Music Department

Degree Requirements

Prospective majors should begin their course of study with Theory I (112) and the Historical Survey (122) in the first two years. Students should make early inquiry into their preparation for Theory I by taking the fundamentals examination, which is given at the beginning of each semester. We recommend that majors also take piano lessons if they have never done so. Majors are expected to participate in performance activities; therefore, fees for private instruction are waived for junior and senior music majors.

Music majors must complete Theory I, the Historical Survey, and at least one other course above the 111 level in order to make formal application for junior status; still another course above the 111 level must be completed before the junior qualifying examination. The department strongly recommends that one of these courses be Theory III (221).

The junior qualifying examination in music is a tripartite project in which students write an extended critical essay on musical issues suggested by a concert they choose during the semester of the exam. Students are asked to make a full bibliographics search for material that will help them to write an informed thoughtful paper.

Topics not ordinarily included in the regular curriculum may be offered to juniors and seniors with special interests as independent study courses (481).

Requirements for the Major

Exclusive of work needed to meet general college and divisional requirements:

  1. Theory courses--Music 112, Music 212, and Music 343.
  2. History courses--Music 122 and Music 311.
  3. Four semesters of ensemble from among Music 103 (orchestra), Music 105 (chorus), Music 107 (Collegium), Music 109 (chamber music); one-half unit to be taken in each of four semesters.
  4. Thesis (Music 470).
  5. Four more courses, two of which may be met by taking instrumental or vocal lessons (Music 101) in the junior and senior year, provided that such study culmniates in a senior recital, the program to be approved by the department at the beginning of the junior year. This recital does not substitute for a senior thesis.

Recommended but not required: piano lessons.

Senior Thesis

Students planning to do theses in music must demonstrate their competence, prior to the senior year, in the particular area in which they wish to work. That is, they may not use the thesis as an occasion to explore an entirely new area, which may be done in a regular 481 (independent study) course. The thesis may be an extended historical or analytical essay or a composition thesis, which must include a printed score and a tape of a performance. To be considered for a composition thesis, a student should have already taken Composition and at least one semester of Independent Study in advanced composition. At the beginning of the senior year, students prepare short written statements describing the nature of their theses and meet briefly with the entire department to discuss their thesis proposals.