Donald and Frances Winters School of Music

Department of Music

Music study at the Winters School of Music and Ministry Studies is designed to realize the purpose and specific objectives of the university. Students are challenged to discover and develop their own musical capacities and interests so they may fully realize their own self-expression, may enjoy music as recreation, or may utilize music as a profession.

William Carey University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music and the American Music Therapy Association.

Graduates with the Bachelor of Music education degree will have fulfilled all requirements leading to licensure with the Mississippi State Department of Education for teaching K through 12. The Bachelor of Music degree with a major in music therapy is approved by the American Music Therapy Association, affording graduates the right to sit for the national examination and, upon successful completion of such, to be board certified.

Admission to Music Curricula

MUSIC AUDITION. Prior to admission, each candidate is required to perform selections of vocal and/or instrumental music that represents the student’s highest level of proficiency. In certain instances, a student may be admitted as a provisional music major who has not had the formal training necessary to perform the suggested literature but who demonstrates exceptional talent.
EVALUATION OF TRANSFER CREDITS. Advanced standing in applied music is granted only upon successful completion of upper-level and/or proficiency examinations (see below). Transfer credit will not be given for a grade of “D” in any music course towards a music major or minor.

Additional Requirements

All music majors must participate in a major ensemble based on their applied concentration each trimester enrolled as a music major. Major ensembles include Worship Choir, Symphonic Winds, Concert Band, Orchestra, Guitar Ensemble, or Piano Ensemble. Music education and music therapy majors are not required to participate in an ensemble while in the process of student teaching or completing an internship.
Performance majors will perform at least a half recital (25 to 30 minutes) in the junior year and a full recital (45 to 55 minutes) in the senior year. All other B.M. students may elect to perform a half recital in the junior or senior year OR complete an appropriate final project approved by the major professor in respective degrees. Students must register for Applied Music Concentration until recital requirements have been met.
RECITAL ATTENDANCE. Music majors and minors must register for MUR 000 (MUR 001 their final trimester), Recital Class (no credit), each trimester of undergraduate study. Recital class students are required to attend 7-10 weekly recital classes and 2-5 student recitals, faculty recitals, ensemble concerts, musicals, and operas presented or sponsored by the Winters School of Music and Ministry Studies, and other approved musical performances for a total of 12 performances per trimester.
UPPER-LEVEL EXAMINATIONS. To determine eligibility for upper-level music study, all students will register for an examination in the area of applied concentration after successful completion of Sophomore Music Theory and the Piano Proficiency. The exam will consists of a ten-minute recital performed before a faculty panel in the student’s primary performance area. For all voice concentrations, the program must be performed from memory. Other majors should consult their applied instructor regarding memorization requirements. A student must continue to enroll in sophomore applied study until the upper-level exam is passed.
Transfer students will be permitted to enroll in upper-level coursework, including applied study, in their first trimester at Carey provided they meet the following criteria: 1) have earned the equivalent of two full years of credit (freshman and sophomore) in their applied concentration 2) have earned credit for freshman and sophomore music theory 3) have completed or made significant progress toward completion of all requirements for the piano proficiency as determined by the Carey music faculty. To continue in upper-level coursework beyond the first trimester at Carey, transfer students meeting the criteria above must successfully complete the upper-level exam and piano proficiency by the end of the first trimester. Failure to complete both requirements will result in the student being restricted from enrolling in additional upper-level coursework until those requirements have been satisfied. With applied faculty approval, a transfer student’s upper-level program may consist in part of previously prepared material, but not entirely.
PROFICIENCY EXAMINATIONS. All music majors are required to have an applied secondary; for most music majors, this will be piano, as all students are required to demonstrate proficiency on the keyboard according to NASM. Students whose secondary is piano must pass the piano proficiency exam by the end of the sophomore year or continue to register for secondary applied piano each trimester until the exam is passed. Piano majors will pass their proficiency exam in their applied lessons and must enroll in another chosen secondary area of applied music and pass the corresponding proficiency.
Music majors and minors must make a grade of “C” or better in all music courses.

Programs

Major

• Contemporary Worship Ministry, B.M.
• Dance, B.S.
• Music Education-Choral Certification, B.M.
• Music Education-Instrumental Certification, B.M.
• Music Therapy, B.M.
• Music, B.A.
• Music, B.S.
• Performance-Concentration in Guitar, Organ, Piano, or Voice, B.M.

Minor