Program Description
The mission of the Snow College music department is to provide students with a high-quality music education through innovative and engaging course and degree offerings. The Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Commercial Music degree consists of a rigorous core of courses that prepare students to be performing musicians, educators, composers, producers, and sound engineers. This degree also includes general education courses and coursework in business that prepare students to enter the music industry. Students desiring to teach music in the public schools can take additional music education classes and, through our partnership with Weber State University, be certified to teach K-12.
As a Bachelor of Music degree, the program provides all qualified students with high levels of academic and musical training, divided into three distinct areas of study:
- A broad-based education in music technique, including theory, aural skills, history, keyboard skills, and solo and ensemble performance;
- Training in the skills needed by those in the music industry, including music technology, arranging, conducting, songwriting, improvisation, and live concert production
- Training in music industry and entrepreneurship, including courses in music business, business law, accounting, economics, and management.
Enrollment in the program is by audition only. Arrangements for an audition may be made on the music department website or by contacting the department faculty directly.
Outcomes
Upon graduation, students of the BM degree will have met the following competencies:
- Students will have foundational capabilities in classical performing mediums, including the ability to work independently to prepare performances at the highest possible level.
- Students will have knowledge of a wide variety of solo and ensemble literature suitable for use in public performance, classroom teaching, and in the private studio.
- Students will know and be able to demonstrate basic pedagogical techniques related to their instrument.
- Students will demonstrate performance capabilities in various idioms, including the ability to perform, improvise, compose, arrange, and score. Some students will be capable of doubling on secondary instruments.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the history and literature of classical, jazz, and American popular music, including the cultural sources and influences of these musical genres.
- Students will possess the skills necessary to begin work as a performer and composer/arranger in a variety of jazz and commercial studio music idioms. This includes the ability to produce the appropriate expressive style of the music being produced.
- Students will know how to use various music technologies, including music notation software and music editing programs. Students will be trained in the recording and production aspects of the music industry. They will be able to work a sound board, set up microphones, monitors, speakers, and other technology used in the production of music events or recordings.
Admission Requirements
Students must apply for admission into this program. The Music Department admits students into this program by audition only. The process of auditioning for the program differs slightly depending on whether or not a student is new to Snow College (an incoming freshman or transfer student) or a continuing student from the two-year program. The different procedures for auditioning are outlined below. If there is additional material that you would like to submit in support of your application (especially in the areas of songwriting or music production) please follow the instructions below.
Admissions/Audition Procedure – New Students
- All students must first be admitted to Snow College. This may be accomplished by filling out an application online at https://snow.edu/welcome/admissions/application.html
- All students must also apply for admission to the Bachelor of Music degree program. This may be accomplished by filling out an application online at https://snow.edu/academics/fineart/music/.
- All students must audition on their major instrument or voice. An audition would typically consist of performance of a solo piece of sophomore-level difficulty. The audition may also include the playing of scales, etudes or a sight-reading skill evaluation. You may audition by:
- Participating in annual scholarship auditions, which are typically held during the middle of February (check the website https://snow.edu/academics/fineart/music/ for details), OR
- Audition by appointment with the coordinator of your area:
- Brass and Percussion areas – Dr. Christopher Nelson (christopher.nelson@snow.edu)
- Jazz area – Prof. Sarah Morrow (sarah.morrow@snow.edu)
- Music Production (see note below) – Prof. Ben Harris (ben.harris@snow.edu)
- Piano area – Merrilee Webb (merrilee.webb@snow.edu)
- Songwriting/Composition (see note below) – Dr. Trent Hanna (trent.hanna@snow.edu)
- String area – Dr. Brent Smith (brent.smith@snow.edu)
- Vocal area – Prof. Brian Stucki (brian.stucki@snow.edu)
- Woodwind area – Dr. Madeline LeBaron Johnson (madeline.johnson@snow.edu)
- Video auditions for out-of-state/country students may be arranged by contacting the coordinator of your area (see above).
Note: If you are interested primarily in the concentration areas of Songwriting/Composition or Music Production, please also include a typewritten resume outlining your experience in your area of interest and samples of your work. Samples might include recordings (audio or video), notation samples (traditional or lead sheet) in pdf format, links to online samples, etc. Send these samples to the coordinator's email listed above.
Audition Procedure – Continuing Students
All students must audition on their major instrument or voice. An audition would typically consist of performance of a solo piece of sophomore-level. You may audition by:
- Filling out your jury form and checking the box that indicates you are wishing to use your jury as an audition. If at all possible, use this process. OR,
- Audition by appointment with the coordinator of your area:
- Brass and Percussion areas – Dr. Christopher Nelson (christopher.nelson@snow.edu)
- Jazz area – Prof. Sarah Morrow (sarah.morrow@snow.edu)
- Music Production (see note below) – Prof. Ben Harris (ben.harris@snow.edu)
- Piano area – Merrilee Webb (merrilee.webb@snow.edu)
- Songwriting/Composition (see note below) – Dr. Trent Hanna (trent.hanna@snow.edu)
- String area – Dr. Brent Smith (brent.smith@snow.edu)
- Vocal area – Prof. Brian Stucki (brian.stucki@snow.edu)
- Woodwind area – Dr. Madeline LeBaron Johnson (madeline.johnson@snow.edu)
Note: If you are interested primarily in the concentration areas of Songwriting/Composition or Music Production, please also include a typewritten resume outlining your experience in your area of interest and samples of your work. Samples might include recordings (audio or video), notation samples (traditional or lead sheet) in pdf format, links to online samples, etc. Send these samples to the coordinator's email listed above.
