Program Purpose

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This is a limited-enrollment program requiring departmental admissions approval. Please see the college advisement center for information regarding requirements for admission to this major.

The purpose of the BM in Music Performance is to prepare students for professional work as a performer, a studio teacher or a combination of both. It is intended to attract students with exceptional technical development and artistic ability. The program is designed for private study, juried performances and peer-group ensemble experiences. This is a limited enrollment program requiring departmental admissions approval.

Curricular Structure

The BM in Performance includes a core of classes required of all music majors. In addition, performance students also fulfill other curricular requirements, including: private instruction, pedagogy, literature, supervised teaching, solo performance, chamber music, instrumental performance, and electives. Total required hours for any emphasis is 120 hours.

Learning Outcomes

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We support the Aims of a BYU education, to strengthen students' lives spiritually, enlarge their intellectual experience, build their character, and prepare for lifelong learning and service. As reviewed and approved by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), all music students, through the core requirements of all music degrees, show proficiency in performance, music theory, music history, ensemble playing, conducting, sight singing and music dictation.

Performance Preparation

Prepare performances at the highest possible level, including continual increase in technical proficiency, and gain a working knowledge of standard repertoire.

Performance Practice

Demonstrate command of performance practice from the major stylistic periods as appropriate to the instrument/voice.

Music Pedagogy

Understand and apply the principles of music pedagogy, as demonstrated in private lessons and masterclasses.

Evidence of Learning

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Faculty members use exams, projects, papers, recital attendance, and juried performances to evaluate their students. The curriculum is designed to establish specific goals. Students' readiness to present public recitals is evaluated by faculty at a juried exam three weeks prior to the performance. The performance is also juried. Each semester of performance study is evaluated by the string faculty. All students are encouraged to complete faculty and course evaluations at the end of each course.

Direct Measures

School of Music faculty prize certain subjective, critical components of a music education such as musicality, creativity, and originality. They recognize the difficulty of assessing such elements objectively, and understand the very act of measuring them drains away their virtue and value. Faculty assess other more explicit evidence of learning using traditional tools throughout the course of classes and lessons, and at periodic advisement points as determined by the college advisement center. These tools include:

• Examinations

• Quizzes

• Term papers

• Evaluation of performance in private lessons and large ensemble

• Monitoring progress through the College Advisement Center

Indirect Measures

Indirect evaluations include reviewing the following information:

• Alumni Questionnaire

• Feedback from colleagues outside of BYU

• AIMS survey

• Student evaluations

• Periodic data collected on MM students' acceptance into doctoral studies or other post MM degree programs; student awards from music competitions, performance apprenticeship programs, or professional appointments

• Student focus groups

• Student focus groups

Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement

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All students are encouraged to complete faculty and course evaluations at the end of each course. Faculty members may use exams, projects, papers, recital attendance and juried performances to evaluate their students. Performance faculty draw on individual curricula to establish specific goals. Students' readiness to present public recitals are evaluated by faculty at a juried exam prior to the performance. The performance is also be juried. Each semester of performance study is evaluated by the private instructor and a committee of performance faculty.