Music

Professor Chapman; Associate Professors Fatone (chair), Miura, and Tamirisa; Assistant Professor Kuriyama; Visiting Assistant Professor Goldford.

The Department of Music gives students the opportunity to study music from cultural, historical, theoretical, psychological, creative, and interpretive perspectives, including study of Western and non-Western classical, popular, and experimental musical traditions. Most of the courses offered are suitable for general liberal arts students. Music majors and minors have the opportunity to pursue individual interests in depth. In recent years, students have completed interdisciplinary and double-major programs including substantial work in music.

MUS 101 Introduction to Listening, MUS 103 Music in World Cultures, MUS 110 Music Theory for Beginners, MUS 212 How Music Performs Culture: Introduction to Ethnomusicology, and MUS 249 African American Popular Music—courses introducing musical traditions and concepts—are open to all students without prerequisite. MUS 231 Music Theory I is the beginning course in music theory; students considering a major or minor in music should take it as early as possible. Students seeking to begin course work in music theory (MUS 110 Music Theory for Beginners or MUS 231 Music Theory I) should contact the chair of the music department to arrange a placement exam by the beginning of the semester. MUS 218 Soundscapes: Recording and Designing Sound, DCS 219 Composing Sonic Systems/MUS 219 Composing Sonic Systems, and MUS 235 Music Composition are introductory courses in composition. MUS 270 Applied Music, private instruction in vocal or instrumental performance, is open to first-year students with permission of the instructor. MUS 290 Musical Ensemble Performance is open to any student who qualifies to participate in one of the department’s faculty-directed performing organizations: College Choir, College Orchestra, Gamelan Ensemble, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, and Steel Pan Orchestra.

More information is available on the Music department website.