Mar 28, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Music (B.S.M.) Popular Music


Program: Popular Music BSM
School of Music  
College of Visual and Performing Arts

Rhinehart Music Center 144 ~ 260-481-6714


A major in music requiring intensive study of an instrument or voice in popular and commercial musical styles and genres, including concentrations in music recording/production or songwriting/performance.  Coursework will foster development of music creation, drawing upon a “core” of music theory, media production, technology, music history/appreciation, entrepreneurship, and study of the music industry.  Musically accomplished and sensitive students will prepare for many different types of careers in the world of music.  Strengthened by the continued close partnership with Sweetwater Sound, many courses are held in the new Sweetwater Music Center which houses classrooms, collaboration spaces, and top-notch music recording facilities.  

Students earning the degree in Popular Music will choose one of two concentrations: Songwriting and Performance Concentration focuses on writing and performing of songs within various popular music genres.

Or Recording and Production Concentration that focuses on the recording and production of music utilizing state of the art music technology.


Student learning outcomes:

  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of popular music theory sufficient to analyze musical forms, structures, and styles; to create within basic musical structures; and to relate theoretical concepts to sound.
  • Students will demonstrate performance ability as ensemble members, as soloists on both a primary instrument and a secondary instrument.
  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of popular music styles with an understanding of the social, political and cultural impacts that shaped musical development. 
  • Students will demonstrate proficiency in utilizing appropriate technology to notate and create music, to investigate and report scholarly research, and to support the specific demands of their professional degrees.

Students pursuing the Songwriting and Performance Concentration:

  • Will demonstrate competency in commercial songwriting, with focus on composing music and lyrics within various popular music genres.
  • Will declare primary and secondary instruments in either 1) Primary instrument, voice with secondary instrument in keyboard or guitar, or 2) Primary instrument, keyboard or guitar with secondary instrument in voice.

Students pursuing the Recording and Production Concentration:

  • Will demonstrate competency in the recording and production of music including live sound and the interface between music and video.

Students in this degree are subject to the policies for all music degrees found on the Music department page. 

BSM Popular Music students are expected to own a computer-based digital audio workstation that is compatible with the School of Music  high-end system, and that will allow students to work in their own space on their own time.  The Director of Popular Music shall maintain the list of current equipment and capability BSM Popular Music students are expected to own.  Since such equipment is considered to be “tools of the trade”, this equipment expenditure can be included in Financial Aid loan calculations.


Program Description

Find your voice with intensive study in popular and commercial musical styles and genres, including concentrations in music recording/production or songwriting/performance. Courses offer multifaceted experiences in music creation, flowing from a “core” of curriculum of music theory, media production, technology, music history/appreciation, entrepreneurship, and study of the music industry. Popular music training will prepare you for many different types of careers in the vast world of music. Strengthened by our close partnership with Sweetwater Sound Inc., most courses are held in the Purdue University Fort Wayne Sweetwater Music Center with its amazing classrooms, collaboration spaces, and state-of-the-art music recording facilities.

Accreditation:

  • Purdue University Fort Wayne is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music and the American Music Therapy Association.

Program Delivery:  

  • Courses for this major are offered on campus and at the Sweetwater Music Center.

General Requirements:

Program Requirements:


  • A student may elect the Pass/Not-Pass grading option for non-degree elective courses only. The Pass/Not-Pass grading option is not available for General Education or any electives required for the major.

Music - Popular Music (Recording and Production) 4-Yr. Plan:  
Music - Popular Music (Songwriting and Performance) 4-Yr Plan  

General Education Requirements: Credits 33


Category B4:  Scientific Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.

Category B6:  Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing Cr. 6. Cr. 3.

Popular Music Performance Studies: Credits 22


Applied Primary Cr. 12.

Students take applied lessons in their primary instrument for a total of 12 credits at the 3XXXX level.

Applied Secondary Cr. 2.

Choose from the courses below for a total of 2 credits in the same secondary instrument.

Performance Ensemble:  Credits 8

Required course - MUSC 18241 - Introduction To Performance Techniques  

Students must take 6 semesters of Performance Ensembles, plus MUSC 18241, for a total of 8 credit hours. Choose a combination of the courses below: 

Performance Class: 6 semesters required.

Senior Seminar: Credits 3


Required course:

Media Production: Credits 9


Required courses:

Recording and Production Concentration: Credits 19


Students in the Recording and Production Concentration are required to complete a juried performance checkpoint at the end of their fourth semester or upon completion of the applicable courses in their academic plan.

Students declaring both concentrations will be permitted to share elective courses within the concentrations.

Required courses:

Electives (choose from):

Songwriting and Performance Concentration: Credits 19


Students in the Songwriting and Performance concentration will declare primary and secondary instruments in either:

1) Primary instrument, voice with secondary instrument in keyboard or guitar, or

2) Primary instrument, keyboard or guitar with secondary instrument in voice.

Students are required to complete a juried performance checkpoint at the end of their fourth semester or upon completion of the applicable courses in their academic plan.

Students declaring both concentrations will be permitted to share elective courses within the concentrations.

Required courses:

Electives (choose from):

Grade Requirements:


  • Grades. Music majors must complete each required music course with a grade of C- or better and with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher for all required music courses. Two unsuccessful attempts to attain a grade of C- or better in the same required music course will result in dismissal from the School of Music. 
  • A student may elect the Pass/Not-Pass grading option for non-degree elective courses only. The Pass/Not-Pass grading option is not available for General Education or any electives required for the major.

  • Exceptions to academic policies require a written request to the music faculty in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Total Credits: 120


Student Responsibility


You are responsible for ensuring that you satisfy all graduation requirements specified for each selected program.  Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career.  If you cannot complete all program requirements by your stated graduation date but fail to remove those from your plan of study, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with your academic advisor will remove unmet pursuits from your plan of study. Changing curricular records during the graduation term of application may affect state or federal financial aid awards. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean.