For all aspiring music majors, a new degree has just been made available.Faculty approved the proposal in December 2008 to ensure that by fall 2009 the music department will offer students the option to acquire a Bachelor of Music (BM) degree.
Although Guilford is not accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), the faculty still likes to follow NASM guidelines to better prepare students who wish to pursue their future with music.
In accordance with those requirements the new BM will entail an initial audition, a piano proficiency examination, two mandatory recitals, and a new music theory five class for seniors.
“We realized that we were offering students the BM but not giving them credit for it,” said Instructor of Music Kami Rowan. The BA program also requires an audition and two mandatory recitals.
“Most students are happier about getting a better degree without much extra work,” said Aidan Cahill, senior music major who plans to apply for graduate school in the fall. “Especially for those that are performance-oriented who want to go to graduate school and may want to become professors, the BM will show people that they were very serious about music performance in college. It will be setting us up for the future.”
“Ideally I wish they had added the BM opportunity earlier,” said Cahill.
After finding out about the new degree, he decided to stay an extra semester to earn the BM.
“We have a group of students that have wanted a more demanding program, and we want to make sure we are giving them more opportunity so that they are prepared for graduate school,” said Wendy Looker, assistant professor of music and choir director. “They can now be more competitive with other students from conservatory school or other liberal arts colleges (who are trying to get into leading programs).”
In addition to the competitive edge the BM offers, students will also benefit from completing piano proficiency in their undergraduate studies.
“If students cannot pass out of piano, than they will have to take remedial classes that don’t help towards your degree and may cause you to have to spend more money on an extra semester, which could be a lot when you’re talking about graduate school,” said Looker. She pointed out that most graduate schools require music theory five and piano proficiency.
Students on the BM track are not concerned about the extra requirements.
“I am not especially worried,” said Rebecca Moore-Painter, a sophomore music major who plans to complete the BM. “I think most people in the department are really dedicated, and we were planning on having recitals anyway. The additional class will be fun.”
The BM degree not only enables students to prepare for their futures, but also allows space in the BA to service a wider range of student needs.
According to Rowan, the BA will be advantageous for students who do not wish to focus on performance, but rather in the academic side: music history, musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, music education, and music therapy.
“This will be great for kids who want to study music but not necessarily go to graduate school or make a career of it,” said Rowan. “I can’t tell you how many students I had that wanted to go into music therapy but couldn’t do it because of the strenuous BA program requirements, in addition to trying to getting a psych degree.”
By revising the BA in music to require fewer courses, the department can offer both programs without extra funds.
“We came to the conclusion that adding the BM wouldn’t make any waves, requiring no new personnel and no added costs,” said Wendy Looker.