DEGREE PROGRAMS
Rigorous coursework coupled with intensive and extensive practical experiences provide comprehensive learning.
You’ll study music theory, history and literature, form and analysis, tonal harmony, Solfège and more. You’ll learn to apply critical thinking, creativity and technical skills to your work.
Outside the classroom, you’ll take private lessons and participate in rehearsals and performances with a major ensemble, as well as other performance activities.The culmination of your studies is a full-length recital program held during your senior year.
BW’s keyboard performance program offers an outstanding foundation for graduate school. It can be studied as a single major or companion field of study for a double major.
The music performance: keyboard major prepares students to:
- Demonstrate the ability to learn and perform works independently with musical accuracy (rhythm and pitches), stylistic awareness, musical insight, and technical proficiency appropriate to the student’s level and degree program
- Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate performances
- Demonstrate the ability to teach beginning piano/organ students of all ages
Rigorous coursework coupled with intensive and extensive practical experiences provide comprehensive learning.
You’ll study music theory, history and literature, form and analysis, tonal harmony, Solfège and more. You’ll learn to apply critical thinking, creativity and technical skills to your work.
Outside the classroom, you’ll take private lessons and participate in rehearsals and performances with a major ensemble, as well as other performance activities.The culmination of your studies is a full-length recital program held during your senior year.
String performance offers an outstanding foundation for graduate school. It can be studied as a single major or companion field of study for a double major.
The musical performance: strings major prepares students to:
- Perform repertoire appropriate to class standing with technical and interpretive proficiency
BW's comprehensive curriculum gives you skills to excel in voice, acting, movement, improvisation, dance and interpretation.
You’ll develop your whole-body-instrument. You’ll learn to interpret text and music with imagination and communicate with power and authenticity through dynamic physical and vocal actions.
Rigorous coursework provides a foundation for your studies. Private lessons, coaching, workshops, master classes, scenes programs and fully staged opera productions offer real-world-focused learning opportunities.
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Rigorous coursework coupled with intensive and extensive practical experiences provide comprehensive learning.
You’ll study music theory, history and literature, form and analysis, tonal harmony, Solfège and more. You’ll learn to apply critical thinking, creativity and technical skills to your work.
Outside the classroom, you’ll take private lessons and participate in rehearsals and performances with a major ensemble, as well as other performance activities.
The culmination of your studies is a full-length recital program held during your senior year.
BW’s instrumental performance program offers an outstanding foundation for graduate school. It can be studied as a single major or companion field of study for a double major.
The musical performance: woodwinds, brass, percussion major prepares students to:
- Perform repertoire appropriate to class standing with technical and interpretive proficiency
BW's comprehensive curriculum gives you what you need to excel. Housed in the state-of-the-art Conservatory of Music, the Bachelor of Music in music theatre will prepare you to unlock your artistry and succeed in the field.
Courses include:
- Four years of Applied Voice Study
- Music Theory/Sight Singing
- Music Theatre History
- Piano
- Vocal Ensemble
- Core Acting Skills
- Scene to Song
- Shakespeare
- Acting IV
- Acting V
- Audition Technique
- Golden Age of Music Theatre
- Music Theatre Business/Acting for the Camera
- Music Theatre Senior Boot Camp
- Music Theatre Showcase
- Script Analysis
- Theatre History
- Stagecraft for the Actor
- Makeup for the Stage
- Ballet Bootcamp
- Ballet I-IV
- Jazz I-IV
- Modern I-II
- Tap I-IV
- Hip Hop I-II
- Pointe I-II and Modern III-IV are also available as electives
- Elective credits in Music, Theatre or Dance
The music theatre major prepares students to:
- Use their knowledge of and skills in music, dance and acting to prepare for auditions and performances.
- Present theatrical repertoire representing a variety of genres with appropriate interpretive and technical proficiency as actors, singers and dancers.
- Identify and pursue entrepreneurial opportunities, and develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become leaders in their field.
Rigorous coursework coupled with intensive and extensive practical experiences provide comprehensive learning.
Through coursework, you'll study music theory, history and literature, form and analysis, orchestration and more. You'll learn to apply critical thinking, creative vision and technical skills to the process of creating and arranging music.
Outside the classroom, you'll take private lessons and participate in rehearsals and performances with a large ensemble, among other activities.
Music composition offers an outstanding foundation for graduate school. It can be studied as a single major or companion field of study for a double major or minor.
The music composition major prepares students to:
- Develop a complete composition from initial concept to finished, performance-ready piece of music
- Communicate compositional ideas to performers through proper notations skills
- Utilize generative, structural, and musical elements (melody, harmony, rhythm, range, timbre, dynamics, tempo, modes, texture, counterpoint, expressive markings) in the creation of original compositions
Rigorous coursework coupled with intensive and extensive practical experiences provide comprehensive learning.
You'll learn about non-Western and Western traditions, including Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th and 21st century eras.
Through your studies, you'll learn to employ analytical methods and modes of inquiry similar to those used in other disciplines – language, literary criticism, mathematics and psychology.
Music history and literature offers an outstanding foundation for graduate school. It can be studied as a single major or companion field of study for a double major.
The music history & literature major prepares students to:
- Demonstrate broad knowledge of the history of Western music through familiarity with significant works from a variety of musical styles and genres and through description of significant stylistic, aesthetic, and philosophical movements
- Demonstrate the ability to conduct and accurately document research on a specific topic in music history
- Demonstrate the ability to present the results of research orally and in writing
BW’s music theatre direction major is highly selective and intentionally small to give you personalized attention and opportunities tailored to your skills, experiences and career aspirations.
You’ll study with BW’s distinguished keyboard faculty. They have decades of real-world experience, impressive credentials and networking connections. They’re committed to your success, both in the classroom and as a performer.
BW music theatre professors are leaders, innovators and artists. Their extensive national and international experience in directing, acting, singing and dance have earned critical acclaim.
Rigorous coursework coupled with intensive and extensive practical experiences provide comprehensive learning.
Through your studies, you'll learn to employ analytical methods and modes of inquiry similar to those used in other disciplines – language, literary criticism, mathematics and psychology.
Music theory offers an outstanding foundation for graduate school. It can be studied as a single major or companion field of study for a double major or minor.
The music theory major prepares students to:
- Given a piece of Western art music, be able to identify significant musical structures, relate the procedural narrative created by those structures, and attribute aesthetic meaning to the use of both process and structure in the composition
- Demonstrate the ability to analyze, describe, and emulate discrete musical styles using appropriate analytical and compositional methodologies
- Demonstrate the ability to conduct and accurately document research on a specific topic in music theory
- Demonstrate the ability to present the rules of research orally and in writing
As a music therapy major, you'll graduate with a Bachelor of Music degree.
BW's music therapy major offers an outstanding foundation for students interested in immediate employment as well as graduate school. It can be studied as a single major or companion field of study for a double major.
You'll study music theory, history and literature, tonal harmony, Solfège and more. You'll also take classes in psychology, sociology, education and other pertinent topics. Outside the classroom, you'll take private lessons and participate in a major ensemble and other performance activities.
As a music therapy student, you'll complete four semesters of direct client contact in one-to-one and group settings at approved practicum sites – hospitals, nursing homes, adult day care centers, public schools, nonprofit agencies and other facilities.
The culmination of your studies is a six-month, full-time music therapy internship. Upon the completion of the required internship and conferral of a degree, you can take the national certification exam administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists.
After successful completion of the national certification exam, you will gain your certification.
The music therapy major prepares students to:
- Demonstrate ability to design referrals, assessments and treatment plans for client populations
- Demonstrate ability to implement treatment and termination processes in client work
- Demonstrate ability to provide accurate documentation and evaluation of treatment
- Demonstrate knowledge of professional development responsibilities and continuing education
Upon completion of your studies, you'll graduate with a Bachelor of Music Education degree.
Through coursework, you will study music theory, history and literature, tonal harmony, Solfège and more. You will also take education classes that focus on classroom instruction, teaching philosophy, classroom management/environment and other pertinent topics. The reduced number of required credit hours in the music education degree gives you freedom to take elective courses that fulfill your music interests both inside and outside of music education.
Outside the classroom, you will take private lessons and participate in a major ensemble and other performance activities. Students are also involved in all aspects of the Community Arts School, BW summer music camps, local PK-12 music programs and the Ohio Music Education Association throughout their four years in the program.
The culmination of your studies is student teaching in your senior year. Working collaboratively with an experienced music educator in a local school district, you'll spend an entire semester practicing instruction in the field.
The music education major prepares students to:
- Understand central musical concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of music through authentic learning experiences
- Create, perform, and respond to music
- Develop creative and critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills
- Actively inquire, collaborate and interact within the music classroom
Navigating your way around the music industry can be complicated. That's why BW's music industry major combines comprehensive coursework with real industry experience to help you develop a career-ready skill set. View a full list of courses and course descriptions for the music industry major.
Our required core curriculum includes music, business and music industry classes taught by experienced faculty. Elective courses allow you to focus your studies on areas of interest. Special topics courses provide a rotating selection of contemporary subjects taught by industry experts — which will grow your skill set and network of professional contacts.
With the BA in Music, students receive Conservatory-level musical instruction within a liberal arts program. You’ll study music history, analysis, aural skills, your primary instrument or voice, and more.
Built-in flexibility in the degree requirements allows students to follow their interests, pursuing additional music academic classes or additional performance opportunities as they choose.
The structure of this degree lends itself to double-majoring with a University program: recent grads of this program have paired the BA in Music with majors in neuroscience, sociology, and cybersecurity analysis.
MUSIC EMPHASIS PROGRAMS
The Afro-Centric Music Emphasis may be pursued by any music major.
Required Courses:
- AFR 200D - Introduction to Africana Studies, 3 credit hours
- MUC 206-S08- Afro-Centric Music Ensemble (2 total credits, Preq: MUL 132I)
Six elective credits selected from the following:
- MUC 206-S03- Jazz Ensemble, 1 credit hour
- MUC 206-S04- Jazz Combo, 1 credit hour
- MUC 206-S08- Afro-Centric Music Ensemble (2 credits beyond requirement above, Preq:MUL 132I)
- MUC/MUL 218 - Jazz Improvisation, 2 credit hours
- MUC 236 - Jazz Piano Skills, 1 credit hour
- MUC 324 - Structure and Style in the Music of the African Diaspora, 2 credit hours
- MUC 295, 395, 495 - Independent Study, 1-2 credit hours
The Arts Management Emphasis may be pursued by any music major except those majoring in Arts Mangement.
Required Courses:
- AMG 102 - Introduction to Arts Management, 3 credit hours
- AMG 201 - Principles & Practices of Arts Management I, 3 credit hours
- AMG 202 - Principles & Practices of Arts Management II, 3 credit hours
- AMG 397X - Internship, 3 credit hours
Select one of the following:
- AMG 301 - Marketing and Audience Development for the Arts, 3 credit hours
- AMG 302 - Financial Management of Arts Organizations, 3 credit hours
- AMG 303 - Fundraising for the Arts, 3 credit hours
Overview
The BW Keyboard Program offers the Collaborative Piano Emphasis to piano primary students who might be interested in pursuing collaborative piano as one of their career options. The emphasis program is designed to provide a pathway for pianists who want to seek opportunities to work with singers and instrumentalists in one-on-one settings and build essential training, skills, and repertoire.
Career Opportunities
The program offers opportunities for both vocal and instrumental collaboration through its coursework. Students will gain collaborative experience and repertoire necessary for preparing for the required Collaborative Piano Recital and for graduate assistantship auditions for Master of Music degrees in Performance and/or Collaborative Piano.
Required Courses:
- MUC 140 - Singers’ Phonetics, 1 credit hour
- MUC 181 - Sight-Reading, 1 credit hour
- MUC 241 - Singers’ Diction and Literature 3, 2 credit hours
- MUC 242 - Singer’s Diction and Literature 4, 2 credit hours
- MUC 283 - Collaborative Piano, 1 credit hour (2 total credits)
- MUC 407 - Collaborative Piano Recital, 1 credit hour
Four elective credits selected from the following:
- MUC 142 - Singers’ Diction and Literature 2, 2 credit hours
- MUC 283 - Collaborative Piano, 1 credit hour (up to 2 credits beyond requirement above)
- MUC 347 - Voice Performance Workshop 5: Scenes and Period Style - Baroque, Bel Canto and Romantic, 1 credit hour
- MUC 348 - Voice Performance Workshop 6: Scenes and Period Style - Classical and Contemporary, 1 credit hour
- MUC 295, 395, 495 - Independent Study, 1 credit hour
Student Experience
The program requires vocal diction training and rep studies in two languages (German and French). It also offers the opportunity for flexibility in choosing more instrumental or vocal collaboration.
The Composition Emphasis may be pursued by any BM or BME student except those majoring in Music Composition.
Required Courses:
- MUC 106 - Freshmen Composition Lessons 1, 3 credit hours
- MUC 107 - Freshmen Composition Lessons 2, 3 credit hours
- MUC 116 - Introduction to Composition 1, 2 credit hours
- MUC 117 - Introduction to Composition 2, 2 credit hours
- MUC 315 - Electronic Music, 2 credit hours
- MUC 318 - Instrumentation and Orchestration, 2 credit hours
- MUC 415 - Contemporary Composition Techniques, 2 credit hours
The Contemporary Media Emphasis may be pursued by any music major.
Required Courses:
- CAS 172 - Foundations of Media Production, 3 credit hours
- CAS 274 - Sound, Microphone Technique, and Recording, 2 credit hours
- CAS 374 - Audio Editing, Mixing, and Distribution, 2 credit hours
Select one of the following Music Applied Skills courses:
- MUC/MUL 118 - Songwriting, 2 credit hours
- MUC/MUL 218 - Jazz Improvisation, 2 credit hours
- MUC/MUL 315 - Electronic Music, 2 credit hours
Three/four elective credits selected from the following:
- AMG 203 - Music Industry I, 3 credit hours
- MUC/MUL 118 - Songwriting, 2 credit hours (if not already used above)
- MUC/MUL 218 - Jazz Improvisation, 2 credit hours (if not already used above)
- MUC/MUL 312 - Music Copyright Law, Publishing, and Licensing, 3 credit hours
- MUC/MUL 315 - Electronic Music, 2 credit hours (if not already used above)
- MUC 320 - Advanced Electronic and Computer Music, 2 credit hours
- MUC/MUL 361 - Music and Meaning in Film, 2 credit hours
- MUC/MUL 362 - Music and Meaning in Video Games, 2 credit hours
The Jazz Emphasis may be pursued by any music major.
Required Courses:
- MUC 206-S03- Jazz Ensemble (4 total credits)
- MUC 206-S04- Jazz Combo (2 total credits)
- MUC 218 - Jazz Improvisation, 2 credit hours
- MUC 224D - History of Jazz, 2 credit hours
- MUC 236 - Jazz Piano Skills, 1 credit hour
The Music History Emphasis may be pursued by any BM or BME student except those majoring in Music Theory or Music History & Literature.
Required Courses:
- MUA 242 - Music History & Literature 3, 3 credit hours
- MUA 340 - Topics in Music History, 3 credit hours
- MUC 329 - Introduction to Research in Music, 2 credit hours
- MUC 363/463 - Music History Seminar, 4 credit hours
- MUC 412 - Music Academic Studies Seminar, 0 credit hours
The Music Industry Emphasis may be pursued by any music major except those majoring in Music Industry.
Required Courses:
- AMG 102 - Introduction to Arts Management, 3 credit hours
- AMG 203 - Music Industry I, 3 credit hours
- MUC/MUL 312 - Music Copyright Law, Publishing, and Licensing, 3 credit hours
- AMG 397X - Internship, 3 credit hours
Select one of the following:
- AMG 204 - Music Industry II, 3 credit hours
- AMG 304 - Principles of Marketing for the Music Industry, 3 credit hours
The Music Theory Emphasis may be pursued by any BM or BME student except those majoring in Music Theory or Music History & Literature.
Required Courses:
- MUC 329 - Introduction to Research in Music, 2 credit hours
- MUC 363/463 - Music Theory Seminar, 4 credit hours
- MUC 412 - Music Academic Studies Seminar, 0 credit hours
Six elective credits from the following:
- MUA 213 - Counterpoint, 2 credit hours
- MUA 310 - Advanced Chromatic Theory, 2 credit hours
- MUA 320 - Advanced Chromatic Aural Skills, 2 credit hours
- MUA 330 - Form and Analysis, 2 credit hours
- MUA 410 - Theory of Music Since 1900, 2 credit hours
- MUA 420 - Post-Tonal Aural Skills, 2 credit hours
The Vocal Emphasis may be pursued by any music major.
Required Courses:
- MUC 340 - Vocal Pedagogy 1, 2 credit hours
- MUC 341 - Vocal Pedagogy 2, 3 credit hours
Six elective credits selected from the following:
- CSD 225 - Phonetics and Phonology, 3 credit hours
- CSD 321 - Neurology, Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech & Hearing Mechanism, 3 credit hours
- CSD 341 - Voice and Fluency Disorders, 3 credit hours
- CSD 351 - Speech and Hearing Science, 3 credit hours
- MUC 295, 395, 495 - Independent Study, 1-2 credit hours
- MUC 359 - Faculty/Student Collaboration, 1-2 credit hours
The emphasis in vocal pedagogy is an interdisciplinary program between the Conservatory of Music, the communication sciences & disorders department and the Baldwin Wallace Speech Clinic. It is a unique program for undergraduate students that has received national attention and is made possible because of the collaborative relationship between faculty.
What is vocal pedagogy? It is a broad field related to voice. Vocal pedagogy begins with an understanding of how the voice works, which is taught in MUC 305X The Pedagogy of Music: Voice. In this course, students study the anatomy and physiology of the voice so that they can understand their instrument.
