Located in jaw-droppingly stunning Ashland, Oregon, the Oregon Center for the Arts at SOU Music Program features world-class artists teaching advanced music students in a serious, career-oriented environment. We encourage students to develop as artists, with emphases on individual exploration,creative collaboration, and cross-hybridization within the arts.
The mission of the Music program at Southern Oregon University is to develop our students’ creative and technical abilities and prepare them to perform, teach, create, and support music-making in their communities throughout the world. We support music as part of a liberal arts education at Southern Oregon University by fostering the joy and discipline of learning, encouraging the exploration of diverse cultures, developing the ability to collaborate, and by preparing students to make music a meaningful part of their lives.
Music offers music majors and minors an integrated curriculum designed to teach the varied skills necessary for a professional career in music and to develop the student’s understanding and appreciation for the art of music. Coursework combines class and individual instruction by nationally and internationally renowned artists with innovative, computer-aided instruction. Curricular offerings are designed to enable highly motivated students with diverse musical backgrounds to become skilled musicians capable of making artistic musical contributions to society as performers, educators, composers, scholars, music-business professionals, and active supporters and appreciators of music.
The Music Program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. The faculty is dedicated to promoting a positive, student-centered environment in which students-by performance, creative activity, research, scholarship, and teaching opportunities-develop the skills, independence of thought, and discipline to fulfill their musical aspirations.
The Outcomes of the Music Program:
All SOU Music ensembles are open to students of any major. Some ensembles may require audition for placement and/or participation. Ensembles include: Concert Choir and Wind Ensemble. All other organizations are open to all qualified students by instructor consent: Chamber Choir, Jefferson State Choral Coalition, Jazz Band, Opera Workshop, Rogue Valley Symphony Orchestra, Raider Band, Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon, Saxophone Quartet, Clarinet Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Percussion Quartet, Woodwind Quintet, Gamelan Ensemble, Horn Quartet, Saxophone Orchestra, Brass Quintet, Guitar Ensemble, Jazz Combos, and Chamber Ensembles. In addition to serving as an integral part of the musical training of majors, these organizations enable non-majors to participate in musical performances.
Performance scholarships are available to outstanding students who are planning to major in music. These scholarships are awarded on the basis of a performance audition held in February for the following academic year.
Students who would like to teach music in the Oregon public schools must complete a bachelor’s degree in music before applying for admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program at SOU. Interested students should consult the Music Program for an appropriate advisor and the School of Education regarding admission requirements for the MAT program.
Students must prepare in advance to increase their chances of acceptance into this competitive program. Practica, internships, and volunteer experiences working with students in the public schools prior to application to the MAT program are required.
Music minor course offerings include a selection of courses taken from the Music Core Curriculum. Nonmajors may participate in a number of courses, including all ensembles (some by audition), all history classes, and class lessons in guitar, piano, and voice. Private lessons in piano, organ, voice, strings, and most wind, brass, and percussion instruments are available to qualified students as space allows.
The mission of the Music program at Southern Oregon University is to develop students’ creative and technical abilities in ways to prepare them to perform, teach, create, and support music making in their communities throughout the world. We support music as a part of a liberal arts education at Southern Oregon University by fostering the joy and discipline of learning, encouraging the exploration of diverse cultures, developing the ability to collaborate, and by preparing students to make music a meaningful part of their lives. The program has 8 outcomes.
Students will:
SOU Music Program
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6101
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