About the Department of Music and Performing Arts

 

The Southeastern Louisiana University Department of Music and Performing Arts prepares professional performers and educators and serves as a center of art and culture for Hammond and the Northshore. Our program gives all aspiring students the opportunity to experience music, dance, and musical theater. As the first music department in Louisiana to be certified by the National Association of Schools of Music, the department boasts a lengthy heritage of excellence in the training of educators and professional musicians.

Over 200 students from throughout the United States and around the world study music in the department. The size provides a nurturing environment, fosters both large and small ensemble learning opportunities and allows for significant personal interaction with faculty. Our department's graduates continue to distinguish themselves in many ways as performers and educators, from public schools, colleges, and universities to success on the stage.

An outstanding faculty of over 35 musicians and scholars provides our students with the guidance and training to excel. They are leaders in their fields who hold offices in state and national professional organizations and receive national and university awards in teaching, research and creative activity. Heard in performances around the world and on recordings, our instructors take a deep and lasting interest in our students.

The Music and Performing Arts Department offers undergraduate degrees in music education, music performance, jazz studies, a minor in music, and a minor in Choreography and Contemporary Dance Performance. Graduate degrees are offered in Conducting, Performance and Theory.

 

Mission Statement:

The Music and Performing Arts faculty at Southeastern Louisiana University believes the performing arts to be a vital part of the human experience and an integral part of the University and community. The Music and Performing Department dedicates itself to cultural and educational enhancement of the region and nation, and functions within the general objectives of the University as described in its Role, Mission, and Scope Statement, and in its Strategic Priorities. The Department of Music and Performing Arts provides educational and creative opportunities in general education, scholarship, and the performing arts and performs many services to the University, community, and state. Specific functions include: 1. Offer varied opportunities for all university students to experience music, theatre, and dance in depth and breadth. 2. Provide specialized preparation for the professional areas of the performing arts. 3. Offer performances by students and faculty that provide educational experiences for the student participants as well as service and cultural enrichment to the University and community. 4. Provide leadership, educational materials, and resource personnel for elementary and secondary schools throughout the region. The Music area is an institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, and as such upholds the ethical and professional standards of our disciplines. The core curriculum of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is required in the Bachelor of Music degree program.

 

Graduate Program Mission Statement:

The mission of the Graduate Program in Music is to provide qualified students with additional training and experience in music performance and music theory. Graduate degrees in music at Southeastern prepare students for professional work in performance, composition and arranging, and research. We take pride in our dedicated and accomplished graduate faculty, the flexibility of our courses of graduate study, and an environment that encourages collaboration and fosters intellectual community.

The graduate faculty are here to help you with specific questions and more generalized professional support. Be sure to retain your copy of this handbook. Although it will not cover all questions and cases, it should provide a thorough overview of the program and its requirements. It includes information on navigating the degree, lists of courses, and various graduate forms. It is also important that you refer to the Graduate Studies section of your Southeastern Louisiana University Catalog.

We urge you to stay in close touch with your faculty mentor and the Director of Graduate Studies. We will do everything possible to make your progress through the program smooth and expeditious.

 

Facilities

The Ralph R. Pottle Music Building (built in 1940) and its adjoining Music Building Annex (added in 1981) include two performance venues, numerous classrooms, a computer-assisted-instruction classroom and lab, an electric piano lab, recording facilities, rehearsal spaces, private teaching studios and practice rooms. Our performing venues include: Columbia Theatre (seats 900), Pottle Auditorium (600), Recital Hall (250), and the Bass Clef Performance Circle, an outdoor space.