Program Overview

The Department of Instrumental Performance at the Frost School of Music offers a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) performance degree in 17 traditional instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion, violin, viola, violoncello, double bass, guitar, and harp. Additionally, performer's certificates are available for those students in non-performance music degree programs who are still interested in continuing their performance studies at pre-professional levels. These certificates require focused coursework and meeting rigorous standards in lesson and recital performance.

Advanced Writing and Communication Skills

All University of Miami students are required to successfully complete 3 Advanced Writing and Communication Skills (AWC) courses. These courses emphasize discipline-specific communication skills in writing, speaking, stage presence, and audience engagement. Qualifying AWC courses require students prepare either (a) an evaluated, revisable writing project of approximately 4000 words; OR (b) an evaluated, revisable discipline-specific communication project of equivalent rigor. 

All Instrumental Performance students will successfully complete:

  1. MCY 341 Music of the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Periods, which will include substantial evaluated and revised writing components.
  2. MIP XX3 Private Lesson Level 3/Senior Recital: Senior recital or culminating project, which will include evaluated communication skills in attracting an audience, engaging an audience during performance, and preparing program notes or similar media as appropriate to the medium/venue,
  3. One course from the MIP 541-549 Pedagogy and Repertoire course grouping. These courses focus on developing and assessing discipline specific communication and presentation skills.

Curriculum Requirements

General Education Requirements
Written Communication Skills:
WRS 105First-Year Writing I3
WRS 106First-Year Writing II3
or ENG 106 Writing About Literature and Culture
Quantitative Skills:
MTH 101Algebra for College Students3
Areas of Knowledge:
Arts & Humanities Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major)
People & Society Cognate9
STEM Cognate9
Additional Requirements
UMX 100The University of Miami Experience0
Advanced Writing and Communication Skills (3 courses) see description below
Experiential Music Curriculum Core Courses MIP 1
Complete 8 semesters of one of the following:8
Brass Forum
Guitar Forum
Percussion Forum
String Forum
Harp Forum
Woodwind Forum
MIP XX1 (Level 1)Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (semesters 1-4, 2 credit hours)8
MIP XX3 (Level 3)Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (semesters 5-6, 2 credit hours) 4
MTC 140
MTC 107
Experiential Musicianship I
and Skills Lab I
4
MTC 141
MTC 108
Experiential Musicianship II
and Skills Lab II
4
MTC 240
MTC 207
Experiential Musicianship III
and Skills Lab III
4
MTC 241
MTC 208
Experiential Musicianship IV
and Skills Lab IV
4
MKP 140Keyboard Studies I1
MKP 141Keyboard Studies II1
MCY 140Experiencing Music3
MCY 341Music of the Mediaeval, Renaissance, and Baroque Periods (AWC)3
MSP 250Essential Technologies for Musicians3
MIN 310Music Business and Entrepreneurship for Musicians3
MIP 143Chamber Music (semesters 1-6, 1 credit hour, as assigned)6
or MIP 135 Percussion Contemporary Chamber Music
or MIP 138 Trombone Choir
or MIP 140 Flute Choir
or MIP 141 Saxophone Ensemble
or MIP 191 Tuba Ensemble
or MIP 192 Classical Guitar Ensemble
Courses in the MIP Major
MIP XX3 (Level 3)Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (semesters 7-8, 2 credit hours) (AWC)4
Junior & Senior recitals with lesson
MIP 143Chamber Music (semesters 7-8, 1 credit hour, as assigned)2
MIP 307Classical Improvisation2
or MTC 101 Composition I
or MSJ 124 Introduction to Jazz Improvisation
MIP XXXLarge Ensembles (semesters 1-8, 1-2 credit hours, as assigned)8-16
Symphonic Winds
Wind Ensemble
Symphony Orchestra
Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and Ensemble Ibis
MIP 407Basic Conducting and Arranging2
MKP 240Keyboard Studies III2
MKP 241Keyboard Studies IV2
MTC 311Analysis and Experience3
MTC 31220th and 21st Century Techniques3
MTC 31318th Century Counterpoint3
MTC 416Orchestration3
MCY 342Music of the Classical, Romantic, and Modern Periods3
Complete exactly one of the following:2
Bassoon Repertoire and Pedagogy (AWC)
Clarinet Repertoire and Pedagogy (AWC)
Flute Repertoire and Pedagogy (AWC)
Oboe Repertoire and Pedagogy (AWC)
Brass Repertoire and Pedagogy (AWC)
Percussion Repertoire and Pedagogy (AWC)
Saxophone Repertoire and Pedagogy (AWC)
Guitar Repertoire and Pedagogy (AWC)
String Repertoire and Pedagogy (AWC)
Electives6
Total Credit Hours128-136
1

EMC core courses require a grade of “C” or higher.  Lessons require a grade of "B-" or higher.

Suggested Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredit Hours
MIP 1, 2,
5, 7,
8, or 9
Brass Forum
or Guitar Forum
or Percussion Forum
or String Forum
or Harp Forum
or Woodwind Forum
1
MIP Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (Level 1) 2
MTC 140
MTC 107
Experiential Musicianship I
and Skills Lab I
4
MKP 140 Keyboard Studies I 1
MCY 140 Experiencing Music 3
WRS 105 First-Year Writing I 3
Large Ensemble as Assigned 1-2
MIP 143, 135,
Chamber Music
or Percussion Contemporary Chamber Music
or Trombone Choir
or Flute Choir
or Saxophone Ensemble
or Tuba Ensemble
or Classical Guitar Ensemble
1
UMX 100 The University of Miami Experience 0
 Credit Hours16-17
Spring
MIP 1, 2,
5, 7,
8, or 9
Brass Forum
or Guitar Forum
or Percussion Forum
or String Forum
or Harp Forum
or Woodwind Forum
1
MIP Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (Level 1) 2
MTC 141
MTC 108
Experiential Musicianship II
and Skills Lab II
4
MKP 141 Keyboard Studies II 1
MTH 101 Algebra for College Students 3
WRS 106 or ENG 106 First-Year Writing II
or Writing About Literature and Culture
3
Large Ensemble as Assigned 1-2
MIP 143, 135,
Chamber Music
or Percussion Contemporary Chamber Music
or Trombone Choir
or Flute Choir
or Saxophone Ensemble
or Tuba Ensemble
or Classical Guitar Ensemble
1
 Credit Hours16-17
Year Two
Fall
MIP 1, 2,
5, 7,
8, or 9
Brass Forum
or Guitar Forum
or Percussion Forum
or String Forum
or Harp Forum
or Woodwind Forum
1
MIP Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (Level 1) 2
MTC 240
MTC 207
Experiential Musicianship III
and Skills Lab III
4
MKP 240 Keyboard Studies III 2
People & Society Cognate 3
STEM Cognate 3
Large Ensemble as Assigned 1-2
MIP 143, 135,
Chamber Music
or Percussion Contemporary Chamber Music
or Trombone Choir
or Flute Choir
or Saxophone Ensemble
or Tuba Ensemble
or Classical Guitar Ensemble
1
 Credit Hours17-18
Spring
MIP Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (Level 1) 2
MIP 1, 2,
5, 7,
8, or 9
Brass Forum
or Guitar Forum
or Percussion Forum
or String Forum
or Harp Forum
or Woodwind Forum
1
MTC 241
MTC 208
Experiential Musicianship IV
and Skills Lab IV
4
MKP 241 Keyboard Studies IV 2
People & Society Cognate 3
STEM Cognate 3
Large Ensemble as Assigned 1-2
MIP 143, 135,
Chamber Music
or Percussion Contemporary Chamber Music
or Trombone Choir
or Flute Choir
or Saxophone Ensemble
or Tuba Ensemble
or Classical Guitar Ensemble
1
 Credit Hours17-18
Year Three
Fall
MIP Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (Level 3) 2
MIP 1, 2,
5, 7,
8, or 9
Brass Forum
or Guitar Forum
or Percussion Forum
or String Forum
or Harp Forum
or Woodwind Forum
1
MCY 341 Music of the Mediaeval, Renaissance, and Baroque Periods 3
MIP 307, MTC 101,
Classical Improvisation
or Composition I
or Introduction to Jazz Improvisation
2
MSP 250 Essential Technologies for Musicians 3
MTC 313 18th Century Counterpoint 3
Large Ensemble as Assigned 1-2
MIP 143, 135,
Chamber Music
or Percussion Contemporary Chamber Music
or Trombone Choir
or Flute Choir
or Saxophone Ensemble
or Tuba Ensemble
or Classical Guitar Ensemble
1
 Credit Hours16-17
Spring
MIP Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (Level 3) 2
MIP 1, 2,
5, 7,
8, or 9
Brass Forum
or Guitar Forum
or Percussion Forum
or String Forum
or Harp Forum
or Woodwind Forum
1
Junior Recital (with Lesson)  
MCY 342 Music of the Classical, Romantic, and Modern Periods 3
MTC 312 20th and 21st Century Techniques 3
Large Ensemble as Assigned 1-2
MIP 143, 135,
Chamber Music
or Percussion Contemporary Chamber Music
or Trombone Choir
or Flute Choir
or Saxophone Ensemble
or Tuba Ensemble
or Classical Guitar Ensemble
1
Elective 3
 Credit Hours14-15
Year Four
Fall
MIP Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (Level 3) 2
MIP 1, 2,
5, 7,
8, or 9
Brass Forum
or Guitar Forum
or Percussion Forum
or String Forum
or Harp Forum
or Woodwind Forum
1
MIP 407 Basic Conducting and Arranging 2
Select one of the following: (if not offered in fall, please take in spring and replace with a 3 credit elective): 2
Bassoon Repertoire and Pedagogy  
Clarinet Repertoire and Pedagogy  
Flute Repertoire and Pedagogy  
Oboe Repertoire and Pedagogy  
Brass Repertoire and Pedagogy  
Percussion Repertoire and Pedagogy  
Saxophone Repertoire and Pedagogy  
Guitar Repertoire and Pedagogy  
String Repertoire and Pedagogy  
MIN 310 Music Business and Entrepreneurship for Musicians 3
MTC 416 Orchestration 3
MIP 143, 135,
Chamber Music
or Percussion Contemporary Chamber Music
or Trombone Choir
or Flute Choir
or Saxophone Ensemble
or Tuba Ensemble
or Classical Guitar Ensemble
1
Large Ensemble as Assigned 1-2
 Credit Hours15-16
Spring
Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (Level 3) 2
MIP 1, 2,
5, 7,
8, or 9
Brass Forum
or Guitar Forum
or Percussion Forum
or String Forum
or Harp Forum
or Woodwind Forum
1
MIP 143, 135,
Chamber Music
or Percussion Contemporary Chamber Music
or Trombone Choir
or Flute Choir
or Saxophone Ensemble
or Tuba Ensemble
or Classical Guitar Ensemble
1
MTC 311 Analysis and Experience 3
Large Ensemble as Assigned 1-2
Senior Recital (with Lesson) AWC  
People in Society Cognate 3
STEM Cognate 3
Elective (If offered, please take your required MIP Repertoire & Pedagogy, 2 credit hour course 3
 Credit Hours17-18
 Total Credit Hours128-136

Mission

The mission of the Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance degree is to

  1. Provide the highest quality of musical education possible for the purpose of preparing students for a professional performance career or graduate studies as a classical artist;
  2. Provide quality performance opportunities that integrate skills learned from music and other classes; and leverage these opportunities to further additional creativity and research;
  3. Develop interpersonal, entrepreneurial, and other associated professional skills as the skills necessary for building and managing non-performance aspects of a professional career in music.

Goals

  • Students will develop musicianship skills and technique that will lead toward a professional career as a solo classical performer or graduate study.
  • Students will be able to sight-read and prepare musical performances without assistance.
  • Students will develop musicianship skills and technique for working within an ensemble leading towards a professional career or graduate study as a classical performer. Ensemble requirements will vary by applied area.
  • Students will develop skills for fostering a professional career or graduate study as a classical performer.
  • Students will have a broad knowledge of music literature in their applied area as well as an understanding of stylistic and theoretical principles of the various musical and historical periods.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will develop instrumental techniques necessary for acceptance into elite level graduate study institutions, and for fostering professional careers as classical instrumentalists.
  • Students will develop instrumental expression necessary for acceptance into elite level graduate study institutions, and for fostering a professional career as classical instrumentalists.
  • Students will develop effective Communication skills related to performance and pedagogy through effective writing or presentation. These skills are necessary for acceptance into elite level graduate study institutions and for fostering a professional career as classical instrumentalists.