Certificate of Music

The Certificate Program

The New Saint Andrews Certificate of Music is offered in conjunction with its Bachelors Degree in Liberal Arts and Culture.

Not only is music an integral part of the Liberal Arts, but it is an integral part of the Church.  A Certificate of Music at New Saint Andrews College is not only excellent preparation for a Masters program in Music, but the strong pedagogy of the program will enable students to bring Music literacy into their homes, Churches and schools.

Before Applying to the Certificate of Music Program please ensure you have an active application with New Saint Andrews College.

The outline below is a suggested course load for the conjunction of Bachelors and Certificate programs:

FRESHMEN YEAR

• Honors Musicianship
• Latin
• Rhetoric
• L
ordship
• Orchestral or Choral Ensemble
• Applied Lessons in Primary Instrument
• Applied Lessons in Secondary Instrument

SOPHOMORE YEAR

• Musicianship II
• Latin II (or other Classical Language)
• History
• Natural History (Biology)
• Orchestral or Choral Ensemble
• Applied Lessons in Primary Instrument
• Applied Lessons in Secondary Instrument

JUNIOR YEAR

• Philosophy
• Math
• Literature
• Form and Analysis
• Orchestral or Choral Ensemble
• Applied Lessons in Primary Instrument
• Applied Lessons in Secondary Instrument

SENIOR YEAR

• Theology
• Thesis
• Third year of Classical Language
• Arranging & Composition
• Orchestral or Choral Ensemble
• Applied Lessons in Primary Instrument
• Applied Lessons in Secondary Instrument

*SENIOR +

If desired an optional 5th year is offered tuition free for students needing 5 years to complete

*(must have been enrolled in Certificate Program for 4 consecutive years)

The credits below are offered alongside the Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and Culture requirements:

Musicianship I 8
Musicianship II 8
Form and Analysis 8
Arrangement & Composition 8
Choir/Orchestra 2
Applied Lessons in primary and secondary instruments 32
TOTAL 66

All freshmen at NSA take Musicianship, but the Certificate of Music student will need to test into Honors Musicianship where:  theory, oral skills, aural skills and music history will be honed in.

As a student continues in the Certificate of Music, so they will continue in their music studies, continuing to grow pedagogically in the skills required for fluency in music.

The goal of this course is to familiarize students with several of the major choral and instrumental forms and com-positional techniques they are likely to encounter in a variety of career paths, and equip them with skills to compose and arrange various types of music in liturgical and academic settings. In addition to the exercises and skills developed in this course, students will be required to sing important motives from representative works, further familiarizing themselves with the literature.

Building on a firm knowledge of western tonal theory through the 19th century, this course will introduce students to ideas, composers, and forms in the classical era, such as Periods, phrases, Dominant/subdominant/tonic pedal, Secondary dominant and chromatic third relationships, sonata form, sonata Rondo, double exposition, large ternary, theme and variations, minuet and trio, and representative composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Having completed this course, it is the expectation that students can explain, define, diagram, and analyze the above forms and concepts in instrumental works, including sonatas, string quartets, concertos, and symphonies, and correctly contextualize them historically and stylistically in the canon of western music.

cello

Students accepted into the Certificate of Music will be required to take both a primary and a secondary instruments through Applied Lessons.  These private and semi-private lessons are included in tuition.  Students will be trained in the instruments of their choice for copiousness in music.  Students improvement will be assessed through Juries held at the end of each semester.

choir

Students accepted into the Certificate of Music program will be placed in either the Choral Ensemble or the Orchestra Ensemble depending on their skill level.  They will remain as part of the ensemble for their entire four years at New Saint Andrews College.

Students accepted into the Certificate of Music program will be placed in either the Choral Ensemble or the Orchestra Ensemble depending on their skill level.  They will remain as part of the ensemble for their entire four years at New Saint Andrews College.

The fee for the Certificate of Music is $4,690.00

*Tuition for the Certificate of Music is in addition to the current NSA tuition.

  • Primary Lessons
  • Secondary Lessons
  • Liberal Arts Undergraduate Program
  • Music Program
  • Ensembles
  • 5th Consecutive year – FREE (take 5 years to complete this dual faceted program)

You must be first accepted as an undergraduate student into New Saint Andrews College before being accepted as a Certificate student.  You may audition with an application still pending.  Acceptance into the Certificate program is not guaranteed by acceptance into the undergraduate program – musical ability must be verified through an audition process.
Requirements for auditions are as follows:
  1. Have a pending or accepted UNDERGRADUATE APPLICATION at New Saint Andrews College.
  2. Complete the Certificate of Music APPLICATION.
  3. *Perform two pieces in your primary instrument (classical music preferred) for the Head of the New Saint Andrews Conservatory of Music.
  4. *Perform two pieces in your secondary instrument (classical music preferred) for the Head of the New Saint Andrews Conservatory of Music.
  5. Take a theory test for placement.
  6. Show aural skills through:  intervals and sight singing.
After acceptance into the undergraduate program, and after auditions, you will be notified–via written correspondence– of your acceptance or rejection into the Certificate of Music program.

*Auditions for the Certificate of Music can be arranged during Prospective Student Weekends.   If this schedule does not work for you, please contact the Conservatory of Music by email HERE.

New Saint Andrews Conservatory of Music Faculty

Dr. David Erb (Head of the Conservatory)

  • Professor of Music
  • Choir
  • Voice
  • Trombone
  • Recorder
  • Conducting
  • Pedagogy
  • Kodaly Pedagogy

Mrs. Amanda Glover

  • Voice

Dr. Ryan Smith

  • Advanced Piano Performance

Independent Applied Lesson Instruction offered in the following areas:

  • Violin
  • Cello
  • Oboe
  • Viola
  • Trombone
  • Trumpet
  • Organ
  • Percussion