Bachelor of Arts

BA Applied Music

Offering premier music instruction and performance opportunities, the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Music advances versatile graduates sought after by industry leaders.

The Applied Music program prepares students for a wide variety of music careers through skill training and experiential learning with talented LIU faculty and Roc Nation’s world-renowned artists. Applied Music students study ear training and musicianship, harmony and counterpoint, music notation software, and the origins of musical genres, while receiving instrument training and performing in ensembles. Roc Nation students have the opportunity to enroll in electives that are only available at LIU, such as The Business of Shawn Carter, Women in Music, and Monetization of Music. Students leave with unmatched insight into the process of building a successful and thriving career in the music industry.

LIU’s one-of-a-kind partnership with Roc Nation offers students an insider’s view of the music industry and unlocks a world of opportunity.

Qualities that Set Our Program Apart:

  • Students work with New York City’s most talented musicians and decorated scholars. LIU faculty members are active musicians and the most cutting-edge and high-profile professionals in the industry.
  • LIU’s location in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn provides students with direct access to the best of New York City’s vibrant arts community, including outstanding concerts, workshops, master classes, and collaborative projects.

Major Requirements

Course # Course Name
Required Musicianship Courses
MUS 106A Keyboard
MUS 106B Advanced Keyboard
MUS 131 Harmony and Counterpoint I
MUS 131 Harmony and Counterpoint II
MUS 153 Ear Training/Musicianship I
MUS 154 Ear Training/Musicianship II
MUS 201 Music Notation Software
MUS 130 Professional Preparation for a Music Career
MUS 115 Instruction
MUS 116 Private Instruction
MUS 123J Ensemble
MUS 125 Chorus
Required Music History
MUS 146 History of Hip Hop
MUS 147 History of Rock n’ Roll
MUS 148 History of Rhythm and Blues
MUS 27 History of Pop Music
MUS 159 History of Country Music
Required Music Electives
MUS 145 Intro to World Music
MUS 175 Digital Audio I
MUS 176 Digital Audio II
MUS 180 Music Business
MUS 211 Monetization of Music
MUS 231 The Making of the Album
MUS 241 Women in Music
TEP 121 Foundations of Recording

Core Requirements

Course # Course Name Credits
English Composition
ENG 16/16C English Composition 3
English Literature
Select one (1) course from the following:
ENG 61 European Literatures I 3
ENG 62 European Literatures II 3
ENG 63 American Literatures 3
ENG 64 Global Literatures 3
History
Select one (1) course from the following:
HIS 1 Perspectives in Pre-Modern World History 3
HIS 2 Perspectives in Modern World History 3
Philosophy
PHI 60 Philosophical Explorations 3
Speech
SPE 3 Oral Communication 3
Mathematics
Select one (1) course from the following, unless major requirements list specific Math courses:
MTH 15 Math Tools and Their Use 4
MTH 16 Finite Mathematics 3
Science Lab-Based Course
Select one (1) course from the following:
BIO Biology 4
CHM Chemistry 4
PHY Physics 4
Foreign Language
Select one (1) course from the following:
SPA 11 Introductory Spanish I 3
SPA 12 Introductory Spanish II 3
ITL 11 Introductory Italian I 3
ITL 12 Introductory Italian II 3
FRE 11 Introductory French I 3
FRE 12 Introductory French II 3
Visual and Performing Arts
Select one (1) course from the following:
ART 61 Introduction to Visual Art 3
DNC 61 Dance Through Time 3
JOU 61 Journalism, Social Media, and You 3
MA 61 Media Arts and Technology 3
MUS 61 Music and Culture 3
THE 61 The Theatrical Vision 3
Social Sciences I
Select any introductory course from the following:
Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology 3
Social Sciences II
Select any introductory course from the following:
Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology 3

Courses

MUS 15I Individual Music Instruction for Non- Music Major
Course in voice, instrument, piano, secondary piano, theory, ear training, and keyboard harmony. One credit per course per semester, except voice - one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1
Every Semester



MUS 15I Individual Music Instruction for Non-Music Majors
Course in voice, instrument, piano, secondary piano, theory, ear training, and keyboard harmony. One credit per course per semester, except voice -one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1
Every Semester



MUS 15P Individual Music Instruction for Non-Music Majors - Piano
Course in voice, instrument, piano, secondary piano, theory, ear training, and keyboard harmony. One credit per course per semester, except voice -one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1
Every Semester



MUS 15T Individual Music Instruction for Non-Music Majors - Theory
Course in voice, instrument, piano, secondary piano, theory, ear training, and keyboard harmony. One credit per course per semester, except voice -one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1
Every Semester



MUS 15V Individual Music Instruction for Non-Music Majors - Voice
Course in voice, instrument, piano, secondary piano, theory, ear training, and keyboard harmony. One credit per course per semester, except voice -one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1 to 2
Every Semester



MUS 16I Secondary Individual Music Instruction for Music Majors - Instrument
Course in voice, instrument, piano, secondary piano, theory, ear training, and keyboard harmony. One credit per course per semester, except voice -one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department. Offered every semester. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester.This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1
Every Semester



MUS 16P Secondary Individual Music Instruction for Music Majors - Piano
Course in voice, instrument, piano, secondary piano, theory, ear training, and keyboard harmony. One credit per course per semester, except voice -one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1
Every Semester



MUS 16T Secondary Individual Music Instruction for Music Majors - Theory
Course in voice, instrument, piano, secondary piano, theory, ear training, and keyboard harmony. One credit per course per semester, except voice -one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1
Every Semester



MUS 16V Secondary Individual Music Instruction for Music Majors - Voice
Course in voice, instrument, piano, secondary piano, theory, ear training, and keyboard harmony. One credit per course per semester, except voice -one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1 to 2
Every Semester



MUS 61 Music and Culture
An introduction to musical styles that places music in its cultural context: history, painting, literature and ideas. To enhance the capacity to understand and enjoy music of every kind, the course begins with the elements of music that a composer combines in distinctive and characteristic ways to form a musical composition. Satisfies the core arts requirement.
Credits: 3
Every Semester



MUS 106A Keyboard
This course centers on the development of basic piano skills including fingerings, hand and body posture, scales, arpeggios, triads, progressions, beginner musical selections and technical exercises. Credits: 1 Every Semester



MUS 106B Advanced Keyboard
This course is a continuation of Basic Keyboard I. Requirements include performing My Country `tis of Thee in six (6) different keys, singing My Country `tis of Thee while playing a basic standard chord accompaniment, and writing and performing an original piano composition that includes mixed meters.
Credits: 1
Every Semester



MUS 107A Theory/Keyboard Harmony I
This course focuses on music theory and keyboard harmony including four-part writing, harmonization, and transposition. Requirements including performing and notating 1) London Bridge, Silent Night, and Happy Birthday with appropriate chords; 2) diatonic circle of fifths and falling fourths progression; and 3) root position triads in close and open positions in six (6) different keys. Students compose an original simple four-part composition that includes open and close position chords.
Credits: 3
Every Fall



MUS 107B Theory/Keyboard Harmony II
Requirements include identifying at sight and by ear all non-chord tones in standard melodies from the classical repertory including standard folk tunes. Students notate diatonic circle of fifths, root position seventh chords in four voices in six (6) major keys and demonstrate a vocal improvisation while playing a standard chordal accompaniment at the piano. Students compose and harmonize a simple melody that includes non-harmonic tones.
Credits: 3
Every Spring



MUS 107C Theory/Keyboard Harmony III
Topics include four-part writing, harmonization, secondary dominants, secondary leading tones, simple figured bass realization and simple score reading at the piano, and composition. Requirements include 1) notating and playing a progression involving a sequence of secondary dominants in six (6) keys; and 2) writing and identifying secondary dominant and leading tone chords. Students compose and harmonize simple melodies that include secondary dominant and leading tone chords.
Credits: 3
Every Fall



MUS 107D Theory/Keyboard Harmony IV
Topics include four-part writing, harmonization, binary and ternary forms, augmented sixth chords, Neapolitan chords, transposition, intermediate figured bass realization and score reading at the piano, and composition. Requirements include 1) transposing a selected standard work from the classical repertory; 2) composing an original piece using binary and ternary forms; 3) composing an original piece that includes augmented sixth chords, and 4) performing at the keyboard intermediate classical music.
Credits: 3
Every Spring



MUS 115I Advanced Individual Music Instruction for Non-Music Majors - Instrument
Offered every semester. Courses offered in voice, piano or other instruments and in theory. One credit per course per semester, except voice, which may be taken for one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The department advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1
Every Semester



MUS 115P Advanced Individual Music Instruction for Non-Music Majors - Piano
Courses offered in voice, piano or other instruments and in theory. One credit per course per semester, except voice, which may be taken for one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1
Every Semester



MUS 115T Advanced Individual Music Instruction for Non-Music Majors - Theory
Courses offered in voice, piano or other instruments and in theory. One credit per course per semester, except voice, which may be taken for one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1
Every Semester



MUS 115V Advanced Individual Music Instruction for Non-Music Majors - Voice
Courses offered in voice, piano or other instruments and in theory. One credit per course per semester, except voice, which may be taken for one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or aprofessional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1 to 2
Every Semester



MUS 116A Studio Lessons: Voice
Private studio lessons are given once a week. Twelve lessons are scheduled and ten lessons must be fulfilled for course completion in a given semester. Upon registration, students must visit the Department of Music, Fine Arts Center, Room 108, to complete a Lesson Availability Form after which a studio faculty member will contact the student to establish a mutually convenient lesson time.
Credits: 1
Every Semester



MUS 116B Studio Lessons: Voice
Private studio lessons are given once a week. Twelve lessons are scheduled and ten lessons must be fulfilled for course completion in a given semester. Upon registration, students must visit the Department of Music, Fine Arts Center, Room 108, to complete a Lesson Availability Form after which a studio faculty member will contact the student to establish a mutually convenient lesson time.
Credits: 2
Every Semester



MUS 116I Advanced Individual Music Instruction for Music Majors in Primary Performing Medium - Instrument
Courses offered in voice, piano or other instruments and in theory. One credit per course per semester, except voice, which may be taken for one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1
Every Semester



MUS 116P Advanced Individual Music Instruction for Music Majors in Primary Performing Medium - Piano
Courses offered in voice, piano or other instruments and in theory. One credit per course per semester, except voice, which may be taken one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1
Every Semester



MUS 116V Advanced Individual Music Instruction for Music Majors in Primary Performing Medium - Voice
Courses offered in voice, piano or other instruments and in theory. One credit per course per semester, except voice, which may be taken for one or two credits per semester. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit. Weekly lessons taught by a regular member of the faculty or a professional teacher approved by the Department. In instances involving an instructor who is not a regular faculty member, the special fee per credit may be higher than the standard. Interested students should consult with a departmental adviser before registering. The departmental advisor must approve all assignments to individual private instructors every semester. This course has an additional fee.
Credits: 1 to 2
Every Semester



MUS 159 History of Country Music
This class will survey singers and instrumentalists influential in the development of country music. Students will learn the origins of country music and the subsequent commercialization of the art form. Emphasis will be placed on the historical, sociocultural, and stylistic factors of the music and musicians discussed. Students will be able to identify specific styles of country music and the influence had on current popular music developments.
Credits: 3
On Demand



MUS 175 Introduction to Music Production I
An introduction to the technology and aesthetics of digital composition, sound design, multi-track recording and production using digital software including Pro Tools on state-of-the-art hardware. Workshops include computer-based multi-track MIDI sequencing and audio hard disk recording, editing and processing, automated software mixing, locking sequenced MIDI and audio tracks to video and film, electronic music concepts and samplers. Weekly individual access to studios is provided. Pre-requisite of MA 101 is required or permission of the instructor.
Credits: 3
Cross-Listings: MA 107, MUS 175
Every Fall and Spring



MUS 176 Music Production II
An intermediate-level continuation of MA 107 in a workshop environment. Weekly individual access to studio facilities is provided. Pre-requisite of MA 107/MUS 175 is required or permission of the instructor.
Credits: 3
Cross-Listings: MA 110, MUS 176
Rotating Basis



MUS 180 The Music Business
A look at the jazz performer in today's business world: record production, music publishing, the concert, club and gig scene, copyrights, contracts, and career promotion. Credits: 3 Cross-Listings: MA 257, MUS 180
On Occasion

MUS 201 Introduction to Music Notation Software
In this hands-on primer, students will become proficient in the use of Finale, the industry standard in music notation software. Through a number of project-based activities, as well as lectures and lab work, students will learn to create professional looking lead sheets, orchestral scores, and vocal and instrumental arrangements. This course will also help students in the completion of theory, arranging, and composition assignments for other required music courses. Pre-requisite of MUS 152 is required or permission of instructor.
Credits: 3
Cross-Listings: MA 201, MUS 201
Rotating Basis



MUS 208 Publicity and Promotion in the Performing Arts
This course will provide an overview of the goals, strategies and techniques of Publicity and Promotion in the Arts, as it applies to diverse fields including Music and Theater/Dance. All aspects of publicity and promotions will be considered from identifying a target market and marketing strategy to implementing that strategy in both traditional as well as innovative new media ways.
Credits: 3
Every Spring



MUS 231 Making of the Album
This course explores the process for producing successful albums, including the writing of the lyrics, the choice of vocal genre, the instrumental mixing, providing the studio, financing the project, and the creation of an innovative and differentiated sound. Students will also learn how the album is branded, promoted, and distributed. Particular focus will be given to a case study of the production of a highly successful album.
Credits: 3
Every Semester



Sam Newsome

Sam Newsome graduated from the Berklee College of Music with a degree in jazz composition and arranging. He then toured the world playing in the bands of music greats such Donald Byrd, Terence Blanchard and Lionel Hampton. Newsome has released 15 critically acclaimed recordings as a lead, and has appeared on over 40 recordings as a supporting musician. This includes appearing in numerous movie soundtracks such as The Inkwell featuring Larenz Tate, and Sugar Hill featuring Wesley Snipes. Newsome was also selected by the 68th Annual DownBeat Critics Poll and 14th Annual International Critics Poll as one of the top soprano saxophonists of 2020. Newsome has served as an associate professor in the Music Department at Long Island University for 14 years.


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