Music
Tune Up Your Music Skills
What jobs can you do with a
music degree?
Make a living doing what you love.
Vocal coach
Accompanist
Director of choral activities or band
Performer
Music Teacher
Music Therapist
What’s the Difference at DWU?
- Audition with confidence for a music scholarship.
- Broaden your musical knowledge with courses like world music, conducting, vocal literature, music history and others.
- Explore related majors and minors like music education, communication or creative writing.
- Share your gifts in concert ensembles and present a performance recital in your senior year.
- Use music as a starting point for a variety of careers: vocal coach, accompanist, director or music teacher.
Performing Arts Scholarships
At Dakota Wesleyan University, all students—regardless of major—are welcome to participate in our music ensembles, and you may be eligible for a Performing Arts Scholarship.
If you’re interested in a music scholarship, we’d love to hear you audition! Students who receive a scholarship are asked to stay involved in at least one ensemble each semester while the scholarship is active.
Audition Guidelines:
Vocal Scholarship:
- Prepare one solo piece—something you would sing at a contest, in voice lessons, or for an audition. You may bring your own accompanist, or one can be provided.
Piano Scholarship:
- Prepare one solo of your choice—something you would play at a recital, for a contest, or in lessons. Choose a piece that highlights your technique and musicality.
Instrumental Scholarship:
- Prepare one appropriate solo, such as something you’d perform at a contest, in lessons, or for all-state. Pick a piece that showcases your musicianship and skill on your instrument.
Planning to submit an audition video?
- Record your audition video using your phone or other device. A simple setup is perfectly fine!
- Upload your video to a platform like YouTube, Google Drive, or Vimeo.
- Make sure the video is set to “public” or “anyone with the link can view.”
- Complete the Performing Arts Scholarship Form and include your video link.
Audition Tips and Tricks:
- Choose music that best highlights your musical ability, tone quality, technique, and expression.
- Pop music, while fun, typically doesn’t show the full range of your skills. We encourage you to select classical, jazz, or other traditional solo literature commonly used for contests, lessons, or auditions.
- Be sure to warm up ahead of time and arrive early if you’re auditioning in person.
- If you need an accompanist, just let us know—we’re happy to help!
Music Courses
Broaden your knowledge base of music styles and formats.
MUS 115 Fundamentals of Music
3 Hours
Students will learn tonal harmony in four-part writing using diatonic triads and seventh chords in all inversions. They will analyze musical excerpts related to voice leading, chord use and nonchord tones, and aural skills. Original compositions and other written projects are required. This course partially fulfills requirements leading to K–12 certification in vocal music. General Education: Effective Expression – Artistic Appreciation
MUS 116 Keyboard Skills I
1 Hours
Individual 30-minute weekly lessons for practical application at the keyboard of concepts studied in Music Theory I. Includes scales, intervals, triads, chord progressions, cadences, melodies with chordal accompaniment, sight-reading and transposition.
MUS 131 Ensemble
1 Hours
Various performing ensembles, both vocal and instrumental, will meet. Students may take this class for credit and repeat it up to four times. It may be used to partially fulfill requirements leading to K–12 certification in vocal music. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Co-requisite: Students enrolled in MUS 231B or MUS 331B, Women’s Chamber Choir, must be concurrently enrolled in MUS 232/332, Wesleyan Choir.
MUS 215 Music Theory II
3 Hours
Students will learn tonal harmony in four-part writing using chromatically altered chords, secondary dominant and leading tone chords, mode mixture, augmented sixth and Neapolitan chords, and modulation to closely related keys. Students will analyze musical excerpts related to voice leading, chromatic chord use and modulation, and aural skills. Original compositions and other written projects are required. This course partially fulfills requirements leading to K–12 certification in vocal music. Prerequisite: MUS 115.
MUS 216 Keyboard Skills II
1 Hours
Individual 30-minute weekly lessons for practical application at the keyboard of concepts studies in Music Theory II. Includes non-chord tones, seventh chords, secondary dominants, modulation, 2-3 part score reading/piano pieces, harmonization, sight-reading, and transposition.
MUS 231 Ensemble
1 Hours
Various performing ensembles, both vocal and instrumental, will meet. Students may take this class for credit and repeat it up to four times. It may be used to partially fulfill requirements leading to K–12 certification in vocal music. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Co-requisite: Students enrolled in MUS 231B or MUS 331B, Women’s Chamber Choir, must be concurrently enrolled in MUS 232/332, Wesleyan Choir.
MUS 232 Dakota Wesleyan Choir
1 Hours
Membership in the Dakota Wesleyan Choir is open by audition to all students. The choir presents two major concerts each semester, including concerts off campus at schools and churches and occasionally music for special community events. The choir performs music from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Students may take this class for credit up to four times.
MUS 233 Highlanders
1 Hours
This is a select vocal performing ensemble, open by audition only. Students may take this class for credit and repeat it up to four times. It may be used to partially fulfill requirements leading to K–12 certification in vocal music. Prerequisites: Audition and consent of instructor. Concurrent enrollment in MUS 232 or MUS 332.
MUS 311 Music History I
3 Hours
Students will study the historical development of music in Western civilization from the Medieval period to the end of the Baroque. Emphasis is placed on music’s cultural implications, composers, styles and performance practices. Written assignments, including two major papers, are required. This course partially fulfills requirements leading to K–12 certification in vocal music.
MUS 312 Music History II
3 Hours
Students will study the historical development of music in Western civilization during the Pre-Classical through the Romantic eras. This course continues to place an emphasis on music’s cultural implications, composers, styles and performance practices. Written assignments, including two major papers, are required. This course partially fulfills requirements leading to K–12 certification in vocal music.
MUS 313 Music History III
3 Hours
Students will study the historical development of music in Western civilization from the late 19th century to the present with an additional focus on non-Western musical styles. This course continues to place an emphasis on music’s cultural implications, composers, styles and performance practices. Written assignments, including two major papers, are required. This course partially fulfills requirements leading to K–12 certification in vocal music.
MUS 315 Music Theory III
3 Hours
Students will study chromatically altered chords, secondary dominant and leading tone chords, and modulation to distant keys. Students will continue to develop keyboard and aural skills. Original compositions and other written projects are required. This course partially fulfills requirements leading to K-12 certification in vocal music. Prerequisite: MUS 215.
MUS 330 Vocal Literature & Pedagogy
2 Hours
This course is designed to help students gain a better understanding of the vocal mechanism, its physiology and correct use. Students will learn basic techniques of singing and methods for teaching singing.This course includes a survey of art songs and vocal literature particularly suited for secondary students. This course partially fulfills requirements leading to K-12 certification in vocal music. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
MUS 331 Ensemble
1 Hours
Various performing ensembles, both vocal and instrumental, will meet. Students may take this class for credit and repeat it up to four times. It may be used to partially fulfill requirements leading to K–12 certification in vocal music. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Co-requisite: Students enrolled in MUS 231B or MUS 331B, Women’s Chamber Choir, must be concurrently enrolled in MUS 232/332, Wesleyan Choir.
MUS 332 Dakota Wesleyan Choir
1 Hours
Membership in the Dakota Wesleyan Choir is open by audition to all students. The choir presents two major concerts each semester, including concerts off campus at schools and churches and occasionally music for special community events. The choir performs music from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Students may take this class for credit up to four times.
MUS 333 Highlanders
1 Hours
This is a select vocal performing ensemble, open by audition only. Students may take this class for credit and repeat it up to four times. It may be used to partially fulfill requirements leading to K–12 certification in vocal music. Prerequisites: Audition and consent of instructor. Concurrent enrollment in MUS 232 or MUS 332.
MUS 340 Secondary Choral Methods
2 Hours
Students will learn methods and materials for developing comprehensive musicianship through choral music. Students will consider the changing voice, choral music repertoire and rehearsal techniques, methods for recruiting and organizing choral ensembles, budgeting and program administration.
MUS 341 String Methods
1 Hours
Students will learn the basic technique of playing stringed instruments with an emphasis on a basic understanding, care, maintenance, and effective teaching of the instruments.
MUS 345 Band/Symphonic Methods
2 Hours
Students will learn methods and materials for developing comprehensive musicianship through instrumental music. Students will consider instrumental pedagogy and philosophy, instrumental repertoire and rehearsal techniques, methods for recruiting and organizing band and orchestral ensembles, budgeting, and program administration.
MUS 350 Conducting
3 Hours
This is a comprehensive course in conducting. Students will learn score reading, score preparation and analysis, and conducting techniques. Preparation and performance of music for the public are required. This course partially fulfills requirements leading to K–12 certification in vocal music.
MUS 351 Conducting II
3 Hours
Students will continue to develop their skills as a conductor by developing independence of hands, advanced patterns, and presence as a musical leader. Emphasis will be placed on score study, comprehensive musicianship, and developing a personalized conducting style. Students will be asked to conduct university ensembles outside of regularly scheduled classroom time. Prerequisite: MUS350
MUS 415 Music Theory IV
3 Hours
This course is a continuation of the Music Theory sequence with emphasis on 16th and 18th century counterpoint and 20th century chromatic harmony.
MUS 425 Recital
1 Hours
The recital is the culmination for all seniors pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in music. Repertoire for the recital should be about 25–30 minutes in length per person for a half recital, and 45–50 minutes in length for a solo recital. The music performed in the recital should show a variety of style periods and technical skills appropriate to a collegiate recital. Students are graded on pass/fail basis for their recital credit.
Get to Know Your Professors
Learn music from our talented professors. Our low student-to-teacher ratio offers
valuable one-on-one interaction.
Clinton Desmond, DMA
Department Chair | Director of Choral Activities
Elizabeth Soladay
Instructor of Piano, Organ and Strings | LyricWood Orchestra Director
Erin Desmond, M.M.Ed.
Associate Professor of Music | University Accompanist
Jason Laczkoski
Instructor of Instrumental Music
Performance Opportunities
Choral Ensembles
- Dakota Wesleyan Choir – As our largest choir, Dakota Wesleyan Choir is open to all who wish to raise their voice in masterworks from the Renaissance to the 21st century.
- The Highlanders – As a select auditioned ensemble, the Highlanders perform top quality vocal chamber music from Renaissance polyphony to vocal jazz.
Instrumental Ensembles
- LyricWood String Orchestra – LyricWood is an intergenerational strings ensemble where you will get to meet and perform with community members, young and old.
- Wesleyan Band – All DWU students, of any major, are invited to join the Wesleyan Band. You will have the opportunity to study, rehearse and perform a diverse repertoire of challenging music.
- Wesleyan Bells – As the only collegiate handbell choir in the state, Wesleyan Bells gives you the chance to be one part of a larger musical group made up of your friends and classmates.
- Wesleyan Jazz Band — a formalized ensemble bringing the opportunity for interested students to study and perform jazz in front of audiences on familiar instruments like piano, bass, guitar, drum set, trumpet, trombone, and saxophone.
Perform
Locally – Each semester we have two major concerts. Multiple ensembles perform beautiful collages of music from many genres. Outside of these two concerts, we sprinkle in performances for events in the community, specialty concerts with our small ensembles, and service opportunities with local nursing homes.
Regionally and Beyond – The Highlanders and Wesleyan Bells tour each spring, and are joined by the Dakota Wesleyan Choir and other ensembles every other year. On these tours, experience music on the road, performing in a variety of venues and meeting people from all walks of life.
Musical Theatre – No matter your involvement at DWU, you are able to participate in musical theatre productions. Spread your wings on stage. Our students have been in productions like “Les Misérables,” “Rock of Ages,” “Mamma Mia!” and more.
Related Majors & Minors
Education
You can have a profound impact on the next generation when you enroll in an education program at DWU.
Communication
Excellent communication skills are sought by every employer, and it’s a true professional who elevates the skill of communicating to an art.
Creative Writing
Do you aspire to write fiction, poetry or screenplays?
