DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

Information

Daniel Lau | Chair
Department of Music
Leroy and Lois Peters Music Center

Washington Adventist University
7600 Flower Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912-7796

Alicia Barksdale, D.M.A., MT-BC | Program Director, Music Therapy

Faculty

Alicia Barksdale, D.M.A., MT-BC
Mark Di Pinto, D.M.A
Preston Hawes, D.M.A.
Daniel Lau, D.M.A.
Brian Liu, D.M.A.
Emma Martin, M.M., MT-BC
Anwar Ottley, D.W.S.
Deborah Thurlow, D.M.A.

Faculty Emeritus

James Bingham, Ph.D

MISSION STATEMENT

It is the purpose of the Department of Music to provide professional training, reinforced by a sound general education, in an environment where music is presented as a medium for spiritual, intellectual, emotional and cultural development.

INTRODUCTION

It is the purpose of the Department of Music to provide professional musical training, reinforced by a sound general education viewed from a Seventh-day Adventist Christian perspective. Its programs are designed to provide students with a superior musical experience, preparing them to be successful communicators, performers, therapists and educators.

It is the desire of the faculty to present the art of music as a discipline that can ennoble the spiritual, intellectual and emotional lives of students so that music becomes a vehicle for service and outreach to the greater community.

GOALS

All graduates of the music program will have developed practical skills enabling the pursuit of a career in performance, private studio teaching, music therapy, or related fields of endeavor. They will have sufficiently mastered theoretical and historical information to enable the pursuit of further study and the communication of such information through performance and analysis.

Further, graduates will compare favorably in their musical abilities and knowledge with those students completing similar programs nationally and will be qualified to advance and enrich the musical culture of their churches and communities.

OBJECTIVES

The Department of Music objectives are:

To provide distinguished musical training, building upon a liberal arts foundation.
To demonstrate the spiritual dimension of music in the performance of both sacred and secular music.
To develop sound judgment, evaluation and appropriate discrimination in the literature of music and its performance.
To demonstrate pedagogical methods, appropriate to the instrument, possess knowledge of standard literature in the performance field and apply music technology skills to the performance area.
To equip students to enter and succeed in graduate music programs.

Bachelor of Arts in Music

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Bachelor of Arts in Music will be able to:

Explain, analyze, and demonstrate music fundamentals and utilize listening skills.
Perform a variety of repertoire appropriate to their selected instrument, both as soloists and as ensemble participants.
Synthesize relationships between music and another discipline (their double major or minor)

Bachelor of Music in Music Performance

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Bachelor of Music in Music Performance will be able to:

Explain, analyze, and demonstrate music fundamentals and utilize listening skills.
Perform a variety of repertoire appropriate to their selected instrument, both as soloists and as ensemble participants.
Demonstrate pedagogical methods and identify standard literature in their performance field.
Apply music technology skills to their performance area.

Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy will be able to:

Explain, analyze, and demonstrate music and music therapy fundamentals.
Engage a range of clients using a variety of repertoire across guitar, keyboard, vocal, and percussion in individual 1-on-1, group, and community contexts.
Design culturally responsive, clinical music experiences or interventions to meet a variety of therapeutic needs and monitor their implementation across distinct population groups, according to professional, ethical, national, and institutional standards.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

The bachelor degrees in music are for students seeking professional careers in the music industry, music therapy, in performance, or in church music. Careers in the music industry are numerous and study in combined fields as presented in the Bachelor of Arts in Music will provide students with flexibility to pursue employment in multiple areas.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS TO THE PROGRAM

Acceptance into one of the degree programs in this department is contingent upon a successful audition. This audition must demonstrate aptitude and skill, in a chosen field of performance, sufficient to successfully pursue the curriculum.

Students interested in auditioning should contact the Department of Music at music@wau.edu to request an audition date. Special arrangements can be made for international students and those who may not be able to appear for an audition in person.

Advanced Standing: Students who are able to pass examinations in music subjects showing they have completed work beyond that of the entrance requirements may receive advanced standing in the subject or subjects, provided such study is confirmed by advanced study in residence in the same field.

Students may be admitted to advanced standing in an applied music area only after they have successfully passed a qualifying examination given by the music faculty.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Music majors are required to study their applied music area each year of residence. Students enrolled in a performance degree will be required to perform junior and senior recitals, part or all of which must be memorized, as part of the graduation requirements.

Students enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts program must perform a junior recital but may choose other options for their senior project. Students enrolled in Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy will be required to present a Capstone (senior) recital.

All students must pass an examination demonstrating that they have achieved a functional knowledge of piano and sight singing, enabling them to read musical scores and to play hymns and simple accompaniment.

Participation in the musical organization of a student’s performance concentration is required during each semester in residence.

Music majors must register for the organization of their choice for either credit or pass/fail non-credit. Organization credit is limited to MUPF 120 - Band (Washington Concert Winds) , MUPF 227 - Orchestra (New England Youth Ensemble) , MUPF 235 - Columbia Collegiate Chorale and MUPF 250 - Pro Musica . (MUPF 228 - Ensemble counts as organization credit for Music Therapy majors).

DEPARTMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

All music majors are expected to attend all departmental meetings as scheduled and to actively participate in the music performance activities sponsored by the department.

STATEMENT OF STUDENT POLICIES

All music students are required to show awareness of and respect for the policies and procedures set by the Department of Music in the Music Handbook, as well as those found in the WAU Academic Catalog and the WAU Student Handbook.

ELIGIBILITY TO REMAIN IN THE PROGRAM

The Department of Music reserves the right to administratively withdraw a student if, for any reason, the student’s scholastic achievement, musical performance, academic integrity and/or ability to work with people proves unsatisfactory.

PROGRESSION REQUIREMENTS

All music majors must maintain a minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.50 at all times.
All music majors must achieve at least a “C” grade in all music courses.
Recipients of departmental performance scholarships, whether music major or non-music major, must maintain “B” level work or higher in their major applied music and ensemble courses if the scholarship is to be retained.
Music majors may not repeat a music course more than once, nor may they repeat more than two courses in the program. In the event of dismissal from the program, a person may reapply to WAU as a music major only after receiving written permission from the Department of Music.

Programs

Baccalaureate Degree

Minors

MUSIC MINOR