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Bachelor of Music Degree

The Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree is designed for exceptionally-talented musicians who wish to pursue a career in performance. B.M. students will focus in a primary instrument or in voice. Acceptance to the B.M. program is by audition only. Although auditions for official admission to the B.M. program are open only to registered UCSC students, prospective students may submit a tape to the Music Department to receive an informal evaluation of their chances for acceptance. Students must audition prior to their senior year; sophomores and juniors must be advanced when they first audition for the program. A spring audition will be available only to junior transfer students.

Auditions for the B.M. program will be held on campus each November/December. Students should be prepared to play three pieces or movements of a contrasting nature from at least two different stylistic periods. (Two contrasting movements from the same sonata or concerto may count as two of the three required pieces.) Students who have attained an advanced level on a previous audition are still required to audition. Prospective students who wish to submit tapes should also meet these specifications in order to receive an informal evaluation from the Music Department.

The B.M. program differs from the B.A. program in that it requires considerably more performance credits and slightly fewer courses in music history and theory.

 

Course requirements:

1. First-year theory courses: Music 30A, B, & C (entrance requirement: Music Theory Placement Examination).

Students who have not yet taken a university-level theory course are recommended to take Music 13 or Music 14 to prepare for Music 30A. Students who have already taken university-level theory should plan to take the Theory Placement Exam in order to test in to Music 30A. If you receive an "A" in Music 14, you are eligible for direct placement into Music 30A. Students with little to no keyboard experience are recommended to take the introductory keyboard course Music 59 prior to starting Music 30.  The Music 30 series requires concurrent enrollment with the Music 60 keyboard series. Students with significant keyboard experience are given the opportunity to test out of individual quarters of Music 60.

2. Second-year theory courses: Music 130 (entrance requirement: Keyboard Proficiency Exam, taken at end of 30C), one course from the Music 150 series.

3. Music history courses: Music 101A,B,C and one course from the 105 series.

4. Music 180A, 180B or 180C: Studies in World Musics

5. Applied instruction: one-hour private lessons (Music 62, 161, or 162) for each of the first 11 quarters (B.M. junior transfer students may have 6 quarters of lower-division applied music credits waived if they have taken individual lessons throughout their first two years. Also, junior transfer students are required to take at least 6 quarters of one-hour lessons at UCSC, one of which would be lessons for the senior recital.)

6. Ensembles: 12 quarters (must be on your primary instrument or voice). Exceptions to this policy will be considered only on the recommendation of both the ensemble director and the private instructor. Junior B.M. transfer students are required to take at least 6 quarters of ensembles.

7. Senior Capstone: Senior Recital (Music 196B)

Senior Recital Flyer Template

Senior Recital Program Template

8. B.M. students studying voice must also complete French 1, German 1, and Italian 1.

9. If a B.M. student wishes to be considered for highest honors in the major, they must enroll in the B.A. degree Senior Capstone course (Music 120 - Seminar in Composition or an additional course from the Music 105 series). 

 

Additional requirements:

1. B.M. students must perform a Continuing B.M. audition twice each year (at the end of fall and spring quarters), for continuing review and criticism in their major instruments or in voice.

2. One informal student recital yearly, either as part of a "Friday at Four" program, or the applied instructor's studio recital. The repertoire for this performance will be determined by the applied instructor, and the performance will be evaluated by the applied instructor either by attendance or by evaluation of a tape.

Program Learning Outcomes for the BM program:

BM graduates will demonstrate the following:
1) critical thinking about musical language
2) critical thinking about music history and culture
3) effective writing about music
4) proficiency in performing and/or creating music
5) familiarity with French, German and Italian languages (for BM vocal students)