Department of Music

Chair: Joseph Van Hassel

Faculty:  Timothy M. Altman, Daniel Bukin, Joshua Kalin Busman³, Garrison Gerard, Kalem Graham, Joanna Ross Hersey¹, Lindsey Jacob, Jaeyoon Kim, Piper Pack-Smith, José Rivera², Mark Tollefsen, Aaron Vandermeer

¹Associate Dean of Student Success and Curriculum, College of Arts and Sciences

²Undergraduate Music Education Director

³Assistant Dean, Esther G. Maynor Honors College

The Department of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Additionally, the music teacher education licensure program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education.

The mission of the Department of Music is to offer all students who have demonstrated interest and ability in music the opportunity to continue further study either for a profession or an avocation, and to educate students in such a way that they understand and appreciate music not only as an art form with a rich historical and cultural heritage, but as an evolving, contemporary endeavor that incorporates traditional and technological advancements through individual and group participation.

The goals of the Department of Music are: 1) to provide comprehensive musical training for teachers of vocal and instrumental music; 2) to prepare students for careers in music education through an understanding and application of the National Standards in Music; 3) to promote musical literacy among all students; 4) to provide comprehensive musical, technological, and entrepreneurial training for students wishing to seek employment in the music industry; 5) to encourage professional dispositions; 6) to provide outreach, support, and encouragement to regional public school teachers and students in the form of workshops, festivals, performances, and clinics; 7) to provide a well-rounded curriculum for students planning to pursue advanced degrees; 8) to encourage continued learning in the field of music and foster the ability to think critically about music; 9) to provide experiences that music students and the general university students will find rewarding in developing cultural awareness; and 10) to provide public programs and concerts to enrich the cultural life of the university and community.

The music faculty of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke believes that true musicianship is the synthesis of knowledge acquired through active participation in the study, performance, and creation of music.  It is enhanced through the discipline required to gain the physical, listening, and interpretive skills to master the instrument that has been chosen to be the vehicle for communication of the art.  Furthermore, the music faculty believes that this synthesis occurs incrementally, building on a firm foundation and rising to the highest goal attainable. It is nurtured with positive encouragement from mentors, peers, and oneself. The faculty strives to establish an atmosphere of support in which faculty and students work together to be the best that they can be.

Please note that all prospective music majors, lateral entry candidates, and students seeking an academic concentration in music must audition to gain acceptance into one of the music degree programs as well as gain approval of the specific performance (applied music) area.

Also please note that the department’s ensemble offerings (see below - MUS 1001, MUS 1015, MUS 1071, MUS 1121, MUS 1161, MUS 1181, MUS 1192, MUS 1381, MUS 1411, MUS 1561, MUS 1621, MUS 1641, MUS 1651, MUS 1731, MUS 1741, MUS 1751, and MUS 1761) are open to all students regardless of major. An audition is required for a number of these ensembles.

Applied Music

Private study is offered in piano, voice, and instruments of the band and orchestra. In each of these fields, the work is adapted to the needs of the individual student. Courses in applied music are required of all music majors and may be elected with permission of the instructor by students not majoring in music. Credit for non-majors is limited to one semester hour. It is the Department of Music policy that non-majors enrolled in private lessons are expected to enroll in an appropriate ensemble. For more information on these matters, please consult the UNCP Department of Music Handbook. 

All music majors are expected to perform in a minimum of one departmental recital per semester at the discretion of the instructor. 

Proficiency Requirements

All music majors are evaluated at the conclusion of their third semester of Applied Music. Transfer students at or above this level will be evaluated at the conclusion of their first semester of study. The Evaluation Forum involves an assessment of both the student’s performing ability and their overall academic accomplishments and professionalism. This process will determine whether or not the student will be allowed to enroll in upper level music courses. A cumulative GPA of 2.7 is required for entrance into the Bachelor of Music in Music Education program, 2.0 for all other baccalaureate degrees.

All music majors are required to attend recitals, concerts, seminars, workshops, etc. Additional information concerning this requirement is in the UNCP Department of Music Handbook. 

Graduating seniors (with the exception of Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Music majors) must present an individual or joint recital as a partial requirement for graduation. Approval of the recital must be given by the music faculty at least three weeks prior to presentation. Students who complete their applied music studies must continue to enroll in Applied Music until they have completed their senior recital requirements.

A proficiency examination is required of all music majors by the Piano Division. The requirements for the Piano Proficiency Exam are outlined in the UNCP Department of Music Handbook. 

Programs

• Music, Instrumental Orientation, Academic Concentration
• Music, Keyboard Orientation, Academic Concentration
• Music, Vocal Orientation, Academic Concentration

• Music Education (K-12), Instrumental Emphasis, B.M.
• Music Education (K-12), Keyboard Emphasis (Instrumental Orientation), B.M.
• Music Education (K-12), Keyboard Emphasis (Vocal Orientation), B.M.
• Music Education (K-12), Vocal Emphasis, B.M.
• Music, B.A.
• Music, Music Industry Emphasis–Classical Track, B.A.
• Music, Music Industry Emphasis–Jazz and Commercial Track, B.A.
• Music, Music Industry Emphasis–Jazz Track, B.A.
• Music, Music Industry Emphasis-Songwriting Track, B.A.
• Musical Theatre, B.M.

• Jazz Studies (for Music Majors), Minor
• Jazz Studies (for Non-Music Majors), Minor
• Music Business, Minor
• Music Industry, Minor
• Music, Minor
• Musical Theatre, Minor
• Sacred Music (for Instrumental Emphasis Music Majors or Non-Music Majors), Minor
• Sacred Music (for Voice or Keyboard/Vocal Orientation Music Majors), Minor
• Songwriting, Minor

Courses

Private lessons are designed to build technical proficiency, repertoire, and awareness of vocal and instrumental problems. Permission of the instructor is a prerequisite for all MUSP courses. Enrollment for two hours of credit is restricted to the major instrument for music majors only; each two-hour course from MUSP 1501-1861 may be repeated for credit up to a maximum of 6 semester hours; MUSP 3501-3801 Music majors enrolling for one-semester-hour lessons may repeat levels MUSP 1001-1361 for a maximum of three semester hours and levels MUSP 3001-3361 for a maximum of four semester hours. Students not majoring in music should enroll for one-hour credit; each one-hour course from MUSP 1001-1361

• MUSP 1161. Private Trumpet (1 credit)
• MUSP 1171. Private Improvisation (1 credit)
• MUSP 1181. Private French Horn (1 credit)
• MUSP 1201. Private Trombone (1 credit)
• MUSP 1221. Private Euphonium (1 credit)
• MUSP 1241. Private Tuba (1 credit)
• MUSP 1261. Private Percussion (1 credit)
• MUSP 1271. Private Drumset (1 credit)
• MUSP 1281. Private Violin (1 credit)
• MUSP 1301. Private Viola (1 credit)
• MUSP 1321. Private Violoncello (1 credit)
• MUSP 1341. Private Bass Viol (1 credit)
• MUSP 1361. Private Guitar (1 credit)
• MUSP 1501. Private Voice (2 credits)
• MUSP 1521. Private Piano (2 credits)
• MUSP 1541. Private Organ (2 credits)
• MUSP 1561. Private Flute (2 credits)
• MUSP 1581. Private Oboe (2 credits)
• MUSP 1601. Private Clarinet (2 credits)
• MUSP 1621. Private Bassoon (2 credits)
• MUSP 1641. Private Saxophone (2 credits)
• MUSP 1661. Private Trumpet (2 credits)
• MUSP 1681. Private French Horn (2 credits)
• MUSP 1701. Private Trombone (2 credits)
• MUSP 1721. Private Euphonium (2 credits)
• MUSP 1741. Private Tuba (2 credits)
• MUSP 1761. Private Percussion (2 credits)
• MUSP 1771. Private Drumset (2 credits)
• MUSP 1781. Private Violin (2 credits)
• MUSP 1801. Private Viola (2 credits)
• MUSP 1821. Private Violoncello (2 credits)
• MUSP 1841. Private Bass Viol (2 credits)
• MUSP 1861. Private Guitar (2 credits)
• MUSP 3001. Private Voice (1 credit)
• MUSP 3021. Private Piano (1 credit)
• MUSP 3041. Private Organ (1 credit)
• MUSP 3061. Private Flute (1 credit)
• MUSP 3081. Private Oboe (1 credit)
• MUSP 3101. Private Clarinet (1 credit)
• MUSP 3121. Private Bassoon (1 credit)
• MUSP 3141. Private Saxophone (1 credit)
• MUSP 3161. Private Trumpet. (1 credit)
• MUSP 3171. Private Improvisation. (1 credit)
• MUSP 3181. Private French Horn. (1 credit)
• MUSP 3201. Private Trombone. (1 credit)
• MUSP 3221. Private Euphonium. (1 credit)
• MUSP 3241. Private Tuba. (1 credit)
• MUSP 3261. Private Percussion. (1 credit)
• MUSP 3271. Private Drumset. (1 credit)
• MUSP 3281. Private Violin. (1 credit)
• MUSP 3301. Private Viola. (1 credit)
• MUSP 3321. Private Violoncello. (1 credit)
• MUSP 3341. Private Bass Viol. (1 credit)
• MUSP 3361. Private Guitar. (1 credit)
• MUSP 3501. Private Voice. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3521. Private Piano. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3541. Private Organ. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3561. Private Flute. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3581. Private Oboe. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3601. Private Clarinet. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3621. Private Bassoon. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3641. Private Saxophone. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3661. Private Trumpet. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3681. Private French Horn. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3701. Private Trombone. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3721. Private Euphonium. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3741. Private Tuba. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3761. Private Percussion. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3771. Private Drumset. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3781. Private Violin. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3801. Private Viola. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3821. Private Violoncello. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3841. Private Bass Viol. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3861. Private Guitar. (2 credits)
• MUSP 3881. Private Audio Production (2 credits)

• MUSS 3xxx. Special Topics in Music (1-3 credits)