The Bachelor of Music degree with and emphasis in Commercial Music is a 124-credit hour baccalaureate degree designed for students who are preparing to make all or part of their living in the music industry. As a Bachelor of Music degree, the program provides all qualified students with high levels of academic and musical training, divided into three distinct areas of study: 1) a broad-based education in music technique including theory, aural skills, history, keyboard skills and solo and ensemble performance; 2) training in the skills needed by those in the music industry, including music technology, arranging, conducting, songwriting, improvisation and live concert production; 3) training in music industry and entrepreneurship, including courses in music business, business law, accounting, economics and management.
The Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in Commercial Music program is open by audition only. The process of auditioning for the program differs slightly depending on whether or not a student is new to Snow College (an incoming freshman or transfer students) or a continuing student from the two-year program. The different procedures for auditioning are outlined below. All students must audition on an instrument or voice to be considered for the program. If there is additional material that you would like to submit in support of your application (especially in the areas of songwriting or music production) please follow the instructions below.
Note: If you are interested primarily in the advisement tracks of Songwriting/Composition or Music Production please also include:
All students must audition on their major instrument or voice. You may audition by:
Note: If you are interested primarily in the advisement tracks of Songwriting/Composition or Music Production please also include:
The College Policy for accepting transfer credit can be found in the Snow College Academic Catalog - available online.
The Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) has instituted a policy of holding annual discipline specific statewide articulation meetings. A representative is appointed by the CAO of each institution. The committee discusses the articulation of courses for music majors between Utah institutions and reaches agreements about the conditions upon which credit will be honored. The committee has agreed that the following courses will be honored between USHE institutions, provided the student has earned at least a C in the course:
Snow College requires an audition, music theory placement examination and piano proficiency placement examination of any applicant for the proposed degree. This audition and the placement exams will determine the student’s suitability for admittance into the program and provide the music unit with information that will determine the proper placement for the student in private lessons and music theory, and class piano.
For music major courses not listed on the USHE Music Major Committee list, or for all music major courses for students transferring from accredited non-USHE schools, course descriptions and syllabi will be evaluated to determine whether or not transfer credit will be awarded in music. If a decision is made requiring the transferring student to retake music major coursework completed at another institution, and the student has passed those courses as per the provisions of the college transfer policy outlined in the Snow College Academic Catalog, Snow College will grant the student elective credit for those courses.
A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is not less than:
At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as approved by Snow College including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.
Non-music majors who enroll in private lessons receive ½ hour of instruction each week and are awarded 1 hour of credit. There is no jury requirement for non-majors.
All students who have been accepted into the Bachelor of Music degree program are expected to make adequate academic progress towards graduation. This means:
Recitals – All music majors are required to perform a recital during each semester of private instruction. For 1st and 2nd year students, the recital performance takes place on an area recital, which are scheduled regularly throughout the semester. For 3rd and 4th year students the recital requirement is more significant.
Senior Recitals/Projects - Students who are pursuing the Bachelor of Music degree must complete a senior recital or senior project. A senior recital typically consists of a 40-45 minutes of music displaying a level of performance, literature and the synthesis of learned shills appropriate to a candidate for a Bachelor of Music degree. Senior recitals/projects replace both the jury and recital requirement for the student during the semester in which the senior recital/project takes place. Students in the instrumental or vocal performance advisement tracks must perform a senior recital prior to graduation. Students who are pursuing the music technology or songwriting/composition advisement tracks may complete a senior recital in the 4th year, or may opt for a senior project which should be of similar scope to a recital. In every case, both the senior recital and/or senior project will be proposed while the student is enrolled in the Senior Capstone course (MUSC 4901) and approved by three faculty, including the department chair. The proposal forms are available in the music department office.
Juries - All music majors are required to perform a jury before assembled faculty at the end of each semester of private applied study. The jury serves three purposes: 1) to determine whether or not a student is prepared to move to the next level of study, 2) to act as an assessment tool for the private applied lesson, and 3) to give students the opportunity to receive feedback from members of the faculty other than their private teacher. The jury grade accounts for 20% of the final grade in private instruction. A student may, at any time, be denied advancement to the next course level by a decision of the jury. If this occurs, the department chair will notify the student and the instructor in writing. The student will consult with the private instructor and the department chair to determine if continuation in the program is warranted. If a student fails to pass a jury or is not recommended to advance to the next level on two consecutive occasions they will be removed from the Bachelor of Music program.
Students must be enrolled in private applied lessons during the semester they complete their senior recital/project.
Standard Leave of Absence - It may be necessary for a student to take a leave of absence during their studies at Snow College. Generally, when the leave is for military service, church service, humanitarian work, financial necessity or other similar reasons, a student does not need to reapply to the program, nor will they lose their standing in their program. Generally, these types of leave also make a student eligible for scholarship awards upon their return if funds are available. In order to prepare for a leave of absence of this type:
Medical Leave of Absence – It may be necessary for a student to take a medical leave of absence from the program. If the leave coincides with weeks 1-9 of an academic semester, a student may simply withdraw, and take a standard leave of absence. If a student must take a medical withdrawal from class after the 10th week of the semester, a student must do the following:
After a medical leave of absence that necessitated complete withdrawal from classes after the 10th week of a semester, a student must re-apply to the program. In order to do this the student must:
The committee will determine the ongoing status of the student as it relates to the Bachelor of Music degree program. A student that successfully petition for re-admittance into the program may regain their placement in the program and again be eligible for available music scholarships.
If a student feels that they need to appeal for exception from any of the academic policies listed above, they may appeal by doing the following:
