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Music Performance Minor
Do you want to explore and develop your passion for performing music? By minoring in music performance at Dordt, you’ll gain knowledge and appreciation for music you can use throughout your life. Combine it with the right major and it just might create the perfect harmony for your future.
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Program Overview
The music performance minor was designed for students who seek to stay involved in music. Whether instrumental and vocal, you’ll receive teaching to help you develop your abilities.
As a music performance minor at Dordt, you'll take private lessons, learn through thoughtful instruction, and be active in Dordt's choral or instrumental ensembles. You’ll also learn how to apply your minor to whatever major you pursue as a student.
What You'll Learn
As a music performance minor, you’ll take courses in music fundamentals, ear training, music literature, pedagogy, and advanced study. You won’t simply get better at singing or get better at playing an instrument. You’ll be challenged, and you’ll leave Dordt confident in your ability to perform music at a high level.
What You Can Do With A Music Performance Minor
Students pursuing a music performance minor will develop a deep knowledge of various musical instruments and tools. There are plenty of opportunities for those who choose to minor in music performance, including:
Musician
Musicians possess the talent and skills needed to play an instrument.
Conductor
A Composer puts together different aspects of music in order to create rhythm and harmony.
Conductor
A Conductor brings together different music and instruments to create a musical piece of art.
Career Preparation
Dordt University's 2023 Career Outcome Rate was 99.4%! “This data point tells us that Dordt graduates are prepared for the careers of their choosing,” said Amy Westra, director of Career Development. “A Dordt education provides students with industry-relevant courses and connections that make a difference.”
To earn a music performance minor, students will need to complete four foundational music courses, one music literature course, some pedagogy courses, three semesters of performances, four semesters of private lessons, one advanced study course, and four semesters of large ensembles.
*Note: Music performance minors must audition for acceptance into the minor program no later than their junior year. Music performance minors are required to present a half recital. They must audition for the recital during the semester or year prior to the recital.
- Music Fundamentals: A course laying the foundation for musicianship and further study in music through the study of music fundamentals, i.e., rudimentary skills in notation, analysis, and composition as well as exposure to basic music literature.
- Ear Training I: The development of basic skills in the reading and notation of rhythm and of diatonic melodies in major and minor, in hearing and playing primary triads, and in identifying major and minor scales and simple intervals. Corequisite: Music 103 or advanced placement.
- Diatonic Harmony: Continuation of Music 103 through all aspects of diatonic harmony. Prerequisite: Music 103 or advanced placement.
- Ear Training II: Continuation of Music 103L. The further development of skills in the reading and notation of more complex rhythms and of diatonic melodies, in singing in alto clef, in hearing and singing all simple diatonic intervals, in hearing and singing all diatonic triads, and in identifying major, minor, and some modal scales. Prerequisite: Music 103L or advanced placement.
- Introduction to Music Literature: A survey of the basic repertoire and of masterpieces in several genres (art songs, symphonies, concerti, major choral works, etc.), involving extensive and intensive listening, and study of style and form.
- Music History and Literature I: Study of the literatures, cultural contexts, and intertextual relationships of Western music, from Antiquity through the 15th century. Prerequisite: Music 104; or permission of instructor.
- Music History and Literature II: Study of the literatures, cultural contexts, and intertextual relationships of Western music, from the 15th through the 18th century. Prerequisite: Music 104; or permission of instructor.
- Music History and Literature III: Study of the literatures, cultural contexts, and intertextual relationships of Western music, from the 18th through the 19th century. Prerequisite: Music 104; or permission of instructor.
- Vocal Pedagogy: Methods of teaching voice.
- Piano Pedagogy and Literature: Study of techniques and methods of teaching piano and survey of literature for the piano.
- Brass Pedagogy: Methods of teaching brass instruments.
- Woodwind Pedagogy: Methods of teaching woodwind instruments.
- String Pedagogy: Methods of teaching string instruments.
- Percussion Pedagogy: Methods of teaching percussion instruments.
- Performance Class: Concert and recital attendance; presentations of special topics related to music.
- Advanced Voice Study: Advanced voice literature and preparation of a half junior or senior recital.
- Advanced Piano Study: Advanced piano literature and preparation of a half junior or senior recital.
- Advanced Organ Study: Advanced organ literature and preparation of a half junior or senior recital.
- Advanced Instrument Study: Advanced instrumental literature and preparation of a half junior or senior recital.
- Private Voice Lessons
- Private Piano Lessons
- Private Organ Lessons
- Private Instrument Lessons
Ready to take the next step?
Faculty
With experience in a variety of fields, our faculty members are equipped and ready to help you succeed.
Faculty Info
B.J. Haan Auditorium
As a music performance minor, you'll have the opportunity to spend time in the B.J. Haan Auditorium and it’s adjoining Music Building. These facilities include access to mechanical action and electro-pneumatic pipe organs, upright and grand piano practice rooms, instrumental practice rooms, a Yamaha Disklavier, and a Dekker harpsichord.
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Student Stories
Dordt students and alumni use their gifts to make a difference in the world. Check out their stories to see how Defender Nation lives out our mission to work effectively toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life.
Into the Unknown
Anna BlauwAnna's experiences at Dordt allowed her to grow the faith and confidence that she needed to overcome the fear of the unknown by focusing on who God wanted her to be.
Anna Blauw
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Overcoming through God
Brittany BloemhofDespite COVID putting Brittany's college experience on hold, her time at Dordt taught her to lean on God and grow into a more open-minded person.
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