Bachelor of Music: Performance, B.M. at University of Wisconsin Madison

Values and Educational Priorities

At the Mead Witter School of Music

• we teach by example offering participatory, mentor-driven education;
• we provide individualized instruction and flexible curricula that encourage students to find their own musical pathways;
• we foster musical excellence and high academic standards;
• our faculty exhibit the best of their respective fields, are deeply engaged in artistic scholarship and research, and are committed to teaching at all levels;
• we whole-heartedly embrace the Wisconsin Idea;
• our department is a dynamic educational community, part of a large and vibrant research university within a city that values and supports the arts.

The Mead Witter School of Music enriches students' educational experience by hosting guest artists and scholars for master classes, recitals, colloquia, seminars, and festivals. Its performing organizations and ensembles perform more than 350 recitals and concerts every year, making a significant contribution to the cultural life of the university and the wider Madison community. Facilities specifically designed for music study and performance offer excellent resources for students to pursue their interests.

In addition to a thriving undergraduate student body, B.M.: Music Performance students have the advantage of working side-by-side with students in master's-level and doctoral-level music programs. Working collegially in class and studio, making music together on stage and off, and building professional relationships across program boundaries all enable the sharing of expertise, experience, and perspectives and add immeasurably to every student's development.

Majors in this program have professional interests in solo performance, chamber music performance, orchestra or wind ensemble performance, studio teaching (private or in a college or university), church music, conducting, music technology or production, opera or musical theater, or many combinations of these. Some students may consider this program as preparation for graduate study in music, arts administration, and other areas. The faculty has designed the curricula to include a large complement of liberal studies (40 credits) along with the course work in music (90 credits). These 40 L&S credits must include satisfaction of all university General Education Requirements including Communication Parts A and B, Quantitative Reasoning Parts A and B, Natural Science, Social Science, and Ethnic Studies.

The music degree programs are demanding and require care in taking courses in the proper sequence. Graduation could be delayed if a course is not taken in the appropriate semester. Refer to the Requirements tab for details on the coursework and sequences of study in specific majors.

PEOPLE AND FACILITIES

The greatest asset of Mead Witter School of Music is its peoplestaff, faculty, and studentswho are daily immersed in learning, building, researching, writing, and making music. Mentoring is the core of our teaching, manifest in one-on-one applied instruction as well as in small-group coaching and classes. Undergraduate students will build professional relationships with many faculty, form friendships with peers across the boundaries of degree programs, and collaborate with staff in addressing the practical matters of academic study. Extensive information on faculty, including biographies, is available here.

The Mosse Humanities Building, built in 1969, houses most of the music classrooms, rehearsal rooms, faculty studios, and 111 practice rooms. Most recitals and concerts take place in one of three performance spaces: Mills Concert Hall, Morphy Recital Hall, and Eastman Organ Recital Hall. The school's extensive collection of instruments, both common and unusual, is available to both faculty and students. Music Hall with its clock tower, built in 1879, is a campus landmark. Renovated in 1985, it is the home of the opera program. The new Hamel Music Center includes a concert hall, a recital hall, and a large ensemble rehearsal space.

Memorial Library is the home of the Mills Music Library, which offers extensive research and circulating collections, attractive study space, and personal staff assistance with research. Music materials on campus number over half a million, ranging from scores and sheet music to archival collections and historic audio recordings. Through Mills Music Library and other UWMadison libraries, students have access to a wide range of online research databases as well as millions of articles, books, and streaming media. All genres of music are represented, with notably strong collections in Americana and ethnic music. Nationally known special collections include the TamsWitmark Collection, a treasury of early American musical theater materials, and the Wisconsin Music Archives.

1. Describe and apply foundational music education concepts and information.
2. Plan, deliver and assess music learning experiences within chosen certification area that address as necessary the following standards: UWMTES, edTPA, Wisconsin Music Teaching Standards, and National Music Education Standards.
3. Develop a level of proficiency in describing and applying foundational concepts of music education, e.g. music learning and teaching, which will be reflected in an ability to communicate to multiple diverse constituencies, so as to interpret, investigate, understand, appreciate and work within the complex musical world.
4. Integrate knowledge in music learning and teaching in order to bring novel perspectives to challenging social and technological problems.
5. Develop the ability to think critically and creatively as a music educator to synthesize, analyze and integrate ideas for decision-making and problem-solving in the best interest of all students.
6. Communicate effectively in order to share knowledge, wisdom, values and beliefs regarding music learning and teaching with others across multiple social and professional settings.
7. Understand own learning processes regarding musical education and possess the capacity to intentionally. Seek and evaluate information; recognize and reduce bias in own thinking; and build new knowledge for application in performance and professional lives.
8. Construct a worldview of music education in order to accept responsibility for civic engagement and to appreciate the need to live live so purpose and meaning.
9. As music educators, develop and demonstrate a respect for truth, and appreciation for diverse views, and a strong sense of personal and professional ethics.