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Undergraduate programs

Music

Undergrad minor

Studying music includes both artistic and academic experiences. Student musicians work on their artistry in departmental recitals, master classes and participating in ensembles. Academic experiences enhance the artistry through private lessons, music theory, ear training, sight-reading and music history. All majors and minors include several semesters of lessons on one voice or instrument. Music education courses provide opportunities to gain skills in teaching expertise as well.

Emphasis

Education: Choral & General Music Education

Undergrad major Teacher license

Completion of the music education: choral and general music emphasis program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for a Wisconsin teaching license in music for grades K-12 (2500). Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.

Emphasis

Education: Instrumental & General Music Education

Undergrad major Teacher license

Completion of the music education: instrumental and general music emphasis program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for a Wisconsin teaching license in music for grades K-12 (2500). Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.

Emphasis

Jazz Performance

Undergrad major

UW-La Crosse has an outstanding jazz program with performance opportunities for all in large and small ensembles. While the music major core includes lessons, music theory and music history, the jazz performance emphasis offers coursework in jazz improvisation, jazz combos, advanced jazz orchestra (big band) and the jazz performance recital, which includes you creating your own arrangements for your combo.

Emphasis

Performance

Undergrad major

Students select this emphasis when they wish to excel in a single area of performance, such as violin, piano or trumpet. Core studies include music theory and music history, along with refining their solo performance musicianship in lessons for at least six semesters, culminating in a performance recital completed as a capstone project near the end of their studies. This emphasis has six elective credits that also allow a student to pursue opportunities to dive deeper into theory, accompanying, chamber music, additional lessons and advanced ensemble participation.

Piano Pedagogy

Undergrad major

Piano students who desire to teach will focus on developing their own musical expression in advanced lessons, as well as studying effective ways of teaching and reviewing business models for the independent studio through the pedagogy courses. Students will have the opportunity to teach during this emphasis.

Emphasis

Theory

Undergrad major

The music theory emphasis allows the music major to extend their application of knowledge gained from the core courses in music theory and music history. Students will have the opportunities to explore these applications through courses such as Composition lessons, Orchestration and Arranging and Advanced Music Theory.

Music Performance

Undergrad minor

UWL offers both a music minor and a music performance minor. While the music minor includes more academic requirements, the music performance minor is more flexible, allowing for additional credits in both lessons and ensembles. 

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

National Association of Schools of Music
11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190-5248

Telephone: 703-437-0700
Facsimile: 703-437-6312
E-mail: info@arts-accredit.org