Voice, BMUS
for the degree of Bachelor of Music Major in Voice
The Voice Performance degree is designed to develop skilled performers in all areas of vocal techniques. Voice majors learn the appropriate stylistic approaches to the vocal literature of various historical periods and also study Italian, French, and German in order to better master the diction of works performed in these languages. There are opportunities to perform onstage throughout the degree program either in solo performance or in group productions with our Lyric Theatre program.
For Jazz Voice, please visit the BMUS-Jazz Performance pages.
for the degree of Bachelor of Music Major in Voice
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 130 hours.
Students who wish to study voice or an instrument for credit are credit are required to satisfy the instrumental or vocal qualifying audition designed for students outside the School of Music.
A minimum of twelve hours of 400-level courses in Music must be taken on the Urbana-Champaign campus.
Students in this curriculum take at least eight semester hours each of Italian, French, and German languages. A student who has not completed at least two years of Italian in high school should take Italian during the first year. Completion of this requirement does not complete the campus general education language requirement.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities and the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences and Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
Orientation Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 100 | First-year Seminar for Music Majors | 0 |
| FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 |
| Total Hours | 1 | |
Music Core
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Music Theory and Musicianship | ||
| MUS 101 | Music Theory and Practice I | 2 |
| MUS 102 | Music Theory and Practice II | 2 |
| MUS 201 | Music Theory and Practice III | 2 |
| MUS 202 | Music Theory and Practice IV | 2 |
| MUS 107 | Musicianship I | 2 |
| MUS 108 | Musicianship II | 2 |
| MUS 207 | Musicianship III | 2 |
| MUS 208 | Musicianship IV | 2 |
| Musicology | ||
| MUS 110 | Introd Art Mus: Intl Perspect | 3 |
| MUS 313 | The History of Music I | 3 |
| MUS 314 | The History of Music II | 3 |
| Keyboard | ||
| MUS 172 | Grp Instr Pno for Mus Major I | 2 |
| MUS 173 | Grp Instr Pno for Mus Maj II | 2 |
| Total Hours | 29 | |
Voice Studies
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 105 | Voice (four semesters) | 12 |
| MUSC 405 | Advanced Voice (four semesters) | 12 |
| Choral Ensemble | 8 | |
Voice students must be in a choral ensemble each semester of residence. A maximum of 10 hours of ensemble may be applied to the BMUS degree. | ||
Students choose from: | ||
| MUS 120 | English Diction | 1 |
| MUS 121 | Italian Diction | 1 |
| MUS 122 | German Diction | 1 |
| MUS 123 | French Diction | 1 |
| MUS 242 | Elements of Conducting | 2 |
| MUS 430 | Applied Music Pedagogy (two semesters) | 4 |
| MUS 474 | Vocal Repertoire I | 1 |
| MUS 475 | Vocal Repertoire II | 1 |
| ITAL 101 | Elementary Italian I | 4 |
| ITAL 102 | Elementary Italian II | 4 |
| GER 101 | Beginning German I | 4 |
| GER 102 | Beginning German II | 4 |
| FR 101 | Elementary French I | 4 |
| FR 102 | Elementary French II | 4 |
| MUSC 300 | Junior Recital | 0 |
| MUSC 400 | Senior Recital | 0 |
| Total Hours | 68 | |
Summary of Credit for the Bachelor of Music in Voice
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Orientation | 1 | |
| Music Core | 29 | |
| Voice | 68 | |
| Free electives to bring the total hours earned to 130 | ||
| A minimum of 40 credits at the 300- or 400-level must be completed for this degree | ||
| Total Hours | 130 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Music Major in Voice
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. This sample curriculum plan makes the assumption that the foreign language graduation requirement has been satisfied by completing three years of study of a single foreign language in high school. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| MUSC 105 | 3 | MUSC 105 | 3 |
| Choral Ensemble (MUSC 4--) | 1 | Choral Ensemble (MUSC 4--) | 1 |
| FAA 101 | 1 | MUS 102 | 2 |
| MUS 100 | 0 | MUS 108 | 2 |
| MUS 101 | 2 | MUS 110 | 3 |
| MUS 107 | 2 | MUS 120 | 1 |
| MUS 121 | 1 | ITAL 102 | 4 |
| ITAL 101 | 4 | ||
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | ||
| 18 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| MUSC 105 | 3 | MUSC 105 | 3 |
| Choral Ensemble (MUSC 4--) | 1 | Choral Ensemble (MUSC 4--) | 1 |
| MUS 201 | 2 | MUS 172 | 2 |
| MUS 207 | 2 | MUS 202 | 2 |
| MUS 313 | 3 | MUS 208 | 2 |
| MUS 122 | 1 | MUS 314 | 3 |
| GER 101 | 4 | GER 102 | 4 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| MUSC 405 | 3 | MUSC 405 | 3 |
| Choral Ensemble (MUSC 4--) | 1 | Choral Ensemble (MUSC 4--) | 1 |
| MUS 173 | 2 | FR 102 | 4 |
| MUS 242 | 2 | MUSC 300 | 0 |
| MUS 123 | 1 | General Education course | 3 |
| FR 101 | 4 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education or Composition I course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| MUSC 405 | 3 | MUSC 405 | 3 |
| Choral Ensemble (MUSC 4--) | 1 | Choral Ensemble (MUSC 4--) | 1 |
| MUS 430 | 2 | MUS 430 | 2 |
| MUS 474 | 1 | MUS 475 | 1 |
| General Education course | 3 | MUSC 400 | 0 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course (choose a course with 2 General Education categories) | 3 | General Education course | 4 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 130 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Music Major in Voice
Bachelor of Music graduates will:
- Understand, apply, and integrate foundational concepts of musical study in theory, aural skills, history, composition, improvisation, and keyboard competency, and do so independently and cooperatively.
- Demonstrate the ability to learn independently, make inquiries, think critically, discover solutions, and integrate knowledge across both similar and varied areas of musical study.
- Develop and demonstrate effective performance skills (technical and expressive) using critical thinking to inform historical and stylistic performance practices and artistic expression.
- Develop and demonstrate effective communication skills, including artistic self-expression, with diverse audiences through multiple media.
- Acquire a basic understanding of diverse musical systems and traditions across the world, and develop a sensitivity to and awareness of cultural and societal differences, and their contribution to an interdependent global consciousness.
- Acquire an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility as musicians and citizens, and demonstrate the ability to work professionally and effectively as leaders and collaborators.
- Acquire a basic understanding of technology and professional skills, along with knowledge of specific technological developments within area of specialization.
- Appreciate how music interacts with communities to enhance and engage social and cultural identities and enrich lifelong learning.
for the degree of Bachelor of Music Major in Voice
School of Music
School of Music Website
Music Faculty
College of Fine & Applied Arts
Admissions
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions