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

David M. Shockey, D.M.A., Chair, Voice Studies

Associate Professor

Debbie Lynn Wolf, Ph.D., Chair, Music Education Studies; Director, Community School of Music

Assistant Professor

Kenneth R. Borrmann, M.Mus., Piano Instruction
Joseph D. Caminiti, M.Mus., Chair, Instrumental Studies

Adjunct Faculty

Dorothy M. Black, M.S.L.S., M.S.
Margaret A. Claudin, M.Mus., Flute, Chamber Music
Ruth Naomi Floyd, A.A., Jazz Voice
Christopher Garven, M.Mus., Organ
Joseph M. Hesh, B.S., Jazz Ensemble, Chapel Worship Team
Nathan Jumper, B.Mus.
Ronald Lipscomb, Cello, Chamber Music
Robin L. Massie, M.Mus., Voice
William Priebe, M.Mus., Percussion
Dawn Sherf, M.Mus.
Marshall Taylor, M.Mus.
Ronald Thomas, M.A.

Affiliate Artists

Nancy Beale, B.Mus., Piano
James Correnti, B.Mus., M.Div., Piano
A. Jay Kratz, B.Mus., Guitar
Donna Lee Ramsey, B.Mus., Voice
Xiao-Fu Zhou, Violin/Viola

Accreditation

The School of Music and Performing Arts achieved accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) in 1972. This accreditation was most recently reaffirmed in 2007. 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. Five 5-year programs are offered: Church Music, Church Music: Worship Leader, Composition, Performance, and Music Education. All five programs lead to two degrees: Bachelor of Science 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 Programs 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 38 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, and rehearsal and practice rooms. A music technology lab includes synthesizers and computers 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, one electronic organ, 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 of study. 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 must 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. Auditions should be scheduled through the Music Office at least three weeks in advance of the proposed audition date. 
2. Auditions should 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 normally 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 wishing to audition by tape should call the Music Office for specific instructions regarding tape preparation. A videotape is preferred.  

Church Music*, Performance, and Music Education Applicants

Voice, Keyboard, and Instrumental applicants must:

1. Perform two classical solo pieces of contrasting styles and one sacred hymn/solo arrangement (memorization required for voice and keyboard applicants; optional for instrumental). 
2. Demonstrate sight-reading ability and aural skills. 
3. Play all major and minor scales (keyboard and instrumental only) at a moderate tempo. Keyboard applicants play four octaves, two hands together. 

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 (harmonic form) on the xylophone (two octaves).
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. 

Composition Applicants

In addition to passing a keyboard or orchestral instrumental audition, composition applicants enter the program in one of two ways:

1. Submit a portfolio of original compositions prior to the audition.
   OR
2. For prospective students 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.  

*Church Music: Worship Leader Applicants

Those wishing to enter the Church Music: Worship Leader program as guitar majors may substitute two jazz or pop solos and one contemporary Christian song solo for the two classical solos and one sacred song arrangement. (The School of Music and Performing Arts will recommend selected pieces at the applicant’s request.) Sight reading for guitarists and pianists will include playing from a lead sheet.

Music Education Applicants

Applicants must meet the requirements for entry into the University’s Teacher Education Program.

General Music Program Requirements

Applied Music Requirements
Due to the spread of the music programs over five years, all students begin their applied study with half-hour lessons. All programs provide for a weekly one-hour lesson 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. Additional recital requirements for upperclassmen are listed below.

5-Year Church Music: 5th year, 25-30 minutes of music in the student’s applied area, plus demonstration of conducting skills (four choral pieces from varied historical periods).

5-Year Church Music: Worship Leader: 5th year, 25-30 minutes of music in the student’s applied area, plus demonstration of skills as worship planner/leader (plan, prepare, and lead a worship service in a local congregation).

5-Year Performance: 4th year, 40-45 minutes of music in the student’s applied area; 5th year, 60 minutes in the student’s applied area.

5-Year Composition: 5th year, 35-40 minutes of original compositions and arrangements.

5-Year Music Education: 4th year, 25-30 minutes of music in the student’s applied area.

4-Year Church Music: 4th year, 25-30 minutes of music 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 Major 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 harmonic minor scales hands together, with correct fingering, two octaves in eighth notes, minimum tempo: quarter note =72.
   2. Chords: All major and minor triads hands together, three positions ascending and descending two octaves, in eighth notes, minimum tempo: quarter note =72.
2. Prepared Pieces:
   1. Any prepared piece, performed from memory, from the following:
      1)    Any 2 or 3 part Invention by J.S. Bach
      2)    Any first movement of a sonatina or sonata
      3)    Any other piece approved by the Chair of Piano Instruction  
   2. 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.       
3. Sightreading:
   1. 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.
   2. Accompanying: Sightread a solo accompaniment selected by the chair of the jury. 

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

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

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