Contents
Catalog Links

Department of Music

Faculty

John D. Kinchen, III (2018). Chair, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities. B.M., Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester; M.M., Florida State University; D.M.A., Boston University.

James "Tony" Cooper (2022). Associate Professor of Music and Worship, Director of the Center for Worship. B.A., Randall University; M.A. and D.W.S., Liberty University

David J Culp, Jr. (2022). Associate Professor of Music Education and Commercial Music. B.M. Music Education, Murray State University; M.M. Music Education, Murray State University; Ph.D. Music Education, University of Mississippi.

Deborah Kay Dick (2021). Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education and Worship Leadership, Coordinator of High School Music Camps. B.S., Music Education, Louisiana College; M.C.M., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Ph.D. in Music Education, Auburn University.

Mark McDowell (2023). Assistant Professor of Commercial Music: Film Scoring & Media. B.A., M.B.A., and M.A., Liberty University. 

Bob Mayo (2021). Assistant Professor of Recording Engineering and Music Technology, Coordinator of Music Technology. B.S., Middle Tennessee State University. 

Kate Rawls (2022). Associate Professor Vocal Studies. B.M. Music Education, Union University; M.M. Vocal Performance, Austin Peay State University; D.M.A. Vocal Performance, University of South Carolina.

Tim Smith (2022). Assistant Professor of Commercial Music Performance and Technology, Coordinator for Commercial Music. B.M. Studio Music and Jazz, University of Miami; M.M. in Jazz Performance, University of Miami.

Joshua Veltman (2004) Professor of Music. B.A., Calvin College; M.A. and Ph.D., Ohio State University.

 

Staff

Stephanie Pippins (2023). Academic Secretary-Music. B.A., San Francisco State University.

 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Music at Union University is to offer Christ-centered education in music and worship that promotes excellence and character development in service to the Church and society.

Admission Requirements for Music Majors and Minors

An audition is required for admission into a music major or music minor program. The audition is also used to evaluate the student's eligibility for a music scholarship.

Through the audition process, students demonstrate (1) talent and capability in voice or an instrument, (2) the potential to develop advanced levels of musicianship, (3) proven academic success, and (4) a strong sense of purpose and commitment to calling. Based on these auditions, students will be placed in a studio for music instruction appropriate to his or her skills and aspirations.

An examination in the area of basic theory will be administered for placement into the correct theory course. A functional keyboard examination will be given to non-keyboard majors for keyboard placement. Students complete the piano proficiency requirement for music degrees at Union University by passing MUS 222 Class Piano or equivalent.

Freshmen admitted to the department may declare any of the majors except performance. Students who wish to pursue the performance program will petition the applied faculty during the jury examination at the conclusion of the second semester of study. The applied faculty will assess the student’s achievement and potential and will either admit the student to the performance major or recommend that the student choose another major within the department.

All transfer students must complete the same application and audition processes outlined above. Transfer students with 8 or more hours in principal applied studies will register for MUS 250 during their first semester at Union. At the end of the semester, the student will perform a Sophomore Review to determine application of this course toward the degree requirements and future applied studies.

General Regulations for Students in the Department of Music

In addition to the regulations included in this Catalogue, music majors and minors are responsible for following the procedures, policies, and guidelines provided in the Department of Music Handbook. Recital attendance requirements, applied lesson attendance policies, juries, Freshman and Sophomore Reviews, recitals, program performance requirements, and other important information are included in the Handbook.

Ensemble requirements are based on degree, level, and principal applied area. Students should participate in both large and small ensembles as part of their musical experience. A mix of large and small ensembles is specified by program below:

  • BM in Music Education/Choral Emphasis requires 7 semesters of large choral ensembles of which 2 may be substituted by small vocal ensembles.
  • BM in Music Education/Instrumental Emphasis requires 7 semesters of band or orchestral instrumental ensembles. Students may substitute 2 semesters of smaller instrumental ensembles excluding MUS 181-481 and MUS 165-465.
  • BM in Worship Leadership requires 8 semesters of large choral ensembles and two semesters of Worship Leadership Lab (small ensemble participation).
  • BM in Commercial Music, Arranging & Composition Track requires 7 semesters of large choral or instrumental ensembles. Students may substitute 2 semesters of small ensembles.
  • BM in Commercial Music, Recording Engineering & Producing Track requires 7 semesters of large choral or instrumental ensembles. Students may substitute 2 semesters of small ensembles.
  • BM in Commercial Music, Songwriting Track requires 6 semesters of large choral or instrumental ensembles and 2 semesters of Commercial Music Lab (small ensemble participation).
  • BM in Commercial Music, Vocal Performance Track requires 7 semesters of large choral ensembles, 2 semesters of small ensembles, and 2 semesters of Commercial Music Lab (small ensemble participation).
  • BM in Commercial Music, Instrumental Performance Track requires 7 semesters of large instrumental ensembles, 2 semesters of small ensembles, and 2 semesters of Commercial Music Lab (small ensemble participation).
  • BM in Performance/Emphasis in Voice requires 8 semesters of choral ensembles and 4 semesters of Opera Workshop.
  • BM in Performance/Emphasis in Piano requires 5 semesters of any ensemble, 3 semesters of MUS 230, and 4 semesters of Piano Ensembles.
  • BM in Performance/Emphasis in Organ requires 6 semesters of any ensemble, 2 semesters of MUS 230, and 2 semesters of Piano Ensembles.
  • BM in Music Theory and BM in Composition each requires 8 semesters of large choral or instrumental ensembles for which the student is qualified of which 2 may be substituted by small ensemble participation. Keyboard principals only are required to complete 4 semesters of MUS 181-481 and/or MUS 230.
  • B.A. or B.S. Music Majors, B.M. Music Majors with Emphasis in Management and B.M. Music Majors with Elective Studies in Communication Arts are required to complete 6 semesters of choral ensembles if voice principals or 6 semesters of instrumental ensembles if instrument principals. Keyboard principals are required to complete 2 semesters of piano ensembles, 2 semesters of MUS 230 and 2 semesters of any ensemble.
  • B.A. Worship Leadership students are required to complete 6 semesters of an ensemble for which the student is qualified, two of which must be Worship Leadership Lab.
  • Music Minors are required to complete 4 semesters of choral ensembles if voice principals or 4 semesters of instrumental ensembles if instrumental principals. Keyboard principals are required to complete 1 semester of piano ensemble, 1 semester of MUS 230 and 2 semesters of any ensemble.

Curriculum

Professional Degrees

The Department offers majors leading to the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education, Performance, Worship Leadership, Commercial Music, Music Theory, and Composition. The B.M. in Music is also offered with an Emphasis in Management or with Elective Studies in Communication Arts. Each Bachelor of Music student selects an applied principal area of study. B.M. students are required to complete the University General Core Curriculum, Core Music studies that help prepare students for advanced training in their major area of study, and the specific requirements of their chosen major. Though the BM degree is demanding, the ambitious student is not precluded from completing a double major or a minor in a second music discipline or another discipline outside of music. As shown below, Music Education majors will complete the Professional Education core in fulfilling licensure requirements. Students selecting majors in Worship Leadership or Commercial Music will take a music core that differs from the other Bachelor of Music majors. (See the Worship Leadership and Commercial Music sections below for details.)

Assessment of Majors

At the end of each semester of required applied study (MUS/CMU 150-450), the student is examined by a committee of the applied music faculty to determine if the student is sufficiently prepared to progress to the succeeding level of applied study. At the conclusion of the fourth semester of study in the specified music program, the student will appear before the Sophomore Review Faculty Committee. This review will determine official acceptance to the Department of Music in the desired program of study. As part of this evaluation, students will perform representative repertoire related to their chosen major on their primary instrument. For students pursuing the BM in Commercial Music with tracks in Songwriting, Arranging & Composition, or Recording Engineering & Producing, or the BM in Composition, a portfolio of representative selections of their work related to their main area of study will be submitted for consideration as part of the Sophomore Review.

Four criteria will be assessed during the review:

  1. Academic performance (minimum GPA of 2.0 in all music courses)
  2. Spiritual growth/character/integrity
  3. Musical Aptitude (including musical skill, performance growth)
  4. Professionalism/Attitude (Love for music, relationship to other students, commitment to mission)

Student Organizations

NAfME is the student affiliate of the National Association for Music Education, the premier professional organization for K-12 music educators.

Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society elect outstanding juniors and seniors to membership on the basis of musicianship and scholarship.

Majors in Music with Discipline-Specific Honors

The Honors in Music program is intended to offer outstanding students the opportunity to engage in advanced, academically challenging projects that they might not encounter in the standard music curriculum. The program involves two elements: 1) Honors in Music students will contract to do 12 credit hours of upper-level courses; and 2) they will complete an Honors Project that ties together and builds upon work done for honors contracts.

Application Process

Students who meet the admission requirements may submit an application to the Honors in Music Coordinator during the advising period of the spring semester of their sophomore year. Admission is at the discretion of the Department of Music faculty. Applications must be approved by a majority vote of the music faculty at the next departmental meeting.

Admission Requirements

  1. A cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above after completing at least 15 credit hours at Union or transferring them in.
  2. A GPA of 3.5 or above in courses in the music major.

Upon admission to the Honors in Music program, the student will be assigned an Honors Project Director who will oversee the student’s progress in the Honors Contract courses and will guide the Honors Project.

Progression Requirements

To remain in the program, a student must:

  • maintain a GPA of 3.5 or above in courses for the major.
  • maintain a GPA of 3.5 or above in Honors Contract courses.
  • complete each item in the Honors Project timeline on time and to the satisfaction of the Honors Project Director.
  • attend all Honors in Music Forums (exemptions are possible in extenuating circumstances).

Students who fail to meet any of the criteria listed above may be placed on probation; students who fail to rectify their shortcomings within one semester may be dismissed from the program. Probation and dismissal decisions will be made by the Honors Project Director and the Honors in Music Coordinator in consultation with the Director of the Honors Community.

Honors Project

The Honors Project serves as the culmination of the student’s honors work in the music department. Building on previous work, the Honors Project represents a mature, independent work in the area of analysis, performance, creation, pedagogy, or production. Students will be placed into one of the tracks listed below according to their specific degree programs. Students may request to complete a project in a different track if they show interest in and aptitude for that track. Such requests must be approved by a majority vote of the music faculty. (Students pursuing the BA in Music degree may choose the Analytical, Performance, or Creative Track without first requesting approval. Students pursuing the BM or BA in Worship Leadership degree or the BM in Church Music degree may choose the Analytical or Performance Track without first requesting approval.)

  1. The Analytical Track encompasses students in the following degree programs: BA in Music, BM in Church Music, BM or BA in Worship Leadership, BM in Theory, BM with Emphasis in Management, BM with Elective Studies in Communication Arts, and BS in Music. Students in this track will write a research paper of approximately 35-40 pages that draws upon 15 or more appropriate sources. These students will also submit an annotated bibliography of their research and will present their findings at an Honors in Music Forum.
  2. The Performance Track encompasses students in the following degree programs: BA in Music, BM or BA in Worship Leadership, BM in Church Music, BM in Performance, and BM in Commercial Music with Emphasis in Performance. Students in this track will present a lecture-recital of 30 minutes or more that is organized around a particular theme or area of research. In preparation for the lecture-recital, students will submit an annotated bibliography of 8 or more appropriate sources and a formal paper of approximately 10 pages.
  3. The Creative Track encompasses students in the following degree programs: BA in Music, BM in Composition, BM in Commercial Music with Emphasis in Arranging & Composition, and BM in Commercial Music with Emphasis in Songwriting. Students in this track will present a live program of one or more new creative works. The program should be organized around a particular theme. The number and duration of works will depend on various factors and will be determined in consultation with the Honors Project Director. For the BM in Composition and the BM in Commercial Music with Emphasis in Songwriting, the works must be original compositions. For the BA in Music and the BM in Commercial Music with Emphasis in Arranging & Composition, the works may be original compositions or new arrangements of pre-existing compositions.

    Commercial Music students in this track also have the option to create an industry-ready demo recording or 4 or more new, original compositions or songs (not arrangements). The student will submit the demo to an established record label and/or release the demo publicly through one or more approved channels or platforms.

    All students in this track will write an essay of approximately 6 pages whose purpose will be to help an audience engage with and appreciate the music. All students will perform (or play back demo recordings, if that option was taken) at a live event and will deliver the content of their essays to the audience in written or oral form.
  4. The Pedagogical Track encompasses students in the BM in Music Education degree. Students in this track will write a work of qualitative or quantitative analysis of approximately 35-40 pages, which will include a literature review of 15 or more sources. Qualitative projects may have a theoretical or historical focus in line with the student’s interests but should remain relevant to the K-12 educational context. Quantitative projects should focus on assessing the effectiveness of one or more teaching techniques or resources. The student will make a public presentation of the project at an Honors in Music Forum.
  5. The Production Track encompasses students in the BM in Commercial Music with Emphasis in Recording Engineering & Producing degree. Students in this track will serve as the primary producer of 6 industry-ready singles, 2 industry-ready artist videos, or 1 short (15-minute) film with musical score. Students will secure all necessary copyright registrations and licensing. They will write a paper of 7-8 pages that reflects on the production process and lays out a marketing plan for the final product. The final product will be released publicly through one or more approved channels or platforms. Students will make a presentation of the project at an Honors in Music Forum.

All students will work with an Honors Project Director who will take the lead in guiding the project and responding to early drafts, and with a second reviewer who will provide some feedback later in the process.

The program description presented here is an overview. For complete guidelines, please inquire in the Department of Music.