Department of Music
Dr. Matthew Halper, Chairperson
Contact Number: 908-737-4330
Location: PA-123
Email: music@kean.edu
Kean University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. (See the Kean Conservatory of Music Handbook for details.) The Department of Music offers a B.A. in Music, B.M. in Music Education and a B.M. in Performance with an Emphasis in Pedagogy. The Second Major Program is also available; information about these programs are found in the Conservatory of Music Handbook. Students may also pursue a music minor.
Acceptance to the Conservatory
To be accepted as a music major, minor or concentration, students must complete a satisfactory audition on an instrument or voice, and must take placement tests in music theory, history, and piano. Auditions must be scheduled prior to registration of the students’ first semester. Information regarding audition requirements is in the Conservatory of Music Handbook. Please call or email the Conservatory to schedule an audition: music@kean.edu, 908-737-4330.
Primary and Secondary Ensembles
Music majors and minors are required to participate in a primary ensemble determined by their principal area of performance as follows: MUS 3800 Concert Choir for students with a performance concentration in voice, piano, or guitar, MUS 3850 Orchestra for students with a concentration in strings, and MUS 3868 Wind Ensemble for students with a concentration in brass, woodwind, and percussion. A number of secondary ensembles (including chamber music, chamber winds, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, guitar ensemble and specific instrument ensembles) may be chosen with advisement and approval of the ensemble director.
Ensemble Requirements
Full-time music majors enrolled in private lessons must take two ensembles, the primary ensemble determined by the student’s performance area (MUS 3800, 3850, or 3868) and a secondary ensemble selected through advisement from Conservatory list of ensembles with advisement. Part-time music majors enrolled in private lessons must take the primary ensemble based on their principal instrument or as advised. Music minors taking private studio lessons must enroll in the primary ensemble determined by their performance area or as advised. Students not meeting ensemble requirements may be dropped from private studio lessons.
Other Policies
All music majors and minors enrolled in private lessons are required to perform in at least one student recital each semester, attend all Conservatory-wide sessions, and take a jury (performance examination) at the end of the semester. In addition, music majors must adhere to the policies listed in the Conservatory of Music Handbook.