Professors Gamso, Griffin, Roden
Associate Professor Edwards, Hiester
Assistant Professors Chiou, Jolley, Whitehead

The mission of the Department of Music is threefold: to impart knowledge as transmitted through the study and performance of music, which is one of the essential fine arts in the undergraduate liberal arts curriculum; to develop and enhance the creative and academic musical talents of those students who aspire for various professional careers in the field of music; and to place the study of music in the context of social, cultural and educational values. This mission statement is directly related to the Statement of Aims of Ohio Wesleyan University, which is found in the The University section.

To implement the mission statement, the work of the Department of Music has been planned with dual objectives in mind. First, for the student who wishes to major in music: the Bachelor of Music in Performance curricula prepares for graduate study and/or the pursuit of one of the various professional areas of music; the Bachelor of Music in Music Education curriculum prepares students to teach general, vocal and instrumental music in PreK–12 schools; the Bachelor of Music in Music Composition fosters the original voice of young composers, preparing them for graduate study and/or independent activity in their field; and the Bachelor of Arts with a major in music is offered for those students desiring a non-professional concentration within a liberal arts degree program. Second, for the student who does not wish to major in music, the department offers: two different minors (academic and performance), courses which partially fulfill University General Education requirements, applied music instruction (private study), performance opportunities and other musical experiences (both as participants and as audience members), so that the non-music major can develop an understanding and appreciation of music as one of the components of a liberal education. Courses in music history/literature and in music theory are available to both majors and non-majors. Non-music majors may also enroll for applied music study for 0.25 or 0.50 unit per semester. One unit in the same applied area may be credited to the total courses required for graduation. A non-music major student is considered to have fulfilled the distribution requirement for the arts if he/she has successfully completed the following requirements for the B.A. or B.M. music major (MUS 110 , MUS 155 ).

All students wishing to enter the Bachelor of Music degree program must complete a successful performance audition prior to entry into the respective degree program. Students wishing to enter the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree must complete a successful performance audition either prior to entry into the program or at the conclusion of the first semester of study. Majors should begin their work in the freshman year. They must, however, plan their course work in applied music so that it will continue through the junior and senior years. All  performance majors in the Bachelor of Music program must present a senior recital. Other recital requirements are stipulated in the Music Department Student Handbook. Music majors are responsible for the recital and jury accompanying fees as listed in the Music Department Student Handbook. Recital attendance is required of all music majors. The Recital Attendance Policy is described in the Music Department Student Handbook. All curricula for each degree program are listed in the Department of Music Handbook. Each music major, whether B.M. or B.A., is required to participate and enroll for credit in at least one music organization each semester in the area of major applied study. (Jazz Band may not be elected as the only major organization.) The music department reserves the right to assign majors to the appropriate organizations as the needs of the department dictate. Music majors may not take music department courses on a credit/no entry basis.

Music majors will be evaluated at the end of every semester and must attain the status of junior standing at the end of the sophomore year.

B.M. Education majors need to apply for the teacher licensure program in their junior year. Requirements are: successful completion of EDUC 110  and EDUC 251 , a recommendation from an OWU faculty member, a recommendation from the music faculty, and a GPA of 2.80 (overall and in music courses).

Candidates for the Bachelor of Music degree must meet the same residence and scholastic requirements as those required for the Bachelor of Arts degree.

The Bachelor of Music curricula are designed for students who wish to prepare for professional work in music.

Applied Music

Enrollment in applied music will not be accepted after the end of the second week of the semester. Applied music cannot be taken credit/no entry or without credit.

Music composition is offered under applied music numbers for majors and others who meet requirements.

Fees listed below apply to non-music B.A. candidates studying applied music, B.A. music major candidates who take more than 1/2 unit of credit, and B.M. candidates who take more applied music per semester than is required for the degree program. (B.A. Theory Emphasis majors may elect a total of one unit of composition without an additional fee. All other music majors will be charged at the rate of $250 per .25 unit.) There will be no refund of fees for applied music courses dropped after the end of the second week of the semester.

B.A. candidates may enroll in any area of applied music and, upon completion of one unit of credit, will receive elective credit toward graduation. If all the work is completed in one area of applied music, this unit may be counted as a semester course.

Applied Music Credit, Lesson Time, and Non-Major Fee:

0.25 Unit: One 30-minute lesson per week; $250 per semester.
0.50 Unit: One 45-minute lesson per week; $375 per semester.
1.00 Unit: One 60-minute lesson per week; music performance majors only.

Music Organizations

For Bachelor of Music degree candidates, two units of credit in music organizations must be completed before graduation. Non-music majors may audition for any Music Organization or Ensemble. Auditions are held at the beginning of each semester. F, S. Please see the The Bachelorof Arts Degree – Unit Courses section for restrictions on the number of music organization and ensemble units that B.A. candidates may count toward graduation.

A list of Music Organization MUSP courses is in the Music section of Courses of Instruction.

Music Ensembles

Study and performance of small ensemble and chamber music literature. F, S.

A list of Music Ensemble MUSP courses is in the Music section of Courses of Instruction.