Bethany’s music major includes private study, ensemble participation, music theory, music skills (sight singing, ear training), and music history.
As a music student at Bethany you will enjoy fine facilities for instruction and practice. You will also have the opportunity to join with other students who love to sing and play. Our performance groups aim for polished presentations while providing everyone with the opportunity for refreshment in both rehearsals and performances. Most importantly, Bethany’s music major is built on a strong Christian foundation and understanding of music’s spiritual purpose and strength.
Potential careers in music include: church musician; composer; conductor; music arranger, educator, librarian, or manager; performer; publisher; musical theatre performer; and sound designer.
Student Stories

Nick Wayne (’02)
Nick, a 2002 Bethany graduate, is a full-time music director for the department of theatre and dance at Minnesota State

Amanda Rose (’07)
After graduating from Bethany in 2007, Amanda went on to earn her Master’s degree in Music Composition and Technology from

Jacob Weber (’10)
Jacob, a 2010 Bethany graduate, is a kantor, or director of parish music, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church and School in
Music Faculty
These faculty members teach many of the courses that comprise the Music Major. See also the Music Department.
Professor
Chapel Organist
Instruction: Organ
ML 115
507-344-7429
- Introduction to Hebrew I
- Introduction to Hebrew II
- Intermediate Hebrew I
- Intermediate Hebrew II
- Hebrew Independent Study
- Introduction to Latin I
- Introduction to Latin II
- Music Theory I
- Music Theory II
- Concert Choir
- Instruction I-Organ
- Instruction II-Organ
- Survey of Organ History and Literature
- Service Playing and Repertoire
- Instruction III-Organ
- Instruction IV-Organ
- Introduction to Norwegian I
- Introduction to Norwegian II

Adjunct Faculty
Choraliers Director
Director - Handbells
Mary Martha Singers Director
YFAC 204
507-344-7580
- Music Fundamentals
- Music Appreciation
- Music History I
- Music History II
- Choraliers
- Concert Choir
- Mary Martha Singers
- Handbells
- Instruction I-Voice
- Music History I: Middle Ages & Renaissance
- Instruction II-Voice
- Music History III: Romantic & Modrn
- Vocal Pedagogy
- Instruction III-Voice
- Opera and Lyric Theatre
- World Music
- Recital
- Instruction IV-Voice
- Production Involvement
Music Performance Opportunities
There are numerous choral and instrumental music groups at Bethany. Academic credit is available for participation in many groups to help music students fulfill the major requirements. Private lessons are also available.Music Facilities
Bethany has great spaces for making music! Here are a few:Music Major Requirements
Mission Statement
The Bethany Lutheran College Music Department strives to give students the knowledge and skills they will need to be successful stewards of their craft of music, encouraging them to be competent, enthusiastic, and creative, capable of using music in a variety of ways to glorify God while enriching people’s lives in both sacred and secular settings.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Theory, composition, and music skills: Students will be able to create, manipulate and analyze musical structures typical of the major historical musical periods, utilizing the many elements of musical language such as melody, harmony, rhythm, form, timbre, and notation.
- Music history: Students will be able to demonstrate visual, aural, and factual knowledge about the art of music of the Western Civilization and the cultural heritage of music from around the world through competence in the use of analog as well as digital resources for research into musical history and literature.
- Ensemble experience: Students will be able to rehearse and perform a wide variety of music with others in ensemble situations with an understanding of how to modify individual performance skills for the good of the larger performing entity.
- Studio music: Students will demonstrate the technique necessary to perform representative repertoire of the major musical periods on their primary instrument.
Entry into the Major
Students should apply for admission into the degree program at the end of their third semester. Acceptance into the music degree programs requires a minimum 2.8 GPA in the music coursework of the first two years, and three semesters of ensemble and applied music.
Core Requirements
Required lower division courses:
All of:
- MUSC111 Music Theory I
- MUSC112 Music Theory II
- MUSC114 Music Skills I
- MUSC115 Music Skills II
- MUSC121 Music History I
- MUSC122 Music History II
- MUSC211 Music Theory III
- MUSC212 Music Theory IV
- MUSC214 Music Skills III
- MUSC215 Music Skills IV
Required upper division courses:
Five of:
- MUSC303 Music Communication and Technology
- MUSC335 Music Theatre
- MUSC340 Survey of World Dance
- MUSC341 Music of the Renaissance and Baroque
- MUSC342 Music of the Baroque and Classic Era
- MUSC343 Music of the 19th Century
- MUSC344 Music of the 20th Century
- MUSC417 Counterpoint and Composition
- MUSC418 Analysis and Composition
- MUSC435 Opera and Lyric Theatre
- MUSC440 World Music
- MUSC480 Topics in Music
- MUSC489 International Study Tour
Additional requirements:
- Seven credits of applied music (private lessons)
- Seven credits of ensemble music
Capstone
Students must take one of the following:
Area of Emphasis
Students who major in music may choose an emphasis which will guide and shape their course of study: Church Music, Conducting, Music History, Performance, or Theory and Composition.
Church Music Emphasis
Students will demonstrate an appreciation of the unique musical heritage of the Lutheran Church, and development of a sense of responsibility towards the further cultivation of that heritage through ongoing study, composition and performance.
- MUSC161 Introduction to Conducting
- MUSC235 Hymnody and Liturgics
- MUSC261 Choral Conducting
- MUSC307 Survey of Organ History and Literature
- MUSC309 Service Playing and Repertoire
- Two credits of applied music in a secondary medium
- Twelve additional academic music course credits at the 300 and 400 level
Conducting Emphasis
Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate musical direction through the gestures and manners of the accepted conducting techniques. They will also exhibit a technical grasp of the various challenges unique to choral and instrumental conducting.
- MUSC161 Introduction to Conducting
- MUSC235 Hymnody and Liturgics
- MUSC261 Choral Conducting or MUSC262 Instrumental Conducting
- MUSC418 Analysis and Composition
- Twelve additional academic music course credits at the 300 and 400 level.
- Two credits of applied music conducting (MUSC390 Instruction III-F, MUSC490 Instruction IV-F)
- The Music capstone will be a conducting program/project.
Music History Emphasis
Students will demonstrate visual, aural and factual knowledge about the art music of the Western Civilization and the cultural heritage of music from around the world through identification of form, era, composer, and genre, and will be able to present written explorations of musical topics or live performances of musical creations. Students will acquire a competence in the use of analog as well as digital resources for research into musical history and literature.
- MUSC341 Music of the Renaissance and Baroque
- MUSC342 Music of the Baroque and Classic Era
- MUSC343 Music of the 19th Century
- MUSC344 Music of the 20th Century
- 3 additional academic music course credits at the 300 and 400 level.
- The Music capstone may be a paper, lecture-demonstration, or recital with extensive notes.
Performance Emphasis
Students will demonstrate the technique necessary to perform on their primary instrument; the ability to perform a representative repertoire of the major musical periods; develop fluency in their instrument with the ability to convey appropriate nuance, dynamic range, tempi, language and stylistic conventions; attain a working knowledge of the repertoire; give a convincing performance; display ability to work in small ensembles as well as solo performing; develop the ability to study a composition according to both theoretical and historical elements for performance; structure efficient practice/rehearsal time; display skills necessary to present themselves in various performance settings.
Students will present a junior recital and a senior capstone recital.
Students will successfully complete at least 13 credits of applied music in their primary performance medium (students will register for MUSC290 Instruction II in their second semester and continue with hour-long weekly lessons for the next six semesters).
Select one primary performance medium noted below and complete the defined coursework.
Piano:
- MUSC317 Piano Literature
- MUSC343 Music of the 19th Century
- MUSC344 Music of the 20th Century
- MUSC371 Piano Pedagogy
- Nine additional academic music course credits at the 300 and 400 level
Voice:
- MUSC161 Introduction to Conducting
- MUSC261 Choral Conducting
- MUSC335 Music Theatre
- MUSC343 Music of the 19th Century
- MUSC373 Vocal Pedagogy
- MUSC435 Opera and Lyric Theatre
- Six additional academic music course credits at the 300 and 400 level.
Instrumental:
- MUSC161 Introduction to Conducting
- MUSC262 Instrumental Conducting
- MUSC342 Music of the Baroque and Classic Era
- MUSC343 Music of the 19th Century
- MUSC344 Music of the 20th Century
- Six additional academic music course credits at the 300 and 400 level.
Theory and Composition Emphasis
Students will be able to analyze a given piece of music from any historical period in terms of melody, harmony, rhythm, form, timbre, and notation, and explain how its characteristics are typical or atypical of the period in which it was composed. Students will be able to compose music that demonstrates their understanding of traditional approaches to music theory. Advanced student composers will also be able to use their own unique compositional style to create new, forward-looking works of art.
- MUSC344 Music of the 20th Century
- MUSC417 Counterpoint and Composition
- MUSC418 Analysis and Composition
- Six additional academic music course credits at the 300 and 400 level.
- Two credits of applied music composition. (MUSC390E, MUSC490E)
- The Music capstone will be a composition project or recital.
Music Minor
Our music program is offered as a minor for those students who do not wish to complete the full major course requirements. The minor in music requires the following courses.
Four of:
- MUSC111 Music Theory I
- MUSC112 Music Theory II
- MUSC121 Music History I
- MUSC122 Music History II
- MUSC211 Music Theory III
- MUSC212 Music Theory IV
Three of:
- MUSC303 Music Communication and Technology
- MUSC335 Music Theatre
- MUSC340 Survey of World Dance
- MUSC341 Music of the Renaissance and Baroque
- MUSC342 Music of the Baroque and Classic Era
- MUSC343 Music of the 19th Century
- MUSC344 Music of the 20th Century
- MUSC417 Counterpoint and Composition
- MUSC418 Analysis and Composition
- MUSC435 Opera and Lyric Theatre
- MUSC440 World Music
- MUSC480 Topics in Music
- MUSC489 International Study Tour
Additional requirements:
- Four credits of ensemble music
- Six credits of private lessons
Next Steps
We’d love to make music with you! Schedule your personal visit today, or learn more about becoming a Bethany student.