Music Performance (Minor)

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Develop your skills as a musician while you pursue a major in another field that excites and inspires you.

The minor program in music performance allows students with a background in playing an instrument or in singing to continue to develop their musicianship while pursuing their major studies.

The coursework includes individualized instruction and ensemble experience to develop the student's performance skills.

At A Glance

Music Performance (Minor)

Application requirements

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements:

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Program requirements

The minor requires 21 credit hours, of which 12 are upper division, in performance, history, theory and electives.
Students may transfer up to nine credit hours toward the minor.
Admission requirement: An audition is required for entrance into the minor and MUP 121 study. Audition criteria are determined by area faculty and will be similar to the MUP 111 and MUP 311 criteria found in the Audition Requirements section on this webpage.
Required Courses -- 6 credit hours
Notes: Two semesters of MUP 121 are required.
Ensembles - Three semesters of ensembles related to the primary instrument studied in the minor -- 3 credit hours
Ensemble - Fourth semester of ensemble (may be unrelated to the primary instrument studied in the minor) -- 1 credit hours
Music History -- 6 credit hours
MHL courses may be accepted if the appropriate prerequisites are met or with instructor approval.
Music Theory -- 3 credit hours
Students will take a theory diagnostic exam to determine placement in either MUS 100 or MTC 125.
Music Electives -- 2 credit hours
Depending on a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this minor.

Degree requirements

The minor or BIS concentration requires 21 hours (12 upper division) in performance, history, theory and electives.

Core required courses: (6 credit hours)
MUP 121 Secondary/Minor Instrument Instruction (two semesters) (2)
MUP 321 Secondary/Minor Instrument Instruction (1)
MUS 131 Bach to Bebop (3)

Three semesters of ensembles related to the primary instrument studied in the minor, selected from the following: (3 credit hours)

MUP 442 Wind Ensemble, Wind Orchestra or Orchestra Strings (1)
MUP 443 Concert Choir or Chamber Singers (1)
MUP 450 Choral Union (1)
MUP 457 Women's Chorus(1)
MUP 459 Barrett Choir (1)
MUP 486 Concert Jazz Band, Jazz Repertory Band or Latin Jazz Ensemble (1)
MUP 494 Concert Band or ASU Gospel Choir (1)

One of the following:

Fourth semester of ensemble (may be unrelated to the primary instrument studied in the minor)
MUS 494 Urban Dance Music Ensemble (1)
MUS 294 Rock Band (1)

Music History: (6)*

Choose two of the following (upper-division only):
MUS 340 Music for the Concert Hall, Stage, and Screen, HU, H (3)
MUS 347 Jazz in America, HU, C (3)
MUS 354 Classic Rock: 1950-1975, HU (3)
MUS 355 American Music, HU, C, H (3)
MUS 356 Broadway and the American Musical, HU (3)
MUS 362 Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture, HU, C (3)
MUS 410 History of Women in Music, HU, C, H (3)

Music Theory: (3)*
MUS 100 Fundamentals of Music Notation (3) or MTC 125 Basic Music Theory (3)
* Students will take a theory diagnostic exam to determine placement in either MUS 100 or MTC 125.

Electives: (2)
MUP, MUS, MUE, MTC or MHL (upper-division only) (2)

TOTAL 21 (12 upper-division)

*MHL courses may be accepted if the appropriate prerequisites are met or with instructor approval.

Admission requirement: An audition is required for entrance into the minor or BIS concentration and MUP 121 study. Audition criteria are determined by area faculty and will be similar to the MUP 111 and MUP 311 criteria found in the Audition Requirements section on this webpage: https://music.asu.edu/admissions.

Depending upon a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this minor.

Enrollment requirements

GPA Requirement: None

Incompatible Majors: All music majors

Other Enrollment Requirements: Students must successfully complete an audition before the faculty in the applicable instrument area for entrance into the program. Audition criteria and specific audition requirements are determined by area faculty and are similar to the MUP 111 and MUP 311 enrollment criteria for each instrument posted at https://musicdancetheatre.asu.edu/admissions/music/undergraduate-auditions. Students interested in pursuing the performance minor should submit an application at https://musicdancetheatre.asu.edu/degree-programs/music-performance-minor.

Advisors should not add the minor until the student presents a letter from the School of Music, Dance and Theatre Academic Affairs Office confirming that the student has successfully passed the audition.

Current ASU undergraduate students may pursue a minor and have it recognized on their ASU transcript at graduation. Students interested in pursuing a minor should consult their academic advisor to declare the minor and to ensure that an appropriate set of courses is taken. Minor requirements appear on the degree audit once the minor is added. Certain major and minor combinations may be deemed inappropriate by the college or department of either the major program or the minor. Courses taken for the minor may not count toward both the major and the minor. Students should contact their academic advisor for more information.

Career outlook

A minor can help students enhance the marketable skills they acquire in their major program and help them develop new skills apart from it, though most careers do require more training than a minor alone can provide.

Graduates with a minor in music performance have additional experience which can help them as they pursue careers in art administration, teaching and business.