.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the artistic elements of performance on their instrument/voice.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the musical theoretical concepts associated with music.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the history of music and how their instrument/voice fits into the progression of musical history.
- Demonstrate the ability to offer instruction in their applied area by understanding the pedagogical and literature requirements of their instrument/voice.
- Develop an analytical, creative, and intuitive understanding of music as a cultural language.
- Demonstrate a knowledge of the representative repertoire of their instrument/voice in solo, chamber, and larger ensemble idioms.
- Demonstrate how to communicate musical ideas and concepts through their musical medium.
- Understand the societal impact of music and the ethical responsibility of a professional musician.
- Develop an awareness of health and safety issues, hazards, and procedures associated with practice and performance.
Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Students will:
- read and write music.
- create, arrange, and improvise music.
- integrate technology to facilitate music reading and writing.
- examine the organization of sound in musical forms through listening to, analyzing, describing, and performing music.
- demonstrate pedagogical skills in planning, delivering instruction, and assessment for vocal, instrumental, and general music ensembles and classes.
- demonstrate skills in selecting, analyzing, interpreting, presenting, and evaluating music and music performance within the context of music education.
- examine the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor aspects of music education.
- select, design, and apply assessment strategies that evaluate musical knowledge and skills.
- demonstrate appropriate professional, ethical, and administrative responsibility.
- articulate the unique musical contributions of cultural diversity.
Master of Music
Students will:
- Demonstrate an understanding of advanced theoretical concepts in music.
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the history of music.
- Demonstrate a high level of musicianship and application of analytical skills through applied study in their area of concentration, if majoring in performance or conducting.
- Further refine research and writing skills through the preparation of their final written document or thesis.
- Further develop an awareness of health and safety issues, hazards, and procedures associated with practice and performance.