MUS-BA - Music

The Bachelor of Arts in Music degree provides basic training in all areas of music and serves as a foundation for graduate study of any specialized aspect of the field. It requires no fewer than four consecutive semesters of courses in music theory, musicianship, and music history. All sequences begin in the fall. Prospective majors must plan their programs so that they are prepared to begin major courses in a fall semester at least two years before they plan to graduate. It is preferable to begin the 200-level major courses three years before graduation to allow time in the senior year for advanced electives.

Students must complete or exempt through examination course and course or course and complete and pass course (spring semester) before taking 200-level theory, musicianship, or music history classes. Prospective majors must earn a minimum grade of B- in all three courses or proficiency exams in order to declare the Music major. Once you have taken or been exempted from these courses, you may declare the Music major.  The declaration form is available at www.csi.cuny.edu/registrar/importantforms.

(course is not required but students are encouraged to enroll to establish piano proficiency. )

In order to declare the BA in Music students must complete the following:

• course and course before entering the first semester of 200-level Music major courses, preferably within the first 36 credits.

• course is the pre or corequisite for Music History I-IV.

• Students must complete or exempt through examination course and course or course, and complete and pass course (spring semester) before taking 200-level theory, musicianship, or music history classes. Prospective majors must earn a minimum grade of B- in all three courses or proficiency exams in order to declare the Music major.

• Piano skills are critical for all musicians. All potential Music majors must demonstrate elementary proficiency at the piano before declaring the major. Students should plan to fulfill this requirement no later than the Spring semester in which they take course. Students entering CSI with limited keyboard background may take course Piano I and, if necessary, course Piano II (both of which are offered every semester) as a pre-major requirement, or they make take private lessons in piano at their own expense. The Music Program has a list of recommended piano teachers.

• course runs only in the spring semester. Students who intend to declare the Music Bachelor of Arts degree should complete course in the spring semester prior to the declaration of the major. 

• All Music majors are expected to have a working knowledge of a music notation software program such as Sibelius (the program used in the CSI Music Lab) or Finale before they enter the major. Basic Sibelius skills are taught in course Introduction to Music Theory. Transfer students and other students who do not take course are required to acquire basic knowledge of a music software program by the end of course Music Theory I.

In addition to course and  course students must complete any 200-level TALA course in order to register for any music courses at the 300-level and above.

The BA in Music offers students a strong general music education. All undergraduate music majors include training performance, musicianship, music theory, and music history, in the context of a strong liberal-arts degree program. It provides basic training in all areas of music and services as foundation for graduation study of an aspect of the field. Many other subjects, including composition, jazz studies, and music technology, are available as electives.