Music and Dance: Music

The Academic Program

Revised, fall 2015. These requirements apply to members of the class of 2018 and subsequent years. Majors and minors who plan to graduate in 2016 and 2017 will fulfill the requirements of the previous academic program.

Course Major

The music major curriculum normally includes the following components. Every student’s program is subject to approval by music faculty, taking into consideration the student’s background and goals. We welcome individualized proposals, which are evaluated and approved on the basis of consultations with the music faculty. We 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.

A. Required. 4 courses in Music Theory 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
• One additional upper level Music Theory course (MUSI 014, MUSI 115, or other advanced course in theory) and MUSI 040D

Majors are strongly advised to take 5 Music Theory courses if possible.

B. Required. 2 courses in Music History and Literature from among the following

• MUSI 020 (Medieval and Renaissance)
• MUSI 021 (Baroque and Classical)
• MUSI 022-W (19th-Century Europe)
• MUSI 023-W (20th Century)

C. Required. Ethnomusicology. 1 course

• MUSI/DANC 010 (The Fieldwork of Music and Dance)

D. Required. 1 elective.

This may be an additional course — at any level, introductory or advanced — in Music History and Literature; in Ethnomusicology or World Traditions; or in Music Theory; Conducting and Orchestration; or Composition. Alternatively, with permission of the music faculty, it could be an academic course in Theater or Dance if relevant to the student’s interests.

E. Required. 1 course to fulfill the Senior Comprehensive requirement.

• MUSI 094: Senior Research Topics

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 or cultural style (selected in advance by the student, subject to the approval of the department) which demonstrates skills in the three areas of analysis, historical or socio-cultural 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 prepare for their senior comprehensive examination.

F.  Required. Additional Requirements for Course Majors:

• Keyboard Skills Exam
• Department ensemble for at least four semesters

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 free private lessons to all majors and minors who need support in this area. 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.

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.

Course Minor

A. Required. At least two courses in Music Theory 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

B. Required. At least two courses in Music History and Literature, and/or in Ethnomusicology, from among the following:

• MUSI/DANC 010 (The Fieldwork of Music and Dance)
• MUSI 020 (Medieval and Renaissance)
• MUSI 021 (Baroque and Classical)
• MUSI 022-W (19th-Century Europe)
• MUSI 023-W (20th Century)
• Any other Music History course numbered above 023

C. Required. 1 elective.

This may be an additional course — at any level, introductory or advanced — in Music History and Literature; in Ethnomusicology or World Traditions; or in Music Theory. Alternatively, with permission of the music faculty, it could be an academic course in Theater or Dance if relevant to the student’s interests.

D. 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 Exam
• 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, and Department Ensemble membership. In addition, honors majors do three honors preparations in music.

Three Honors Preparations:

1. Required Honors Preparation: Senior Research Project. This consists of MUSI 094 (Senior Research Topics) in combination with one course in Music History and Literature, in Music Theory, or in Ethnomusicology.

2., 3. Elective Honors Preparations, normally one of the following:

• Music Theory. A 2-credit honors preparation in Music Theory is normally based on MUSI 115 in combination with one lower-level Music Theory 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.
• Composition. At least two semesters of MUSI 019 (Composition)
• Senior Honors Recital. A Senior Honors Recital preparation is available only to students who have distinguished themselves as performers. It is normally 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.
• Senior Thesis.

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.

Oral examinations are given for all honors preparations in music. Written examinations, in addition to oral examinations, are given for those preparations based on courses or seminars, not for theses, performances, and composition portfolios.

Honors Minor

A. Required. Two courses in Music Theory 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

B. Required. At least two courses in Music History and Literature, and/or in Ethnomusicology, from among the following:

• MUSI/DANC 010 (The Fieldwork of Music and Dance)
• MUSI 020 (Medieval and Renaissance)
• MUSI 021 (Baroque and Classical)
• MUSI 022-W (19th-Century Europe)
• MUSI 023-W (20th Century)
• Any other Music History course numbered above 023

C. Required.  1 elective.

This may be an additional course — at any level, introductory or advanced — in Music History and Literature; in Ethnomusicology or World Traditions; or in Music Theory. Alternatively, with permission of the music faculty, it could be an academic course in Theater or Dance if relevant to the student’s interests.

D. One honors preparation.

• See Honors Major for descriptions of possible Honors Preparations.

E. Additional Requirements.

• Keyboard Skills Exam
• Department ensemble for at least two semesters

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 Ethnomusicology

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.

Prerequisites for acceptance into the program:

MUSI 011/040A and one Music History course numbered 020 or above. These courses are strongly recommended for first-year students and should be completed before the junior year. If a student has not completed all of these prerequisites at the time of an application for a major/minor, but has done good work in one or more courses in the department, he or she may be accepted on a provisional basis.

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 at least two languages, with one most commonly being either German or French. 

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.  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.

Additional Resources

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