Music - BM

NOTE: Entry into the music major is by audition, and the notes below apply ONLY to students who have been offered admission to the music major.

This worksheet is a planning tool and enrollment guide for use when you enroll in classes for your first semester.

The purple area identifies the required major related courses and Cluster One GenEd courses to select from for your first semester.

The green area contains courses that are required for your major, but are optional for the first semester. If you do not enroll in the optional courses your first semester, you will do so in a later semester.

Use the GenEd section to identify additional classes to add to your schedule to create a full schedule.

Departmental Recommendations:

  1. Print the Daily Planner and block off the days and times for Ensembles as listed below. All music majors are required to audition for ensemble placement. Auditions for ensembles take place at the beginning of the semester. You should not register for "auditioned" ensembles until after auditions have taken place, but you should factor these credit hours (1 to 2 credit hours) into your total credit load.
  2. Enroll in MUS 141 Music Theory Writing and Analysis and MUS 143 Music Theory Aural Skills.
  3. Enroll in MUS 195 Recital Attendance. Enrollment in this course will serve as a schedule placeholder on MWF from 1:25 to 2:15 for meetings and recitals. MUS 195 does not have any associated credit hours.
  4. Enroll in one of the Keyboard Skills courses as determined by the keyboard skills assessment test in MyMadison. Click on the Find Placement Exam Score button below for instructions on finding your placement designator.
  5. Review the additional course information for special areas of concentration. If your area is not listed below you do not have additional courses for the first semester.
  6. Enroll in ONE of the Human Communications OR Critical Thinking Cluster One courses. Enroll in WRTC 103 if you do not have dual enrollment, AP, IB, or CIE credit.
  7. To obtain a full schedule of 15-17 credit hours, you may need to add a General Education course from Cluster 2, 4, or 5.
  8. Based on your area of concentration in the Music major, your schedule may be anywhere between 14 - 17 credit hours your first semester.

Placement Exams:

Your placement exam scores identify the appropriate course level based upon your current skills.

ALEKS Math Assessment Score: You need to know your ALEKS score to determine your math placement for the 1st-semester or a future semester. After completion of the ALEKS assessment, enter your score in the field below so you have this information available if you are required to take a math course your 1st-semester. If a math course is required the 1st-semester, it will be identified in the purple section below. If math is not listed, you will take math in a future semester. The MyMadison system will not allow you to enroll in a course other than your placement recommendation.


ALEKS                  Tutorial on locating your JMU assessment scores

 

Major Requirement(s) for the 1st Semester
Click here for a description of Music courses as listed in the Undergraduate Catalog Course Subject Code / Course Number / Course Name Fulfills

Major Requirement:

Ensembles:

You cannot actually enroll in the ensemble class during your enrollment appointment, but take the time identify which ensemble you will take and avoid scheduling other classes during this time period. 1-2 credit hours

Identify the days/times of the ensembles that represent your "best guesses" for your ensemble placements (understanding that this may change after auditions) and mark this time slot off on your Daily Planner. Consult the MyMadison class search for up-to-date information as the information listed is subject to change. Note that this list does not include all available ensembles. Ensembles open only by audition are marked with an asterisk (*).

NOTE: On your daily planner, block off the times of the ensembles in an attempt to avoid conflicts with other classes.

Click here for a description of Music courses as listed in the Undergraduate Catalog
  • MAUP 239 Concert Band - T/TH 2:00 - 3:15PM - 1 credit hour
  • *MUAP 239 Symphonic Band - T/TH 12:30 - 1:45PM - 1 credit hour
  • MUAP 237 Marching Band - T/W/TH/F 6:00 - 7:30PM - 2 credit hours
  • MUAP 344 Chamber Orch - M/W/F 11:15AM - 12:05PM - 1 credit hour
  • *MUAP 345 Symph Orch - M 2:30-3:20PM & T/TH 2:00 - 3:15PM - 2 credit hours
  • *MUAP 346 - Wind Symph. - MWF 3:35-4:50PM - 2 credit hours
  • MUAP 350 - String Ens. - M/W/F 12:20 - 1:10PM - 1 credit hour
  • *MUAP 347 - Jazz Ens. - M 5:00 - 5:50PM & T/TH 3:30 - 4:45PM - 2 credit hours
  • *MUAP 348 Jazz Band - T/TH 3:30 - 4:45PM - 1 credit hour
  • MUAP 353 - Guitar Ens. - M 6:00 - 8:30PM - 1 credit hour
    • *MUAP 354 - Percussion Ens. - M/W/F 12:20 - 1:10PM - 1 credit hour
  • *MUAP 352 - Brass Band - M/W 12:20 - 1:10PM & F 12:20 - 2:15PM - 1 credit hour
  • *MUAP 357 - Piano Accomp. & Ens. M/W/F 12:20 - 1:10PM - 1 credit hour
  • MUAP 234 - Men's Chorus - M/W 3:30-4:45PM - 1 credit hour
  • *MUAP 235 - Treble Chamber Choir - T/TH 3:30 - 4:45PM - 1 credit hour
  • MUAP 236 - Woman's Chorus - M/W 3:30 - 4:45PM - 1 credit hour
  • *MUAP 340 - Chorale - T/TH 2:00 - 3:15PM - 1 credit hour
  • *MUAP 341 - Madison Singers - M/W/F 11:15AM - 12:20PM - 1 credit hour
  • *MUAP 380 - Collegium (Early Music) - TBA - 1 credit hour
  • *MUAP 343 - Opera Theatre - M/T/W/TH 4:40 - 7:20PM (Eight Week 2) - 1-2 credit hours
  • *MUAP 360 - Opera/Music Theatre Orchestra - T/TH 5:00 - 6:15PM - 1 credit hour

Major requirement

Recital Attendance:

Enroll in MSU 195

Click here for a description of Music courses as listed in the Undergraduate Catalog

 MUS 195 - Recital Attendance - 0 credit hours Major requirement

Music Theory:

Take the online diagnostic test through Canvas before you enroll in music theory courses. Log on to Canvas and click on the course called “Music Theory Placement Test.” If you cannot see this course, please contact Dr. John Peterson (peter2jr@jmu.edu) If the results of your test indicate you should take MUS 141 (Foundations), then please enroll in that class. If not, you may enroll in any of the other courses listed in the column to the right. Note that MUS 241 (Diatonic & Chromatic harmony) should be taken at some time during the first year (either Fall or Spring). Freshmen typically take 1 theory course during their Fall semester.

Click here for a description of Music courses as listed in the Undergraduate Catalog

Enroll only if diagnostic suggests it:

MUS 141 – Foundations – 3 credit hours

Other courses:

MUS 241 – Diatonic & Chromatic Harmony – 3 credit hours

MUS 252 – Analysis of Music 1900–1950 – 3 credit hours

MUS 254 – Form & Analysis of Popular Music – 3 credit hours		 Major requirement

Aural Skills:

Enroll in MUS 143 regardless of what music theory class you enroll in.

Click here for a description of Music courses as listed in the Undergraduate Catalog

 MUS 143 – Aural Skills 1 – 1 credit hour Major requirement

Applied Lessons:

Enroll in the MUAP 300 section that pertains to your instrument.

Click here for a description of Music courses as listed in the Undergraduate Catalog

 MUAP 300 - Applied Music Lesson - 2 Credit Hours

Major requirement

Keyboard Skills:

Enroll in one of these courses as indicated by your placement CLASS designation or lower. Example: if CLASS score = 202, you may enroll in MUS 202, 101, or 100. The system will not allow you to enroll in a level higher than your score. Each class is 1 credit hour.

Click here for a description of Music courses as listed in the Undergraduate Catalog

Class Enroll in:
100 MUS 100 - Keyboard Skills I
101 MUS 101 - Keybaord Skills II
202 MUS 202 - Keybaord Skills III
303 MUS 303 - Keyboard Skills IV
Piano Majors MUS 303A - Keyboard Skills IV

  • MUS 100 - Keyboard Skills I
  • MUS 101 - Keyboard Skills II
  • MUS 202 - Keyboard Skills III
  • MUS 303 - Keyboard Skills IV
  • MUS 303A - Keyboard Skills IV - Piano Majors Only

Major requirement

Cluster One Requirement:

Select ONE course from EITHER the Human Communications section OR the Critical Thinking courses for your 1st-semester. You will take a course from the other area in your second semester. The MyMadison system will not allow you to enroll in both a critical thinking and a human communications course in the 1st-semester.

Click here for a list of GenEd course descriptions

 

Human Communications course options:

Critical Thinking course options:

Cluster One requirement

Writing: If you do not have credit for writing through AP, IB, CIE, or dual enrollment, consider enrolling in WRTC for the fall semester.

Cluster One requirement

1st-Semester Course Options

Below are optional courses for the 1st-semester. If these courses are not available and/or you do not meet the requirements, you will take these classes in a future semester.
  Course Subject Code / Course Number / Course Name Fulfills

Music Education:

MUS 150 must be taken during the first or second semester. Enroll in this course first semester if possible. 


Wind, Brass & Percussion Majors ONLY: Enroll in MUAP 237

  

Music Theatre

Enroll in MUS 120

 

Voice

Enroll in MUS 120

  

Percussion

  1. Enroll in MUAP 354.
  2. Keep MWF 11:15AM - 12:05PM time block free.
  

Piano

MUAP 357 Piano Accompanying and Piano Ensemble (1) - two semesters required of all piano majors. Additional requirements may apply to certain concentrations. Please consult with piano faculty members to determine whether or not you should take MUAP 357 your first semester.

  

Music Industry

There are no additional first semester requirements. This concentration is declared when the student takes MUI 221 - Survey of Music Industry, which may be taken in the Fall or Spring semester.

 

General Education Courses

Complete the schedule planning process by using the General Education Planner below to identify courses to add to your schedule to create a full schedule of 14 - 16 credit hours. The number of GenEd courses you need to add from the list below is major dependent. Based on the required courses above, some majors will only need to add one GenEd course from the list below while others may need to add three GenEd courses to create a full schedule.

Notes:

Cluster One - Writing: If you do not have AP,IB,CIE or dual enrollment credit for WRTC 103, we encourage you enroll your 1st-semester. If a WRTC 103 course is not available, you will enroll in the following semester.

Cluster Three - Quantitative Reasoning: Math courses are restricted to students in majors that require a math class in the 1st-semester. If your major requires math in the 1st-semester, it will be indicated above in the purple Required area of this worksheet. If a math course is not identified in the purple Required section above, your advisor will discuss your math placement score and math recommendation for your major when you meet in the summer.

Cluster Four - American Experience: This is an area where many students have earned credit through AP, IB, CIE or dual enrollment courses taken in high school. If you are waiting on test or grade results, we recommend you enroll in a GenEd course from a different cluster or cluster area until you receive your results.

Cluster Five - Sociocultural Domain: If you are waiting on test or grade results for Psychology through AP, IB, CIE or dual enrollment courses taken in high school. If you are waiting on test or grade results, we recommend you enroll in a GenEd course from different cluster or cluster area until you receive your results.

Modified GenEd Planner for 1st-Semester Use

Click here for a list of GenEd course descriptions

Cluster One - Skills for the 21st Century

Cluster Four – Social and Cultural Processes

Critical Thinking

See the required section of this worksheet.

Human Communication

See the required section of this worksheet.


Writing 3 credit hours

See the required section of this worksheet.

The American Experience 4 credit hours

If you are waiting for AP, IB, CIE or dual enrollment credit for history or government, do not enroll until you have received your results. 4 credit hours.

  • HIST 225: U.S. History
  • JUST 225: Justice and American Society
  • POSC 225: U.S. Government

The Global Experience 3 credit hours

You may enroll in one of these classes, if available. Do NOT enroll in POSC 220 if you have credit for POSC 225 or are planning to take POSC 225.

  • AAAD 200: Introduction to African, African American and Diaspora Studies
  • ANTH 195: Cultural Anthropology
  • GEOG 200: Geography: The Global Dimension
  • POSC 200: Global Politics
  • SOCI 110: Social Issues in a Global Context

Cluster Two – Arts and Humanities

Cluster Five – Individuals in the Human Community

Human Questions and Contexts 3 credit hours

You may enroll in one of these classes, if available.

  • AMST 200: Introduction to American Studies
  • ANTH 205: Buried Cities and Lost Tribes
  • HIST 101: World History to 1500
  • HIST 102: World History since 1500
  • HUM 250: Foundations of Western Culture
  • HUM 251: Modern Perspectives
  • HUM 252: Global Cultures
  • PHIL 101: Intro to Philosophy
  • REL 101: Religions of the World
  • REL 102: God, Meaning and Morality

Visual and Performing Arts 3 credit hours

This cluster area is fulfilled by MUS 206, a major requirement that fulfills this area of the GenEd program requirement. MSU 206 is offered in the spring semester.

Wellness Domain 3 credit hours

You may enroll in one of these classes, if available.

  • HTH 100: Personal Wellness

  • 15-hour physical activity requirement of your choice for the semester.

  • KIN 100: Lifetime Fitness and Wellness

  • Lecture and a specific physical activity per course section. Read the TOPIC section of the class when enrolling to identify the fitness activity. Swim conditioning assumes students can already swim.


Sociocultural Domain 3 credit hours

You may enroll in one of these classes, if available.

  • PSYC 101: General Psychology
  • PSYC 160: Life Span Human Development
  • SOCI 140: Microsociology: The Individual in Society
  • WGSS 200: Introduction to Women and Gender Studies

Cluster Three – The Natural World

Quantitative Reasoning

If a math course is required for your 1st-semester, it will be indicated above in purple required section. Otherwise, math is not required for your major the 1st-semester.  You will enroll in a math class in a later semester based on your ALEKS score. Talk with your advisor about your ALEKS score during your Summer Springboard visit.

 

Physical Principles 3 credit hours

You may enroll in one of these classes, if available.

  • ISAT 100: Environmental and Energy Sustainability
  • ISCI 101: Physics, Chemistry and the Human Experience

Natural System 3 credit hours unless indicated

You may enroll in one of these classes, if available. 3 cr hrs each unless indicated otherwise.

  • BIO 103: Contemporary Biology
  • GEOL 100 & GEOL 110L: Physical Geology (lab co-requisite) 4 cr hrs
  • GEOL 200: Evolutionary Systems (includes lab) 4 cr hrs
  • GEOL 211: Introduction to Oceanography
  • GEOL 102: Environment: Earth
  • GEOL 115: Earth Systems and Climate Change

Save and/or print this worksheet to use as a guide when you enroll in classes in June.