Music: Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Performance - BM

Caine College of the Arts

Department of Music

About This Degree

Woodwind, brass and percussion students who choose to major in instrumental performance at USU enter a rigorous program that prepares them to be excellent performers and studio teachers.

Music majors will have the opportunity to perform the finest literature for their instrument in ensembles such as the Wind Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra, the Jazz Orchestra, and the Caine Ensembles–a chamber music experience with scholarship support that is open to the finest performers in the department based on audition.

Majoring in Wind and Percussion Performance at Utah State University gives you the tools you need to succeed in the professional world and beyond.

Program Specifics

Each semester, students take private instruction on their major instrument and perform in large and small ensembles. Many students also participate in athletic bands which often comes with additional scholarship support, and most students complete their degrees in 4 years.

For specific information regarding coursework required to earn a Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion emphasis, please refer to the BM Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Performance degree map.

For more information about Wind/Brass/Percussion Performance, see the department website.
All music majors must pass an audition to be admitted.
Admitted and current students must meet with an advisor.
Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
The highest math requirement for this degree is the Quantitative Literacy (QL) of the student’s choice.

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits: 120
Credits of C- or better: 100
Total credits taken at USU: 30
Credits of upper-division courses required for the major taken at USU: 10
Minimum Grade Point Average (many majors require a higher GPA): 2.0 GPA
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above): 40
Upper-division credits taken at USU: 20
General Education Requirements
University Studies Requirements
Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements For This Program

New freshmen must be admitted to USU in Good Standing.
Music requires a 2.75 GPA overall for admission as a transfer student, for scholarship eligibility, and to graduate.
Students must complete an entrance exam on primary instrument.

Major Requirements

To maintain Music Major (and Pre-Music Major) status at USU, students must:

Complete all Individual Instruction (primary instrument) courses with a grade of B- or higher
- Any grade lower than B- will result in an extra required semester of Individual Instruction.
- Any subsequent semester in which a student fails to meet this minimum grade may result in dismissal from the music program.
Complete all music major core and emphasis classes with a grade of C or higher
- Any music course grade lower than C will not count towards graduation.
- Core courses may be repeated once in an attempt to earn a grade of C or better.
- Any subsequent semester in which a student fails to meet this minimum grade may result in dismissal from the music program.
Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all courses that fulfill a degree/emphasis requirement.
- This GPA does not include general education and depth courses.
- This GPA does not include the STEP courses for Music Education majors.
- If a student’s degree/emphasis GPA falls under this minimum, the student will be placed on departmental academic probation for one semester.
- Inability to meet this degree/emphasis GPA during the probationary period will result in referral to the department head who in consultation with the appropriate faculty member(s) will determine if the student shall be allowed to remain a music major through an extension of the probationary period.

GRADING SCALE for music courses:

93-100 A

90-92.99 A-

87-89.99 B+

83-86.99 B

80-82.99 B- Lowest grade for individual instruction to fulfill graduation requirements)

77-79.99 C+

73-76.99 C Lowest grade for all other program courses to fulfill graduation requirements)

70-72.99 C-

67-69.99 D+

60-66.99 D

59.99 or below F

BM Performance Music Core Curriculum (33 credits)

A grade of C or better is required in all Music Performance courses.

MUSC 1110 - Music Theory I (BCA) 3 credit(s)
MUSC 1120 - Music Theory II 3 credit(s)
MUSC 1130 - Aural Skills I 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1140 - Aural Skills II 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1170 - Keyboard Harmony I 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1180 - Keyboard Harmony II 1 credit(s)
MUSC 1190 - World Music 3 credit(s)
MUSC 2110 - Music Theory III 3 credit(s)
MUSC 2130 - Aural Skills III 1 credit(s)
MUSC 2180 - Computer Applications in Music Proficiency Exam 1 credit(s)
MUSC 3110 - Music History I: Antiquity through the Renaissance 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3120 - Music History II: The Baroque and Classical Periods 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3170 - Special Topics in Music Theory 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3190 - Music History III: Romanticism through the 21st Century (CI) 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3920 - Junior Recital 1-2 credit(s) (1 credit; 30-minute recital)
MUSC 4920 - Senior Recital 1-2 credit(s) (2 credits; 60-minute recital)

Wind/Brass/Percussion Performance Emphasis Courses

All individual instruction courses on major instrument must be passed with a grade of B- or better. All other music concentration courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. Major requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Music requires a 3.0 GPA in music classes.

MUSC 1/2/3XXX Individual Instruction for Music Majors on major instrument

(Students need 8 semesters of study for 16-21 credits to graduate, of which at least 3 semesters must be upper division-3000 level.)
MUSC 1705 - Individual Pre-Music Flute Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1715 - Individual Pre-Music Oboe Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1725 - Individual Pre-Music Clarinet Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1735 - Individual Pre-Music Bassoon Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1745 - Individual Pre-Music Saxophone Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1815 - Individual Pre-Music Trumpet Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1825 - Individual Pre-Music Trombone Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1845 - Individual Pre-Music Tuba/Euphonium Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 1855 - Individual Pre-Music Percussion Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2755 - Individual Pre-Barrier Flute Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2765 - Individual Pre-Barrier Oboe Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2775 - Individual Pre-Barrier Clarinet instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2785 - Individual Pre-Barrier Bassoon Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2795 - Individual Pre-Barrier Saxophone Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2855 - Individual Pre-Barrier Trumpet Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2865 - Individual Pre-Barrier Trombone Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2875 - Individual Pre-Barrier French Horn Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2885 - Individual Pre-Barrier Tuba/Euph Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 2895 - Individual Pre-Barrier Percussion Instruction 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3710 - Individual Flute Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3720 - Individual Oboe Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3730 - Individual Clarinet Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3740 - Individual Bassoon Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3750 - Individual Saxophone Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3810 - Individual Trumpet Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3820 - Individual Trombone Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3830 - Individual French Horn Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3840 - Individual Tuba/Euphonium Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
MUSC 3860 - Individual Percussion Instruction for Music Majors 1-3 credit(s)
8 credits minimum of large ensemble-any combination of these 3 courses satisfies requirements:
MUSC 3500 - Symphony Orchestra (DHA) 1 credit(s) or
MUSC 3790 - Symphonic Band (DHA) 1 credit(s) or
MUSC 4700 - Wind Orchestra (DHA) 1 credit(s)
MUSC 2/3/4XXX Small Ensemble

Select 4 credits from the following courses:
MUSC 2210 - Advanced Conducting Ensemble 1 credit(s)
MUSC 3700 - Woodwind Ensemble 1-2 credit(s)
MUSC 3760 - Jazz Ensemble 1 credit(s)
MUSC 3770 - Jazz Orchestra 1 credit(s)
MUSC 3780 - Flute Ensemble 1 credit(s)
MUSC 3800 - Low Brass Choir 1 credit(s)
MUSC 3850 - Brass Ensemble 1 credit(s)
MUSC 3870 - Percussion Ensemble 1 credit(s)
MUSC 4710 - Jazz Combo 1-2 credit(s)
MUSC 4720 - Saxophone Quartet 1-2 credit(s)
Additional Required Courses:
MUSC 2350 - Conducting 2 credit(s)
MUSC 3900 - Improvisation I 2 credit(s)
or both
MUSC 3910 - Individual Composition Instruction 1-2 credit(s) and
MUSC 3915 - Composition Seminar 1 credit(s)
MUSC 4730 - Directed Project in Instrumental Pedagogy and Literature (CI) 3 credit(s)
(Will only be offered when there are students on that instrument who need it to graduate; students should take it as early in their degree plan as possible.)

Music Electives (9 credits)

Minumum of 9 credits to be aproved by music faculty advisor

MUSC 3020 - History of Jazz (DHA) 3 credit(s)
MUSC 3180 - Orchestration 2 credit(s) (2 credits; offered sping only)
MUSC 3785 - Marching Band (DHA) 1 credit(s) (1 credit; offered fall only)
MUSC 3905 - Improvisation II 2 credit(s) (2 credits; offered fall only)
MUSC 4240 - Advanced Conducting 2 credit(s) (2 credits; offered fall only)
MUSC 4915 - Careers in Music 3 credit(s)
All other large and small ensembles (1 credit each)
Any/all recording technology courses (2-3 credits each)
Secondary applied lessons or individual composition instruction (1 credit)
Independent study (1-6 credits; must be with a music faculty member)

Recital and Concert Attendance Requirement

To graduate, students are required to attend a minimum of 80 concerts or recitals. Recital and concert attendance is monitored and recorded in the Music Student Services office. Students should turn in programs after attending concerts and recitals for documentation of attendance.

General Education and Depth Education Requirements

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 120

Suggested Degree Map - Music: Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Performance BM

Music: Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Performance BM - 4 Year Degree Map