Courses | B.M. in Music Performance
Below are the course requirements for this academic program. In addition to these program-specific requirements, all majors include Biola's traditional undergraduate core curriculum. For more program details, including a sample course sequence, .
Transfer of Credits
Most courses taken at other regionally accredited colleges and universities in the United States will be accepted on a comparable course basis. The following core courses will transfer directly:
- Theory I and II ( and )
- Musicianship I, II, III, and IV (, , and )
- Introduction to Piano and Keyboard Skills I ( and )
In order to pass out of Theory III () or Keyboard Skills II (), the student must display proficiency by achieving favorable scores on the Theory and Keyboard placement surveys.
No credit(s) will be given for waived courses. Waiver of courses on the basis of placement surveys without comparable prior course credit will increase elective credits required.
Credit for courses taken at a non-accredited college or university will be granted only through placement or challenge surveys.
Applied Music
In order to graduate, music students must reach primary applied proficiency level standards designated for each degree program. Applied Music lessons are guided by faculty or studio artists who have expertise and professional experience in either the voice or instrument under study, or in composition. Studio artists are affiliated with Biola via "special employee" contracts and thus do not undergo the same process for hire as do faculty. The studio artists are all highly competent individuals who appreciate Biola and endorse the goals of the Conservatory. For more information, see the Conservatory Office.
GPA Requirements
Students in the degree program must maintain a 2.0 GPA in the major and receive a minimum grade of C in each required course.
Curriculum Requirements
Integration Seminar Requirement
All students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music degree program are required to take a Biblical Studies Integration Seminar. This requirement must be fulfilled by taking Integration Seminar: Redeeming Culture Through Music.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Candidates for the Bachelor of Music degree meet the Core Curriculum requirement of 3 credits in integration seminar within the major and are exempt from the Core Curriculum requirement in foreign language, literature, and fine arts. | ||
| Program Courses | ||
| Musicianship I 1 | 1 | |
| Theory I 2 | 3 | |
| Essential Technologies for Musicians I | 1 | |
| Musicianship II 1 | 1 | |
| Theory II 2 | 3 | |
| Essential Technologies for Musicians II | 1 | |
| Performing Arts Forum 3 | 2 | |
| History of Western Art Music I: Medieval through Baroque | 3 | |
| History of Western Art Music II: Classical through Romantic | 3 | |
| Basic Conducting | 2 | |
| Form and Analysis | 2 | |
| Musicianship III 1 | 1 | |
| Theory III 2 | 3 | |
| Musicianship IV 1 | 1 | |
| History and Analysis of 20th Century Music | 3 | |
| Music Cultures of the World | 2 | |
| Career Skills for the Entrepreneurial Musician | 2 | |
| Integration Seminar: Redeeming Culture Through Music 4 | 3 | |
| Select a Concentration detailed below 5 | ||
| Total Credits | 37 | |
- 1
Students may take the Musicianship Placement Survey to potentially pass out of some or all of the Musicianship requirements. Students who do not take the survey will automatically be placed in Musicianship I. Musicianship courses already taken at the college/university level will directly transfer for credit.
- 2
Students may take the Theory Placement Survey to potentially pass out of some or all of their Theory requirements. Students who do not take the survey will automatically be placed in Theory I. The first two semesters of Written Theory courses already taken at the college/university level will directly transfer for credit.
- 3
7 semesters of are required for graduation; at least 2 semesters must be taken for 1 credit.
Transfer students, who are transferring in 24 credits or more, are only required to complete 3 semesters of .
- 4
Fulfills the Biblical and Theological Studies Integration Seminar requirement.
- 5
See concentration tables below which detail the requirements to earn a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance degree.
Concentrations
Performance students must choose a concentration in one of the following areas.
Instrumental
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 37 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Keyboard Skills I 1 | 1 | |
| Keyboard Skills II 1 | 1 | |
| MUSC 1401-1433 | Applied Music (Primary Instrument) 2 | 8 |
| Music Area Seminar 3 | 0 | |
| Junior Recital | 0 | |
| Music Literature: Major Performance Area | 2 | |
| Pedagogy: Major Performance Area | 2 | |
| MUSC 4401-4433 | Applied Music (Primary Instrument) 4 | 8 |
| Senior Recital | 0 | |
| Select 8 credits of the following music electives: | 8 | |
| Theory and Conducting - Select 3-4 credits from the following: | ||
| Introduction to Composition | ||
| Advanced Studies in Conducting | ||
| Modal and Tonal Counterpoint | ||
| Orchestration | ||
| Analysis of Post-Tonal Music | ||
| Composing for New Media: Advanced Orchestration, Score Preparation | ||
| Technology - Select 2 credits from the following: | ||
| Introduction to Music Technology | ||
| Music Production I | ||
| Composing for New Media: Film, TV, and Audio Production | ||
| Composing for New Media: Sound Design, Recording Techniques | ||
| Composing for New Media: Scoring for Film and Video Games, Audio Production | ||
| Choose the remaining 2-3 credits from the following: | ||
Any remaining Technology or Theory course 5 | ||
Any Music Education courses 6 | ||
Ensembles | ||
Special Studies in Ethnomusicology; Performance Health; Music History; or Preparation for Graduate Studies | ||
| Ensemble Courses | ||
| Select 10 credits of instrumental ensembles from the following: | 10 | |
| Music Ensemble | ||
| Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Symphonic Winds | ||
| Biola String Quartet | ||
| Brass Ensemble | ||
| Brass Quintet | ||
| Chamber Music | ||
| Secondary Chamber Music | ||
| Guitar Ensemble | ||
| Jazz Combo | ||
| New Music Ensemble | ||
| Percussion Ensemble | ||
| Opera/Musical Scenes | ||
| Concentration Course Requirements: 40 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 7 | 57 | |
| Total Credits | 134 | |
- 1
Students may take the Keyboard Placement Survey to potentially pass out of some or all of the Keyboard requirements. Students who do not take the survey will automatically be placed in Introduction to Piano.
- 2
Must be taken for a total of 8 credits through proficiency level: 274.
- 3
Taken every semester in conjunction with Applied Music.
- 4
Must be taken for a total of 8 credits through proficiency: level 478.
- 5
, , , , , , , , , , or .
- 6
, , , or .
- 7
See for details.
Piano/Organ
This concentration combines the former Piano (MUPP) and Organ (MUPO) concentrations which were offered separately.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 37 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Applied Music: Piano - Classical 1 | 8 | |
| or | Applied Music: Organ | |
| Keyboard Sight Reading I | 1 | |
| Keyboard Sight Reading II | 1 | |
| Music Area Seminar 2 | 0 | |
| Modal and Tonal Counterpoint | 2 | |
| Collaborative Piano | 1 | |
| Junior Recital | 0 | |
| Piano Symposium | 1 | |
| Piano Literature I | 1 | |
| Piano Literature II 3 | 1 | |
| Pedagogy: Major Performance Area | 2 | |
| Applied Music: Piano - Classical 4 | 8 | |
| or | Applied Music: Organ | |
| Senior Recital | 0 | |
| Ensemble Courses | ||
| Piano Accompanying | 8 | |
| Music Electives | 6 | |
| Theory & Conducting - select 2 credits from the following courses: | ||
| Introduction to Composition | ||
| Advanced Studies in Conducting | ||
| Orchestration | ||
| Analysis of Post-Tonal Music | ||
| Choose the remaining credits from the following: | ||
| Applied Music: Piano - Classical | ||
or | Applied Music: Organ | |
or | Applied Music: Piano - Classical | |
or | Applied Music: Organ | |
Any remaining Technology or Theory course 5 | ||
Any Music Education course 6 | ||
Ensembles 7 | ||
Special Studies in Ethnomusicology; Performance Health; Music History; or Preparation for Graduate Studies | ||
| Concentration Course Requirements: 40 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 8 | 57 | |
| Total Credits | 134 | |
- 1
Must be taken for a total of 8 credits through proficiency level: 274.
- 2
Taken every semester in conjunction with Applied Music.
- 3
Piano principal students must take . Organ principal students may take or 1 credit of .
- 4
Must be taken for a total of 8 credits through proficiency: level 478.
- 5
, , , , , , , , , or .
- 6
, , , or .
- 7
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .
- 8
See for details.
Voice
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 37 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Keyboard Skills I 1 | 1 | |
| Keyboard Skills II 1 | 1 | |
| Applied Music: Voice - Classical 2 | 8 | |
| Lyric Diction I | 1 | |
| Lyric Diction II | 1 | |
| Music Area Seminar 3 | 0 | |
| Junior Recital | 0 | |
| Music Literature: Major Performance Area | 2 | |
| Pedagogy: Major Performance Area | 2 | |
| Applied Music: Voice - Classical 4 | 8 | |
| Senior Recital | 0 | |
| Foreign Language Courses | ||
| Select 8 credits of foreign language courses | 8 | |
| Ensemble Courses 5 | ||
| Select 9 credits of vocal ensembles: | 9 | |
| Biola Chorale | ||
| Vocal Jazz Ensemble | ||
| University Chorus | ||
| Women's Chorus | ||
| Men's Chorus | ||
| Opera/Musical Scenes | ||
| Opera and Musical Production | ||
| Concentration Course Requirements: 41 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 6 | 57 | |
| Total Credits | 135 | |
- 1
Students may take the Keyboard Placement Survey to potentially pass out of some or all of the Keyboard requirements. Students who do not take the survey will automatically be placed in Introduction to Piano.
- 2
Must be taken for a total of 8 credits through proficiency level: 274.
- 3
Taken every semester in conjunction with Applied Music.
- 4
Must be taken for a total of 8 credits through proficiency: level 478.
- 5
Must include 1 credit of .
- 6
See for details.
Instrumental and Voice
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 37 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Keyboard Skills I 1 | 1 | |
| Keyboard Skills II 1 | 1 | |
| MUSC 1401-1433 | Applied Music (Instrumental Primary Instrument) 2 | 8 |
| Applied Music: Voice - Classical 2 | 8 | |
| Lyric Diction I | 1 | |
| Lyric Diction II | 1 | |
| Music Area Seminar 3 | 0 | |
| Junior Recital 4 | 0 | |
| Music Literature: Major Performance Area 5 | 4 | |
| Pedagogy: Major Performance Area 6 | 4 | |
| MUSC 4401-4433 | Applied Music (Instrumental Primary Instrument) 7 | 8 |
| Applied Music: Voice - Classical 7 | 8 | |
| Senior Recital 8 | 0 | |
| Foreign Language Courses | ||
| Select 8 credits of foreign language courses | 8 | |
| Ensemble Courses | ||
| Select 7 credits of instrumental ensembles: | 7 | |
| Music Ensemble | ||
| Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Symphonic Winds | ||
| Biola String Quartet | ||
| Brass Ensemble | ||
| Brass Quintet | ||
| Chamber Music | ||
| Secondary Chamber Music | ||
| Guitar Ensemble | ||
| Jazz Combo | ||
| New Music Ensemble | ||
| Percussion Ensemble | ||
| Opera/Musical Scenes | ||
| Select 8 credits of vocal ensembles: 9 | 8 | |
| Biola Chorale | ||
| Vocal Jazz Ensemble | ||
| University Chorus | ||
| Women's Chorus | ||
| Men's Chorus | ||
| Opera/Musical Scenes | ||
| Opera and Musical Production | ||
| Concentration Course Requirements: 67 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 10 | 57 | |
| Total Credits | 161 | |
- 1
Students may take the Keyboard Placement Survey to potentially pass out of some or all of the Keyboard requirements. Students who do not take the survey will automatically be placed in Introduction to Piano.
- 2
Must be taken through proficiency level: 274.
- 3
Taken every semester in conjunction with Applied Music.
- 4
Junior Recital must be taken twice; once for Instrumental and once for Voice.
- 5
Take Music Literature twice; Music Literature: Instrumental Performance Area for 2 credits and Music Literature: Song for 2 credits.
- 6
Take Pedagogy twice; Pedagogy: Instrumental Performance Area for 2 credits and Pedagogy: Song for 2 credits.
- 7
Must be taken through proficiency level: 478.
- 8
Senior Recital must be taken twice; once for Instrumental and once for Voice.
- 9
Must include 1 credit of .
- 10
See for details.
Piano/Organ and Voice
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 37 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Applied Music: Piano - Classical 1 | 8 | |
| or | Applied Music: Organ | |
| Applied Music: Voice - Classical 1 | 8 | |
| Lyric Diction I | 1 | |
| Lyric Diction II | 1 | |
| Keyboard Sight Reading I | 1 | |
| Keyboard Sight Reading II | 1 | |
| Music Area Seminar 2 | 0 | |
| Modal and Tonal Counterpoint | 2 | |
| Collaborative Piano | 1 | |
| Junior Recital 3 | 0 | |
| Piano Symposium | 1 | |
| Music Literature: Major Performance Area | 2 | |
| Piano Literature I | 1 | |
| Piano Literature II 4 | 1 | |
| or | Special Studies in Music | |
| Pedagogy: Major Performance Area 5 | 4 | |
| Applied Music: Piano - Classical 6 | 8 | |
| or | Applied Music: Organ | |
| Applied Music: Voice - Classical 6 | 8 | |
| Senior Recital 7 | 0 | |
| Foreign Language | ||
| Select 8 credits of foreign language courses | 8 | |
| Ensemble Courses | ||
| Piano Accompanying | 6 | |
| Select 7 credits of vocal ensembles: | 7 | |
| Biola Chorale | ||
| Vocal Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Women's Chorus | ||
| Men's Chorus | ||
| Opera/Musical Scenes | ||
| Opera and Musical Production | ||
| Concentration Course Requirements: 69 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 8 | 57 | |
| Total Credits | 163 | |
- 1
Must be taken through proficiency level: 274.
- 2
Taken every semester in conjunction with Applied Music.
- 3
Junior Recital must be taken twice; once for Piano/Organ and once for Voice.
- 4
Piano principal students must take . Organ principal students may take or 1 credit of .
- 5
Take Pedagogy twice; Pedagogy: Piano for 2 credits and Pedagogy: Song for 2 credits.
- 6
Must be taken through proficiency level: 478.
- 7
Senior Recital must be taken twice; once for Piano/Organ and once for Voice.
- 8
See for details.
Piano/Organ and Instrumental
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | 37 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| MUSC 1401-1433 | Applied Music (Instrumental Primary Instrument) 2 | 8 |
| Applied Music: Piano - Classical 1 | 8 | |
| or | Applied Music: Organ | |
| Keyboard Sight Reading I | 1 | |
| Keyboard Sight Reading II | 1 | |
| Music Area Seminar 2 | 0 | |
| Modal and Tonal Counterpoint | 2 | |
| Collaborative Piano | 1 | |
| Junior Recital 3 | 0 | |
| Piano Symposium | 1 | |
| Music Literature: Major Performance Area | 2 | |
| Piano Literature I | 1 | |
| Piano Literature II 4 | 1 | |
| or | Special Studies in Music | |
| Pedagogy: Major Performance Area 5 | 4 | |
| MUSC 4401-4433 | Applied Music (Instrumental Primary Instrument) 6 | 8 |
| Applied Music: Piano - Classical 6 | 8 | |
| or | Applied Music: Organ | |
| Senior Recital 7 | 0 | |
| Ensemble Courses | ||
| Piano Accompanying | 6 | |
| Select 6 credits of instrumental ensembles: | 6 | |
| Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Symphonic Winds | ||
| Biola String Quartet | ||
| Brass Ensemble | ||
| Brass Quintet | ||
| Chamber Music | ||
| Secondary Chamber Music | ||
| Guitar Ensemble | ||
| Jazz Combo | ||
| New Music Ensemble | ||
| Percussion Ensemble | ||
| Opera/Musical Scenes | ||
| Opera and Musical Production | ||
| Concentration Course Requirements: 58 credits | ||
| Core Curriculum Requirements 8 | 57 | |
| Total Credits | 152 | |
- 1
Must be taken through proficiency level: 274.
- 2
Taken every semester in conjunction with Applied Music.
- 3
Junior Recital must be taken twice; once for Piano/Organ and once for Primary Instrument.
- 4
Piano principal students must take . Organ principal students may take or 1 credit of .
- 5
Take Pedagogy twice; Pedagogy: Piano for 2 credits and Pedagogy: Instrumental Performance Area for 2 credits.
- 6
Must be taken through proficiency level: 478.
- 7
Senior Recital must be taken twice; once for Piano/Organ and once for Primary Instrument.
- 8
See for details.