DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
back to Table of Contents


GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Academic Year.  The period that includes the Summer Session, Semester I (Fall) and Semester II (Spring).

Applied Music.  UNM’s term for instruction in an instrument or voice.  Applied music lessons are given by the instructor to individual students; groups normally not exceeding four students may be taught with the approval of the chair.

Chairman.  The administrative head of a department.  The Department of Music Chairman’s office is located in the Center for the Arts, Room 1105.

Classification.  The designation used for a student’s year of study in terms of progress toward his or her chosen degree–freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior.

College.  An organizational unit of the University normally offering courses and curricula leading to a particular degree or degrees, and supervising the academic progress of students working toward those degrees.  An exception is the University College, which is not a degree-granting college.

Concentration. The Bachelor of Music degree is offered with four concentrations from which a student may choose:  Performance, Theory and Composition, String Pedagogy and Jazz Studies.  The Bachelor of Music Education degree is offered with two concentrations:  Vocal and Instrumental.

Credit Hour.  The credit that is allowed for one 50-minute period per week throughout a semester in a lecture class.  A course listed for three hours’ credit will meet for three periods per week throughout the semester.  Within the Department of Music, certain courses require more class meeting time; these include many ensembles, Theory I-IV, and others as specified in the Schedule of Classes each semester.  Applied Music lessons are either 1/2 hour or 1 hour per week, but outside practice time is expected; the amount of such practice is stipulated at the discretion of each studio’s instructor.

Curriculum.  A body of courses required for a degree or constituting a major field of study.

Dean.  The administrative head of a college.  The office of the Dean of the College of Fine Arts is located in the Center for the Arts, Room 1101. 

Department.  A division of a college that offers instruction in a particular branch of knowledge.  The Department of Music is a department within the College of Fine Arts.

::top::

Elective.  A course that a student may study by choice.  A degree plan may specify a group of courses from which an elective may be selected. 

Emphasis.  The area of specialization that a student chooses within a concentration. The Department of Music offers the Bachelor of Music Performance Concentration in the following Emphases:  Keyboard, Instrumental and Vocal.  The Bachelor of Music Education Vocal Concentration is offered with emphases in piano, voice or guitar.  The Bachelor of Music Education Instrumental Concentration is offered with emphases in strings, winds, percussion, piano or guitar.  

Ensembles.  Groups of instruments or voices that rehearse and perform together. See Section I. Ensembles for information on ensemble requirements for the various degree programs.  See the Catalog for descriptions of the various ensembles in the Department of Music.  One credit hour represents from one to six hours of rehearsal per week.

Jury.  The equivalent of the final exam for an Applied Music course. 

Major.  For the Bachelor of Music, the Bachelor of Arts in Music, and the Bachelor of Music Education, the major is technically “Music.”  Within the major, the Bachelor of Music and the Bachelor of Music Education offer specific concentrations.

Music Major.  A student whose stated intention is to pursue one of the major degree programs in music, and who is making “adequate progress” toward that degree.

Music Minor.  A student whose stated intention is to pursue one of the minor programs in music (see the Music section of the UNM Catalog).

Prerequisite.  A requirement that must be met before a certain course can be taken.  Prerequisites are listed in the UNM Catalog course listings.

Registration.  The act of enrolling in classes.  A registration schedule is published in the Schedule of Classes. 

Semester.  An instructional period of 16 weeks.  UNM has a Fall Semester and Spring Semester.  The Summer Session is 8 weeks long, and is divided into two 4-week sessions.

Scholarships.  A number of scholarships, awards, and prizes are available to music majors.  Among the criteria for awarding such financial assistance are scholarships, talent, need, and expected service to the department.  A brochure describing scholarships is available in the departmental office.  Students planning to return to UNM in the fall are given an opportunity to apply for such scholarships during the previous spring semester by posted deadlines.

Student Teaching.  For a Music Education major, supervised practice teaching in the public schools. 

 

back to Table of Contents