Music

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Music from the nationally-accredited Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho provides an ideal blend of study in both music and the liberal arts. Specialized training from leading music faculty – supported by a broad education in the humanities and social sciences – will provide a foundation for success in a variety of professional fields, such as music, business, law, medicine and academia.

The B.S./B.A. in Music degree program offers the following areas of concentration:

• Music theory
• Music history (an emphasis in jazz is available)
• Applied music (an emphasis in jazz is available)

As a music major, you’ll learn by performing, listening to, analyzing and creating music. Your liberal arts education will include courses in theory, history, composition and performance. You’ll develop a broad understanding of musical styles and techniques of all eras, including contemporary music. You’ll also participate in studios with instruction from our expert faculty (applied) or graduate students (history and theory).

The bachelor’s degree provides preparation for graduate study in music. It is also an excellent option for students with majors in two or more fields (i.e. music and biology, or music and engineering), as well as those in pre-professional programs such as pre-law, pre-med or pre-vet.

The Lionel Hampton School of Music, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, offers opportunities to perform in an array of ensembles and performance groups, with the flexibility to explore a wide variety of performing media – which is sometimes not an option in larger music schools.

Additionally, the annual University of Idaho Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and performances by other guest artists give you the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the greatest professional musicians in the world.

Prepare for Success

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Music is a great choice for students who have a broad musical interest and want a solid music education, but who also want the flexibility to build a broad knowledge base and to possibly pursue a second major in other areas of study. To prepare while still in high school, take private lessons in music. Admission into the music program requires an audition.

Your First Year

During your first year in the B.A. or B.S. in Music program, you will complete university requirements, music foundation courses and instructional studios. You are also required to attend recitals throughout the year. Depending on your area of concentration, you may take:

• MusC 139 and 140 – Aural Skills I & II
• MusC 141 and 142 – Theory I & II
• MusA 115 and 124 – Studio Instruction
• MusA 145 and 146 – Class Piano
• MusA – Major Ensemble
• MusX 101 – Orientation for Music Majors
• MusX 140 – Convocation
• MusH 111 – Intro to Music
• English 101 and 102 – College Writing
• Core Discovery

What You Can Do

With a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Music, you may pursue a career as a:

• Musician
• Teacher
• Concert manager
• Nonprofit director
• Talent agent
• Music publisher
• Label producer
• Promoter/publicist
• Sales manager
• Music critic
• Music supervisor
• Music writer

• Master of Music
• Master of Arts in Music History

Opportunities

With a B.A. or B.S. in Music from the renowned Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho, you will have doors to many exciting opportunities open for you. Many of our students use their education as a springboard to a successful career as a musician or as another professional in the music industry. A degree in music, however, also prepares you to succeed in many other fields. When you study music, you develop valuable transferable skills – creativity, leadership, analytical and critical thinking, attention to detail, discipline, perseverance – all of which are highly desired in business, law and other professions.

Most importantly, a degree in music gives you the ability to effectively communicate through music. You’ll graduate empowered to use your talent to make a positive impact on others.

Current Research

University of Idaho faculty members in the Lionel Hampton School of Music are recognized worldwide as accomplished soloists, chamber musicians, conductors, composers and teachers. They are leading experts in education, piano, voice, guitar, and orchestra and band instruments, with extensive experience performing professionally in classical, jazz, operatic and popular ensembles. Current faculty research interests and areas of expertise include:

• Performances with Lyric Opera San Diego, Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre and other regional theatres
• Performances with Tacoma Symphony, Spokane Symphony, Walla Walla Symphony, Washington Idaho Symphony and other regional and national ensembles
• Compositions and arrangements for symphonic bands, wind ensembles, orchestral winds, choirs, jazz bands, symphony orchestras and marching bands
• Composition of music for video documentaries and interactive CD ROM educational software, and chamber music
• Theory, history and criticism of film music
• Theory pedagogy and analysis
• Pedagogy, 19th century chamber music, and the music of Francis Poulenc
• Music entrepreneurship
• 19th and 20th century American music, including historiography, criticism and the community band movement in the West
• Effects of instrumental music participation on middle and high school students and on senior adults
• Jazz performance and education
• Pedagogical works of Godowsky, the transcriptions of Franz Liszt
• Piano teaching and performance
• Stages of growth of new teachers, music education in one-room schools, vocal physiology and Byzantine music notation
• Neurological and physical bases for human finger independence
• Music of Abel Carlevaro, Maximo Diego Pujol and Bryan Johanson
• Music of the 19th century virtuoso-composer Johann Kaspar Mertz
• Mental skills and techniques for training and presentation 
  

Activities

• Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI): Sigma Zeta Chapter, the international fraternity for women in music
• Phi Mu Alpha: A music fraternity for men
• Collegiate Music Educators' National Conference (CMENC), University of Idaho Chapter
• Pi Kappa Lambda: An honorary music society
• Student Advisory Board: Acts as liaison between students and music administration

Hands-On Experience

Musical performance is an integral part of student and campus life at the University of Idaho. You’ll have many opportunities to perform on and off campus.

• Ensembles: We have musical organizations to fit the interests of almost everyone, including the University Chorus, Vandaleers Concert Choir, pera/musical theatre studio, Vandal Marching Band, concert band, wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, jazz ensembles and many other performing groups. We produce more than 170 recitals per year.
• School of Music Internships: Internships include production management, arts management, jazz festival audio technician, and jazz festival site management.
• Undergraduate Teaching Assistants: Students may apply as teaching assistants in music theory, aural skills and music history.
• Convocation-Recital Attendance: Because listening experiences are important in the study of music, all music majors are required to attend 10 recitals per semester for seven semesters.
• Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival: This widely popular, four-day event draws hundreds of top jazz artists and spectators from around the world to the University of Idaho each year. Visiting professionals and students in the Lionel Hampton School of Music give evening concert performances and conduct clinics for elementary, junior high and high school students. Lionel Hampton School of Music students perform throughout the event.
• Auditorium Chamber Music Series: The series presents some of the world's finest chamber ensembles in concert, and places these extraordinary musicians in university and public school classrooms and community centers in our region.
• Dancers, Drummers and Dreamers: This spring performance is presented in collaboration with the University of Idaho Department of Dance. All dances are performed to original, live music composed by faculty and students in the Lionel Hampton School of Music.
• Community Performances: The region’s active arts community creates many opportunities for students to perform in a variety of venues.

Facilities

The Music Building houses the Schuldt Music Library, faculty studios, ensemble rehearsal areas, classrooms, an electronic music lab, a music education materials center, a listening center and a recital hall. Individual practice rooms are available in nearby Ridenbaugh Hall. Recording, radio-television, language listening lab, and computer facilities on the campus are also available to music students.

In addition to organ, harpsichord, harp and piano practice instruments, the school maintains two performance pipe organs, three concert grand pianos and a concert harpsichord.