B.A.M. Bachelor of Arts in Music

Introduction

The Bachelor of Arts in Music degree is a non-professional degree designed for talented musicians who wish to pursue a broad liberal arts education. Curriculum flexibility affords students the opportunity to explore a variety of pre-professional offerings, including premedical and prelaw. 

A dual degree, second major, or minor outside the Frost School of Music is required. Students in the BA in Music program must earn a minimum 2.5 GPA each semester to remain in the program.

Educational Objectives

• Students will acquire a thorough understanding of music theory and music history, and develop advanced competence in musical performance.
• Students will develop the ability to think, speak, and write clearly about their primary and chosen minor fields, and increase their capacity to defend their views effectively and rationally based on substantive knowledge of the liberal arts.
• The student will acquire competency in an approved non-music academic area that includes a broad understanding of the area and contemporary thought within that area.

Advanced Writing and Communication Skills

Courses

All students are required to successfully complete three (3) Advanced Writing and Communication Skills (AWC) courses. Student degree requirements will include courses that meet the desired communication outcomes in evaluated and revised writing, speaking, stage presence, and audience engagement. There will be at least 2 specific assessments in each Advanced Communications Skills course for communications or writing equivalent to 4000 words, evaluated and revised.

All BA in Music students will successfully complete:

1. MCY 341, which will include substantial evaluated and revised writing components.
2. An approved MCY 300+ or MTC 300+ elective, 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. An approved non-music Humanities or Modern Language elective, which will include evaluated written communication skills relevant to the minor degree.

Curriculum Requirements

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

Suggested Plan of Study

Mission

The mission of the Bachelor of Music Degree (BAM) in Music at the Frost School of Music is to:

• Provide students the highest quality of education available in their principal academic programs as instrumentalists and vocalists;
• Enhance the development of foundational musicianship that will serve as the foundation for graduate degree auditions, national/international competitions, and entry-level careers as musicians;
• Stimulate student awareness and artistic creativity within the fields of music composition as well as music ensemble performance, while providing students public performance opportunities in a supportive and encouraging environment.

In addition, the requirement to acquire a minor degree, dual degree, or a second major within the University of Miami system enables students to present as a musician who excels in other academic areas. The discipline and academic rigor endemic to achieving excellence in diverse fields equips students to better confront challenges encountered entering the competitive professional world of employment.

Goals

• Students will acquire a thorough knowledge of music theory and music history, and develop advanced competence in musical performance.
• Students will develop the ability to think, speak, and write clearly with the capacity to explain and defend their views effectively and rationally based on substantive knowledge of the liberal arts.
• Students will acquire competency in a selected non-music academic area that includes a broad understanding of the area and contemporary thought within the area.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate intellectual/scholarly aptitude and oral skills in interdisciplinary discussions.
• Students will demonstrate mastery of their secondary area of study (minor, double major, or dual degree) outside of music, and be able to connect this knowledge to their music studies. 
• Students will be able to perform, create, improvise, analyze, and sight-read music in styles outside their normal performance practice.