Department of Music

Chair: Professor Neprud-Ardovino, (Clarinet, Saxophone)

Professors: Ardovino (Head of the Instrumental Area, Conducting, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Trumpet), Doyle (Director of Choral Activities), George (Head of the Voice Area), Goldspiel (Guitar, Music Technolgy), Hoffman (Head of Music Education), Landers (Music Theory, Composition), Williams (Voice), Wood (Voice, Opera); Associate Professor: Halliday (Elementary Music Education); Assistant Professors: Park (Piano), Patterson (Flute, Music History); Instructor: Middaugh (piano).

Department Contact Information

Dr. Lori Neprud-Ardovino, Chair
Davis Hall
205-665-6677
ardovinl@montevallo.edu
montevallo.edu/departments/music

Mission

The Mission of the Department of Music is to enable students in music to develop a high degree of musical understanding and excellent compositional, pedagogical, and performance skills. In addition, instruction in music and music performance is offered for the non-major in recognition of the intrinsic value of music for all students. The department also offers high quality musical programming which affords opportunities for student performers and provides cultural enrichment for the university community.

General Education

All students seeking an undergraduate degree at UM must complete a core General Education curriculum that includes courses in English, history, mathematics, the natural sciences, social sciences, fine arts, oral and written communication, and personal development.

The minimum requirements can be found in the General Education Credit Hour Requirements section of the Undergraduate Academic Policies  section in this Bulletin.

The Department offers the following courses which apply toward the General Education core:

• Humanity and Fine Arts: MUS 121 , 125 , 255  and 342  
• Personal Development: MUS 228    
• Humanities and Fine Arts: MUS 342    

Majors

All music degree programs include a music core, applied studies, advanced studies, and specialized area studies (for B.A. students, area studies include general electives or an approved minor). Prior study or preparation may exempt students from some courses. The Department of Music offers two degree programs and one minor. Each degree program offers the student the opportunity to concentrate on a particular instrument or voice. The Bachelor of Music combines the University’s distinctive general-education program with professional studies in music to prepare for careers in education, performance, or graduate study in music. The Bachelor of Arts in Music combines music studies with the liberal arts or career-oriented minor programs to prepare for a broad range of careers in the music industry and related areas. Orientation and advising are available from the department to assist students in the choice of a degree plan.

Music, Applied Private Lessons for Music Majors and Minors (MUP)

The following numbers apply to all four levels of Applied Private Lessons for music majors and approved music minors. Each level may be taken twice for 1-2 credit hours. Study at the 100 level requires consent of instructor. Study at the 200 level requires consent of instructor and two semesters of 100-level study. Study at the 300 level requires successful completion of the Upper-Division Qualifying Exam, consent of instructor, completion of MUS 113, and two semesters of 200-level study. Study at the 400 level requires consent of instructor and two semesters of 300-level study.

Number and Subject

Credit for Performance Study

The amount of lesson time per week will be a one-half hour lesson for one semester hour of credit and a one-hour lesson for two semester hours of credit.

Music Core (26-34 semester hours)
0 hours MUS 100  - Recital and Concert Attendance*
8 hours MUS 111 , 113  - Principles of Music Theory I and II
8 hours MUS 211 , 213 - Principles of Music Theory III, IV
10 hours MUS 250 , 252 , 341 , & 342  - Music History
2-5 hours MUP-Secondary Applied**
2 hours MUS 495  - Basic Conducting***
0 hours MUP 490  - Senior Recital***
2 hours MUS 496 /497  - Choral or Instrumental Conducting****
0 hours MUP 390  - Junior Recital*****

* B.A.: 6 semesters; B.M., Music Education: 7 semesters; B.M., Performance: 8 semesters
** Non-Piano concentrates: MUP 129 , 130 , 229 , 230  - Class Piano I-IV;
Piano concentrates: 4 semesters of a secondary instrument (4 semester hours);
Choral/General Music Education using piano as a primary instrument:
MUP 120  and 220  - Voice, and MUS 133  
Voice Lab I/English Language Diction (5 semester hours);
B.A. only: MUP 129 , 130  - Class Piano I, II (2 semester hours)
*** Not required for B.A.
**** Music education and instrumental performance majors only
***** B.M. performance only

Admission and Retention

Admission to a degree program or minor in music is based on an audition in the primary performance area.

B.M. students whose primary instrument is not piano must complete the four-semester Class Piano course sequence (MUP 129 , 130 , 229 , and 230 ). B.A. students whose primary instrument is not piano or organ must complete the first two semesters of the sequence. Placement in this series depends on results of the admission test in functional piano. Test results may offer the option of another secondary performance area to meet this credit requirement.

All music majors must enroll in MUS 100  for eight semesters (seven semesters for Music Education majors; six for B.A. majors). This zero-credit course requires students to maintain a satisfactory attendance record at recitals and concerts.

A minimum grade of C is required for all music courses.

Advanced standing in music from other accredited institutions is determined by audition in the primary performance area and appropriate examinations in music theory, ear training, sight singing, music history, and functional piano.

Minors

The Music Studies Minor  combines a basic core of music-foundation studies with applied study. Details about the Arts Administration Minor  are available under Department of Theatre .

Music Study for Non-Majors

Ensembles

The department’s choral and instrumental ensembles actively seek qualified participants who are non-music majors. A complete list of ensembles is provided below.

Private Lessons

Based on availability, individual music instruction is open to all students. Priority is given to music majors. 

Reproduction Rights

The Department of Music reserves the right to retain examples of student work for instructional purposes and to use photographs, video and/or audio recordings of student performances in promotional materials the department produces or approves. No compensation or further notice will be given or provided for such right.

Courses in Music

• Courses of Instruction  

MUP-classes in applied music, ensembles, and all private lessons.

Students must pass an audition for initial enrollment in 100-level private lessons. An Upper-Division Qualifying Exam is required before enrolling in 300-level MUP private lessons.

Music majors must complete six to eight semesters of MUP private lessons in one area of study (e.g., clarinet, guitar, organ, voice, trumpet) as part of completion of a degree program. Students are also required to undertake a secondary area of study.

MUS-courses in music history, theory, literature, and pedagogy

Programs

• Music, B.A.

• Music, Choral Education, B.M.
• Music, Instrumental Education, B.M.
• Music, Instrumental Performance, B.M.
• Music, Piano Performance, B.M.
• Music, Voice Performance, B.M.

• Music Studies Minor