Overview

Faculty

Alex Bádue
Charlotte Botha
Heather Buchman, chair (on leave spring 2025)
Ryan Carter
Gabe Condon
Lydia Hamessley

Special Appointments

Piano

Stephen Best, organ and keyboard skills
Elena Nezhdanova
Rick Montalbano, jazz piano
Sar-Shalom Strong
Tina Toglia

Voice

Renee Heitmann
Kay Smith Paulsen
Sharon West

Strings

Rick Balestra, jazz guitar
Susan Beevers, cello
Karlinda Caldicott, harp
Adam Dudding, folk guitar
Ken Meyer, classical guitar
Spencer Phillips, double bass
Edgar Tumajyan, violin and viola
Ubaldo Valli, violin and viola
Jessica W.H. Wilbee, harp

Woodwinds

Cornelia Brewster, flute
Joe Carello, saxophone
Allan Kolsky, clarinet
Jessica King, bassoon
Katherine Martins, oboe
Monk Rowe, saxophone

Brass

Jon Garland, horn
John Raschella, trumpet

Percussion

Mike Cirmo, percussion
Tom McGrath, drums

Department/Program Goals

The goal of the Music Department is to enable a broad range of students to explore a wide variety of musical experiences and practices. Supported by their development of musicianship and technical skills, concentrators will acquire a more sophisticated understanding of music in historical and cultural contexts, theory and composition, and performance, while pursuing one of these areas in greater depth.

Department/Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students Will Learn to:

Demonstrate active listening skills from among a wide variety of musical experiences and practices
Make links between various musical styles and their historical and cultural contexts
Demonstrate proficiency in various theories of music
Display skills in making music through performance, composition, recording, or production

Concentration/Minor Description and Requirements

A concentration in music comprises 10 courses:

MUSIC-220 (From Chant to Bach)
MUSIC-221 (From Bach to Bartók)
MUSIC-210 (Music Theory Fundamentals and Chromatic Harmony) or MUSIC-211 (Chromatic Harmony)
MUSIC-310 (Advanced Topics in Music Theory)
One SSIH-designated course from among the following: MUSIC-214 (Black Voices in Song), MUSIC-254 (Studies in World Music), MUSIC-257 (Music and the Black Arts Movement), MUSIC-261 (Jazz Foundations), MUSIC-265 (Latin American Music)
MUSIC-100 (The Art of Active Listening) or an elective at the 200-level or higher
An elective at the 200-level or higher
An elective at the 200-level or higher
One 300-level elective
A Standard Senior Project (MUSIC-452) or an Honors Senior Project (MUSIC-550 and MUSIC-551)

Concentrators must also demonstrate proficiency in aural skills, keyboard skills, and music technology. Concentrators must pass the following proficiency exams as early as possible, either by demonstrating prior proficiency or by taking the listed courses to gain proficiency:

Aural Skills (MUSIC-180)
Keyboard Skills (MUSIC-181)

Concentrators are expected to complete these two proficiencies by the end of the junior year so that they may apply these skills in their advanced coursework.

Concentrators may take the following courses to gain proficiency in basic music technology skills:

Music notation software (MUSIC-368)
Audio recording and digital distribution (MUSIC-270)

Alternatively, concentrators may demonstrate prior proficiency in these areas.

Concentrators are also strongly encouraged to participate in department ensembles in each semester.

At most, one course that counts toward completing requirements for the concentration can be taken credit/no credit, and only if it is taken before the concentration is declared.

A more complete description of the Senior Project, the music technology requirement, and the proficiency exams in aural skills and keyboard skills are available from the department. Students contemplating graduate work in music should consult with a member of the department at an early date.

A minor in music comprises five courses: one theory course (MUSIC-110, MUSIC-210, or MUSIC-211) and four others from among these possibilities:

MUSIC-100
one course credit in group performance, applied music, or solo performance
full-credit courses at the 200-level or above

At most, one course for the minor can be taken credit/no credit, and only if it is taken before the minor is declared.