Music and Dance: Music

The Academic Program

Course Major

The music major curriculum normally includes the following components. However, we welcome individualized proposals, which will be evaluated and approved on the basis of consultations with the music faculty. We continue to emphasize the importance of depth and mastery of musical skills and understanding, and we also recognize the value of studying the diversity of musical cultures.

1. Required. 5 courses in harmony and counterpoint plus musicianship sections (MUSI 040). MUSI 040 may be taken for 0.0 or 0.5 credit at the student’s option.
   • MUSI 011 and 040A
   • MUSI 012 and 040B
   • MUSI 013 and 040C
   • MUSI 014 and 040D
   • MUSI 115
2. Required. 4.5 courses in Music History and Literature:
   • MUSI 020 (Medieval and Renaissance)
   • MUSI 094 (Senior Research Topics in Music)
     plus at least three of the following:
   • MUSI 021 (Baroque and Classical)
   • MUSI 022 (19th-Century Europe)
   • MUSI 023 (20th Century)
   • Any other history course numbered above 023
   • Courses with lower course numbers in areas such as Jazz or World Music, including extra or higher-level work, with approval of the instructor.
     Course Majors are strongly advised to take 5 history courses if possible.
3. World Traditions Component. This requirement may be fulfilled in either of two ways:
   • One of the 4.5 course listed in category B, above, in Music History and Literature is to be a course in non-Western traditions numbered above 023; OR
   • Two semesters of participation in the Gamelan, Taiko, or Dance/Drum ensembles. (This also helps fulfill the ensemble requirement in category D, below).
4. Additional Requirements for Course Majors:
   • Keyboard skills
   • Score reading or MUSI 018: Conducting and Orchestration
   • Department ensemble for at least four semesters
   • Senior comprehensive examination (MUSI 094, 0.5-credit course)

The following is a description of these additional requirements:

Keyboard skills. This program is designed to develop keyboard proficiency to a point where a student can use the piano effectively as a tool for studying music. Students learn to perform repertoire and, in addition, play standard harmonic progressions in all keys. The department offers a free weekly private lesson to any student enrolled in a Harmony and Counterpoint numbered 011 or higher who needs work in this area and requires it of all students in MUSI 012. Music majors and minors who have completed the theory sequence but who need further instruction are still eligible. No academic credit is given for these lessons. All music majors are expected to be able to perform a two-part Invention of J. S. Bach (or another work of similar difficulty) by their senior year.

Score reading. By the end of their senior year, all majors are expected to be able to read an orchestral score that includes c-clefs and some transposing instruments. Students may take MUSI 018 (Conducting and Orchestration) to satisfy this requirement.

Department ensemble. The department requires majors and minors to participate in any of the departmental ensembles (Orchestra, Chorus, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Gamelan). We also recommend that students participate in other activities, such as playing in Chamber Music ensembles or seeking out service-learning experiences that incorporate music.

Comprehensive examination. During their senior year, majors in the Course Program will take the departmental comprehensive examination, which normally consists of the study of a single musical work (selected in advance by the student, subject to the approval of the department) which demonstrates skills in the three areas of analysis, historical research, and performance. Majors in course will enroll in MUSI 094 (Senior Research Topics in Music) in the spring semester of their senior year to help them prepare for their senior comprehensive examination

Course Minor

Required. At least two courses in harmony and counterpoint plus musicianship sections (MUSI 040):

• MUSI 011 and 040A
• MUSI 012 and 040B

Required. At least two courses in music history and literature:

• MUSI 020 (Medieval and Renaissance)
• MUSI 021 (Baroque and Classical)
• MUSI 022 (19th-Century Europe)
• MUSI 023 (20th Century)
• Another history course numbered above 023 (or a lower-level history course, with approval of the faculty)

Required. At least one of the following:

• Harmony and counterpoint (MUSI 013 or higher)
• Upper-level history course
• MUSI 019 (Composition)

Additional Requirements

• Department ensemble for at least two semesters; and at least one of the following, subject to departmental approval of a written proposal:
• Keyboard skills
• Service-learning project in music
• Senior recital
• Special project in music

Honors Major

Summary: The music major in honors is identical to the music major in course in its prerequisites, required coursework, and requirements for keyboard skills, score reading, and Department Ensemble membership. The honors major differs in that there is no senior comprehensive exam. Instead, honors majors do three honors preparations in music.

Three Honors Preparations

• Music theory. A 2-credit honors preparation in music theory is normally based on MUSI 015 in combination with one lower-level harmony and counterpoint course.
• Music history. A 2-credit honors preparation in music history may be based on any music seminar numbered 100 or higher or on any other music history course when augmented by concurrent or subsequent additional research, directed reading, or tutorial, with faculty approval.
• Elective (may be based on any of the following):
• At least two semesters of MUSI 019 (Composition)
• An additional preparation in another area of music history
• A senior honors recital

A 2-credit senior honors recital preparation is available to only students who have distinguished themselves as performers. It is, therefore, limited to those who have won full scholarships through MUSI 048. Students who wish to pursue this option must follow all of the steps listed in the departmental guidelines for senior recitals (see department website) and obtain approval of their program from the music faculty during the semester preceding the proposed recital. They should register for MUSI 099: Senior Honors Recital. This full credit, together with at least another full credit of relevant coursework in music, will constitute the 2-credit honors preparation. One faculty member will act as head adviser on all aspects of the honors recital. As part of the honors recital, the student will write incisive program notes on all of the works to be performed. This work will be based on substantive research-including analytical as well as historical work-and will be overseen by one or more members of the music faculty.

Students are encouraged to propose honors preparations in any areas that are of particular interest, whether or not formal seminars are offered in those areas. The music faculty will assist in planning the most appropriate format for these interests.

Honors Minor

Required. Four courses in harmony and counterpoint plus musicianship sections (MUSI 040):

• MUSI 011 and 040A
• MUSI 012 and 040B
• MUSI 013 and 040C
• MUSI 014 and 040D

Required. Two courses in music history and literature:

• MUSI 020 (Medieval and Renaissance)
• MUSI 021 (Baroque and Classical)
• MUSI 022 (19th-Century Europe)
• MUSI 023 (20th Century)
• Another history course numbered above 023

One honors preparation

• Music theory, music history, or elective

The possibilities for preparations are the same as those listed above for major in the Honors Program.

Additional Requirements, same as for course minors.

• Departmental ensemble for at least two semesters and at least one of the following, subject to departmental approval:
• Keyboard skills
• Service-learning project in music
• Senior recital
• Special project in music

Special Major

The department welcomes proposals for special majors involving music and other disciplines. Recent examples include the following:

• Special major in music and education
• Special major in enthnomusicology

Other special majors are possible. For more information, contact the department chair.

Application Process Notes for the Major or the Minor

We do not have a minimum grade point average (GPA) for admission as a major or minor. In its place is a consensus of music faculty that the student can do good work in the discipline. The situation is perhaps more complex in music than in other fields because we think that a major (or minor) should have basic musical as well as purely intellectual abilities, not all of which can be measured by a GPA. We do consider the likelihood of a student’s passing the Comprehensive Examination. Students applying for admission as majors in the Honors Program should have done exceptionally high-quality work in the department and should have shown strong self-motivation.

Off Campus Study/Language Study

Students are encouraged to seek possibilities for off campus study, in accordance with their particular interests, in consultation with the music faculty and the off-campus study adviser.

Students are advised that many graduate programs in music require a reading knowledge of French and German.

Additional Resources

A unique resource of the department is its ensemble in residence, Orchestra 2001, directed by Professor Emeritus James Freeman. This nationally renowned ensemble offers an annual concert series at the College, focusing on contemporary music. The series features distinguished soloists and often includes advanced Swarthmore students in its concerts.

Special scholarships and awards in music include the following (see 17 Distinctions, Awards, and Fellowships ):

The Renee Gaddie Award
Music 048 Special Awards
The Boyd Barnard Prize
The Peter Gram Swing Prize
The Melvin B. Troy Prize in Music and Dance

Credit for Performance

Note: All performance courses are for half-course credit per semester. No retroactive credit is given for performance courses.

Music Courses and Seminars