Study at The Donald and Frances Winters School of Music is designed to blend faith and learning for real‑world applications. Students are challenged to grow in their talent, mature in their spiritual walk, and prepare for a meaningful musical career, so they may fully discover God’s plan and purpose for their life.
The School of Music Vision Statement is ‘One Goal - One Passion’ taken from Philippians 4:8. Our One Goal is excellence through education and performance, and our One Passion is Jesus in worship and in service.
The Winters School of Music offers a variety of bachelor’s degrees including music education (choral and instrumental), music therapy, music performance, and offerings in worship ministry, leadership, and technology.
Completion of the music therapy degree enables graduates to sit for the national board certification exam administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists to obtain the MT-BC credential (Music Therapist - Board Certified). The degree includes classroom curriculum and 1,200+ hours of supervised clinical training in a variety of healthcare contexts. Students will learn how to facilitate musical experiences to meet individualized goals within physical, cognitive, social, emotional, academic, behavioral, and spiritual domains of health.
Program Admission Requirements
1) Music Audition. 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.
2) Evaluation of Transfer Credits. Advanced standing in applied music is granted to transfer students only upon successful completion of upper-level and/or proficiency examinations (see below). Transfer credit will not be granted for a grade of ‘D’ in any music course towards a music major or minor.
Additional Program Requirements
1) Major Ensemble Participation. Each trimester, all music majors must participate in a major ensemble based on their applied concentration. 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 during Residency II or while completing an internship.
2) Recital Performance. Performance majors must perform a 25-30 minute recital (half recital) during the junior year and perform a 45-55 minute recital (full recital) in the senior year. All other Bachelor of Music students may elect to perform a half recital in the junior year or senior year OR complete an appropriate final project approved by the major professor in the respective degree. Students must register for Applied Music Concentration until recital requirements are met.
3) Recital Attendance. During each trimester of undergraduate study, majors and minors must register for MUR 000 (MUR 001 their final trimester) Recital Class (no credit). 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, or other pre-approved musical performances for a total of 12 performances per trimester.
4) Upper-Level Examination. After successful completion of Sophomore Music Theory and the Piano Proficiency exam, students must register for an examination in the applied music concentration. The exam determines one’s readiness for upper-level music study. The exam 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 are 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, and 3) have earned the equivalent of two full years of credit (freshmen and sophomore) in piano with no grade lower than a B. 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 are satisfied. With applied faculty approval, a transfer student’s upper-level program may consist in part of previously prepared material, but not entirely.
5) Proficiency Examination. 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 concentration 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 exam.
6) Music majors and minors must earn a minimum grade of ‘C’ in all music courses.
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