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    For students entering in 2023-24
Music - Performance, Strings Emphasis (B.M.) Suggested 4-year Plan
Academic Advising

» Music - Performance, Strings Emphasis (B.M.): Suggested 4-year Plan for 2023-24

How to Use your 4-year Plan

  • This is a suggested 4-year plan and not meant to replace regular academic advising.
  • The plan is flexible and can be changed to accommodate studying abroad, a second major/minor(s) or AP/IB credits.
  • You should work with an academic advisor to develop a plan that meets their interests and goals.
  • You must earn a minimum of 120 credits to graduate and 72 major-specific credits to earn a B.M. in Music - Performance, Strings Emphasis.
  • Transfer students and those looking to add as a second major should contact the program advisor for degree planning.
  • If you have any questions, please contact music@chapman.edu.

Suggested 4-year Plan

  • We encourage you to select your General Education (GE) and minor/second major/Themed Inquiry/Honors program around the plan below. Once you fill your GE classes around your major classes, you will have a better idea of space remaining each semester when choosing your Exploration Focus.
  • To be enrolled full time, you must take at least 12 credits a semester.
  • In order to graduate within 4 years, we recommend you take 30 credits a year.
  • If you pass the Piano Proficiency Exam before taking the required number of semesters of piano instruction, you do not have to continue with piano lessons. See the Director of Student Affairs to get the remaining credits waived. 
  • During junior and senior year, for classes with generally low enrollment, the four-year plan will indicate the required course and “(or MUS 493)”. MUS 493 is private instruction that substitutes for the course if enrollment is low, such that you take the class as private lessons.
  • Small Ensemble is required for 2 credits (.5 credits each time, usually over 4 semesters) but strongly recommended for the other 4 semesters. Consult with your Area Director about small ensemble every semester.

 

Year 1

Fall Semester (8 credits for major)

  • MUS 104 - Piano (1 credit)
  • MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credits)
  • MUS 123 - Orchestral Instruments (2 credits)
  • MUS 133 - Theory I (2 credits)
  • MUS 135 - Aural Skills I (1 credit)
  • MUS 321 - Large Ensemble - The Chapman Orchestra (1 credit)
  • MUS 322B - Small Ensemble: Strings (0.5 credits) [or other if assigned]

Spring Semester (8-9 credits for major)

  • MUS 104 - Piano (1 credit)
  • MUS 112 - Intro to Alexander Technique (recommended) (1 credit)
  • MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credit)
  • MUS 123 - Orchestral Instruments (2 credits)
  • MUS 134 - Theory II (2 credits)
  • MUS 136 - Aural Skills II (1 credit)
  • MUS 321 - Large Ensemble - The Chapman Orchestra (1 credit)
  • MUS 322B - Small Ensemble: Strings (0.5 credit) [or other if assigned]

 


Year 2

Fall Semester (11 credits for major)

  • MUS 102A - Compendium of Western Music History I (3 credits)
  • MUS 104 - Piano (1 credits)
  • MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credits)
  • MUS 123 - Orchestral Instruments (2 credits)
  • MUS 321 - Large Ensemble - The Chapman Orchestra (1 credit)
  • MUS 233 - Theory III (2 credits)
  • MUS 235 - Aural Skills III (1 credit)
  • MUS 280 - Music Information Literacy (0 credits)
  • MUS 322B - Small Ensemble - Strings (0.5 credit) [or other if assigned]

Spring Semester (11 credits for major)

  • MUS 102B - Compendium of Western Music History II (3 credits)
  • MUS 104 - Piano (1 credits)
  • MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credits)
  • MUS 123 - Orchestral Instruments (2 credits)
  • MUS 321 - Large Ensemble - The Chapman Orchestra (1 credit)
  • MUS 234 - Theory IV (2 credits)
  • MUS 236 - Aural Skills IV (1 credit)
  • MUS 322B - Small Ensemble - Strings (0.5 credits) [or other if assigned]

 


Year 3

If you are on the classical/musical theatre track or the jazz/popular track, take 9 credits total from the list at the bottom of this page during your last 4 semesters in any order.

Fall Semester (10.5-11 credits for major)

  • Upper-Division Music Studies Elective (3 credits)*
  • MUS 321 - Large Ensemble - The Chapman Orchestra (1 credit)
  • MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credits)
  • MUS 322B - Small Ensemble - Strings (recommended) (0.5 credits) [or other if assigned] (strongly recommended every semester from here onward)
  • MUS 323 - Advanced Orchestral Instruments (2 credits)
  • MUS 340 - Instrumentation and Beginning Orchestration (2 credits)
  • MUS 454 - Principles of Conducting (2 credits)

Spring Semester (13.5-14 credits for major)

  • Upper-Division Music Studies Elective (3 credits)*
  • MUS 321 - Large Ensemble - The Chapman Orchestra (1 credit)
  • MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credits)
  • MUS 322B - Small Ensemble - Strings (recommended) (0.5 credits)
  • MUS 323 - Advanced Orchestral Instruments (2 credits)
  • MUS 330 - Form and Harmonic Analysis (2 credits)
  • MUS 332 - A/B/C Musical Cultures or MUS 496D - Musical Cultures (3 credits)
  • MUS 470 - String Pedagogy or MUS 493J - Directed Research: String Pedagogy (2 credits) [take whenever it’s offered in junior or senior year]

 

 

Year 4

Fall Semester (5.5-6 credits for major)

  • MUS 244 - Principles of Music Technology (2 credits)
  • MUS 321 - Large Ensemble - The Chapman Orchestra (1 credit)
  • MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credits)
  • MUS 323 - Advanced Orchestral Instruments (2 credits)

Spring Semester (4.5-5 credits for major)

  • MUS 238 - Improvisation: Techniques and Experiments (1 credit)
  • MUS 321 - Large Ensemble - The Chapman Orchestra (1 credit)
  • MUS 316 - Studio Class (0.5 credit)
  • MUS 323 - Advanced Orchestral Instruments (2 credits)
  • MUS 322B - Small Ensemble - Strings (recommended) (0.5 credits) [or other if assigned) (strongly recommended]
  • MUS 498C - Senior Recital Instrumental Performance - Orchestral Instruments - Full Solo Program, Accompanied (0 credits) or MUS 498H - Senior Recital Instrumental Performance - Orchestral Instrument - Full Solo Program, Unaccompanied (0 credits)

 

(*) Take two upper-division Music Studies Electives during junior or senior year.  One must be from this list: 

  • MUS 303 - Music History and Literature III (3 credits)
  • MUS 304 - Music History and Literature IV (3 credits
  • MUS 496C - Seminar: Topics in Western Music History and Literature (3 credits) [string chamber topic)

 

The other must be from this list (and has to be a different class than the first one): 

  • MUS 301 - Music History and Literature I  (3 credits)
  • MUS 302 - Music History and Literature II (3 credits)
  • MUS 303 - Music History and Literature III (3 credits)
  • MUS 304 - Music History and Literature IV (3 credits)
  • MUS 332A - Musical Cultures of Africa/Middle East (3 credits)
  • MUS 332B - Musical Cultures of Asia/Pacific (3 credits)
  • MUS 332C - Musical Cultures of the Americas (3 credits)
  • MUS 345 - History of Musical Theatre (3 credits)
  • MUS 405 - Music History and Literature V (3 credits)
  • MUS 456 - Song Literature and History  (3 credits)
  • MUS 461- Psychology of Music (3 credits)
  • MUS 468 - Guitar Literature and History (3 credits)
  • MUS 494 - Piano Literature and History (3 credits)
  • MUS 496C - Seminar: Topics in Music History and Literature (3 credits)
  • MUS 496D - Seminar: Topics in World Music and Culture (3 credits)
  • MUS 496E - Opera History and Literature (3 credits)
Chapman Catalog

Music - Performance, Strings Emphasis (B.M.)

View all requirements, courses, and electives and elective groups on the Music - Performance, Strings Emphasis (B.M.) catalog page.