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Guitar Performance

Our program offers a performance-intensive curriculum that aims to cultivate well-rounded musicians with a strong foundation in guitar playing. Designed to equip students with comprehensive musical skills and literacy, this degree paves the way for a successful professional career as a performer or further studies in music at the graduate level. At the Bass School of Music, we pride ourselves on graduating students who not only receive a degree but also develop discipline and versatility, setting them up for prosperous and fulfilling professional lives. Discover how our program can help you unleash your musical potential and embark on a rewarding journey as a guitarist.

The ³ûÖ­ÊÓÆµ Guitar program is a highly competitive program that is a unique synthesis of classical, folk, historical performance, jazz, and popular music. Graduates of the Bass School of Music leave campus not only with a diploma, but with a discipline and versatility that positions them for successful professional lives.

The degree plan below shows the courses required for completion of a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance. The course sequence is a suggestion only, and each student will meet with his or her advisor to discuss the most appropriate sequence for that student.

All degrees require a minimum of 124 earned credit hours. Students must be enrolled in 12 credit hours to be considered a full-time student. Students must receive credit for six semesters of Music Assembly. Students must attain the required piano proficiency and performance levels as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog.

  • Freshman Year
  • Sophomore Year
  • Junior Year
  • Senior Year

*All courses listed on this degree plan are required for the completion of this degree. The course sequence is a suggestion only, and each student will meet with his or her advisor to discuss the most appropriate sequence for that student.

All degrees require a minimum of 124 earned credit hours. Students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours to be considered a full-time student. Students must receive credit for six semesters of Music Assembly in their first six semesters at OKCU. Students must attain the required performance levels as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog.

FRESHMAN YEAR

First Semester

MUS 1112 Theory I — 2
MUS 1122 Aural Skills I — 2
AMI 1372 Applied Guitar — 2
AMA 1571 Class Piano I — 1
MUEN Major Ensemble — 1
Gen Ed — 3
Gen Ed — 3

Total Credits: 14

Second Semester

MUS 1212 Theory II — 2
MUS 1222 Aural Skills II — 2
AMI 1472 Applied Guitar — 2
AMA 1671 Class Piano II — 1
MUEN Major Ensemble — 1
Advisor-Approved Elective — 1
Gen Ed — 3
Gen Ed — 3

Total Credits: 15

SOPHOMORE YEAR

First Semester

MUS 2112 Theory III — 2
MUS 2122 Aural Skills III — 2
AMI 1372 Applied Guitar — 2
MUS 3322 Fretboard Harmony I — 2
MUEN Major Ensemble/Guitar Ensemble -or- Jazz Combo — 1
MUS 1123 Music & the Human Experience — 3
Advisor-Approved Elective — 1
Gen Ed — 3

Total Credits: 16

Second Semester

MUS 35XX Theory Topical Course — 2
MUS 35XX Theory Topical Course — 2
MUS 3133 Writing About Music — 3
MUS 3142 Conducting Fundamentals — 2
AMI 1472 Applied Guitar — 2
MUS 3422 Fretboard Harmony II — 2
MUEN Major Ensemble/Guitar Ensemble -or- Jazz Combo — 1
MUS 2252 Guitar Improvisation — 2

Total Credits: 16

JUNIOR YEAR

First Semester

MUS 3113 Orchestration — 3
MUS 2242 Jazz Improvisation — 2
AMI 1372 Applied Guitar — 2
MUEN 1361 Guitar Ensemble — 1
MUS 4233 Musicology Seminar — 3
Advisor-Approved Elective — 1
Gen Ed — 3

Total Credits: 15

Second Semester

MUS 4412 18th Cent. Counterpoint — 2
MUS 3242 Conducting - Instrumental or Vocal — 2
AMI 1472 Applied Guitar — 2
MUEN 1361 Guitar Ensemble — 1
MUED 3932 Guitar Pedagogy — 2
AMI 3441 Junior Recital — 1
Gen Ed — 3
Gen Ed — 3

Total Credits: 16

SENIOR YEAR 

First Semester

MUS 4112 Forms & Analysis — 2
MUS 4313 Composition I — 3
MUS 4822 Guitar Literature Seminar I — 2
AMI 1372 Applied Guitar — 2
MUEN 1361 Guitar Ensemble — 1
Gen Ed — 3
Gen Ed — 3
Total Credits: 13

Second Semester

MUS 4922 Guitar Literature Seminar II — 2
AMI 1472 Applied Guitar — 2
MUEN 1361 Guitar Ensemble — 1
AMI 4441 Senior Recital—  1
Gen Ed & Lab — 4
Gen Ed — 3
Gen Ed — 3

Total Credits: 16

*All courses listed on this degree plan are required for the completion of this degree. The course sequence is a suggestion only, and each student will meet with his or her advisor to discuss the most appropriate sequence for that student.

All degrees require a minimum of 124 earned credit hours. Students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours to be considered a full-time student. Students must receive credit for six semesters of Music Assembly in their first six semesters at OKCU. Students must attain the required performance levels as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog.

  • Required Courses: 22 Hours
  • Philosophy/Ethics: 3 Credit Hours
  • Literature: 3 Credit Hours
  • Mathematics: 3 Credit Hours
  • Social Science: 3 Credit Hours
  • Modern Language: 6 Credit Hours
  • Service Learning
  • The Arts and Cross-Cultural Study
  • After beginning coursework at OKCU, students may transfer up to 12 credit hours of general education courses from another institution.
  • All degrees require a minimum of 124 earned credit hours.


    Required Courses: 22 Hours

  • ENGL 1113 Composition I
  • ENGL 1213 Composition II
  • POLS 1113 Governance in America
  • LAS 1063 Liberal Arts Seminar**
  • HIST 1003/1103 US History to/Since 1876
  • REL 1003/2513 The Bible & Culture/Intro to World Religions
  • SCI 1003 & 1041 Methods of Science Inquiry & Integrated Science Lab
  • **Transfer students with at least 29 transferable hours (excluding CLEP, AP and IB credit) may substitute a single course of three or more credit hours for the LAS requirement. This course may be from the OKCU curriculum or transferred from another university. It may not meet any other degree requirement.


    Philosophy/Ethics: 3 Credit Hours

  • PHIL/REL 2163 Moral Issues In Contemporary Culture
  • PHIL/REL 2213 Moral And Social Philosophy
  • MGMT 2223/PHIL 2203 Business Ethics And Leadership
  • PHIL/PHRH 2513 Ethics Of Communication,
  • -or-
  • PHIL/REL 2703 Christian Ethics


    Literature: 3 Credit Hours

  • ENGL 2103 Western Literature
  • ENGL 2603 World Literature
  • ENGL 2403/2413/2703 Survey of British Literature
  • ENGL 2713/2813 Survey of American Literature


    Mathematics: 3 Credit Hours

  • MATH 1503 College Algebra
  • PSYC 2303/POLS 2303/SOC 2303 Statistics For Behavioral Sciences
  • Econ 2123 Business Statistics
  • -or-
  • a higher level math course


    Social Science: 3 Credit Hours

  • PSYC 1113 Intro to Psychology
  • SOC 2013 Intro to Sociology
  • -or-
  • ECON 2113 Principles of Microeconomics


    Modern Language: 6 Credit Hours

  • Six Hours (Through Beginner II Level) in A Single Language;
  • -or-
  • Four Years (Eight Semesters) of A Single Language in High School;
  • -or-
  • Equivalent Competency as Determined by the Department of Modern Language;
  • -or-
  • For international students whose first language is other than English, a TOEFL score of 550 or above (equivalent score on the IBT is 80 or above). Online coursework will not be accepted.


    Service Learning

  • See course schedule each semester for courses approved as service learning courses.


    The Arts and Cross-Cultural Study

  • The arts study requirement is satisfied by any course beginning with the prefix MUS. The cross-cultural study requirement is fulfilled by:
  • REL 2513 Introduction to World Religions
  • ENGL 2603 World Literature
  • -or-
  • MUS 1123 Music and the Human Experience.

BM Guitar Performance Major Auditions

– Getting Started: Applicants will be contacted by the music faculty upon submitting the School of Music's application.
– Audition: Guitar Performance applicants must audition for the School of Music – please consult the recommended materials for guitar auditions.

Matthew Denman
Matthew Denman
Assistant Professor of Guitar
[email protected] · ·
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