Music Department

The Music Department is one of eighteen academic departments at Knox. It offers one major, four minors, and a music education preparatory program. The department is located in CFA.

Department Faculty

Current

• Nicole Whittaker, Instructor, Department Chair
• Laura Lane, Professor, Choir Director
• Amber Clark, Lecturer
• Jeremy Day-O'Connell, Assistant Professor
• Sarah Day-O'Connell, Assistant Professor
• Carolyn Kellert-Griffiths, Lecturer
• Sherry Kocek, Lecturer
• Bernie Potter, Lecturer
• Carolyn Suda, Lecturer

Music

See main page at Music.

The department offers one Music major, five specialized minors, and a music education preparatory program.

Music (major)

This major allows advanced study in Music.

Courses Required for the Music major

10 credits:

• All of the following:
  • MUS 240 (Theory I)
  • MUS 241 (Theory II)
  • MUS 242 (Theory III)
  • MUS 343 (Form and Analysis)
  • MUS 361 (Music History I: Renaissance/Baroque Periods)
  • MUS 362 (Music History II: Classical Period)
  • MUS 363 (Music History III: Romantic Period)
  • MUS 364 (Music History IV: 20th Century)
• Two additional courses in the department, at least one of which is at the 300-level
• Proficiency in piano, completed before enrollment in MUS 242 and before the end of sophomore year

Music Theory (minor)

This minor allows for specialized study in Music.

Courses Required for the Music Theory minor

5 credits:

• All of the following:
  • MUS 240 (Theory I)
  • MUS 241 (Theory II)
  • MUS 242 (Theory III)
  • MUS 343 (Form and Analysis)
• One of the following:
  • MUS 361 (Music History I: Renaissance/Baroque Periods)
  • MUS 362 (Music History II: Classical Period)
  • MUS 363 (Music History III: Romantic Period)
  • MUS 364 (Music History IV: 20th Century)

Jazz Studies (minor)

This minor allows for specialized study in Music.

Courses Required for the Jazz Studies minor

5 credits:

• All of the following:
  • MUS 120 (History of Jazz)
  • MUS 240 (Theory I)
  • MUS 241 (Theory II)
  • MUS 242 (Theory III)
  • MUS 303 (Composition Independent Study)

Music History (minor)

This minor allows for specialized study in Music.

Courses Required for the Music History minor

5 credits:

• All of the following:
  • MUS 240 (Theory I)
  • MUS 241 (Theory II)
• Three of the following:
  • MUS 361 (Music History I: Renaissance/Baroque Periods)
  • MUS 362 (Music History II: Classical Period)
  • MUS 363 (Music History III: Romantic Period)
  • MUS 364 (Music History IV: 20th Century)

Performance (minor)

This minor allows for specialized study in Music.

Courses Required for the Performance minor

5 credits:

• All of the following:
  • MUS 240 (Theory I)
  • MUS 241 (Theory II)
• One of the following:
  • MUS 361 (Music History I: Renaissance/Baroque Periods)
  • MUS 362 (Music History II: Classical Period)
  • MUS 363 (Music History III: Romantic Period)
  • MUS 364 (Music History IV: 20th Century)
• Two credits of 300-level private lessons

Specialized Minor

With department approval a student may choose a specialized course of study totaling no more than 5 credits in the department.

Music Education Program

This course of study is designed for students planning to teach music to elementary and secondary school students. Those who complete the program are certified by the state of Illinois to begin teaching immediately after graduation.

Courses Required for the Music Education Program Certification

• A Music major
• An Educational Studies (Secondary) major, with EDUC 319 (Curriculum Development and Teaching in Special Content Areas) instead of EDUC 318 (Curriculum Development and Teaching in the Secondary School)
• All of the following:
  • MUS 201 (Music in the Elementary Schools)
  • MUS 307 (Instrumental Teaching Techniques I)
  • MUS 309 (Secondary School Choral Methods)
  • MUS 311 (Fundamentals of Conducting)
• One of the following:
  • MUS 308 (Instrumental Teaching Techniques II)
  • MUS 310 (Vocal Pedagogy/Rehearsal Techniques)
• Proficiency in both piano and another instrument

Meeting the Competency Requirements

• Writing Requirement: MUS 361, MUS 362, MUS 364
• Oral Requirement: MUS 361, MUS 362, MUS 364
• Information Literacy Requirement: Use of technology throughout major sequence