Bachelor of Music (BMus) Degree with a Major in Percussion Performance
Program Learning Outcomes for the BMus Degree
Upon completing the BMus degree, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate technical and musical competence in solo performance, composition, or music-historical research appropriate to the standards of a four-year undergraduate program.
- Possess intermediate analytical skills in music theory and an understanding of how those skills inform music performance.
- Acquire a fundamental understanding of the relationship between music history and music performance.
- Develop superior technical collaborative skills in the student’s major area through a combination of practice, coaching, and rehearsal in large and small ensembles.
Requirements for the BMus Degree with a Major in Percussion Performance
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BMus degree with a major in Percussion Performance must complete:
- A minimum of 18 courses (83 credit hours) to satisfy major requirements.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 13 courses (70 credit hours) taken at the 300-level or above.
All students pursuing the BMus degree in any major must participate in core music, applied music, and other required music courses as well as in chamber music and large ensembles, plus electives. These students are entitled to one hour of private lessons each week of each semester they are enrolled as a music major; private or group lessons beyond this may result in additional fees.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor or, where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Percussion Performance | 83 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BMus Degree with a Major in Percussion Performance | 120 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Music Theory | ||
| MUSI 211 | THEORY I | 3 |
| MUSI 212 | THEORY II | 3 |
| MUSI 311 | THEORETICAL STUDIES III | 3 |
| MUSI 312 | THEORETICAL STUDIES IV | 3 |
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| MULTI-MEDIA COMPOSITION | ||
| CLASSICAL, CONTEMPORARY, AND CROSS-CULTURAL ASIAN MUSIC | ||
| BASIC ELECTRONIC MUSIC | ||
| ELECTRONIC MUSIC COMPOSITION | ||
| MUSIC BUSINESS AND LAW | ||
| ORCHESTRATION | ||
| MUSIC FOR MEDIA | ||
| ANALYTICAL SYSTEMS | ||
| MODAL COUNTERPOINT | ||
| SCORE READING AND THEORY AT THE KEYBOARD | ||
| EARLY MODERN MASTERS | ||
| TONAL COUNTERPOINT | ||
| MUSIC SINCE 1950 | ||
| Aural Skills and Performance Techniques | ||
| MUSI 231 | AURAL SKILLS AND PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUE I | 2 |
| MUSI 232 | AURAL SKILLS AND PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUE II | 2 |
| MUSI 331 | AURAL SKILLS AND PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUES III | 2 |
| MUSI 332 | AURAL SKILLS AND PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUES IV | 2 |
| Music History | ||
| MUSI 222 / MDEM 222 | MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE ERAS | 3 |
| MUSI 321 | BAROQUE AND EARLY CLASSICAL ERAS | 3 |
| MUSI 322 | CLASSICAL AND ROMANTIC ERAS | 3 |
| MUSI 421 | THE MODERN ERA | 3 |
| Individual and Ensemble Study | ||
| MUSI 471 | PERCUSSION FOR MAJORS (minimum of 8 semesters) | 3 |
| MUSI 337 | UNDERGRADUATE ORCHESTRA (minimum of 8 semesters) | 2 |
| MUSI 338 | UNDERGRADUATE CHAMBER MUSIC (minimum of 8 semesters) | 1 |
| Recitals | ||
| MUSI 341 | JUNIOR RECITAL | 0 |
| MUSI 441 | SENIOR RECITAL | 0 |
| Piano Proficiency Exam | ||
| Students must complete and pass the Piano Proficiency Exam | ||
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Percussion Performance | 83 | |
| Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements * | 6 | |
| University Graduation Requirements * | 31 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| * | Note: University Graduation Requirements include 31 credit hours, comprised of Distribution Requirements (Groups I, II, and III), FWIS, and LPAP coursework. In some instances, courses satisfying FWIS or distribution requirements may additionally meet other requirements, such as the Analyzing Diversity (AD) requirement, or some of the student’s declared major, minor, or certificate requirements. Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements include general electives, coursework completed as upper-level, residency (hours taken at Rice), and/or any other additional academic program requirements. |
Policies for the BMus Degree
Admission
An audition, in person, is required for Instrumental Performance and Vocal Performance undergraduate applicants. A recorded audition may be considered in lieu of a live audition in extreme circumstances. Composition applicants must submit portfolios, and Music History applicants must provide samples of their written work. The Shepherd School faculty and the university’s Committee on Admission jointly determine admission, the latter basing its evaluation on successful academic achievement and other standards of college admission. Transfer applicants from other colleges, conservatories, and universities must audition, and take placement exams in both music history and music theory. Once admitted, their prior preparation in music is assessed, which may reduce the required period of study at Rice.
Academic Standards
Curriculum and Degree Requirements
Further information on curricular requirements for all majors and degree programs is available from the Shepherd School of Music.
Grading Policy
A minimum grade of B- (2.67 grade points) per course is expected of all music students in their major applied area. A grade of C+ (2.33 grade points) or lower in a course in the student's major applied area is considered unsatisfactory and will be evaluated in the following manner:
- A music major who receives a grade of C+ (2.33 grade points) or lower in a course in their major applied area will be placed on music probation. Music probation signifies that the student’s work has been sufficiently unsatisfactory to preclude graduation unless marked improvement is achieved promptly. A student on music probation may be absent from class only for extraordinary reasons and may not represent the school in any public function not directly a part of a degree program.
- If a student receives a second semester of C+ (2.33 grade points) or lower in a course in their major applied area, whether for consecutive semesters or not, the student will be discontinued as a BMus degree seeking student and merit scholarship from the Shepherd School will be discontinued.
Please Note: For music history and musicology majors, a grade of C+ (2.33 grade points) or lower in any music history course is considered unsatisfactory and will be evaluated as noted above. For music theory majors, a grade of C+ (2.33 grade points) or lower in any advanced music theory course is considered unsatisfactory and will be evaluated as noted above.
Leaves of Absence and Voluntary Withdrawal
Music majors must obtain permission in writing from the dean of the Shepherd School before requesting a leave of absence from the university. Requests must be in the dean’s office before the first day of classes in the semester for which leave is requested.
Music majors taking voluntary withdrawal from the university are not guaranteed readmission into the Shepherd School and may be asked to reapply/reaudition. Students should explain the reasons for their withdrawal to the dean before leaving campus.
Examinations
At the end of each semester, a jury examination in applied music may be given over the material studied during the semester. All BMus degree candidates (all students except those pursuing the BA degree with a major in music) must demonstrate keyboard proficiency by examination. If students have little or no knowledge of the keyboard, they should enroll in secondary piano at the beginning of their first semester and continue study until they can meet the examination requirements.
Performance
Students are expected to perform frequently during their residence at Rice. Performance majors must present at least two full recitals; composition majors must present at least one full recital. Students are expected to attend both faculty and student recitals. In addition, all music majors must participate in the school’s conducted ensembles as assigned.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the designated transfer credit advisor for the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content). The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with the applicable transfer credit advisor as well as their academic program director when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Shepherd School of Music website: https://music.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the BMus Degree
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
BMus/MMus Honors Program
Shepherd School students who demonstrate truly exceptional musical and academic accomplishment may apply for the BMus/MMus five-year coordinated program. This program, often referred to in the school as the BMus/MMus Honors Program, allows for the completion and awarding of both the BMus and MMus degrees concurrently. Application to this program is made in the student’s fifth or sixth semester of undergraduate studies.
The same general university requirements apply, but students seeking the program's coordinated BMus/MMus degrees must complete a total of at least 150 semester hours by graduation. The number of required hours varies according to major area. In order to earn the MMus degree, a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level study (coursework at the 500-level or above) must be completed.
The first five semesters of course work in this program parallel the core curriculum of the bachelor's degrees. The sixth semester is a transitional semester during which students qualify for admission to the combined program. For further information, including application procedures, see the Shepherd School Student Handbook.
Other Musical Opportunities
Lectures and Performances
A visiting lecturer series, a professional concert series, and numerous distinguished visiting musicians contribute to the Shepherd School environment. The Houston Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Chorus, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Houston Masterworks Chorus, Da Camera, Context, and Chamber Music Houston, as well as the activities of other institutions of higher learning in the area, also provide exceptional opportunities for students to enjoy a wide spectrum of music.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Shepherd School of Music website: https://music.rice.edu/.