The Bachelor of Music degree with a major in choral education provides students with the training necessary to be a successful music educator at all levels of instruction. Students enjoy a varied and comprehensive curriculum that includes private instruction in voice, an in-depth study of choral conducting and rehearsal techniques, as well as choral methods, materials, and literature. Students also take classes designed to address issues specific to teaching in the elementary school and in the high school music classroom. Another important component of the choral music education emphasis is the students’ participation in large and small choral ensembles, where they are introduced to a variety of repertoire—including music from the Renaissance to the 21st Century—and also where they start to develop their choral leadership skills by serving as section leaders and/or assistant conductors of these ensembles. The Stanislaus State choirs keep a busy calendar of activities thrroughout the year that includes not only their regular choral concerts but also frequent collaborations with the Opera Workshop and with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

The Bachelor of Music degree with a major in instrumental education provides students with the training necessary to be a successful music educator at all levels of instruction. Along with individual lessons each semester on a primary instrument, students also enjoy a curriculum that includes courses in all areas of music education including techniques for teaching brass, woodwinds, percussion, strings, as well as the art of conducting. Students also take classes designed to address issues specific to teaching in the elementary school as well as the high school music classroom. The instrumental education degree culminates with the California Credential Program, providing students with the accreditation necessary to teach in California elementary (primary) and secondary schools.

The Bachelor of Music degree with a major in instrumental performance is a preparatory sequence for students interested in pursuing a life as a professional performer. Students are enrolled in private instruction on their primary instrument for one hour each week with outstanding artist faculty. Students also have multiple opportunities for performance including chamber ensembles, wind ensemble, orchestra, new music ensemble, jazz ensemble, and solo recitals. Instrumental performance majors also take classes pertinent to their future career including conducting, string/woodwind/brass techniques, and orchestration. Many students who finish their degree in this program will continue their study at the graduate level.

The Stanislaus State Jazz Studies program is focused on providing an educational environment for future jazz educators and performers. Students involved in Stan State Jazz have numerous opportunities to perform, participate in master classes, study privately, and to pursue independent projects. In addition, the Jazz program offers a comprehensive classroom experience emphasizing performance, composition/arranging, jazz history, pedagogy, styles and analysis, and large and small ensemble playing. The Jazz program also performs a number of outreach activities that are designed to enrich elementary, middle school, and high school students throughout the area, and the community at large. The growing California State University, Stanislaus, Jazz Studies Program welcomes participation from students throughout the Stanislaus campus, regardless of major. All jazz ensembles are placed through auditions held at the beginning of each semester, including two big bands, the Latin Ensemble, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and 5 Jazz combos. Each year, prominent jazz artists are invited to campus to perform and conduct clinics; in 2009-10 clinics were provided by members of both the Count Basie Orchestra and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. For more information, please email Joe Mazzaferro or call (209) 667-3533.

The Bachelor of Music degree with a major in vocal performance is a preparatory sequence for students interested in pursuing a life as a professional singer. Students are enrolled in private instruction in voice for one hour each week with outstanding artist faculty. Students also have multiple opportunities for performance on and off campus. In addition to the Opera Workshop, which each semester presents a program of fully staged scenes or complete works (opera, operetta, and musical theater), students have multiple opportunities to perform as soloists with the university choral ensembles in performances of major works with orchestra and smaller instrumental ensembles. Vocal performance majors also take classes relevant to their future career, including lyric diction, solo/vocal literature, and vocal pedagogy. Many students who finish their degree in this program will continue their study at the graduate level. Recent graduates from the vocal performance program have been admitted to some of the most prestigious graduate music programs in the country, such as Indiana University, The Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University, University of Southern California, New England Conservatory, Westminster Choir College, University of Colorado – Boulder, Boston University, and more.

Students who pursue the Bachelor of Music in Composition develop a portfolio of compositions representative of musical styles studied in the theory sequence and in upper division composition lessons. Student compositions are performed in annual new music festivals as well as in other large and small ensemble concerts. Composition students have opportunities to meet well-respected composers in regional and national conferences held at the University, as well as in guest lectures and master classes.

The BA in General Music is designed to provide a foundation in music theory, history and literature and a broad overview of music through a variety of elective courses.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in music technology prepare an electronic portfolio of representative work undertaken during the degree course sequence. This includes the use of various software and hardware in the production of electronic content which includes MIDI, audio recording, engineering, mixing, mastering, and post-production. Students also gain experience by serving as recording technicians for music department events.