Music
Adeline Mueller, Chair
Jacob Burnstein, Academic Department Coordinator
208 Pratt Hall
413-538-2306
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/academics/find-your-program/music
Overview and Contact Information
The Department of Music regards the study of music as an artistic discipline that has an essential role in liberal arts education. Through courses in music history, theory, ethnomusicology, performance, composition, and music technology, the department cultivates growth of the individual by fostering creative, intellectual, and critical abilities.
The department offers a major and a minor in music. Students also have the option to pursue the Five College Certificate in Ethnomusicology, which may be completed as a complement to any major or minor, even in overlapping fields.
The music major is designed for students with a wide range of interests, backgrounds, and career goals. It is intended to provide a broad and varied acquaintance with different modes of listening to, understanding, and creating music.
Students may also pursue Teacher Licensure with a specialty in Music, which requires a Music major, an Education Studies minor, and participation in the licensure program.
See Also
Learning Goals
- Integrate modes of listening to, understanding, and creating music.
- Synthesize perspectives from music theory, ethnomusicology, music history, composition, music technology, and performance.
- Cultivate critical understanding of diverse musical practices and materials in their social, historical, and cultural contexts.
- Develop ideas about music and communicate them through words and artistic expression.
- Develop pathways for a lifetime of engagement with music.
Faculty
This area of study is administered by the Department of Music:
Thomas Ciufo, Professor of Music; Director of the Arts and Technology Labs
Adrianne Greenbaum, Professor of Music, Teaching Fall Only
Tian Hui Ng, Orchestra Director; Professor of Music
Olabode Omojola, Hammond-Douglass Five College Professor of Music
David Sanford, Elizabeth T. Kennan Professor of Music
Adeline Mueller, Associate Professor of Music
Colin Britt, Senior Lecturer in Music; Director of Choral Activities
Benjamin Geyer, Senior Lecturer in Music
Allison Monroe, Lecturer in Music and Director of the Five College Early Music Program
Sherezade Panthaki, Lecturer in Music
Nona Monahin, Visiting Assistant Professor in Music
Margaret Pash, Visiting Assistant Professor in Music
Daniel Langa, Visiting Assistant Professor in Music
Faith Conant, Visiting Instructor in Music and Director of Five College West African Music Ensemble
Mark Gionfriddo, Director of Jazz Ensembles, Coordinator of Piano Instruction, Instructor of Music
Performance Instructors: Alterman, Brignolo, Callinan, Conant, de Fremery, Dennis, Dethloff, Dredge, Ellington, Fizznoglia, Gionfriddo, Greenbaum, Hale, Huang, Klement, Kostare, Lach, Lovell, Miller, Monroe, Moss, Panthaki, Pash, Pemrick, Picchi, Picard, Pousont, Robbins, Shotwell, Slowik, Spiridopoulos, Sutherland, Taghavi, Wright
Requirements for the Major
A minimum of 38 credits:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUSIC-100 | Rudiments of Music (or passing the music theory placement test) 1 | 2 |
| One music theory course: | 4 | |
| Theorizing Classical Music | ||
or MUSIC-236 | Pop Song / Jazz Tune | |
| One of the following four music history courses: | 4 | |
| History of Western Music I: Music to 1700 | ||
| History of Western Music II: Music from 1700 to 1850 | ||
| History of Western Music III: Music from 1850 to 1950 | ||
| History of Western Music IV: Music Since 1950 | ||
| One ethnomusicology course | 4 | |
| One music technology course | 4 | |
| Four credits of additional music electives at any level | 4 | |
| Eight credits of additional music electives at the 300 level | 8 | |
| Performance Requirements: | ||
| At least 4 credits of individual performance study | 4 | |
| At least 2 credits of ensembles | 2 | |
| 2 additional credits in either individual performance study or ensembles | 2 | |
| Total Credits | 38 | |
- 1
For information on the theory placement test, please contact the Department of Music.
Additional Specifications
- In order to declare a major, students must have already completed one classroom course in the department.
- The electives, as well as additional courses above the 38 credits required, should be chosen carefully in consultation with the student's advisor and will be customized to meet the individual student’s particular interests and goals.
- Once the performance requirements have been met, up to 2 credits of individual performance study or ensemble credits can be applied as any-level electives. If students complete 300-level individual performance study, up to 4 credits can be counted toward 300-level elective credit.
- Independent study (MUSIC-295, MUSIC-395) is encouraged but does not count toward the major. A student wishing to pursue independent study that may lead to honors is encouraged to begin in the second semester of the junior year.
Requirements for the Minor
In order to declare a minor, students must have already completed one classroom course in the department.
A minimum of 20 credits:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUSIC-100 | Rudiments of Music (or passing the music theory placement test) 1 | 2 |
| Elective credits in music: | ||
| 2 credits in music at any level | 2 | |
| 12 additional credits in music at the 200 or 300 level | 12 | |
| At least 4 additional credits in music at the 300 level | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 20 | |
- 1
For information on the theory placement test, please contact the Department of Music.
Additional Specifications
Teacher Licensure
Students interested in pursuing licensure in the field of music can combine their course work in music with a minor in education. In some instances course work in the major coincides with course work required for licensure; in other cases, it does not. Students wishing to pursue teacher licensure should consult the music department before the first semester. Further information about the minor in education and the Teacher Licensure program is available in other sections of the catalog, or consult Ms. Lawrence in the psychology and education department.
Licensure also requires a formal application as well as passing scores on the Massachusetts Test of Educator Licensure (MTEL) in both the literacy component and the subject matter component. Copies of the test objectives for the MTEL are available in the music department and in the Department of Psychology and Education.
Additional information about the Licensure Program, including application materials, can be found on the Teacher Licensure Program website.
Course Advice
First-Year Students
Introductory (100-level) courses in Rudiments of Music, Music Technology, Foundations of Voice, and various topics in critical music studies are offered for students with little or no prior experience. First-year students may take these courses or a first-year seminar taught by music faculty. A number of 200-level classroom courses are also open to students beginning in their first year, though some require the Theory Placement Test or prior enrollment in MUSIC-100 as a prerequisite. We offer courses in ethnomusicology, music theory, music technology, composition, conducting, music and film, and histories of classical, jazz, and popular music.
All students are eligible for Individual Performance Study (lessons). Private instruction is offered in piano, voice, guitar, percussion, and all major Western orchestral instruments at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. Students may audition for Ensembles any time and at any level, and many ensembles are open to beginner musicians/singers.
Music Theory Placement Exam
Students who demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the rudiments of music will be exempted from MUSIC-100, which is a prerequisite for certain courses and a requirement for individual performance studies (please see below). For information on the theory placement exam, please contact the department.
Course Offerings
100-level Courses
MUSIC-100 Rudiments of Music
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
In this half-semester course, students will become familiar with the elements of music notation (staves, clefs, pitch names, note and rest values) and with some of the basic skills necessary for college-level music instruction (e.g., construction and identification of scales, intervals, triads, and basic diatonic functions).
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Notes: Half-semester course. Offered twice per semester.
MUSIC-102 Music and Technology
Fall and Spring. Credits: 4
It is now possible to create electronic music with a variety of powerful and flexible computer-based tools. Through reading, discussion, demonstration, listening sessions, technical tutorials and hands-on projects, we will explore the techniques, practices and aesthetics surrounding creative applications of current and emerging music technologies, including sound recording and editing, mixing, synthesis and electronic music composition.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Restrictions: This course is limited to first-years and sophomores.
Advisory: Basic computer literacy (such as comfort with user interface navigation, file management, and editing commands) is required. Juniors and seniors who have declared a Music major can write to the instructor for permission to enroll.
Notes: Not open to juniors or senior non-Music majors in the first week of pre-registration.
MUSIC-103 History of Jazz
Fall. Credits: 4
This course will follow the origins and evolution of jazz from the late nineteenth century to the present, with emphases on prominent stylistic trends and significant individuals. Along with some analysis of the musical language jazz employs, the music will be examined in its relation to the social contexts that helped produce and shape it. The ability to read music is not a requirement for this course.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
MUSIC-117 Foundations of Voice
Fall. Credits: 2
This course will introduce singers to the physiology of human voice and healthy vocal technique through readings and visual sources on vocal anatomy. Students will examine vocal repertoire spanning approximately 500 years, explore various Western/international singing styles in English, Italian, French, German, etc., as well as receiving an introduction to diction, the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), and its application to various languages. Music of composers from historically marginalized backgrounds will be highlighted. Theoretical knowledge will culminate in practical demonstrations via presentations and performances in class.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Advisory: Open to all singers at any level.
MUSIC-134 Girl Groups from Medieval to Motown
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
The term "girl groups" typically refers to the close-harmony all-women pop groups of the 1950s and 1960s. Yet groups like the Andrews Sisters, the Shirelles, and, most famously, the Supremes, represent only one manifestation of a centuries-long musical practice in which groups of young women have sung together, from enslaved women of the medieval Islamic world to the concerto delle donne of Renaissance Italy to Vivaldi's young pupils at the Ospedale della Pietà. For centuries, these groups have enthralled listeners and inspired composers. This course looks at the history of this musical phenomenon, with critical attention to its spaces, reception, and relationships and what they tell us about gender and musicking over time.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
MUSIC-136 Adventures in Music
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
This course delves into the intricate world of auditory perception, exploring how humans interpret, experience, and make sense of sound. Students will journey through the art of hearing, discuss the sensations of hearing, how sound colors our perception of the world, and how the sound worlds we live in are increasingly curated and constructed. The course will cover a range of topics, including historical definitions of pitch, time, and sound forms, and the influence of cultural and environmental factors on how we perceive sound. We will also investigate the role of hearing in communication, music, and soundscapes, and consider how technological advancements are transforming the way we interact with sound. Through hands-on experiments, critical listening sessions, and interdisciplinary readings, students will gain a holistic understanding of sound perception, learning to appreciate its profound impact on human experience. By the end of the course, participants will have developed an enhanced awareness of the role sound plays in shaping our environment and our lives.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Advisory: This course has been conceived in a way that will be accessible to students with limited musical training.
MUSIC-139 Music of the 1970s
Spring. Credits: 4
Remembered primarily for being the decade when popular music demanded a reality check, the 1970s will be the framework for a critical and analytical survey of some of the more fertile developments and influential ideas that originated, flourished, and/or declined in that era. Topics will include minimalism, jazz-rock fusion, reggae, disco, punk, and the accompanying multiculturalism that informed social/political/economic conditions that bred these styles.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
200-Level Courses
MUSIC-202 Electronic and Computer Music
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
This course will explore a range of approaches and techniques involved in the creation of electronic and computer music, including aspects of form and development, analog and digital synthesis and signal processing, basic computer music programming, and audio recording and production techniques. The focus of this seminar will be a series of exercises and creative projects that develop aesthetic and technical abilities. This creative work will be supported and enriched by selected reading and listening examples, as well as ongoing technical labs and demonstrations.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Prereq: MUSIC-102.
MUSIC-203 Acoustic Ecology and Sonic Art
Fall. Credits: 4
The field of acoustic ecology is particularly concerned with how we create, interpret and interact with the sounds around us and how imbalances in the soundscape may affect human health and the natural world. Through reading, discussion, listening sessions, independent research, and hands-on projects, we will examine the broad interdisciplinary fields of acoustic ecology and sonic art. We will engage historical, conceptual, and aesthetic aspects of sound as a cultural, environmental, and artistic medium, with an emphasis on listening, psychoacoustics, soundscape studies, field recording and soundscape composition. We will question predominant ideas regarding the relationships between location, environment, sound, silence, music, and noise, and test these ideas through individual and group research as well as hands-on sonic art projects.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Restrictions: Course limited to sophomores, juniors and seniors
MUSIC-204 The Art of Music Recording and Production
Spring. Credits: 4
This course provides an introduction to the art and science of multitrack audio recording and music production. Through reading, discussion, listening sessions, tutorials, and hands-on projects, students will explore the technical and creative aspects of the recording process. Topics will include microphone selection and placement, recording, overdubbing, mixing strategies, and the use of professional digital audio workstations in the production workflow. We will develop critical listening skills and musical and sonic aesthetics, covering a range of styles, genres, and production approaches.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Prereq: MUSIC-102.
MUSIC-215 Intermediate Composition
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Students will explore a number of musical styles and approaches in the process of creating their own extended works, with the possibility of performances at the end of the semester.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Prereq: MUSIC-100 or MUSIC-131 or passing Music Theory Placement Test.
MUSIC-217 Foundations of Voice II
Spring. Credits: 2
This course is designed as a follow-up to MUSIC-117, Foundations of Voice I, with a primary focus on in-class study, singing, and accompanying of Western Art songs and International Folk songs (Mexican, French, Arabic, Czech, German, American). Course study will include an overall examination of composers, performance practice, musical styles, poetry, structural form, and nationalistic characteristics. All students will participate in regular in-class performances of music by well-known as well as historically marginalized composers. Music by Purcell, Mozart, Fanny Mendelssohn, Schubert, L. Boulanger, Dvorák, Crawford Seeger, Fauré, Price, Ravel, Beach and more.
Prereq: MUSIC-100 or MUSIC-131 or passing Music Theory Placement Test.
Advisory: MUSIC-117 not required. Vocal students: 2 semesters of voice lessons. Intermediate and advanced level pianists welcome.
MUSIC-220 Music and Film
Spring. Credits: 4
This course is for all who stay to the end of the credits, purchase soundtracks, and argue over who should have won the Oscar for Best Score, along with anyone else interested in the undervalued importance of music to the general effect of a motion picture. We will explore and discuss the myriad ways in which these two media interact. The course will focus on classic scores by Herrmann, Morricone, and Williams, as well as the uses of pre-existing music in films of Kubrick and Tarantino.
Crosslisted as: FMT-230MU
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Prereq: MUSIC-100, MUSIC-131, MUSIC-102 or MUSIC-103, or one Film Media Theater course.
MUSIC-226 World Music
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
This course is a survey of selected musical traditions from different parts of the world, including Africa, Indonesia, Indian, the Caribbean, and the United States. The course adopts an ethnomusicological approach that explains music as a cultural phenomenon, and explores the social and aesthetic significance of musical traditions within their respective historical and cultural contexts. It examines how musical traditions change over time, and how such changes reflect and relate to social and political changes within a given society. Weekly reading and listening assignments provide the basis for class discussions.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
MUSIC-228 African Opera in Theory and Practice
Spring. Credits: 4
The course begins by examining African performance practices, notably musical storytelling and ensemble organization, and the significance of music in society. It culminates in rehearsals and a public performance of a new opera by students and professionals. This allows students to gain practical experience and reflect on the theoretical perspectives examined earlier in the semester. The opera, "Tortured Song," centers on music as both a tool of resistance and a victim of censorship in the Black colonial and post-colonial world. "Song" is personified as Orin, who travels across black communities, conversing with divinities and political leaders, and mobilizing in her search for freedom.
Crosslisted as: FMT-230PR
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
Notes: The performance will be accompanied by the Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra conducted by Professor Ng Tian Hui.
MUSIC-231 Theorizing Classical Music
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Studies diatonic harmony (part-writing, inversions, harmonization, figured bass and non-harmonic tones) and begins the exploration of chromaticism. Includes analysis, aural skills, and keyboard harmony.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Prereq: MUSIC-100, MUSIC-131, or Music Theory Placement Test.
MUSIC-234 Early Music Performance Practice: Sing Like Dido; Play like Orpheus
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
How do we know how the art music of Europe was performed 400 years ago? What does it mean to sing and play in a historically informed manner in the modern era? How do we improvise and ornament? How do we shape this music, expressing its style and drama? This course introduces a practical application of early music performance practice, and examines the historical, editorial, and theatrical aspects of masterworks such as Monteverdi's Orfeo, Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, Bach's St. Matthew Passion, Jacquet de la Guerre's Judith, and more. The course will include regular in-class performances or presentations, opera screenings, and a field trip to a major early music performance in Boston.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Prereq: MUSIC-100 or MUSIC-231 or passing Music Theory Placement Test.
Advisory: Singers: 2 semesters of voice lessons, or by permission of instructor. Modern and period instrumentalists/keyboardists welcome by permission of instructor.
MUSIC-236 Pop Song / Jazz Tune
Fall. Credits: 4
Pop and jazz involve different types of musical texts. From open mic nights to top-40 hits, pop performances are enactments of carefully crafted song structures. In contrast, jazz musicians treat tunes more flexibly-as frameworks to guide improvisation. In separate units for the pop song and the jazz tune, this course examines how harmony, melody, rhythm, lyrics, and form unite to inspire great performances in both traditions. Each unit will include nuts-and-bolts assignments to build analytical and compositional skills, which will be applied in a composition project at the end of each unit.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Prereq: MUSIC-100 or MUSIC-131 or passing Music Theory Placement Test.
MUSIC-238 The Power of Black Music
Fall. Credits: 4
The course focuses on the musics of Africa and the African diaspora through the lens of ethnomusicology. Concentrating on countries like Brazil, Cuba, Nigeria, South Africa, and the United States, it examines the musical performance of gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality and the role of music in social and political movements. The course explores the global dimensions and resonances of Africanist musical cosmopolitanism as enabled historically and sustained through ongoing transatlantic exchanges between Africa and the African diasporas. Other topics covered include the global rise of Afrobeats, and the issues of representation in iconic works like Black Is King and Lemonade by Beyoncé.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
Other Attribute(s): Speaking-Intensive
MUSIC-242 Conducting I
Spring. Credits: 4
Fundamentals of conducting: gestures, rehearsal techniques, study of representative short scores, and practice leading primarily choral ensembles. Videotaping, class recital.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Prereq: one of the following: MUSIC-231, MUSIC-281, MUSIC-282, MUSIC-283, MUSIC-284.
Advisory: Ensemble experience.
MUSIC-249 Topics in Music
MUSIC-249MU Topics in Music: 'Language, Music and the Mind'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
This course explores the interplay between language, music and cognitive skills. For centuries, questions about the relationship between language and music have been asked by philosophers, artists, and scientists. Is music a language and is language a music? What is the evolutionary value of language and music? What are the formal characteristics that are shared between the two? What happens in the human mind when language or music breaks down? How can we design interdisciplinary studies to look into language and music? While no prior music education is required, the course will provide a comprehensive overview that bridges gaps between linguistics, music theory, and cognitive science.
Crosslisted as: PSYCH-249MU
Applies to requirement(s): Social Sciences
Prereq: PSYCH-100 or AP Psychology.
MUSIC-281 History of Western Music I: Music to 1700
Fall. Credits: 4
The first in a four-semester survey of European and Eurocentric classical music, covering the period to 1700 and changes in how composers interacted with performers, audiences, critics, institutions, and society at large. We trace these changes through a fast-paced survey of representative works, including music by women composers, composers of color, and LGBTQ+ composers. We build skills in score reading, understanding musical forms and genres, interpreting primary sources, and writing music history. Course theme: Music and the Sacred. How did patronage within houses of worship (especially the Catholic church) influence how music was created, performed, circulated, and understood?
Crosslisted as: RELIG-225MU
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Other Attribute(s): Writing-Intensive
Prereq: MUSIC-100 or MUSIC-131 or passing Music Theory Placement Test.
MUSIC-282 History of Western Music II: Music from 1700 to 1850
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
The second in a four-semester survey of European and Eurocentric classical music, covering the period from 1700 to 1850 and changes in how composers interacted with performers, audiences, critics, institutions, and society at large. We trace these changes through a fast-paced survey of representative works, including music by women composers, composers of color, and LGBTQ+ composers. We build skills in score reading, understanding musical forms and genres, interpreting primary sources, and writing music history. Course theme: Music and the Public. How did the rise of music publishing, public venues, criticism, conservatories, etc. affect the ways musicians navigated the marketplace?
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Other Attribute(s): Writing-Intensive
Prereq: MUSIC-100 or MUSIC-131 or passing Music Theory Placement Test.
MUSIC-283 History of Western Music III: Music from 1850 to 1950
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
The third in a four-semester survey of Western music history, MUSIC-283 examines the cultures of art music in Europe and the Americas from 1850 to 1950, focusing on the evolution of styles and genres and the changing roles of composers, performers, and audiences.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Other Attribute(s): Writing-Intensive
Prereq: MUSIC-100 or MUSIC-131 or passing Music Theory Placement Test.
MUSIC-284 History of Western Music IV: Music Since 1950
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
The fourth in a four-semester survey of European and Eurocentric classical music, covering the period since 1950 and changes in how composers interacted with performers, audiences, critics, institutions, and society at large. We trace these changes through a fast-paced survey of representative works, including music by women composers, composers of color, and LGBTQ+ composers. We build skills in score reading, understanding musical forms and genres, interpreting primary sources, and writing music history. Course theme: Music and the Machine. How have new technologies of notation, recording, broadcast, and digital media affected music since 1950, and the ways it is performed and understood?
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Other Attribute(s): Writing-Intensive
Prereq: MUSIC-100 or MUSIC-131 or passing Music Theory Placement Test.
MUSIC-299 Creative Career Strategies and Music Entrepreneurship
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 2
This combined lecture series/seminar will expose students to a wide range of career options available in music and music-related fields. Guest speakers will present broad and varied approaches to creating a meaningful career in music, as well as sharing specific strategies, resources, and advice. This seminar will also include course readings and discussion, as well as skill building in entrepreneurial thinking and professional aspects of career development.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
300-Level Courses
MUSIC-302 Projects in Sound and Media Arts
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
This innovative arts and technology course will explore emerging creative/technical practices that transcend any single medium or discipline. While sound will be a primary focus of the course, students will design, realize, and collaborate on projects that may also include still or moving images, text, graphics, installation, computation, interactivity, performance, etc. Class meetings will combine seminar-style discussions with listening, viewing and hands-on lab sessions, brainstorming, project development and feedback. Guest artists' visits and collaborations with other MHC arts and tech classes will enhance your exposure to sound and media arts practitioners.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Restrictions: This course is open to juniors and seniors
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: MUSIC-102 plus one additional arts and technology class and permission of instructor.
Advisory: Email professor for permission during advising week.
MUSIC-315 Advanced Composition
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Students will explore a number of musical styles and approaches in the process of creating their own extended works, with the possibility of performances a the end of the semester.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Prereq: MUSIC-202, MUSIC-215, MUSIC-231, or MUSIC-302.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-321 Advanced Interdisciplinary Topics
MUSIC-321AM Advanced Interdisciplinary Topics: 'Art, Music and the Brain'
Spring. Credits: 4
Art and music are a part of all human cultures. Is there something about the human brain that drives us to paint and sing? We will examine how the brain simultaneously processes different aspects of visual and auditory stimuli, ask how this processing may affect the way we do art and music, and explore where these phenomena may occur in the brain. As we engage in discussion and hands-on activities, we will discover the commonalities between the arts and the sciences including practice, experimentation, exploration, innovation, and creativity.
Crosslisted as: PSYCH-349AM
Applies to requirement(s): Social Sciences
Other Attribute(s): Writing-Intensive
Restrictions: This course is limited to seniors.
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: At least 8 credits at the 200 level in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior, Art History, or Music.
MUSIC-321BM Advanced Interdisciplinary Topics: 'Black Musical Creativity and the Politics of Pleasure'
Spring. Credits: 4
What does it mean to take pleasure seriously as a site of Black creative power? This course centers music and sound as key domains through which Black communities craft aesthetic worlds, sustain intimacy, and experiment with freedom. Engaging Black feminist thought, diaspora studies, and contemporary music scholarship, we explore how sonic practices-from improvisation and sampling to harmony, distortion, and groove-generate forms of relationality that exceed domination. We consider pleasure not as an escape, but as a world-making practice. This class invites students to think about music as both aesthetic practice and social theory.
Crosslisted as: CRPE-336
Applies to requirement(s): Social Sciences; Multicultural Perspectives
Other Attribute(s): Speaking-Intensive
Restrictions: This course is open to juniors and seniors
Prereq: 8 credits in the social sciences and/or humanities.
MUSIC-334 Music Analysis
The course provides an opportunity for advanced-level application of various analytical approaches to a small group of related works within a given musical tradition.
MUSIC-334MF Music Analysis: 'Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
In conjunction with the Five College Opera's Spring 2026 production of Mozart's 1786 opera Le Nozze di Figaro, this course will give students a thorough grounding in the adaptation of plays into operas, and the analysis of opera. We will undertake a close reading of Beaumarchais' play (in translation), da Ponte's libretto, Mozart's settings, and a number of historic and contemporary productions, in order to explore how operas work with and against their source texts, and also how opera analysis and dramaturgy can inform creative choices about music and staging. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to decode text and music in opera, to critically engage with the analyses of other scholars, and to comprehend some of the challenges and drawbacks of opera analysis.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Other Attribute(s): Writing-Intensive
Prereq: one of the following: MUSIC-231, MUSIC-281, MUSIC-282, MUSIC-283, MUSIC-284.
MUSIC-334MT Music Analysis: 'Miles' Styles'
Spring. Credits: 4
Miles Davis had a knack for rewriting the rules of jazz. At 19 he was working with bebop pioneers at the cutting edge of modern jazz. Rather than resting on his laurels, the experience sparked a career of exploration: he had a hand in almost every major jazz style for the next quarter-century, including cool jazz, hard bop, postbop, and fusion. With a focus on musical analysis, this course trains a (sunglassed) lens on Davis's many musical directions. Through weekly readings, written reflections, transcription analysis, and audio annotation, we explore questions of musical style and how it is shaped by musicians even as it shapes them.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
Other Attribute(s): Writing-Intensive
Prereq: MUSIC-231 or MUSIC-236.
MUSIC-347 Topics in Music: 'Music Theory and Difference'
Fall. Credits: 4
This course asks what it means to create, consume, and analyze music across lines of cultural difference. In what ways do a repertoire's features become associated with -- or bound to -- the people who create it? As we listen and analyze across cultural lines, what aspects might be translated or lost; what might be gained? What distinguishes modes of interaction such as influence, hybridity, and appropriation? How do systems of power and oppression impact our thinking on these questions? In this course we explore these and other questions through reading, musical analysis, formal and informal writing, engagement with guest speakers, and discussion of case studies, centering musicians that have been marginalized by the academic discipline of music theory.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
Other Attribute(s): Writing-Intensive
Prereq: MUSIC-100 or MUSIC-131 or passing Music Theory Placement Test, and an additional 4 credits in classroom Music courses at the 200 level or above.
MUSIC-371 Topics in Music
This seminar is designed to build skills in engaging with primary materials and secondary literature in critical music studies. Engagement with a shared topic at the outset of the semester provides the context from which each student fashions an independent project. Oral presentations and active discussion are integral to the course.
MUSIC-371HM Topics in Music: 'History of Music Education'
Fall. Credits: 4
This seminar explores the history of formalized, institutional music education in Europe and North America, focusing on the Middle Ages to the present. Topics include monastic and cathedral schools; conservatories and their roots in orphanages and vocational schools; music programs in pre-school, K-12, and higher ed (including Mount Holyoke); approaches to music within disability education; formal training in jazz, popular, traditional, and experimental musics; and the politics of degrees and accreditation. Through critical reading of primary sources, we trace the political and cultural work of music education, and how it reinforces aesthetic ideologies and systems of power and access.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Other Attribute(s): Community-Based Learning, Writing-Intensive
Prereq: 8 credits in classroom Music courses including at least 4 credits at the 200 level or above.
MUSIC-371MA Topics in Music: 'Music and Animation'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
An in-depth exploration of music and animation from the silent era to the digital age. We will draw on film-music theoretical and critical approaches to analyzing the interaction of music and image in shorts and feature films by studios like Warner Brothers, Disney, Pixar, and Ghibli, television shows, video games, music videos, and experimental animation. Our focus will be on audio-visual media that thematizes music and music-making, from Visual Music and Silly Symphonies to Mamoru Hosoda's Belle and the video game Guitar Hero. Final projects can range from critical-analytical papers and video essays to original audio-visual creative work.
Crosslisted as: FMT-330MA
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Other Attribute(s): Writing-Intensive
Prereq: 8 credits in classroom Music or Film Media Theater courses including at least 4 credits at the 200 level or above.
Advisory: This course should not be taken by students who took MUSIC-222/FMT-230MA previously.
MUSIC-371MD Topics in Music: 'Music and Disability'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
In this seminar, we encounter foundational texts, methodologies, and case studies in the field of Disability Studies in Music. Grounded in a music-historical approach (but incorporating other music studies methods), we trace how musicking across a range of time periods and traditions both represents and constructs the cultures, policies, and tropes of bodymind difference and normativity. We center music, performance, and scholarship by disabled individuals and collectives, and emphasize the intersectional nature of disability justice, while also interrogating ableism in the music industry and the academy, as well as our own embodied positionalities as music makers, scholars, and consumers.
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities
Other Attribute(s): Writing-Intensive
Prereq: 8 credits in classroom Music courses including at least 4 credits at the 200 level or above.
MUSIC-374 Advanced Seminar in Ethnomusicology
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Designed for music and non-music majors, this advanced seminar examines core theoretical and methodological issues in ethnomusicology and the debates that have shaped its practice since its origins in the early twentieth century as comparative musicology. Drawing on musical traditions from different parts of the world and supplemented by workshops conducted by visiting professional musicians, the course explores the interdisciplinary approaches that inform how ethnomusicologists study the significance of music "in" and "as" culture. Topics covered will include ethnographic methods, the intersection of musicological and anthropological perspectives, the political significance of musical hybridity, applied ethnomusicology, and sound studies.
Crosslisted as: ANTHR-316ET
Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Multicultural Perspectives
Other Attribute(s): Speaking-Intensive, Writing-Intensive
Restrictions: Course limited to sophomores, juniors and seniors
Prereq: 8 credits in classroom courses in Social Sciences or Humanities at the 200 level or above.
Performance Studies
Official registration for all performance courses may only be done after successful completion of the audition process; at the audition students should be prepared to demonstrate their level of vocal or instrumental proficiency. All performance study is for academic credit. (See MUSIC-100 requirement below.)
The Department of Music offers private instruction in performance studies at three levels for areas listed. Students studying privately are encouraged to elect the 50-minute lesson but may, at their own option or when advised by the instructor, enroll for the 30-minute (1 credit) lesson.
Students will be placed according to the following order of priority: declared music majors and minors; first-, second-, and third-year students who demonstrate proficiency on their instrument at or above an upper elementary level, with order of placement determined by extent of experience and quality of performance; first-, second-, and third-year students who wish to begin their study of an instrument or voice; fourth-year students, with order of placement determined by extent of experience and quality of performance.
Students enroll with Mount Holyoke performance faculty if the instrument they wish to study is offered by the department. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability, and permission of the instructor is required. Please consult the department for audition dates and times.
Music 100 Requirement
Because the Department of Music believes students enrolled in individual performance studies should have a thorough knowledge of the rudiments of music, continued enrollment beyond the first semester of lessons will be contingent on exemption from or concurrent enrollment in MUSIC-100 regardless of whether a student is enrolled at Mount Holyoke or another Five College institution. The music theory placement exam is in two parts. In order to pass the exam, students must achieve scores of at least 75 percent on both the written and aural portions.
100 Level Performance Study
Successful completion of, or exemption from, MUSIC-100 allows up to 8 academic credits of individual performance study on one instrument at the 100 level.
200 Level Performance Study
Following successful completion of 8 credits of performance study at the 100 level on one instrument, the student automatically advances to study at the 200 level, for which there are no credit limitations. Students enrolled in study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester. Earlier entry into the 200 level is with permission of instructor.
300 Level Performance Study
Usually taken only in the senior year. Students may advance to the 300 level of performance studies upon the recommendation of the instructor. Four credits are granted for each semester of performance study at the 300 level. Students enrolled in one semester of study at the 300 level will be required to prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent. (“Equivalent”: two half-recitals, or one-half recital plus other significant public performance.) More detailed information on performance study at the 300 level is available from the Department of Music office.
MUSIC-151A Individual Performance Study: 'Piano'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151B Individual Performance Study: 'Voice'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability..
MUSIC-151C Individual Performance Study: 'Flute'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151D Individual Performance Study: 'Oboe'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151E Individual Performance Study: 'Clarinet'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151F Individual Performance Study: 'Saxophone'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151G Individual Performance Study: 'Bassoon'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151H Individual Performance Study: 'French Horn'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151I Individual Performance Study: 'Trumpet'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151J Individual Performance Study: 'Trombone'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151K Individual Performance Study: 'Tuba'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151M Individual Performance Study: 'Percussion'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151N Individual Performance Study: 'Harpsichord'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151O Individual Performance Study: 'Organ'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151P Individual Performance Study: 'Harp'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151Q Individual Performance Study: 'Guitar'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151R Individual Performance Study: 'Violin'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151S Individual Performance Study: 'Viola'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151T Individual Performance Study: 'Cello'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151U Individual Performance Study: 'Bass'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151V Individual Performance Study: 'Recorders/Early Winds'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151W Individual Performance Study: 'Loud Winds'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151X Individual Performance Study: 'Lute'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151Y Individual Performance Study: 'Early Strings'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. Prereq: MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-151Z Individual Performance Study: 'Music Technology'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 1 - 2
Private study - individual instruction in the use of current and emerging technologies for the creation and performance of electronic music and sonic art.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently. MUSIC-100, or passing Music Theory Placement Test after one semester of study. Take previously or concurrently.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability.
MUSIC-251A Individual Performance Study: 'Piano'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251B Individual Performance Study: 'Voice'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251C Individual Performance Study: 'Flute'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251D Individual Performance Study: 'Oboe'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251E Individual Performance Study: 'Clarinet'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251F Individual Performance Study: 'Saxophone'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251G Individual Performance Study: 'Bassoon'
Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251H Individual Performance Study: 'Horn'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251I Individual Performance Study: 'Trumpet'
Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251J Individual Performance Study: 'Trombone'
Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251K Individual Performance Study: 'Tuba'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 2
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251M Individual Performance Study: 'Percussion'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251N Individual Performance Study: 'Harpsichord'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251O Individual Performance Study: 'Organ'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251P Individual Performance Study: 'Harp'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251Q Individual Performance Study: 'Guitar'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251R Individual Performance Study: 'Violin'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251S Individual Performance Study: 'Viola'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251T Individual Performance Study: 'Cello'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251U Individual Performance Study: 'String Bass'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251V Individual Performance Study: 'Recorders/Early Winds'
Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251W Individual Performance Study: 'Loud Winds'
Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251X Individual Performance Study: 'Lute'
Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251Y Individual Performance Study: 'Early Strings'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 2
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: 8 credits of 100-level lessons or one semester of 200-level lessons.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-251Z Individual Performance Study: 'Music Technology'
Spring. Credits: 2
Private study - individual instruction in the use of current and emerging technologies for the creation and performance of electronic music and sonic art.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: MUSIC-102 or similar course work.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrollment is limited according to teacher availability. Students enrolled in Individual Performance Study at the 200 level must participate in at least one public performance per semester, usually a 5-10 minute piece in a Shared Student Recital.
MUSIC-351 Advanced Performance Study
MUSIC-351A Individual Performance Study: 'Piano'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 4
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351B Individual Performance Study: 'Voice'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 4
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351C Individual Performance Study: 'Flute'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 4
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351D Individual Performance Study: 'Oboe'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351E Individual Performance Study: 'Clarinet'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351F Individual Performance Study: 'Saxophone'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351G Individual Performance Study: 'Bassoon'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351H Individual Performance Study: 'Horn'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351I Individual Performance Study: 'Trumpet'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351J Individual Performance Study: 'Trombone'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351K Individual Performance Study: 'Tuba'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair, MUSIC-232, one 200-level history course, demonstration of prior public performance.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351M Individual Performance Study: 'Percussion'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair, MUSIC-232, one 200-level history course, demonstration of prior public performance.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351N Individual Performance Study: 'Harpsichord'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair, MUSIC-232, one 200-level history course, demonstration of prior public performance.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351O Individual Performance Study: 'Organ'
Fall. Credits: 4
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair, MUSIC-232, one 200-level history course, demonstration of prior public performance.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351P Individual Performance Study: 'Harp'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair, MUSIC-232, one 200-level history course, demonstration of prior public performance.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351Q Individual Performance Study: 'Guitar'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair, MUSIC-232, one 200-level history course, demonstration of prior public performance.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351R Individual Performance Study: 'Violin'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 4
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair, MUSIC-232, one 200-level history course, demonstration of prior public performance.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351S Advanced Performance Study: Viola
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair, MUSIC-232, one 200-level history course, demonstration of prior public performance.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351T Individual Performance Study: 'Cello'
Fall. Credits: 4
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair, MUSIC-232, one 200-level history course, demonstration of prior public performance.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351U Individual Performance Study: 'String Bass'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 4
Performance study - individual instruction.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair, MUSIC-232, one 200-level history course, demonstration of prior public performance.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351V Individual Performance Study: 'Recorders/Early Winds'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair, MUSIC-232, one 200-level history course, demonstration of prior public performance.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
MUSIC-351Z Individual Performance Study: 'Music Technology'
Not Scheduled for This Year. Credits: 4
Private study - individual instruction in the use of current and emerging technologies for the creation and performance of electronic music and sonic art.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: One 200-level music technology course.
Advisory: Permission of instructor and department chair
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Continuation of studies at the 300 level depends on evaluation by the instructor and is not automatic. Students enrolled in one semester of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare a half-recital or its equivalent. Students enrolled in a full year of Individual Performance Study at the 300 level must prepare one full recital program or its equivalent.
Ensemble Performance Studies: Instrumental Ensembles
Enrollment in any large or small ensemble is by audition only. Enrollment in instrumental ensembles may be limited according to teacher availability. Permission of instructor is required.
MUSIC-143 Chamber Music
MUSIC-143A Chamber Music: 'Wind Ensembles'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
Chamber Music for wind instruments
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: Enrollment is by audition only or previous participation in the ensemble.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-143B Chamber Music: 'String Ensembles'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
Chamber Music for string instruments
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: Enrollment is by audition only or previous participation in the ensemble.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-143C Chamber Music: 'Piano Ensembles'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
Chamber Music for piano instruments
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: Enrollment is by audition only or previous participation in the ensemble.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-143D Chamber Music: 'Mixed Ensembles'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
Chamber music for mixed ensembles.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: Enrollment is by audition only or previous participation in the ensemble.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-143E Chamber Music: 'Brass Ensembles'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
Chamber Music for brass instruments
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: Enrollment is by audition only or previous participation in the ensemble.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-143F Chamber Music: 'Klezmer Ensemble'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
This ensemble, composed of all instruments -- including piano, strings, brass, and woodwinds -- performs dance music of Eastern Europe. Students at all levels of experience will use their classical training to go beyond the printed page into the folk tradition, learning to play different modes of the tunes and employing 'untraditional' techniques that are traditional in this unique folk music.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: enrollment is by audition only or previous participation in the ensemble.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Students should contact Adrianne Greenbaum (agreenba@mtholyoke.edu) for further information.
MUSIC-143G Chamber Music: 'Flute Choir'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
Study and perform music for flute ensembles.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: Enrollment is by audition only or previous participation in the ensemble.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. 1 rehearsal (2 hours)
MUSIC-143H Chamber Music: 'Early Music Chamber Ensembles'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
This course offers opportunities to play and sing chamber music from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque eras, collaborating with musicians from the Five Colleges and with the support of a specialist coach. Ensemble members will draw on historical context and performance practice as they refine performance technique and ensemble skills. Singers and instrumentalists will be sorted into ensembles based on level- from beginner to advanced- and areas of interest. Chamber ensembles also offer an opportunity to develop skills for more advanced projects such as those of the Five College Collegium (see MUSIC-147A). The Early Music Program has a large collection of historical instruments to loan.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-143I Chamber Music: 'Percussion Ensembles'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
Chamber Music for percussion instruments.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: Enrollment is by audition only or previous participation in the ensemble.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-155A Jazz Ensemble: 'Big Band'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
A mixed instrumental group for beginning, intermediate, and advanced musicians. Students study a variety of classic and contemporary swing, Latin, jazz, and pop standards. There are several performance opportunities each semester.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: Enrollment is by audition only or previous participation in the ensemble.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-161 Beginning West African Drumming Ensemble
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
This course will focus on learning by ear and playing polyrhythmic music from southern Ghana, Togo and Benin, including sections of Gahu, Adjogbo and Agbekor. All students will learn drum, rattle and bell parts, some songs and some dance steps as well. Non musicians are welcome, but practicing between classes is required. The group will perform at the end of the semester.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-191 Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
Studies and presents a variety of orchestra repertoire on and off campus. Multiple opportunities to perform each semester.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Enrollment is by audition only.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-255A Chamber Jazz Ensemble: 'Chamber Jazz'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
A select instrumental combo open to more advanced jazz musicians with emphasis on complex forms such as Dixieland, bop, and fusion. Students also learn exercises and techniques that will aid them in solo improvisation. There are several performance opportunities each semester.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Prereq: Enrollment in Big Band or previous participation in the ensemble.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-261 Intermediate West African Drumming Ensemble
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
This course will focus on learning by ear and playing polyrhythmic music from southern Ghana, Togo and Benin, including sections of Adjogbo and Agbekor. All students will learn drum, rattle and bell parts, some songs, and some dance steps. Non-musicians are welcome; practice between classes is required. The group will perform at the end of the semester.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Prereq: MUSIC-161.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
Ensemble Performance Studies: Choral Ensembles
Enrollment in any large or small ensemble is by audition only.
MUSIC-155B Jazz Ensemble: 'Vocal Jazz'
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
A select vocal ensemble that studies classic and contemporary jazz, Broadway and pop standards. Members are encouraged to audition for solos with the Big Band and Chamber Jazz Ensembles. There are several performance opportunities each semester.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Instructor permission required.
Advisory: Enrollment is by audition only.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Limited enrollment.
MUSIC-193 Chorale
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
Beginning ensemble. Well-suited to beginning to intermediate singers. Sight-reading and music theory are incorporated throughout the course. Emphasis is placed on developing techniques for healthy and beautiful vocal production, learning critical listening skills, singing with expression and understanding, and ultimately demonstrating growth as choral musicians. The ensemble explores music from a variety of languages, styles, and cultures.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Advisory: Previous ensemble experience is helpful, though not a prerequisite.
Notes: Repeatable for credit. Enrolled students will receive a list of required performances when the class begins and should address any schedule conflicts with their instructors early in the semester.
MUSIC-293 Glee Club
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
Advanced ensemble with a varied classical, contemporary, and folk-derived repertoire. Sight-reading and music theory are incorporated throughout the course. Emphasis is placed on developing techniques for healthy and beautiful vocal production, learning critical listening skills, singing with expression and understanding, and ultimately demonstrating growth as choral musicians.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Prereq: Enrollment is by audition only or previous participation in the ensemble.
Advisory: Previous ensemble experience and strong musicianship -- including the ability to sightread -- are prerequisites.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-297 Chamber Singers
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1
Highly select chamber choir of 12-18 voices drawn from Glee Club and Chorale with an emphasis on musical independence. Members possess excellent music reading skills and are one of just a few voices on a part. Specializes in challenging classical and contemporary repertoire for treble voices.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Prereq: Enrollment is by audition only or previous participation in the ensemble.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
Independent Study
MUSIC-295 Independent Study
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 4
Restrictions: Contact instructor for independent study declaration form and signatures.
Instructor permission required.
MUSIC-395 Independent Study
Fall and Spring. Credits: 1 - 8
Restrictions: Contact instructor for independent study declaration form and signatures.
Instructor permission required.
The Five College Early Music Program
The Five College Early Music Program provides practical experience in medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music. A faculty of distinguished performers and scholars provides applied, historical, and theoretical experience in performance. A collection of early music instruments is available. Students are encouraged to participate in one or more of the performing groups that meet regularly with a coach; ensembles are organized at all levels of ability, from beginning to advanced, to accommodate progress throughout a four-year academic program. For more information on the Five College Early Music Program, please visit their page on the Five College website or email Five College Early Music Program Director Allison Monroe (amonroe@mtholyoke.edu).
MUSIC-147 Early Music Ensembles
MUSIC-147A Early Music: 'Five College Collegium'
Spring. Credits: 1
The Five College Collegium is the flagship ensemble of the Five College Early Music Program. The ensemble is made up of experienced singers and instrumentalists from the Five College Consortium, and prepares two large-scale projects in the course of the academic year for public performance. The Collegium rotates its rehearsal residency among the schools in the Five College system, and focuses on repertoire from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. Whenever possible, the Collegium invites professional musicians as guests to work with the ensemble on material that is relevant to the current project.
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Prereq: Enrollment is by audition only or previous participation in the ensemble.
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-147D Early Music Ensembles: 'Renaissance and Baroque Dance I'
Fall. Credits: 1
Sixteenth- through eighteenth-century European social dance, contemporary with the eras of Elizabeth I and Shakespeare in England, the Medicis in Italy, Louis XIV in France, and colonial America. The focus will be on learning the dances, supplemented by historical and social background, discussion of the original dance sources, and reconstruction techniques.
Crosslisted as: DANCE-127
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
MUSIC-147F Early Music Ensembles: 'Renaissance and Baroque Dance II'
Spring. Credits: 1
Continuation of Renaissance and Baroque Dance I. Sixteenth- through eighteenth-century European social dance, contemporary with the eras of Elizabeth I and Shakespeare in England, the Medicis in Italy, Louis XIV in France, and colonial America. The focus will be on learning the dances, supplemented by historical and social background, discussion of the original dance sources, and reconstruction techniques.
Crosslisted as: DANCE-128
Applies to requirement(s): Meets No Distribution Requirement
Notes: Repeatable for credit.
