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Music Department

 
Located in Music City U.S.A., a music industry capital of the world.

The Department of Music offers the Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.) in Music with concentrations in:

The Department of Music also offers the Master of Science Degree (M.S.) in Music Education as well as a Minor in Music for students majoring in other disciplines.

All degrees offered by the Department of Music are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). The Music Education program is also approved by the Tennessee Department of Education and accredited by the National Council on the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) through the University's teacher certification program.

View Music Degree Programs


PARTICIPATE IN AN ENSEMBLE, CHOIR, OR BAND!

The Department of Music supports a full complement of vocal and instrumental performance ensembles and opportunities, including the Orchestra, String Ensemble, Tennessee State University Choir , Meistersingers , Symphonic and Concert Band, two Jazz Ensembles, Percussion Ensemble, Pep Band, the TSU Aristocrat of Bands marching band, the TSU ShowStoppers Show Choir, and a host of small vocal and mixed- and like-instrument ensembles. The Opera Workshop mounts at least one opera, including sets, costumes, and orchestra, each year. The Commercial Music Ensemble compliments these traditional groups by providing instruction and performance in contemporary, popular music styles.

Watch video of TSU student and faculty ensembles and guest performances on our YouTube channel .

In the video spotlight, Jacob Dodd of Jackson State University, this year's First Place winner of the 2012 James A. Hefner HBCU Piano Competition, performs his top prizewinning rendition of "Troubled Water".



The TSU Community Academy of Music & Arts has a full schedule of events planned for the summer:

High School Art & Media Camp
May 29-June 15, 2012

Music Theater Camp
July 9-21, 2012

Safari Arts Camp
June 11-22, 2012

CSI Mock Trial Camp
June 25-29, 2012

Also, registration is under way for the 4th Annual TSU Guitar Summit, to be held July 28-July 1.
Visit the official website for more information


CLICK HERE for our complete events calendar.


Vocal Music News:

New class: MUSC 2050, Gospel Chorus
An undergraduate performance ensemble that will explore the history and literature of gospel music.

AUDITIONS for University Choir, Meistersingers, and Gospel Chorus will be held Monday, August 20, 2012, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and
Monday and Tuesday, August 27th and 28th, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Choral Rehearsal Room 101A, TSU Performing Arts Center.

SPRING 2012 NEWS ITEMS:

Watch Commercial Music student Hunter Davis perform on Nashville's Fox 17 morning show!


TSU hosts 2012 James A. Hefner HBCU Piano Competition
Visit the competition page to hear the winning performance.


The CAMA Community Choir needs you!
TSU's Community Academy of Music & Arts Community Choir meets on Mondays from 6-8 PM. Click the link to learn more!


Aristocrat of Bands Compete In Honda Band Battle 2012 - watch the fieldshow.

TSU's Aristocrat of Bands was one of eight bands from across the country selected for the finals of the Honda Battle of the Bands competition January 28, 2012 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.



Note to Music Appreciation and Music History students:

The Nashville Symphony offers heavily discounted tickets through their Soundcheck program. Fulfill your concert attendance requirements affordably in one of the best-sounding venues in Nashville, the Schermerhorn Center for the Arts.

NOTEWORTHY STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Congratulations to Candida Sylvania and Gerald Chaney, who each won $2,500 scholarships to TSU at the 105 Voices of History concert at the Grand Ole Opry House on January 22, 2012.
  • Brooke Haynes, TSU's representative to the 105 Voices of History, the national HBCU choir, was awarded the top scholarship at the 105 Voices' annual concert on the stage of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Congratulations Brooke, you've done us all proud in representing TSU on the national stage! 
  •  In alumni news, TSU Commercial Music graduate Adrian Jakes recently landed a position with Real Networks as an audio optimizer working with Verizon RingBack tones. Congratulations Adrian!
  • Commercial Music graduate Jade Atwaters recently performed at the African Street Festival, and was invited to perform of WMDB 880 AM as a result! She also just secured a full-time position as an Education Assistant at Croft Middle School.
  • TSU Music Dept. graduate Brandon Hooks participated in the International Black Film Festival this past fall. Brandon provided original music for "A Walk in My Shoes", a TSU Dept. of Communications documentary about homelessness. Earlier in the day, Brandon was a panelist at IBFF for a professional workshop entitled "The Director/Composer Relationship", moderated by TSU adjunct professor Scott Hallgren.




TSU MUSIC STUDENTS VISIT VIENNA AND FLORENCE

Dr. Vicki King took ten TSU music students to Europe this past summer. Dr. King reported from Vienna: "The students have been great and have represented the University well.  We went to the Vienna Conservatory of Music today for a lecture and tour by the head of the voice division and they were able to see a rehearsal of an opera with a student cast and orchestra.  I wore them out touring the Schönbrunn palace this afternoon.  We walked a total of 6 miles today.  Twice they have been recognized as TSU students by people we have seen--once at the Atlanta airport and once in Vienna.  Both of the people wanted to know if they were in that Aristocrat of Bands, so tell the band directors they are known all over the world."


TSU music students at Beethoven's grave.

TSU Music students with Dr. Vicki King at Beethoven's grave in Vienna.
Click here to view the full-size image.