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 while student teaching or 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 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 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.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program of study, graduates will be able to:
Music, B.A.
- demonstrate competency in music theory;
- demonstrate individual artistry as a performer;
- demonstrate fundamental piano skills; and
- demonstrate preparedness for advanced study in applied music.
Music Education (K-12 Choral Licensure), B.M. and Music Education (K-12 Instrumental Licensure), B.M.
- demonstrate competency in music skills and music teaching methods;
- demonstrate preparedness for advanced study in applied music;
- express a personal philosophy of music education formed through exposure to a variety of philosophical positions in the field of music education;
- utilize the Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards for Music Education (MCaCRS) when developing lesson plans and desired student learning outcomes;
- demonstrate knowledge and application of individual and group motivation and behavior to build an active learning environment;
- demonstrate classroom management strategies that encourage positive social interaction, active learning, and self-motivation;
- demonstrate effective professional dispositions required to build a safe, growing learning environment in which all students can learn;
- demonstrate understanding of how students differ in their learning styles and create instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners; and
- demonstrate content knowledge and performance skills across content pedagogy courses and assessment tests in preparation for the final field experience.
Music Performance (Guitar, Piano, Vocal), B.M.
- demonstrate competency in music theory;
- demonstrate individual artistry as a performer;
- demonstrate fundamental piano skills; and
- demonstrate preparedness for advanced study in applied music.
Music Therapy, B.M.
- demonstrate appropriate artistic and technical skill through successful completion of the faculty-evaluated upper-level performance examination;
- demonstrate certification board for music therapists (CBMT) clinical exam competency questions during class and/or practica;
- demonstrate appropriate artistic and technical skills through successful completion of the faculty-evaluated music therapy proficiency exam;
- demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of music skills and music history; and
- incorporate educational orientations along with therapy orientations to strengthen intervention development for patient treatment.
Music (Worship Leadership), B.S. and Music (Worship Technology), B.S.
- demonstrate practical knowledge of worship-focused theology;
- demonstrate comparative insight of the various models of worship: traditional, blended, contemporary, convergent, etc.;
- demonstrate understanding of the pastoral aspects of the field and calling of worship leadership or technology;
- demonstrate both an understanding and excellence of music as it relates to shepherding a program with focus on heart before presentation; and
- demonstrate understanding to not only sustain, but to build a church music program or worship technology ministry on the local church level.
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