Music Department

Department Faculty

Scott Finch
Hyung Lok Kim
Brandon Kreuze
David Tahere

Department Goals

The faculty members of the Music Department at Covenant are committed to the task of helping students grow academically, musically, and spiritually. During students’ time of involvement with the music faculty and with the music curriculum at Covenant, it is intended that they will learn significant aspects of the theory and structure of music, music history and literature. It is also intended that students should develop their skills in aural perception and performance to a significant degree.

The development of musical gifts is seen as an important work to which faculty and students are called. All music study is approached with the view that such study will offer students and faculty unique insights into and knowledge of the created structure of reality, insights and knowledge which only the art and discipline of music can provide.

Requirements for All Music Majors

Music majors are encouraged to attend student recitals and are required to participate in departmental ensembles. The ensemble requirements vary according to chosen instrument and degree. All majors are required to take eight (8) semesters of Performance Seminar; minors take four (4) semesters. The number of semesters required for Performance Seminar is modified when a student studies abroad during any semester and for transfer students into the program. Each degree requires a specific number of semesters of applied music and ensemble participation regardless of number of credit hours earned.

All music majors must demonstrate basic proficiency in piano by showing competency in performance, reading and functional skills. Evaluation areas include a prepared solo piano piece, a traditional hymn, an instrumental or vocal accompaniment, sight-reading, two-octave major and harmonic minor scales to four sharps/flats, and vocal warm-up exercises. Specific information about piano proficiency requirements is available through the Music Department. Students entering the program with previous piano study may arrange to be examined in piano proficiency skills during their first semester. Music majors lacking keyboard training should enroll in private piano instruction either with or without credit during their first semester as a music major. Music majors are expected to complete their piano proficiency exam by the end of the sophomore year.

Scholarships or performance grants are available to gifted students. Auditions for music scholarships should be in person when possible. However, when circumstances prevent a prospective student from appearing in person, an audition by video recording will be accepted. Information on music scholarship and audition guidelines can be viewed online.

Applied Music: Some Music Department faculty offer private instruction in their area of expertise. The department also maintains a list of local artists who teach applied music for the department. Students needing instruction in a performance area not currently represented among the full-time faculty will be assigned to other local private teachers. In cases where instruction is taken off campus, the student must obtain approval from the department chairman. Music majors and minors may choose to also pursue study in a secondary area of applied music for credit or non-credit.

Accompanist fee: Unless it is determined to be unnecessary by the applied instructor, all students taking lessons in non-keyboard instruments will be assigned an accompanist and assessed an accompanist fee of $100. Students may expect the accompanist to attend lessons and schedule independent rehearsals as appropriate to the assigned literature and performance opportunities. Students who perform a recital and utilize the services of a staff accompanist will be charged $250 in the semester during which they perform the event.

Teacher Certification

Music Pre-MAT

Students who are interested in teaching music at the P-12 level should complete the Music Education (Pre-MAT) Concentration, in addition to the Common Music Core for the BA degree in music, and then enroll in the one-year Master of Arts in Teaching at Covenant College. It is recommended that the Education Minor be completed. Three of the courses in the minor, EDU 121 Introduction to Teaching , EDU 222 Educational Psychology and EDU 361 Education of Exceptional Children , are required for admission to the MAT. For information about certification, see Teacher Certification under the Education section of the catalog.

For more information see Dr. Sarah Donaldson in Brock Hall 316 (sarah.donaldson@covenant.edu).

Programs

Major

Minor and Concentrations

Music Minor

Courses

Music: General Music

(Also see courses under Applied Music, Ensembles, History/Literature, Recitals, and Theory/Composition)

Music: Applied Music

Music: Ensembles

Chattanooga Symphony and Opera

Advanced student musicians may qualify for membership in the orchestra or opera chorus, depending on open positions. Inquiries regarding auditions and other details should be addressed to the Managing Director, Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402

Music: History/Literature

Music: Theory/Composition