…a place for YOU!

For more information or questions contact:

Dr. Marc Ashley Foster: Chair, Department of Music

mfoster@highpoint.edu or (336) 841-4551

https://www.highpoint.edu/music

The music curriculum offered at High Point University is unique, innovative, and reflective of the highest standards in collegiate music instruction. By utilizing an integrative learning style, our curriculum gives students a comprehensive and thorough understanding of the art of music-making in the 21st century.

We have developed this new method of teaching by integrating the disciplines of Music Theory, Music History, Aural Skills, and Music Literature into a single, four-semester sequence of “Music Core” classes. This sequence of courses presents the essentials of music theory and aural skills, while exploring the development of music in history, and always applying the theoretical concepts of music to actual performances. This integrative learning style enables students to understand the development of music in an organic and holistic manner, and teaches them how what they learn in the classroom is directly applicable to their work on their individual instrument and ultimately, to the stage.

Additionally, our curriculum allows each student to take free departmental electives in their junior and senior years that can enhance their specific areas of interest. In this way, we can fully prepare our students for however they choose to use the BA degree in Music after leaving HPU. Some potential areas of secondary emphasis are Music Business, Jazz Studies, Sacred Music, Musical Theatre, Opera, Music Technology, Music Education, etc. Because students are given so much flexibility within the degree program, the possibilities for secondary areas are almost limitless.

Resources

The High Point University Department of Music seeks to prepare its students for life as a teaching and/or performing artist. To this end, the Department of Music offers exceptional performance spaces. The Pauline Theatre in the Hayworth Fine Arts Center is a stunningly beautiful hall appropriate for symphony orchestras and solo vocal recitals. Additional performance spaces include the David Hayworth Chapel, The “Great Day” bakery, and the cafeteria stage.

To keep students up to date with the latest music education and music performance tools, the HPU Department of Music offers a state of the art Music Technology Laboratory (MTL). This music lab includes Mac computers with 24” monitors, 61-key midi keyboards, and industry standard music software, including Finale, Sibelius, Pro Tools, Reason, Strike, and East/West Symphonic Gold Sound Library. Students taking courses in the MTL have 24-hour access to explore, work on projects, or just study in a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Finally, the High Point University Department of Music is proud to be the only school in North Carolina with the prestigious All-Steinway designation. Classrooms, teaching studios, practice rooms, and performance spaces all have Steinway pianos. At High Point University, students deserve to practice, compose, and perform on the very best. The Steinway company certainly meets this standard.

A Focused Curriculum

All three degree programs have been designed so that your education is grounded not only in the core elements of music (theory, history, aural skills, and literature), but also in the principles and methods of performance practice and musicianship. The arts are fundamental to the Liberal Arts experience at High Point: they help define what it means to be human. Carefully designed courses allow you to acquire the specialized knowledge necessary to provide a firm foundation for your anticipated career path. Creative scholarship, varied performance opportunities, and a flexible curriculum merge to develop knowledgeable and accomplished musicians prepared to take the next step in their career.

Graduates

Music majors at High Point University receive practical training through performance, research, competition, and internships. Here is a sample of what some of our graduates are doing now:

• pursuing a masters or doctoral degree in music
• performing with touring professional groups
• participating in summer stock
• performing with regional musical theaters
• accepting call-backs for national tours
• teaching music in schools
• accepting positions as church musicians

Student Focused Faculty

Faculty members at High Point University’s Department of Music are committed to the academic and professional development of all student musicians. Faculty members hold terminal degrees from nationally accredited universities. They maintain professional affiliations, attend annual conferences in their field, present clinics and masterclasses, and perform extensively in the US and abroad. Members of our faculty also continue to pursue current research in music and compose for choir, band, orchestra, percussion ensemble, chamber ensemble, and piano. The use of new techniques, new ideas in performance practice and innovative materials keep their classrooms exciting and energizing.

Engaged Learning

Outside the classroom you can choose to participate in a variety of ensembles in the triad area that will prepare you for graduate study or provide you with useful relevant job experience. Area ensembles include two professional symphonies, a professional choir, and numerous choral ensembles and church choirs. These experiences provide real-life opportunities for engaged learning, internships, and future jobs in the field. In recent years, HPU music students have completed internships in a variety of settings, some of which have resulted in employment:

• church organists
• church pianists
• voice section leaders
• musical theater singers and actors
• operas
• student teachers

Research Opportunities

At High Point University you have the option of developing the research topic of your choice. Topics may include but are not limited to the following:

• performance practice
• music history
• music technology
• music composition
• music literature

Additionally, music majors and minors can tailor their curriculums to prepare them for careers in other specialized areas in music, such as music business, sacred music, and video game music composition.