Music Instrumental Performance (BM)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2024–Spring 2025 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Music with Emphasis in Instrumental Performance

Unit: Music 
Academic Plan Code(s): MUSIBM_INS

Program Information

The Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance degree is appropriate for students who wish to prepare for a career in music performance and related fields. Among the particular career emphases for which the BM in Instrumental Performance is an appropriate preparation are professional performer, university teacher, private music studio teacher, or pre-professional preparation for music teacher certification study. Since it is unlikely that graduates of the program will have developed all the requisite skills to enter the professional ranks of performers or university teachers, most graduates will continue to develop their skills through further study. Students who have completed the BM in Instrumental Performance at UofL typically do very well in gaining admission to strong graduate programs nationwide.

Degree Summary

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While not included in the School or Program coursework requirements, students are expected to take MUH 214 and MUH 205 to satisfy some of the General Education requirements.

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

Departmental Admission Requirements

Students in this unit are admitted directly into their degree program.

General Education Requirements

All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Program/Major Requirements

Upper Division Assessment

All students enrolled in a music degree program will be reviewed at the approximate midpoint of the selected program in order for students to achieve Upper Division status. Students must meet the standards of this review to register for 400-level courses in music. Both the elements and standards of the review are established by the faculty and include credit for MUS 242 Musicianship IV or Analysis (MUS 347 for BA General; MUS 349 for BA Jazz Studies; MUS 350 for BA Music & New Media); MUS 361; 4 semesters of Applied Instrument at the course numbers required for the degree; Piano Proficiency Examination; MUS 97 Recital Attendance, with a grade of S for 4 semesters; Ensemble participation; cumulative 2.5 GPA (good standing); minimum of 48 credit hours completed; pass ENGL 101 or ENGL 105; and 3 additional General Education/Cardinal Core courses.

Additional specific elements and standards appropriate to specific degree programs in jazz studies (including jazz performance, music education and music therapy with  tracks in jazz studies, and the BA in jazz studies), music composition, music education, music history, instrumental and vocal performance, pedagogy, music theory, and music therapy are required of students in order to achieve Upper Division status and to continue in the degree program.  Specific degree requirements are determined by the concentration and area faculties and are outlined in the Undergraduate Student Handbook.

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Students are required to take MUH 214 and MUH 205.

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MUH courses will not be accepted as music electives or cardinal core courses with the exception of ANTH 205/MUH 205 and PAS 214/MUH 214.

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Students who do not pass the computer-based Fundamentals Test prior to the beginning of the fall semester are required to enroll in MUS 91 Fundamentals of Music I for 0 credit concurrently with MUS 141.  Students who do not pass MUS 141, and students who enter the School of Music in January and do not place into MUS 142, must enroll in MUS 92 for the spring semester. Credits for MUS 92 do not count toward the degree.

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Strings take section 01, others solely dependent on the ensemble audition.

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For students with a piano background, three semesters of Secondary Piano (MUS 121-MUS 221) may be substituted.

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Students must be enrolled continuously in Piano Class until their piano requirement has been completed. Those students who pass the Piano Proficiency Examination before the end of the third semester of Piano Class may replace the requirement with electives or with secondary piano if faculty load permits.  Entering students who have a background in piano may register for MUS 297 Piano Proficiency for one semester with approval of the Keyboard Area.

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Woodwind option: Students with a major in flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, or saxophone may devote as many as 14 of the 32 hours required in the major instrument to the study of other woodwind instruments. After completing one semester of study in the major instrument with a grade of A or B, the student may elect the above option with the approval of the woodwind faculty. Continued enrollment in the option will be dependent upon satisfactory progress in the major instrument studied. An outline of the applied music study must be approved by the teacher of the major instrument. One-half of the senior recital may consist of solo or ensemble performance of one or more secondary instruments.

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Students must be enrolled in Minor Ensemble for a minimum of six semesters.  The applied teacher must approve the choice of Minor Ensembles that will count towards the degree.

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Junior and senior recitals for all performance degrees are public recitals.

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Music electives in any Bachelor of Music degree should be chosen from courses in Music History, Music Theory/Composition, Music Education, Music Literature, Music Pedagogy, Music Therapy, Jazz, a secondary applied area, or a non-required ensemble. Courses beyond the degree requirement in the student’s major applied area or in the required major ensemble(s) are not appropriate. MUH courses will not be accepted as music electives. School of Music students may count up to two one-hour Physical Education courses toward the general elective requirement.

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Students must complete a 1-credit hour module in Term 1 and a 1-credit hour module in Term 2 the same semester that they are registered for MUS 241 Musicianship 3.

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Students must complete a 1-credit hour module in Term 1 and a 1-credit hour module in Term 2 the same semester that they are registered for MUS 242 Musicianship 4.

Flight Plan

The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years.  Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

1. Log into your ULink account.
2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
3. Select the appropriate report.
   1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
   2. To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."
   3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.