Popular Music Minor

An interdisciplinary program open to non-majors and students majoring in music or music education, the popular music minor provides students with foundational skills in applied music (voice, piano, guitar, ukulele, electric bass, and drum set); songwriting and composition techniques using digital technology and popular music instruments; courses in musicianship, history and literature; and performance opportunities in a variety of ensemble settings. For additional information, students should contact the coordinator of the popular music program.

Students must complete 6 credits in the Popular Music minor at or above the 300-level.

Performance (Voice) 1 credit

MUS 146 - Class Voice I Credit Hours: 1
Students who successfully audition into MUS 195 or MUS 196 may substitute 1 credit of MUS 195 or MUS 196 applied lessons for Class Voice I (MUS 146).

Performance (Guitar) 1 credit

MUS 143 - Class Guitar I Credit Hours: 1
Students who successfully audition into MUS 195 or MUS 196 may substitute 1 credit of MUS 195 or MUS 196 applied lessons for Guitar Class I (MUS 143).

Performance (Piano) 1-2 credits

Students must choose 1 course from the following:

MUS 136 - Jazz Theory and Keyboard Credit Hours: 2
MUS 140 - Basic Piano for Non-Majors Credit Hours: 1
MUS 141 - Class Piano I Credit Hours: 1
Students who successfully audition into MUS 195 or MUS 196 may substitute 1 credit of MUS 195 or MUS 196 applied lessons for any of the following: MUS 136, MUS 140, MUS 141.

Performance (Ensemble) 3 credits

Students must choose 1 credit in the first category and 2 credits in the second category:

Students must choose 1 credit in the first category and 2 credits in the second category:
MUS 183 - Chamber Singers Credit Hours: 1
MUS 184 - Jazz Ensemble Credit Hours: 1
MUS 185 - Symphonic Band Credit Hours: 1
MUS 186 - University Chorale Credit Hours: 1
MUS 188 - Pep Band Credit Hours: 1
MUS 189 - Jazz Combo Credit Hours: 1
Students choose 2 credits from the following (at 1 credit per semester):
MUS 130 - Chamber Music Workshop Credit Hours: 1
Either Digital Controller or Pop Rock Ensembles.

Performance (Popular Music Instruments) 1credit

Students will learn ukulele, electric bass guitar, and drum set.

MUS 246 - Instrumental Techniques III Credit Hours: 1

Music History 3 credits

Students choose from one of the following:

MUS 116 - History of Jazz Credit Hours: 3
MUS 117 - American Music Credit Hours: 3
MUS 118 - History of Rock Credit Hours: 3
MUS 220 - African American Music Credit Hours: 3
MUS 345 - Latin American Popular Music Credit Hours: 3
MUS 365 - Modern Jazz Credit Hours: 3

Music Technology

All students must take and succesfully pass MUS 110 with a minimum of a C-.

MUS 110 - Introduction to Music Technology Credit Hours: 1

Music Theory & Aural Skills 3 credits

Students must complete and successfully pass MUS 111 and MUSL 111 with a minimum passing grade of a C-. All students will be required to take a music literacy pretest which will determine what theory course is appropriate. Students who are not able to pass the theory pretest should plan to take MUS 105 prior to MUS 111 and MUSL 111.

MUS 111 - Theory I Credit Hours: 2
MUSL 111 - Aural Skills and Sight-Singing I Credit Hours: 1

Popular Music Electives 6 credits

Students choose from the course listing below and must complete 6 credits of electives.
* Music Technology students should plan to take MUS 305 and MUS 307 for their popular music minor electives and a 300-level history/literature course.
* Students who fulfill their history/literature requirement with a 100-level course must choose all 300-level courses for popular music electives.

MUS 210 - Digital Music Production Credit Hours: 2
MUS 214 - Recording Technology I Credit Hours: 3
MUS 305 - Beat Making Credit Hours: 2
MUS 307 - Songwriting Credit Hours: 2
MUS 310 - Film Scoring and Video Game Music Credit Hours: 3
MUS 381 - Music Entrepreneurship Credit Hours: 3
MUS 382 - Music Industry Credit Hours: 3