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Music

The School of Music and Dance at San José State University is recognized as the oldest school of music in California and has achieved a reputation as a direct result of outstanding teaching by a faculty that enjoys both national and international renown.

Student performing organizations in the School of Music and Dance include the Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, University Chorus, Choraliers, Opera Theatre, Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, Spartan Marching Band, Jazz Ensembles, Gospel Choir, Percussion Ensemble, Pep Band, and many other small vocal and instrumental ensembles.

San José State has a large, modern and completely equipped music facility, with over 200 pianos, an outstanding instrument collection, an excellent library, teaching studios, rehearsal areas, an electro-acoustic studio, a recording studio and a concert hall. Music students also have access to the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies, the only research facility in North America that is exclusively devoted to the life and works of Ludwig van Beethoven.

The music curriculum at SJSU is designed to fulfill the needs of students who have career goals in music performance, composition, conducting, research, jazz, public school or community college teaching, or graduate study, as well as those who are interested in music as an elective course of study for cultural enrichment.

BA, BMus - Music

Lower division preparation

All music majors must demonstrate an acceptable level of performance ability in applied area offered in the curriculum. All entering transfer students must perform a placement audition for the appropriate applied music committee.

Preparation and Support for the Major:

MUSC 019 Music in World Cultures
MUSC 025A Piano Proficiency
OR
MUSC 025B Piano Proficiency
Students must enroll in Music 25A or 25B until the proficiency is completed by exam, or qualified students may test out by performing required skills for the piano faculty at SJSU.
ENGL 001B Composition 2
A "C" or better is required in English 1B (a "C-" is not acceptable).

Requirements for the Major:

MUSC 001A Music Systems IA
MUSC 001B Music Systems IB
MUSC 002A Music Systems IIA
MUSC 002B Music Systems IIB
MUSC 003A Music Systems IIIA
MUSC 003B Music Systems IIIB
MUSC 004A Music Systems IVA
MUSC 004B Music Systems IVB
MUSC 012 Fundamentals of Music History
MUSC 013 Music Technology
MUSC 040A Jazz Improvisation - I
The SJSU School of Music and Dance will grant articulation and placement equivalency for Musc 1A-B, 2A-B, 3A-B, 4A-B, and 25A-B upon passing an equivalency examination in these courses. We recommend that the transfer student complete as many comprehensive musicianship and theory courses as possible prior to transfer.

Additional requirements:

The following courses are required each semester of the lower division (the student will choose the course appropriate to their Major). Select 8 semester units (12 quarter units) from the following courses (Placement audition required. Two units of applied study and two units of large ensemble are required. NOTE: BM Music requires 8 units of applied study and 4 units of ensemble):
MUSC 029 Electro-Acoustics
MUSC 030 Piano
MUSC 031 Harpsichord
MUSC 032 Organ
MUSC 033 Voice
MUSC 034 Strings
MUSC 035 Woodwinds
MUSC 036 Brass
MUSC 037 Percussion
MUSC 038 Composition

Composition Electives:

MUSC 025B Piano Proficiency

For the California Single-Subject Credential, add:

MUSC 026A Voice Fundamentals