Music (BM) in Music Direction for Musical Theatre

This program is offered by the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts/Department of Music and is only available at the St. Louis main campus.

Program Description

The bachelor of music in music direction for musical theatre is designed for the students who wish to pursue a career as a professional music director for musical theatre. Extensive applied instruction and classes on technique, coaching and musical theatre performance styles, as well as ensemble experience, constitute the core of the curriculum. Students in this program focus on piano and voice in applied studies.

The bachelor of music in music direction for musical theatre conforms to the guidelines specified by the National Association of Schools of Music for accreditation. Webster University is a full member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

 Learning Outcomes

Students with a bachelor of music in Music Direction for Musical Theatre will:

• Demonstrate the ability to analyze and synthesize all aspects of music leadership in the theatre by preparing and conducting a musical theatre production.
• Exhibit a thorough understanding of vocal technique, musical styles and musical theatre genres, and keyboard skills.
• Interpret and apply historical concepts and current performance practices and standards in all aspects of musical theatre productions. 
• Employ teamwork as well as independent decision-making as part of a theatrical production team. 
• Incorporate career business principles for the working musician. 

Degree Requirements

For information on the general requirements for a degree, see Baccalaureate Degree Requirements under the Academic Policies and Information section of this catalog.

• 97-98 required credit hours
• Applicable University Global Citizenship Program hours, with accommodations for the bachelor of music
• Electives

Global Citizenship Program for Bachelor of Music

• GLBC 1200 Global Cornerstone Seminar
• 6 credit hours from courses designated ‘Roots of Cultures’ (One course with the MUSC prefix can fulfill GCP and major requirements simultaneously.)
• 3 credit hours from courses designated ‘Social Systems & Human Behavior’
• 3 credit hours from courses designated ‘Global Understanding’
• 3 credit hours from courses designated ‘Physical & Natural World’ or ‘Quantitative Literacy’
• KEYS 4XXX Global Keystone Seminar

NOTE: Except where specified otherwise, the above courses must not also satisfy major requirements. GCP skills requirements may be fulfilled with the courses above, courses in the major, or electives. 'Arts Appreciation' is satisfied in meeting the requirements for the major.

Required Courses

Core Music Courses

• MUSC 1010 Music Theory and Aural Skills I (4 hours)
• MUSC 1020 Music Theory II (3 hours)
• MUSC 1820 Aural Skills II (2 hours)
• A minimum of 6 credit hours chosen from the following:
  • MUSC 1370 Jazz Keyboard Theory I (3 hours)
  • MUSC 2050 Songwriting Theory (3 hours) 
  • MUSC 3060 Topics in Music Analysis (2-3 hours)
  • MUSC 3065 Topics in Music Analysis (2-3 hours) 
  • MUSC 4030 Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint (3 hours)
• MUSC 2060 Social and Cultural Approaches to Music (3 hours)
• MUSC 2070 Music in Western Culture (3 hours)
• A minimum of 4 credit hours chosen from the following:
  
  • MUSC 3160 Topics in Musicology (1-3 hours)
  • MUSC 3165 Topics in Musicology (1-3 hours)
  • MUSC 3170 Jazz History (3 hours)
  • MUSC 3520 History of Popular Styles (3 hours)
  • MUSC 4040 Music of the Twentieth Century (3 hours) 
• MUSC 4700 Advanced Topics in Music (taken in junior or senior year only) (2-3 hours)
• MUSC 0200 Candidacy Examination (0 hours)
• MUSC 0500 Senior Overview (0 hours)

Performance Courses

• MUSC 0890 Recital Attendance (six semesters required) (0 hours)
• MUSC 0990 Master Class (taken every semester) (0 hours)
• MUSC 2602, MUSC 3002, MUSC 4002 Applied Voice
  or MUSC 2601, MUSC 3001, MUSC 4001 Applied Piano (eight semesters required) (16 hours)
• MUSC 4945 New Music Ensemble (after two semesters, may be repeated as elective concurrently with Major Ensemble) (2 hours)

Major Ensemble
8 hours over eight semesters to be selected from:

• MUSC 4900 Webster University Chorale (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4910 Webster University Chamber Singers (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4920 Webster University Aurelia (1 hour per semester)
• MUSC 4955 Webster University Jazz Singers (1 hour per semester)

Supportive Courses

• MUSC 2001, MUSC 2501 Applied Piano (eight consecutive semesters required; minimum four hours of applied instruction in individual lessons) or MUSC 2002, MUSC 2502 Secondary Instrument: Applied Voice (8 hours)
• Choose two of the following courses, as approved by advisor:
  • MUSC 1500 Music Software Applications: Notation (1 hour)
  • MUSC 1501 Music Software Applications: Digital Audio Workstations (1 hour)
  • MUSC 1502 Music Software Applications: Presentation Software (1 hour)
• MUSC 2085 Keyboard Skills for Music Educators (2 hours)
• MUSC 3010 Fundamentals of Composition (3 hours)
• MUSC 3070 Orchestration I (3 hours)
• MUSC 3410 Conducting I (3 hours)
• MUSC 4006 Applied Conducting (four semesters required) (4 hours)
• MUSC 4710 Music Directing Practicum (assisting Conservatory or other shows, four semesters required) (4 hours)
• MUSC 4250, MUSC 4255 Voice Pedagogy I, II (4 hours)
• MUSC 4610 Readings in Music Directing (two semesters required, one hour each) (2 hours)
• MUTH 1030 History of American Musical Theatre (3 hours)
• THEA 1080, THEA 2080 Studio Acting I, II (6 hours)

Students in this degree should also audit both Musical Theatre Dance Styles courses (MUTH 2410, MUTH 2420), during the sophomore or junior years. A year of ballet enrollment is also encouraged, but not required. Music Entrepreneurship (MUSC 3000) is encouraged, but not required.