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
Application requirements
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements:
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Program requirements
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. 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.
Career outlook
Minor programs allow students develop additional competencies that complement the marketable knowledge and skills they acquire in their majors.
Graduates with a minor in music performance have additional experience which can help them as they pursue careers in art administration, teaching and business.