Abilene - Texas Music Education Primer

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Abilene Christian University • Department of Music
ACU Box 28274
Abilene, TX 79699-8274
(325) 674-2199;Fax (325) 674-2608
music[at]NOSPAMacu.edu
Dr. Gregory Straughn, Chair
Glenda Weatherford, Administrative Coordinator
Kara Taylor, Operations Manager

Music Department Statistics
Year department established: 1906
Undergraduate students: 78
Graduate students:
Doctoral students:
Full-time professors: 13
Part-time instructors: 14
Student-Teacher ratio: NA
Undergraduate degree hours needed: 128
(within major: 60; within minor: NA)
Teaching certification: yes
Internship required: yes
Recording facility: yes
Scholarships available: yes
Scholarships available include those for majors ($400-$3,000 per semester), non-majors ($200-$1,000 per semester), Hall Scholarship ($2,500 per semester), and Harsh Scholarship ($500 per semester).
Scholarship coordinator and phone: Glenda Weatherford at (325) 674-2462

Accreditations/Affiliations
National Association of Schools of Music
Texas Association of Music Schools
Texas Music Educators Association

Abilene Christian University offers three music degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music in Performance (voice and piano) and a Bachelor of Music leading to teacher certification. Music scholarships are available on an audition basis. We currently have 80 music majors and nearly 400 students active in classes and ensembles. The program is housed in the new, 92,000 square-foot Williams Performing Arts Center. Performance opportunities include the Abilene Collegiate Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Percussion Ensemble, University Chorale, A Cappella Choir, Vocal Arts Ensemble, and Opera Workshop. For information about instrumental ensembles, contact Dr. Steven Ward, Director of Bands. For information about vocal ensembles, contact Dr. Michael Scarbrough, Director of Chord Activities. Performance facilities include the Williams Performing Arts Center Recital Hall (280 seats), Cullen Auditorium (850 seats) and Moody Coliseum (6,000 seats). Contact Glenda Weatherford for further information (325) 674-2462.

Overall enrollment: 4,690
Typical undergraduate tuition: $12,672

Hardin-Simmons University • School of Music and Fine Arts
P.O. Box 16230
Abilene, TX 79698-6230
(325) 670-1427; (325) 670-1000; Fax (325) 670-5873
music[at]NOSPAMhsutx.edu
Lawson Hager, Dean
Deborah McFarland, Administrative Assistant
Charles Coltman, Clarinet Instructor

Music Department Statistics
Year department established: 1891
Undergraduate students: 104
Graduate students: 12
Doctoral students:
Full-time professors: 18
Part-time instructors: 8
Student-Teacher ratio: 5:1
Undergraduate degree hours needed: 135
(within major: 60; within minor: 22)
Teaching certification: yes
Internship required: yes
Recording facility: yes
Scholarships available: yes
Presser Award, departmental, and other endowed scholarships.
Scholarship coordinator and phone: Dr. Lynnette Chambers at (325) 670-1430.

Accreditations/Affiliations
National Association Schools of Music
Texas Association of Music Schools
Texas Music Educators Assocication

Hardin-Simmons has been strongly committed to music education since its inception in 1891. A member of National Association of Schools of Music since 1930, the School of Music has a full-time faculty of 18 which includes performing artists in all fields of applied music and nationally recognized scholars in the field of theory and composition, music education, church music, performance, and musicology. The School of Music has approximately 100 undergraduate students and 15 graduate students. The Bachelor and Master of Music degree is offered with majors in Music Education, Church Music, Performance and Theory / Composition. Also offered is the Bachelor of Arts with a major in music and elective studies in Business, with a minor in Business Administration, or a minor of the student's choice. Performance opportunities include the Concert Choir (40 members) under the direction of Dr. Clell Wright; HSU Chorale (55 members) under the direction of Dr. Dee Romines; Concert Band (65 members) and Cowboy Band (45 members) under the direction of Dr. Wayne Dorothy; Abilene Collegiate Orchestra (65 members) under the direction of Peter Isaacson; and the HSU Opera under the direction of Dr. William Mouat. Performance facilities include the Woodward Dellis Recital Hall (265 seats) which has a recording studio for recitals and concerts (Lawson Hager, Dean 325-670-1427), and the Behrens Chapel Auditorium (2,000 seats), Larry Wheeler, Technical Director, 325-670-1511.

Overall enrollment: 2,350
Typical undergraduate tuition: $12,917

McMurry University • Department of Music 2
P.O. Box 698 • McMurry Station
Abilene, TX 79697
(325) 793-4860; (325) 793-3800; Fax (325) 793-4662
dellis[at]NOSPAMmcm.edu
Dr. Diana Ellis.
Dr. Christina Wilson, Dean School of Arts and Letters
Dr. Chris Neal, Director of Bands

Music Department Statistics
Year department established: 1924
Undergraduate students: 30
Graduate students: 0
Doctoral students: 0
Full-time professors: 6
Part-time instructors: 1
Student-Teacher ratio: 15:1
Undergraduate degree hours needed: 126
(within major: 72; within minor: 18)
Teaching certification: yes
Internship required: no
Recording facility: yes
Scholarships available: yes
Each year more than $75,000 in scholarships are awarded to music students.Various other scholarships are also granted for church music, piano, and performance.
Scholarship coordinator and phone: Dr. Laura Ellis at (915) 793-3835

Accreditations/Affiliations
Texas Association of Music Schools
Texas Music Educators Association

McMurry University offers a Bachelor of Music Education degree with emphasis on vocal and instrumental music; a Bachelor of Music in Church Music with either a vocal or keyboard emphasis; and a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Traditionally, McMurry has served the Northwest Texas and New Mexico Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church with a liberal arts approach towards higher education. Performance opportunities include Marching Band (70 members), Concert Band (60 members), Bi-State Honor Band; for more information, contact Scott Taube at (915) 793-3837. There are also three choral ensembles: University Choir (65 members), Chanters (45 members), and Vocal Point (12 members), contact Dr. Stephen Eaves at (915) 793-3834. Performance facilities include the Amy Graves Ryan Recital Hall (200 seats) and the Radford Auditorium (1,200 seats); contact Stacie Ferguson at (915) 793-4888.

Overall enrollment: 1,379
Typical undergraduate tuition: $9,600