Department of Music

The mission of the Arkansas Tech University Department of Music is to fully exercise its tradition of educational and cultural regional leadership to enhance the quality of life through the art form of music, providing undergraduate educational, artistic, and career opportunities for individuals and the greater society.

The Department of Music has an established reputation for the superior quality of the music teacher preparation program and for high standards in musical performance. Arkansas Tech University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

The goals of the music department are:

  1. To provide excellence in music instruction;
  2. To provide music instruction for students desiring to pursue music-related studies as a major, as preparation for graduate music studies, and as preparation for a career in music;
  3. To provide music curricula leading to the Baccalaureate of Arts with a major in music;
  4. To provide the necessary and desirable professional preparation for the training of accredited music teachers for public schools (Baccalaureate in Music Education);
  5. To provide opportunities for meaningful professional growth through direct involvement in musical performance;
  6. To provide educational and artistic service to students, the institution, the community, and the region;
  7. To encourage creative work and research; and
  8. To dedicate policies and resources for effectiveness in departmental programs.

An audition, demonstrating acceptable musical preparation, is required prior to enrollment as a major in music.

All music majors must demonstrate acceptable piano proficiency or enroll in class or applied piano each semester until successful completion of the appropriate Keyboard Proficiency Exit Exam. The fee for class piano is $10 per semester. All music majors are required to attend a prescribed number of campus concerts and recitals. Successful completion of 6 semesters of recital attendance is required.

Private instruction in the student’s major performance area is required of all music majors. Such study involves one one-hour lesson and 12 hours of practice per week and carries two semester hours of credit. Students may elect enrollment as a non-major, subject to faculty availability. Such study involves one thirty-minute lesson, 6 hours of practice per week, and assigned ensemble participation. A fee of $60 per semester credit hour is assessed for all applied music study.


Contact Information

Dr. Jeffrey Bright, Head

Witherspoon Hall
Room 206
(479) 968-0369
jbright6@atu.edu 

Professors

Jeff Bright, Phillip Parker, Timothy Smith

Associate Professors

Daniel Belongia, Barbara Clements, Jon Clements, Nicolas del Grazia, Karen Futterer, Kenneth Futterer, Holly Ruth Gale, Sean Reed

Assistant Professors

TJ Perry

Instructor

Brian Conatser, James Daughters, Christopher Harris

 

For more information, please visit www.atu.edu/music