Performing Arts

Associate Dean: Amy Wendland
Email: wendland_a@fortlewis.edu

Department Chair: Charissa Chiaravalloti
Email: cochiaravalloti@fortlewis.edu

Professors: Lisa Campi Walters and Mark Walters
Associate Professors: Charissa Chiaravalloti, Katherine Jetter, John O’Neal and Felicia Meyer
Assistant Professor: Andrew Brackett, Wesley Dunnagan, Justin Hubbard, Michael McKelvey and Joseph Nibley

Music Program

Music Program Mission and Goals

The purpose of the Fort Lewis College Music Department is to produce fine musicians, compassionate individuals, and connoisseurs of music. Whether music is the chosen field or a secondary passion, we are dedicated to fostering students to be their best possible musical selves, and demonstrate these abilities on campus and abroad.

The Music Department has also established the following objectives

Music department graduates will:

Develop skilled musicianship as it relates to their chosen performance medium, demonstrated through juried and public performance.
Demonstrate musical competence, including historical, theoretical, analytical, and keyboard expertise as illustrated by a senior project.
Establish advanced performance skills and professionalism that will enrich the cultural and aesthetic strengths of the institution and community.
Formulate a plan for post-graduation as it pertains to each student’s desired career path.

For the student interested in majoring in music, the department offers a comprehensive curriculum. There are four majors, each leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree. These majors are: Music Major , Music Business , Music Education , and Music Performance .

The Music Major is designed for students interested in a liberal arts education with an emphasis in music.

The Music Education Major gives high-quality academic preparation to students who wish to become Colorado licensed K-12 music teachers. This option is extremely demanding and requires careful planning and advising. Students choosing this option should consult with a Music Department mentor as early as possible in their careers and should read the Teacher Education Licensure Program section of this catalog for the steps and requirements for applying to and requirements for completing the program.

The Music Business Major is designed for students who wish to pursue a career that melds music and business. Courses are designed to fit the rapidly changing entrepreneurial landscape of music business. This major is limited to the areas of expertise represented by the music faculty. The areas of study are piano, voice, brass, woodwinds, percussion, and strings. A specific instrument must be chosen from within the brass, woodwind, or string families. The majority of the courses in the Music Business Major are in the Music Department with auxiliary courses in the School of Business Administration. This degree has been approved by the National Association of Schools of Music.

The Music Performance Major is designed for students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to music performance and who wish to use some of their elective credits to further study in this area. The areas of performance study are limited to the areas of expertise represented by the music faculty. The areas of study are piano, voice, brass, woodwinds, percussion, and strings. A specific instrument must be chosen from within the brass, woodwind, or string families.

Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Music

All music majors must satisfy the specific departmental requirements as well as the common requirements listed below.

Major Requirements: See major programs for detailed requirements, links provided at the bottom of this page.

Common Requirements for Music Majors

MUSIC MAJOR MINIMUM GRADE REQUIREMENT

Music majors must obtain at least a C- in all music (MU) courses that count towards their chosen degree plans.

AUDITION / PERFORMANCE / RECITAL REQUIREMENTS

All students majoring in music will be required to pass an entrance audition and theory placement exam. Music majors must also successfully pass an individual performance exam during the SECOND semester they are enrolled in MU 209. This is a juried exam occurring within the student’s applied music course that term. Most often this will occur during the second semester of the sophomore year. Students must present a half recital of at least 30 minutes duration during the senior year.

PIANO PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS
All music majors must satisfy a piano proficiency requirement before taking MU 349 or MU 423 . The requirement includes sight reading, harmonization of a simple melody, and demonstrated ability to perform easier piano compositions (such as Clementi: “Sonatina Op. 36 #1;” Bach: “Two Part Invention”). Students with adequate skills may petition to take the examination and may receive credit for the appropriate courses. Those with less background must take a piano placement test and, in their first year enroll in the proper course in the piano class sequence 103A, 104, 203, and 204. Successful completion of this sequence with a grade of A or B also satisfies the piano proficiency requirement.

MUSIC LITERATURE REQUIREMENT
Concert Attendance: Attendance at scheduled recitals and concerts and at regularly scheduled listening labs is required each semester. Students must enroll in the zero credit course Music Literature/Concert Attendance during each semester of residency.

MAJOR ENSEMBLE REQUIREMENT
At least 8 credits from MU 105 , MU 110 , MU 117 , MU 305 , MU 310 , and MU 317 are required. Students will be assigned to the appropriate major ensemble by the applied music instructor(s). MU 110 , MU 117 , MU 310 , or MU 317 are required for the instrumental specialization, and MU 105 or MU 305 are required for the choral specialization. At least one of the above is required each semester of residency with the exception of Music Education Option which does not require Major Ensemble during the semester of student teaching.

APPLIED MUSIC REQUIREMENT
One applied course in the major area of study (primary instrument or voice) is required each semester of residency except during the semester of student teaching (Music Education option). If students will be taking applied guitar courses, they may count MU 108 toward their applied requirement.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE (OPTIONAL)
Two semesters of foreign language study are strongly recommended for the Music Major.

Theatre Program

The Theatre major enables students to explore their potential as productive, literate, articulate, and creative members of society through a close study of the theory and practice of theatre. Our students are trained to bring highly developed communication skills, flexibility, and creativity to a wide range of career opportunities in performance and the entertainment industry as well as in the preparation for graduate school programs in theatre.

The Theatre major combines the practical and theoretical training in theatre with the various disciplines associated with performance including such areas as art, media, music, psychology, and technology. The experience and knowledge attained within the theatre major is applicable to working in a variety of performance and fine art venues such as professional theatres, community theatres, music venues, dance venues, and nonprofit arts organizations.

The academic program in the Department of Theatre includes experiential classroom learning and intensive and exciting guest artist engagements. The curriculum is further supported by an innovative and broad production schedule, which is the cornerstone of the department, and a wide variety of internship opportunities. Performing, research, technical theatre, administrative opportunities, and a wide variety of internship opportunities are open to all students. Participation in productions is considered an academic endeavor garnering course credit. Auditions and technical theatre interviews are held at the beginning of each term.

Students choosing the Theatre K-12 Education Major , who wish to become Colorado licensed grades 7-12 theatre teachers, should consult a Theatre Department mentor as early as possible in their academic career, and should read the Teacher Education Licensure Program .

Majors in Performing Arts

Music Major
Music Education Major
Music Performance Major
Music Business Major
Theatre Major
Theatre K-12 Education Major

Minors in Performing Arts

Music Minor
Theatre Minor