Academic Catalog 2024-2025

Music

College of Arts and Humanities
Department of Music

Program Description

The objectives of the music program:

  1. Music students acquire the cultural knowledge and professional skills necessary for a career in music.
  2. Each music student will demonstrate a broad knowledge of music history and theory as well as those within their area of specialization.
  3. Each music student will demonstrate musicianship skills adequate to support the performance and pedagogy of music. These skills include: eartraining, keyboard proficiency, sight-reading, and vocal technique.
  4. Music students will acquire hands-on experience with current music and media-related technologies within their area of specialization.
  5. Students will demonstrate the skill set needed of professional music teachers for studios and schools.
  6. Music students will perform music from the standard repertoire related to their major area of study as soloists and as ensemble members.

Features

The Music Program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). The Program is distinguished by the wide range of possible experiences it offers the student: performance in multiple genres, composition, conducting, music history, and music education.

The program also is characterized by a close interaction between students and faculty. The size and quality of the department offer all of the advantages of a small, private college at a state-supported university. Student recitals each semester give the faculty the opportunity to monitor each student's progress.

The Department of Music is housed in the La Corte Hall Building, which contains the newly renovated  Marvin Laser Recital Hall; a large rehearsal room for orchestra, chorus, and band; a theory and history classroom; a state-of-the-art piano classroom; and a number of teaching studios/practice rooms. Additional practice rooms are available in the nearby North Cain Library. Musical events also are held in the 485-seat University Theatre as well as the Laser Recital Hall.

Financial aid and scholarships are available through the Office of Financial Aid. Several scholarships are specifically for music majors and require a special application to the Department of Music. Auditions for scholarships are usually held in the early spring. The Music Department Scholarship Fund provides support to students who excel in music performance. Mu Phi Epsilon, the Honorary Music Fraternity, offers scholarships to members on the basis of grade point average, music performance, and service to the department and fraternity. Additional scholarships include the Marshall Bialosky Endowment Scholarship, the New Century Scholarship for composition students, and the Rod Butler Memorial Scholarship.

Academic Advisement

Students and prospective students who have chosen CSU Dominguez Hills for the study of music should seek academic advisement from a Department of Music faculty member at the earliest opportunity.

Preparation

High school students preparing for university music study should take every opportunity to study and perform music. High school participation in band, orchestra, chorus, chamber ensembles, and musical theater productions is highly recommended. In addition, private piano lessons, as well as vocal or instrumental lessons, will help to provide the incoming student with the basic musical skills and performance competencies necessary for success in pursuing a university degree in music.

Community college transfer students preparing for university music study should be sure that their program is paralleling equivalent courses being offered to freshman and sophomore music majors at CSU Dominguez Hills.

Graduation with Honors

Undergraduate students may be candidates for graduation with Honors in Music if they meet the following criteria:

  1. A minimum of 36 units in residence at CSU Dominguez Hills.
  2. A minimum grade point average of 3.5 in all courses used to satisfy the upper-division requirements for the Music major.