Music Performance BM

The Music Performance major is a designated capstone major. Through preparation for and execution of their senior capstone projects or recitals, students demonstrate mastery of program learning outcomes, a level of proficiency appropriate for their role in the recitals, and an understanding of performance practices appropriate to the repertory being performed, as acquired in previous coursework and through research. Students also display their ability to assemble an effective program in terms of pacing and variety, and demonstrate requisite stage presence along with an ability to communicate with their audience in performance.

College:
Herb Alpert School of Music

Department:
Music Performance, Education, and Composition

Degree Level:
Undergraduate

Degree:
Bachelor of Music (BM)

Entry to the Major

Applicants are required to audition in their principal performance medium and interview with the music performance faculty.

Preparation for the Major

Refer to the following courses

0/5

Musicianship

Complete the following courses with grades of C– or better:

0/3

Theory

Select one of the following series approved by the area head/division chair. The courses must be completed with grades of C or better.

Select 1 from 2 options:

0/1

Music 20 Series

0/3

Complete all courses in this series.

Music 21 Series

0/3

Complete all courses in this series.

Concentration

Based on instrument or voice, complete one concentration selected from the following:

Select 1 from 4 options:

0/1

Brass, Percussion, and Woodwinds

0/3

Complete all of the following requirements.

Instrumental Studio (12 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC 60A-J.

Select 1 from 0 options

Chamber Ensembles (4 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C175A-G.

Select 1 from 0 options

Large Conducted Ensembles (12 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C185D-H.

Select 1 from 0 options

Keyboard

0/3

Complete all of the following requirements.

Instrumental Studio (12 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC 60S, 60T, 60U.

Select 1 from 0 options

Chamber Ensembles, Keyboard Literature, and Accompanying (8 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C171, C175A-G, C186A.

Select 1 from 0 options

Large Conducted Ensembles (6 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C185A-H.

Select 1 from 0 options

Strings

0/3

Complete all of the following requirements.

Instrumental Studio (12 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC 60K-R.

Select 1 from 0 options

Chamber Ensembles (6 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C175A-G.

Select 1 from 0 options

Large Conducted Ensembles (12 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C185D, C185E.

Select 1 from 0 options

Voice

0/4

Complete all of the following requirements.

Voice Studio and Voice Coaching (18 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC 61A, 61B.

Select 1 from 0 options

Singing Diction (3 courses)

0/3

Complete MUSC 74A, 74B, and 74C.

Large Conducted Ensembles (12 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C185A, C185B, C185C.

Select 1 from 0 options

Language

0/1

Complete one college year—or at least one course at level three—of French, German, Italian, or Spanish.

Select 1 from 0 options

The Major

Refer to the following courses

0/10

Theory

Complete the following series with grades of C or better:

0/3

Musicianship

Complete the following series with grades of C or better:

0/3

History

Complete the following courses with grades of C or better:

0/3

Concentration

Based on instrument or voice, complete one concentration selected from the following:

Select 1 from 4 options:

0/1

Brass, Percussion, and Woodwinds

0/5

Complete all of the following requirements.

Advanced Instrumental Studio (10 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC 160A-J.

Select 1 from 0 options

Chamber Ensembles (4 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C175A-G.

Select 1 from 0 options

Large Conducted Ensembles (12 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C185D-H.

Select 1 from 0 options

Electives (8 units)

0/1

Complete at least 8 units of upper-division electives from ethnomusicology, global jazz studies, music, music industry, or musicology.

Select 1 from 0 options

Capstone Instrumental Recital

0/1

Complete one course from MUSC 167A-J. In senior year, each student must present a 45–55-minute senior recital.

Select 1 from 0 options

Keyboard

0/5

Complete all of the following requirements.

Advanced Instrumental Studio (10 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC 160S, 160T, 160U.

Select 1 from 0 options

Chamber Ensembles, Keyboard Literature, and Accompanying (8 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C171, C175A-G, C186A.

Select 1 from 0 options

Large Conducted Ensembles (6 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C185A-H.

Select 1 from 0 options

Electives (12 units)

0/1

Complete at least 12 units of upper-division electives from ethnomusicology, global jazz studies, music, music industry, or musicology.

Select 1 from 0 options

Capstone Instrumental Recital

0/1

Complete one course from MUSC 167S, 167T, 167U. In senior year, each student must present a 45–55-minute senior recital.

Select 1 from 0 options

Strings

0/5

Complete all of the following requirements.

Advanced Instrumental Studio (10 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC 160K-R.

Select 1 from 0 options

Chamber Ensembles (6 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C175A-G.

Select 1 from 0 options

Large Conducted Ensembles (12 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C185D, C185E.

Select 1 from 0 options

Electives (8 units)

0/1

Complete at least 8 units of upper-division electives from ethnomusicology, global jazz studies, music, music industry, or musicology.

Select 1 from 0 options

Capstone Instrumental Recital

0/1

Complete one course from MUSC 167K-R. In senior year, each student must present a 45–55-minute senior recital.

Select 1 from 0 options

Voice

0/5

Complete all of the following requirements.

Advanced Voice Studio and Advanced Voice Coaching (15 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC 161A, 161B.

Select 1 from 0 options

Advanced Vocal Repertoire, Diction, and Interpretation (4 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C158A-G.

Select 1 from 0 options

Large Conducted Ensembles (12 units)

0/1

Select from MUSC C185A, C185B, C185C.

Select 1 from 0 options

Electives (4 units)

0/1

Complete at least 4 units of upper-division electives from ethnomusicology, global jazz studies, music, music industry, or musicology.

Select 1 from 0 options

Capstone Voice Recital

0/2

Complete MUSC 161B and MUSC 168. In senior year, each student must present a 45–55-minute senior recital.

Policies

Music Theory Assessment

Music Performance BM

Entry to the Major

Preparation for the Major

Musicianship

Theory

Music 20 Series

Music 21 Series

Concentration

Brass, Percussion, and Woodwinds

Instrumental Studio (12 units)

Chamber Ensembles (4 units)

Large Conducted Ensembles (12 units)

Keyboard

Instrumental Studio (12 units)

Chamber Ensembles, Keyboard Literature, and Accompanying (8 units)

Large Conducted Ensembles (6 units)

Strings

Instrumental Studio (12 units)

Chamber Ensembles (6 units)

Large Conducted Ensembles (12 units)

Voice

Voice Studio and Voice Coaching (18 units)

Singing Diction (3 courses)

Large Conducted Ensembles (12 units)

Language

The Major

Theory

Musicianship

History

Concentration

Brass, Percussion, and Woodwinds

Advanced Instrumental Studio (10 units)

Chamber Ensembles (4 units)

Large Conducted Ensembles (12 units)

Electives (8 units)

Capstone Instrumental Recital

Keyboard

Advanced Instrumental Studio (10 units)

Chamber Ensembles, Keyboard Literature, and Accompanying (8 units)

Large Conducted Ensembles (6 units)

Electives (12 units)

Capstone Instrumental Recital

Strings

Advanced Instrumental Studio (10 units)

Chamber Ensembles (6 units)

Large Conducted Ensembles (12 units)

Electives (8 units)

Capstone Instrumental Recital

Voice

Advanced Voice Studio and Advanced Voice Coaching (15 units)

Advanced Vocal Repertoire, Diction, and Interpretation (4 units)

Large Conducted Ensembles (12 units)

Electives (4 units)

Capstone Voice Recital

Policies

Quarter Planning

Fall 2025

Winter 2026

Spring 2026