BM in Music
California State University - San Bernadino — San Bernardino, CA
About this program
California State University, San Bernardino offers the Bachelor of Music through the Department of Music in the College of Arts and Letters. The BM prepares students for careers as professional performers of classical art music or as music teachers and is the department's most rigorous degree. Students must meet demanding academic and artistic standards to enter and continue in the program. After graduation, the majority of BM performance concentration students pursue advanced music degrees (master's or doctoral) or similar post-baccalaureate performance training. The BM is offered in three concentrations: Instrumental Performance: For students studying strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, guitar, or piano who wish to pursue careers as professional performing artists. The curriculum focuses on applied study, repertoire classes, professional development, audition preparation for professional engagements and competitions, service learning, and formation of ad hoc ensembles. Students participate in major performing ensembles each semester — Chamber Orchestra (strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion), Symphonic Band (winds and percussion), or Chamber Singers (piano and guitar lacking MUS 3800/3810 qualifications). An orchestral repertoire class covering standard orchestral literature with emphasis on preparation for professional auditions is required. Students perform junior and senior recitals. Vocal Performance: For classical singers pursuing careers as soloists, ensemble singers, or opera performers. Vocalists participate in Chamber Singers for the duration of their degree. Coursework includes opera ensemble, vocal repertoire classes, diction, and art song studies. Vocalists must present songs or arias in two different languages for the BM entrance audition. Students perform junior and senior recitals. Pre-Certification (Music Education): Prepares students for post-baccalaureate California Single Subject Credential in Music and careers as K-12 music educators. Includes substantive observations in school music settings and meaningful paid or volunteer teaching experience. Combines performance training with education-focused coursework. Students perform a senior recital. Across all three concentrations, all BM students complete 16 units of private applied instruction (four semesters at upper-division level), participate in major ensembles each semester, complete advanced coursework in music theory and musicianship, and undergo end-of-semester jury evaluations before applied faculty. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in all music coursework and overall. Students must earn C- or better in all Theory and Musicianship courses to enter and remain in the BM program. Admission pathway: Most incoming freshmen are admitted as BA in Music or Pre-Bachelor of Music students first, then formally audition into the BM at the end of their first year (typically during Spring juries). Transfer students who are ready for BM work may audition directly in the semester before their first enrollment at CSUSB by contacting the head of their instrument area.
Audition & application overview
- Requires a live or recorded audition
Video audition for initial BA/Pre-BM entry; live in-person jury audition before a faculty committee for formal BM entry (continuing students: during Final Exam Week juries; transfer direct-entry: in the semester before matriculation by appointment with area head)
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