School of Music and Performing Arts

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Paul R. Isensee, D.M.A., Dean

Distinguished Professor

Samuel Hsu, Ph.D., Chair, Piano Instruction

Professor

Alfred E. Lunde, D.M.A., Chair Emeritus

Associate Professor

Daniel S. Barta, D.M.A., Chair, Theory and Composition Studies
H. Kenneth Benjamin, M.Mus., Chair, Instrumental Studies
Debbie Lynn Wolf, Ph.D., Chair, Music Education Studies; Director, Community School of Music

Assistant Professor

Kenneth R. Borrmann, M.Mus., Piano Instruction
William A. Knowles, D.M.A., Chair, Voice Studies

Administrative Faculty

Dorothy M. Black, M.S.L.S., M.S.

Part-time Faculty

Robert J. Carwithen, M.Mus., Director of Organ Instruction

Adjunct Faculty

Joseph D. Caminiti, M.M., Conducting
Margaret Claudin, M.Mus., Flute
Roger V. Cocking, M.M., Woodwinds
Joseph M. Hesh, Th.M. 
Ronald Lipscomb, Cello
Robin Massie, M.Mus., Voice
William Priebe, M.M., Percussion

Affiliate Artists

Nancy Beale, B.Mus., Piano
Brian Browm, M.Mus., Tuba
James Correnti, B.Mus., M.Div., Piano
Thomas Elliott, M.Mus., Trombone
Elizabeth Hainen, B.Mus., Harp
Neil Horrocks, B.Mus.Ed., Clarinet
Katherine Miller, M.Mus., Bassoon
Jeremy Hutson, M.Mus., Guitar
Bliss Michelson, B.Mus., Double Bass
Donna Lee Ramsey, B.Mus., Voice
Janet Rawleigh, M.Mus., Oboe
Shelley Showers, French Horn
Jacqueline H. Smith, M.Mus., Voice  
Marshall Taylor, M.Mus., Saxophone
Nina Wilkinson, B. Mus., Viola
Xiao-Fu Zhou, Violin/Viola

Accreditation

The PBU School of Music and Performing Arts achieved accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) in 1972. This accreditation was reaffirmed in 1997. The curriculum requirements on the following pages are designed to meet the NASM standards required for the Bachelor of Music degree.

Programs

The music programs are designed to provide a professional education for qualified students who are interested in careers as church musicians, school teachers, performers and/or composers. Four five-year programs are offered: Church Music, Composition, Performance and Music Education. All four programs lead to two degrees; B.S. in Bible and Bachelor of Music.

Every student in a five-year program specializes in an area of applied music. Those in the five-year Church Music Program have major and minor applied specializations, one of which must be voice.

All non-keyboard majors in five-year programs are expected to pass a piano proficiency exam in order to qualify for the Bachelor of Music degree.

A four-year Church Music Program requiring 30 credits of music is also offered. This program leads to the B.S. in Bible degree.

Music Facilities

A two-storied music building houses faculty studios, offices, classrooms, rehearsal rooms and practice rooms. A music technology lab includes synthesizers, computers and other electronic equipment with music education and composition software. The 150-seat Lewis Holmes Recital Hall located in the Ellwood A. Cook Biblical Learning Center is home to a Steinway Model B grand piano and serves as the primary recital hall. The William Chatlos Auditorium with its three-manual, custom-built digital organ and two concert grand pianos serves as a larger recital/concert hall. Manor Hall serves as an additional recital and rehearsal hall and houses a three-manual Rodgers organ and grand piano. Two pipe organs, two electronic organs and a piano lab are housed in the music building.

In 2004, the University became one of only two evangelical colleges or universities in the United States to be designated an “All-Steinway School.” The designation “All Steinway” indicates that approximately 90-95 percent of all pianos are made by the world-renowned company Steinway and Sons.

Audition Requirements

Each program and applied area has requirements both for entrance and for satisfactory progress during the four or five years. General audition requirements are listed below.

An entrance audition is required of all applicants for the School of Music and Performing Arts. When entering, first semester music students should enroll in one of the music programs. A student may enter the Performance Program only after passing a second audition at the end of the third semester.

All Applicants 

1. An appointment with the music office should be made at least three weeks in advance of the proposed audition date. 
2. Auditions must be completed before registration day of the incoming semester. 
3. Applicants should bring one reference copy of all music to the audition. 
4. Applicants will be notified of audition and music scholarship results in an interview following the audition.  
5. When travel to Philadelphia is prohibitive, a taped audition may be arranged. Students auditioning by tape should call the music office for specific instructions regarding tape preparation. A videotape is preferred. An audio cassette tape is acceptable.
    

Keyboard and Instrumental Applicants

1. Play all major and minor scales (harmonic form only) at a moderate tempo. Keyboard applicants play four octaves, hands together. 
2. Play two contrasting classical pieces from memory, one to demonstrate technical ability, one to demonstrate legato phrasing and tone quality. 
3. Play one hymn or sacred song arrangement from memory. 
4. Demonstrate sight-reading ability and aural skills.  
    

Note: Pianists without organ experience may audition for the organ major by meeting the piano entrance requirements.
 

Percussion Applicants

1. Play all 26 rudiments in open to closed style.
2. Demonstrate all major and minor scales on the xylophone (two octaves, harmonic form).
3. Play a prepared snare drum solo from the N.A.R.D. Rudiment Solo Book or equivalent.
4. Play a prepared mallet solo from the book Percussion-Keyboard Techniques by MacMillan or the collection, Masterpieces for Marimba, or equivalent.
    

Voice Applicants

1. Sing two contrasting classical pieces from memory, one to demonstrate vocal agility, one to demonstrate legato phrasing and tone quality. 
2. Sing one hymn or sacred song from memory.
3. Demonstrate sight-reading ability and aural skills.
    

Composition Applicants

1. Successfully pass a keyboard or orchestral instrument audition (as stated above).
2. Submit a portfolio of original compositions at the audition time; or, for prospective students just beginning their compositional study, demonstrate, during the first four semesters of study, a working knowledge of theory and a strong interest in the creative process.
    

Music Education Applicants

Meet the requirements for entry into a program of teacher education.

General Music Program Requirements

Applied Music Requirements
Due to the spread of credits over five years, all students begin their applied study with half-hour lessons. All programs provide for a one-hour lesson per week beginning in the third semester (exception, 5th -year Music Education). For a detailed description of Applied Music Studies see course descriptions.

Ensemble Requirements
All students in the music program are required to participate in an ensemble every semester they are enrolled full-time (exception, 5th -year Music Education). Specific ensemble requirements are outlined in the Music Major Prospectus available through the music office. A listing of ensembles is found in the section of music course descriptions.

Recital Requirements
All students taking lessons for credit are required to participate in a general recital each semester. Recital requirements for upperclassmen are listed below.

5-Year Church Music: 5th year, 30 minutes in the student’s applied area, plus demonstration of conducting skills (four choral pieces from varied historical periods).

5-Year Performance: 4th year, 45 minutes in the student’s applied area; 5th year, 60 minutes in the student’s applied area.

5-Year Composition: 5th year, 60 minutes of original compositions and arrangements.

5- Year Music Education: 4th year, 30 minutes of performance in the student’s applied area.

4- Year Church Music: 4th year, 30 minutes of performance in the student’s applied area.

School of Music and Performing Arts Seminars, Studio Classes and Recitals
Full-time music students are required to attend the Music Magor Seminar, studio classes, master classes, program meetings, and recitals. Seminars provide discussions of pertinent professional subjects, while studio classes and recitals give opportunity for students to gain proficiency in performance.

Piano Proficiency Exam for Non-Keyboard Majors
The passing of a piano proficiency exam is required for graduation. This exam must be taken by the end of the sixth semester of piano study and must be repeated each semester until the requirement is passed. Private or class piano study must continue uninterrupted until all elements of the exam have been passed.

1. Technique:
   1. Scales: All major and minor scales (harmonic form only) hands together, with correct fingering, two octaves in eigth notes, minimum tempo: quarter note =72
   2. Chords: All major and minor triads hands together, three positions ascending and descending two octaves, in quarter notes at minimum tempo: quarter note =72
2. Classical Repertoire:
   1. First movement of a sonatina or piece from the classical or romantic period (intermediate difficulty), performed from memory.
3. Hymns:
   1. A four-part hymn with no fewer than two sharps or two flats prepared in advance and played at a singing tempo with no more than five errors 
   2. A hymn selected by the jury and played at sight. It should be executed metronomically at a tempo indicated by the chair of the jury, playing only the four parts written and with no more than five errors.
4. Accompanying:
   1. Sightread a solo accompaniment selected by the chair of the jury. 

Internships
Students in the five-year Church Music program are required to serve as an intern and direct a choir in a local church during their fifth year.

Student Teaching
Music Education students must meet student teaching requirements as outlined in the School of Teacher Education Handbook.

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