Oct 13, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Music Theatre BFA


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Five, six, seven, eight! Were you the star of every high school show? Do you love getting into character when the stage lights go on? Life is too short to be waiting in the wings. As a music theatre major, you’ll spend the next few years going to musicals, performing on stage, and immersing yourself in the exciting history of music theatre. If you’re a triple threat, then don’t wait another beat.

Visit the Music Theatre academic program page for more information about the academic experience, who you will learn from, opportunities outside of class and what you can do with this degree.

Visit the Theatre and Dance department page  for contact information, a brief overview of the department and the curricular options.

Admission Criteria


Admission for the Music Theatre BFA major requires an audition. Please visit the Audition Registration to schedule an audition.

Course Requirements


Production Practicum (4 credits)


Four Performance Requirements: (12 credits)


MTR 405 is required for two semesters (6 credits)

Total Credits Required for Major: 92


Additional Degree Requirements Include:


  • Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements
  • Elective courses as needed to complete the 126 credit hour total

Total Credits Required for Graduation: 126


Total Credit Hours Required represents the minimum credits needed to complete this program, and may vary based on a number of circumstances. This should not be used for financial aid purposes.

Academic Requirements


Minimum 2.333 (C+) in all courses that fulfill a major requirement as well as maintain an overall GPA of at least a 2.000 to remain in good standing. Practical application of coursework is an integral part of the Music Theatre BFA. At a minimum, BFA students perform in four faculty led performances (musicals, drama theatre shows, university choir, or Zodiaque). Student productions provide a great opportunity for both directing and performance experience, but are not applicable to the performance requirement for the degree. BFA Students are required to audition each semester, but must have a 3.000 major GPA to be eligible to be cast. Students can begin performing as early as their second semester first year. BFA Students are also required to complete three practicums, which include crew assignments on one of the eight departmental productions each year.

Transfer Credit Policy

Students will be placed in the appropriate level of technique courses based on this evaluation, which may not correspond directly to student’s academic year. A core requirement of the Music Theatre BFA is the students’ practical work on and in productions. As performers, students need to be in residence at UB in order to complete degree requirements.

Curricular Plan


A Curricular Plan provides a roadmap for completing this academic program and the UB Curriculum on time. Your actual plan may vary depending on point of entry to the university, course placement and/or waivers based on standardized test scores, earned alternative credit and/or college transfer credit.

Total Credits: 17 or 18


First Year Spring


Total Credits: 17 or 18


Total Credits: 16


Second Year Spring


Total Credits: 18


Third Year Fall


Total Credits: 17


Total Credits: 13


Fourth Year Fall


Total Credits: 14


Total Credits: 13


Total Credits Required: 126


Note: Some classes may count toward both a major and UB Curriculum requirement.

Learning Outcomes


Abstract Thinking: Creative/Scholarly Research and Critical Thinking

  • Identify major musical theatre song literature from 1959 to the present.
  • Describe and Relate information applicable musical shows. Differentiate types of musical shows by script and musical structure and style.
  • Analyze the process of creating a song, a scene and a role for stage performance and organize the elements involved into a clear and specific design. (Analysis/Synthesis/Application)
  • Demonstrate a depth and breadth of knowledge concerning the technical, historical, cultural, philosophical and aesthetic aspects of music theatre.
  • Recognize and respect the vital essential connection between theory and practice
  • Articulate the importance of the arts in society

Concrete Doing/Practice: Performance and Production Skills Practice- based Techniques and Styles

  • Through participation in studio work and performances, students will acquire proficiency in dance technique and performance sensibilities in movement based courses; understand the importance of creative and aesthetic risk taking; and advance their dance identity through personal inventories and self-reflection
  • Demonstrate and discuss aspects of proper vocal technique and implement it in various genres of musical theater
  • Recognize authenticity, spontaneity, and personalization while singing on stage
  • Identify the elements of song lyrics and characters. Recognize the musical elements of a song. Calculate the character’s actions within the song. Appraise the physical life of the song. Interpret the intentions of the authors. Create and Dramatize an active, honest, believable and personalized musical theatre performance. Advance both the technical and artistic proficiency in courses of study through observance/participation in studio/lab work, performances, and participation in nation/international conferences and festivals
  • Translate the differences in types of musical shows through creating and dramatizing genuine character in a music theatre song, scene and/or production. Identify the elements of a musical theatre scene and the lyrics in a musical number. Recognize the musical elements of a musical number. Interpret the intentions of the authors. Calculate the character’s actions in a musical play in spoken and sung word. Integrate the physical life of a character into a musical scene
  • Through participation in class work and through rehearsals and performances, students will acquire proficiency in musical terminology as well as basic music theory proficiency in the areas of aural recognition, music sight reading/singing skills and basic keyboard knowledge

Communication: Oral, Written, and Kinesthetic

  • Demonstrate an introductory approach to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
  • Cite and Describe a cross section of musical shows from 1959 to the present. (Knowledge)
  • Differentiate types of roles in shows by vocal and acting casting requirements (Comprehension)
  • Translate these differentiations to oneself to prepare for the realities of the industry (Application)
  • Distinguish musical theatre show styles and types of roles in musicals during these years. (Analysis)

Reasoning: Analytical and Problem Solving Skills Applied to the Classroom, Studio/Lab, and Production Work

  • Appraise, question and evaluate their work in class rehearsal and production
  • Utilize problem solving skills and apply critical thinking in the exploration of analytical and experiential solutions to problems and challenges in Theatre, Dance and Design
  • Recognize and personify authenticity while singing, acting and dancing on the music theatre stage. Have the capability to create a role in a music theatre work for the stage. Have a working knowledge of major music theatre song, dance and spoken literature giving the student the ability to distinguish and apply various music theatre singing, dancing, and acting styles

 

(HEGIS: 10.04 MUSIC-PERFORM-COMP-THEOR, CIP50.0509 Musical Theatre.)

 

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