Peru State College Department of Music emphasizes the training of future music educators. However, students can obtain degrees in performance and music marketing, as well as music education. An endorsement in elementary music and a community music/studio teaching option is also available. Students can participate in a variety of performance groups. Vocalists may sing in the concert choir, show choir, and madrigal singers. Auditions are held in the fall for membership in any of the choral ensembles. Instrumentalists can participate in the concert band, jazz band, woodwind, brass, and percussion ensembles. Students do not have to be music majors to participate in any of the ensembles. In addition to regular on-campus concerts, the choirs and bands make annual tours of the area high schools. The Department of Music stresses individual student attention and is committed to high performance standards. Individual lessons are available in voice, piano, brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments. Scholarships are available to talented vocalists, pianists, and instrumentalists.

The Music Education (K-12 or K-6 endorsements), the Music Performance (non-teaching), the Music Marketing (nonteaching), Community Music and Private Studio, and the Music Minor (nonteaching) options are open to all students who have the ability to read music and perform on a wind or percussion instrument, piano, or as a vocalist. In addition, those students selecting either Music Education (K-12 or K-6) or Music Performance (nonteaching) will be conditionally accepted into the program and must satisfy two levels of qualification (see below) before being fully accepted into their selected program.

Music Education (K-12 or K-6) or Music Performance

Level I Qualification (after two consecutive semesters)

1. The student must have achieved at least a 2.5 overall GPA after completing two consecutive semesters.

Music Education (K-12 or K-6)

Level II Qualification (after four consecutive semesters)

1. The student must be free from disciplinary probation.
2. The student must have achieved at least a 2.5 overall GPA after completing four consecutive semesters.
3. The student must achieve on the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) a minimum score of 170 - reading comprehension, 171 - math, and 172 - composition.
4. The student must complete an interview conducted by the music faculty to assess the student as a prospective teacher.

Music Performance

Level II Qualification (after four consecutive semesters)

1. The student must be free from disciplinary probation.
2. The student must have achieved at least a 2.5 overall GPA after completing four consecutive semesters.
3. The student must complete an interview conducted by the music faculty to assess the student's attitude, motivation, and enthusiasm toward music performance.
4. The student must perform a qualifying audition consisting of a prepared piece and a demonstration of fundamental music performance skills, such as sight-reading, scales, or other skills appropriate to the performance medium.

Special Music Major Regulations, Policies, and Information

1. All music majors are required to participate in a large ensemble (band or choir) each semester of full-time enrollment even though only a limited number of credits may count toward meeting graduation requirements.
2. Music majors are required to take final examinations in their major applied area (private lessons) before a jury of music faculty members at the end of each semester of private study.
3. All music majors are required to register for Musc 100 (Recital Attendance) each semester until they have completed the established number of semesters of recital attendance.
4. Students pursuing either of the Music-Education options (K-12 or K-6), before they will be allowed to enroll in students teaching, are required to successfully demonstrate they have achieved the functional piano skills needed for certification.
5. Music-Education (K-12) majors are required to complete Musc 440 (Senior Recital). Music-Performance majors are required to complete both Musc 340 (Junior Recital) and Musc 440 (Senior Recital). Students should concurrently be enrolled for applied music during the semester they are enrolled for the junior or senior recital.
6. Music-Performance majors during the freshman year are limited to taking only one (1) hour applied music instruction in the major applied area. Commencing with the sophomore year, Music-Performance majors will need to take two (2) hours of private music instruction in the major applied area each semester in order to complete the required number of hours within the four (4) years of attendance.

Please note: The following requirements come from 2006 - 2008 college catalog.