Program Codes:
BMC
Bachelor of Music
Introduction
Mercyhurst University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). The D'Angelo Department of Music is dedicated to assisting young musicians realize their potential as performing artists, educational leaders, and music therapists. With its distinguished faculty, the Department fosters musical achievement and cultural growth through its rigorous curriculum; its membership in the National Association for Music Education; its Faculty Recital Series; its numerous ensembles, productions, and solo performance opportunities; and by presenting special master classes and guest artists through its Roche Guest Artist Series. The D’Angelo Music Building is located on the south end of the campus. The three-level facility and was opened in September of 1988. In 1996, the university opened the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. This state-of-the-art facility adjacent to the music building showcases many of the performances and productions of the D’Angelo Department of Music. The Department also utilizes the Walker Recital Hall in the Audrey Hirt Academic Center. This 240-seat hall serves as an additional concert and rehearsal space.
Mission Statement
The D’Angelo Department of Music strives to provide an undergraduate curriculum with comprehensive instruction to students seeking degrees in Performance, Music Education, Composition, Music Therapy, or a Bachelor of Arts in Music. We are committed to encouraging non-music majors to enroll in our department ensembles and courses. Successful completion of degree programs will enable our music students to take a meaningful place within their communities. It is our goal to assist our students to become well-rounded, healthy individuals and life-long learners in the arts. The Department seeks to do this within the context of a liberal arts university and with a deeply personalized approach to learning.
Vision of the Department
The D’Angelo Department of Music strives to be a nationally competitive and well-respected institution of learning. We seek to have a diverse student body that is intellectually curious, and motivated to learn in our rigorous, high quality curriculum. With a faculty of visionary educators, scholars, and musicians, we believe our students will be challenged to achieve these high scholastic and artistic goals. Faculty and students work together in an atmosphere of professional awareness, mutual support, and outreach. As a result, our graduates will be versatile musicians, prepared to pursue successful, fulfilling careers of their choosing.
Music Minor - 19 Credits Required
The D’Angelo Department of Music welcomes any student to audition as a Music Minor (see Audition Requirements below). You will take 30-minute weekly private lessons on your instrument/voice; study Music Theory, Aural Skills, and Music History; and participate in one of our large ensembles. Scholarships are also available to Minors (see Scholarships and Financial Information below).
One Music History course (3 cr) chosen from the following:
Applied Music Lesson Fee
This lesson fee applies only to certain types of students: 1) Non-music majors who wish to enroll in private lessons taught by department faculty, 2) Music Minors who desire to take private lessons beyond the required two years, 3) Current music majors who register for lessons in a secondary area that is not part of the specific degree program.
Description of Degree Programs
The D’Angelo Department of Music enrolls undergraduate students in the following degree programs: Bachelor of Music in Performance, Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Bachelor of Music in Composition, Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy, and Bachelor of Arts in Music. Applied study is offered in the following areas: Brass (Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Euphonium, French Horn), Strings (Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass), Woodwinds (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone), Composition, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, and Voice. A minor in music is also available to students from other disciplines (see Music Minor above). Each of these degree programs has a minimum GPA requirement.
Scholarships and Financial Information
Majors
Talent-based scholarships are awarded through the audition process at the discretion of the faculty and the Chair of the Department of Music. Any prospective student is eligible to compete for scholarship assistance, regardless of financial status. Students wishing to apply for financial assistance must also apply to the Student Finanical Services ofice. Students who do not meet required academic and performance levels during their time at Mercyhurst may have their scholarship reduced or eliminated.
Minors
Non-music majors are accepted as music minors through the same audition process described above and are awarded a scholarship for their participation in the music department’s large ensembles: Concert Choir, Civic Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, or Jazz Ensemble. Minors are also welcome to participate in the department's small ensembles at the discretion of the ensemble's director. Small ensembles are: Clarinet Choir, Saxophone Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Piano Ensemble, Chamber Choir, String Chamber Ensemble, Composers Workshop and Opera Workshop.
Non-Music Majors
Students at Mercyhurst University who wish to participate in the large and small ensembles are invited to do so at the discretion of the ensemble conductor. A limited number of scholarships are available through an audition process early in the Fall Semester.
Sophomore Review
At the end of the Sophomore year, a formal review is made by the entire full-time music faculty to evaluate whether the student will be retained in the program. Based on grades, progress on the major instrument/voice, juries, and other criteria established by the faculty, the Sophomore Review must be passed successfully for the student to continue working toward a music degree.
Graduation Recitals
Student Best Practices and Procedures
A student guide outlining all policies of the D’Angelo Department of Music is provided to all music students. It is the responsibility of the student to adhere to guidelines and policies set forth in the document.
Admission
In addition to the Mercyhurst University application and admission process, students applying to the D’Angelo Department of Music must
Audition Requirements
B.M. in Composition applicants will be required to show evidence of a strong creative ability, demonstrated through completed works. Applicants should bring scores, and, if possible, recordings of at least two recent compositions to their audition.
Virtual auditions: Applicants may submit .mp3 files of live recordings or software graphics scores and .pdf files of scores, to dangelomusic@mercyhurst.edu.
.mp3 files may also be submitted prior to an audition, provided the applicant brings hard copies of scores to the audition, and either a CD recording or .mp3s ready to play on the applicant's computer or other device. Contrast in style and media is preferred. Electronic works and pieces that by their nature cannot be represented through standard notation may be submitted in recorded form, without accompanying scores. All applicants should possess a well-developed ear and should have an intermediate technique on at least one instrument.
This Bachelor of Music allows students to develop the essential technical toolbox and broad aesthetic perspective needed to assume a place in the community of professional composers. Composition study offers an array of musical opportunities for graduates, including film scoring, commercial music, educational and church music publication, recording arts and careers in higher education. The program aims to prepare each young composer for high-level graduate work and a career in music. Applied composition is designed to unleash and develop the innate musical creativity of the natural composer through the active writing of music in a variety of forms and styles, and for a wide range of instrumental combinations. The program provides students with the opportunity to hear live performances of every completed composition, from solo to large ensemble works, and orchestral pieces. Students in the composition program are encouraged to develop their own unique musical voice, and are urged to explore a broad spectrum of tonal and non-tonal musical languages in their writing.
Total Credits Required to Graduate in the Major Composition - 126 Credits
REACH Curriculum
Music Core Curriculum
Additional Courses
47 Credits Required for BA Music, BM Music Therapy, BM Music Education
55 Credits Required for BM Performance and BM Composition
This course provides a broad understanding of the Western Art Music tradition from the music of antiquity through the Baroque. Students will be guided through listening, score analysis, and engagement with written scholarship in order to attain knowledge about key pieces of the Western Art Music canon as well as the historical context in which this music was written and performed.
This course provides a broad understanding of the Western Art Music tradition from the music of the Classical period to the present. Students will be guided through listening, score analysis, and engagement with written scholarship in order to attain knowledge about key pieces of the Western Art Music canon as well as the historical context in which this music was written and performed.
The purpose of this course is to introduce basic and essential technologies often used by musicians. Students will have multiple opportunities to immediately apply new knowledge in realistic and useful settings.
Required for all first-year theory and aural skills students. Supplemental guided practice for academic concepts and practical skills covered in the Music Theory I & II and Aural Skills I & II curriculum. 0 credits.
An introduction to sight-singing, rhythm and ear training. The students will apply solfege to major and minor modes using a diatonic melody, perform rhythms in simple and compound meter, and identify intervals isolated and within a melodic dictation.
An introduction to sight-singing, rhythm and ear training. The students will apply solfege to major and minor modes using a diatonic melody, perform rhythms in simple and compound meter, and identify intervals isolated and within a melodic dictation.
Required for all first-year theory and aural skills students. Supplemental guided practice for academic concepts and practical skills covered in the Music Theory I & II and Aural Skills I & II curriculum. 0 credits.
The first of a four-semester sequence of class instruction that will develop functional piano skills and incorporate elements of applied theory. Topics covered include proper technique habits, five-finger patterns, major scales, major and minor triads, basic chord progressions, intro to harmonization and improvisation, easy repertoire pieces, and sight-reading.
The second of a four-semester sequence of class instruction that will develop functional piano skills and incorporate elements of applied theory. Topics covered include major and minor scales and arpeggios in two octaves, harmonization and transposition using all primary and secondary chords, repertoire pieces of increasing difficulty, chord progressions using secondary chords, improvisation to elicit kinesthetic responses, and sight-reading.
Course offers individual instruction with, emphasis on the thorough development of, compositional creativity and techniques. 1-2, credits.
This is a requirement of all music majors. Attendance at weekly Student Forums and certain faculty/guest recitals is required. Students will register for Attendance Requirement each semester for all four years.
This course is designed to broaden the student's knowledge and appreciation of non-Western music and jazz. The world music portion examines music of the world’s major cultures, with an emphasis on style, instrumentation, and the cultural influence those societies had on music, both locally and globally. The jazz history segment examines the origins of jazz through the mid to late twentieth century, with an emphasis on identifying historical figures and the styles of jazz they represent.
Uses the skills achieved in MUS 111/112 to sing and dictate melodies that are diatonic, modal, chromatic, and modulate in various clefs and keys. In addition, students will perform rhythms that are more advanced in simple and compound meters and will be introduced to music that is more metrically complex.
Uses the skills achieved in MUS 111/112 to sing and dictate melodies that are diatonic, modal, chromatic, and modulate in various clefs and keys. In addition, students will perform rhythms that are more advanced in simple and compound meters and will be introduced to music that is more metrically complex.
Required for BM in Composition
The third of a four-semester sequence of class instruction that will develop functional piano skills and incorporate elements of applied theory. Preparing for the Piano Proficiency Exam is a main focus. Topics covered include all major and minor scales and arpeggios in two octaves, instrumental and vocal accompaniments, harmonization and transposition with or without chord symbols or Roman numerals, more advanced chord progressions, improvisation, sing and play exercises, sight-reading, and memorization of solo repertoire at the mid to late-intermediate level.
The fourth of a four-semester sequence of class instruction that will develop functional piano skills and incorporate elements of applied theory. Preparing for the Piano Proficiency Exam is a main focus. Topics covered include all major and minor scales and arpeggios in two octaves, instrumental and vocal accompaniments, harmonization and transposition with or without chord symbols or Roman numerals, more advanced chord progressions, improvisation, open choral and instrumental scores, sing and play exercises, sight-reading, and memorization of solo repertoire at the mid to late-intermediate level.
Form and Analysis examines the structure and organization of musical compositions from the late Renaissance through the middle Romantic period in music history, with an emphasis on identifying common musical forms through listening and score study. Additional emphasis is placed on developing skills which may be used to identify composers and/or the style period their music represents.
Fundamentals of baton techniques, score reading and interpretation. Students organize, rehearse and conduct small vocal or instrumental ensembles.
Students are expected to acquire a mastery of more advanced techniques of conducting appropriate to their area of expertise: accuracy and clarity in conducting complex rhythms and the ability to read scores for any combination of instruments/voices. Includes instruction in selection of appropriate repertoire.
This course will address proper vocal and rehearsal techniques necessary for effective choral rehearsals, voice class instruction, and beginning voice lessons. Conducting gesture will be addressed as how it influences--and enforces and promotes--vocal sound, style, and musical clarity during the rehearsal and performance. Rehearsal techniques, repertoire, and time management from the first rehearsal through performance will be considered.
Required Junior Recital for BM Performance and BM Composition majors, typically performed in the spring semester and having the length of 25-30 minutes.