Certificate Programs in Music
The Music Program at Geneseo offers a number of certificate programs (SUNY ICMs). Certificate programs consist of a cluster of 3-4 courses that focus on the development of practical and professional skills and applied learning, leading to a final project. Certificate programs are ideal for professionals who are looking to explore alternative career paths or for music professionals, including music educators, wishing to enhance existing skills. You can read more about SUNY ICMs here.
In addition, all certificates may be earned en route to a minor, major, or may be combined to create a unique music major. For information on "stacking" certificates to complete a music major or minor, see below. The department offers the following certificate programs in music:
- Harmony & Composition
- Suzuki Violin Pedagogy
- Piano Pedagogy
- Music Business, Recording, & Production
- Jazz & American Music
- A "Stackable" Curriculum
Harmony & Composition
- MUSC 189 Elements of Music Theory
- MUSC 256 Elements of Diatonic Harmony and Polyphony
- MUSC 356 Contemporary Harmony
- MUSC 357 Counterpoint for Composition
Suzuki Violin Pedagogy
- MUSC 144 Applied Violin Study (2 semesters)
- MUSC 244 Applied Violin Study (2 semesters)
- MUSC 362 Suzuki Seminar I
- MUSC 362 Suzuki Seminar II
- MUSC 399 Directed Study Suzuki Practicum
Piano Pedagogy*
- MUSC 189 Elements of Music Theory
- MUSC 240 Applied Piano Study (2 semesters)
- MUSC 340 Applied Piano Study (2 semesters)
- MUSC 375 Piano Pedagogy
- MUSC 376 Piano Teaching Practicum
- *restricted to music and musical theatre majors
Music Business, Recording, & Production
- MUSC 102 Elements of Music Technology
- MUSC 202 Introduction to Music Business
- MUSC 302 Recording and Production I
- MUSC 303 Film and Game scoring or MUSC 304 Recording and Production II
Jazz & American Music
- MUSC 165 Jazz Ensemble or String Band (3 cr) or one related requirement selected from
- AMST 201 Topics in American Studies
- BLKS 200 Introduction to Black Studies
- ENGL 318 Black British Literature and Culture
- ENGL 337 African-American Literature
- ENGL 439 American Ways
- HIST 164 African-American History from 1877
- MUSC 217 Jazz in America
- MUSC 232 Folk Music in America
- MUSC 327 Thinking through Music or MUSC 33x Seminar in Musicology
A "Stackable" Curriculum
Certificates may be earned en route to a minor, major, or may be combined to create a unique major. The path from certificate to a minor (or major) can happen in a couple of different ways. First, a certificate may be combined with four courses in music foundations to create a minor. Completing an additional four upper division courses in music would then lead to the BA degree. In terms of credit requirements, then, with the completion of every group of four courses, or 12 credits, students move from certificate, to minor, to BA degree.
CERTIFICATEFour courses grouped in a single area of study; 12 credits |
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MUSIC MINORFour additional courses in music foundations (12 additional credits); 21-24 credits total. |
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MUSIC BAFour additional courses in specialized study (12 additional credits); 36 credits total. |
Alternatively, the Music BA may be approached through stacking multiple certificates. Here, two certificates can be combined with four, standard methods courses to complete the Music BA.
CERTIFICATE IFour courses grouped in a single area of study; 12 credits |
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CERTIFICATE IIA second set of four courses grouped in a single area of study; 12 credits |
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MUSIC BAFour additional courses in methods and specialized study (12 additional credits); 36 credits total. |
Each menu lists the requirements for one of the five certificates and how to stack it, leading to the corresponding minor and the Music BA. Students interested in completing multiple certificates within the BA will general declare a "hitec-elective" track and should consult their advisor or the department chair for course selection.
- Harmony & Composition
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For the Harmony & Composition certificate, complete the following 10 cr:
- MUSC 189 Elements of Music Theory
- MUSC 256 Elements of Diatonic Harmony and Polyphony
- MUSC 356 Contemporary Harmony
- MUSC 357 Counterpoint for Composition
For the Composition minor, complete in addition, the following 14cr:
- MUSC 102 Introduction to Music Technology
- MUSC HIST One course in the Elements of Musicology
- MUSC 217 Jazz in America
- MUSC 226 History of Western Music I
- MUSC 227 History of Western Music II
- MUSC 231 Introduction to Ethnomusicology
- MUSC 232 American Music
- MUSC 302 Film and Game Scoring
- MUSC 317 Orchestration
- MUSC 327 Thinking through Music or MUSC 33x Seminar in Musicology
For the Composition Diploma (Music BA), complete in addition, the following 12cr:
- MUSC HIST One additional course in the elements of musicology from the above list
- MUSC 315 Music Analysis
- MUSC 327 Thinking through Music or MUSC 33x Seminar in Musicology
- MUSC Elective (3 credits)
- Jazz and American Music Studies
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For the Jazz and American Music Studies Certificate complete the following 12-13 cr:
- MUSC 165 Jazz Ensemble or String Band (3 cr) or one related requirement selected from
- AMST 201 Topics in American Studies
- BLKS 200 Introduction to Black Studies
- ENGL 318 Black British Literature and Culture
- ENGL 337 African-American Literature
- ENGL 439 American Ways
- HIST 164 African-American History from 1877
- MUSC 217 Jazz in America
- MUSC 232 Folk Music in America
- MUSC 327 Thinking through Music or MUSC 33x Seminar in Musicology
For the minor in Jazz and American Music Studies, complete an additional 9cr in electives selected from*:
- MUSC 105 Popular Music in America
- MUSC 165 Jazz Ensemble or String Band (max. 6 credits may be applied to the minor)
- MUSC 189 Elements of Music Theory
- MUSC 222 American Musical Theatre
- MUSC 327 Thinking through Music or MUSC 33x Seminar in Musicology
For the Music BA (JAMs Track) complete the following 15 cr:
- MUSC 189 Elements of Music Theory or an additional elective
- MUSC 256 Elements of Diatonic Harmony and Polyphony
- MUSC 315 Music Analysis
- MUSC Electives from the list above which may include one related requirement outside MUSC*
*these electives may be replaced to complete an additional certificate under the open elective track
- MUSC 165 Jazz Ensemble or String Band (3 cr) or one related requirement selected from
- Violin Pedagogy
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For the Suzuki Violin Pedagogy certificate, complete the following 9 cr:
- MUSC 144 Applied Violin Study (2 semesters)
- MUSC 244 Applied Violin Study (2 semesters)
- MUSC 362 Suzuki Seminar I
- MUSC 362 Suzuki Seminar II
- MUSC 399 Directed Study Suzuki Practicum
For the Violin Pedagogy minor, complete in addition, the following 12cr in foundations and methods:
- MUSC 189 Elements of Music Theory
- MUSC 256 Elements of Diatonic Harmony
- MUSC HIST One course in the Elements of Musicology selected from
- MUSC 217 Jazz in America
- MUSC 226 History of Western Music I
- MUSC 227 History of Western Music II
- MUSC 231 Introduction to Ethnomusicology
- MUSC 232 American Music
- MUSC 327 Thinking through Music or MUSC 33x Seminar in Musicology
For the Music BA with Violin Pedagogy Certificate, complete in addition, the following 15cr:
- MUSC HIST One additional course in the elements of musicology from the above list
- MUSC 315 Music Analysis
- MUSC 327 Thinking through Music or MUSC 33x Seminar in Musicology
- MUSC 344 Applied Violin Study (2 semesters)*
- MUSC 363 String Repertory*
- MUSC Electives (3 credits at the 300 level)
*these electives may be replaced to complete an additional certificate under the open elective track
- Piano Pedagogy
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For the Piano Pedagogy certificate, complete the following 12 cr:
- MUSC 240 Applied Piano Study (2 semesters)
- MUSC 259 Elements of Accompaniment and Figured Bass
- MUSC 340 Applied Piano Study (2 semesters)
- MUSC 375 Piano Pedagogy
- MUSC 376 Piano Teaching Practicum
- MUSC 399 Directed Study Applied Pedagogy Project
For the Piano Pedagogy minor, complete in addition, the following 12cr in foundations and methods:
- MUSC 189 Elements of Music Theory
- MUSC 256 Elements of Diatonic Harmony
- MUSC HIST One course in the Elements of Musicology
- MUSC 217 Jazz in America
- MUSC 226 History of Western Music I
- MUSC 227 History of Western Music II
- MUSC 231 Introduction to Ethnomusicology
- MUSC 232 American Music
- MUSC 327 Thinking through Music or MUSC 33x Seminar in Musicology
For the Music BA with Piano Pedagogy Certificate, complete in addition, the following 12cr:
- MUSC HIST One additional course in the elements of musicology from the above list
- MUSC 315 Music Analysis
- MUSC 327 Thinking through Music or MUSC 33x Seminar in Musicology
- MUSC Electives (3 credits at the 300 level)
- Music Business, Recording, and Production (BPM)
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For the BPM certificate, complete the following 12 cr:
- MUSC 102 Elements of Music Technology
- MUSC 202 Introduction to Music Business
- MUSC 302 Recording and Production I
- MUSC 303 Film and Game scoring or MUSC 304 Recording and Production II
For the BPM minor, complete in addition, the following 12cr:
- MUSC 189 Elements of Music Theory
- MUSC 256 Elements of Diatonic Harmony
- MUSC HIST One course in the Elements of Music History selected from:
- MUSC 217 Jazz in America
- MUSC 226 History of Western Music I
- MUSC 227 History of Western Music II
- MUSC 231 Introduction to Ethnomusicology
- MUSC 232 American Music
- MUSC 327 Thinking through Music or MUSC 33x Seminar in Musicology
For the Music BA, BPM track, complete in addition, the following 13-15 cr:
- MUSC 303 Film and Game scoring or MUSC 304 Recording and Production II*
- MUSC 315 Music Analysis
- MUSC 327 Thinking through Music or MUSC 33x Seminar in Musicology
- MUSC 399 Recording and Production Internship (1-3 cr)*
- BUSN related requirement
*these electives may be replaced to complete an additional certificate under the open elective track