2014-2015 Academic Catalog 
    
    Mar 18, 2024  
2014-2015 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Music Major


Music Overview


The music program offers both a major and a minor, as well as courses and activities for non-majors. Courses are designed to teach students to listen to music intelligently, develop musical perception, master the skills of music, and apply them creatively. Our curriculum acquaints students with music across a broad stylistic, cultural, and historical spectrum. The study of music can open new perspectives on many aspects of culture and society, therefore Clark’s msuc program stresses the advantages of combining professional musical development with the humanistic breadth offered by a strong liberal education.
Courses and ensembles are open to majors and non-majors. Assignments and projects are designed to suit the different goals and backgrounds of the students in each category.

 

For more information, please visit the Music Department’s webpage.

Nonmajors


All of the courses, seminars,and activities in the music program—with the exception of MUSC 180—are open to qualified nonmajors. Students who have a strong interest in music but whose major lies in another discipline can declare a minor in music. The music minor centers on a core of studies in one of five specific areas.

Performing Organizations


Nonmajors and majors may audition for a variety of organizations which rehearse regularly and perform several yearly concerts. The following musical activities - MUSC 070 Clark Concert Choir, MUSC 071 Clark Chamber Chorus, MUSC 072 Concert Band, MUSC 073 Chamber Music Ensemble, MUSC 074 Jazz Workshop and Combo, and MUSC 075 Sinfonia -are open to all undergraduate and graduate students. Auditions are held during the first week of each semester. Although no credit is awarded, the transcript of any undergraduate who completes the assigned performance requirements will include a listing of the particular activity for which he or she was registered. Alternatively, all ensembles can be taken for credit if so desired. For each semester of an ensemble, students will receive one half course credit.

Private Lessons


Private lessons for nonmajors and majors are offered with or without course credit in several areas. See MUSC 180 - Private Instruction in Instruments and Voice (for credit for majors and minors) and MUSC 018 Private Instruction for Instruments and Voice (noncredit).

Major Requirements


A. Core requirements, taken by all majors (3 courses):


In addition to the three core courses all music majors are required to submit a portfolio that demonstrates their overall academic success in chosen concentration. See the music major handbook for further details.


B. The Concentrations (7 additional courses):


(1) Performance


 (admittance to this concentration requires approval of the Music Program Director)

(2) Music History and Criticism


(3) Music Theory/Composition


(4) Music Technology


C. Additional Requirements:


  • 1 non-music V&PA course pertinent to the student’s interests.
  • Practical Musicianship Skills Lab- MUSC 004 & MUSC 005 are required as co-requisites of MUSC 121 & MUSC 122. Advanced students may petition to take musicianship exams in lieu of these labs.

Note:


Note on MUSC 180 . Students in non-Performance concentrations (Music History and Criticism, Music Theory/Composition, Music Technology) are allowed to enroll in up to four semesters of MUSC 180  (Private Lessons for credit). If so, these courses will be in addition to, rather than in fulfillment of, the above-stated requirements.

All courses for the major must be passed with a grade C or better.

Honors


The intention to pursue an honors degree must be declared before the start of the junior year and requires approval of the music program director. Approval of Music 180 instructor is also required for honors in performance.

(1) Honors in Performance is possible with:


a Junior Honors Recitals (half program)
2 semesters of Music 280 Honors Recital in the senior year
a Senior Honors Recital (full program) in the senior year with a complementary paper or project

(2) Honors are possible in any of the other tracks with:


(a) one additional music course relevant to the student’s interests, and

(b) an Honors Capstone project to be determined in consultation with the student’s Music Advisor.

Preprofessional Programs


Students interested in such professions as music therapy, multimedia, concert management, ethnomusicology, or music education may combine music courses with appropriate courses from other disciplines to create an individually designed major. The requirements for such preprofessional programs are jointly determined by the student and an advisory committee made up of one music faculty member and two faculty members from other disciplines.
Although the music program does not offer specific courses in music education, music majors interested in music education may take courses in the music curriculum, in conjunction with teaching courses through the education department. For more information, contact the education department.

Music Faculty


Program


John Aylward, Ph.D.
Benjamin Korstvedt, Ph.D.
Matthew Malsky, Ph.D. - Director

Part-Time


Richard Cain, M.Mus.
Sima Kustanovich, M.Mus.
Peter Sulski, B.Mus.

Affiliate


Juliana Anderson, B.A.
Jonathan Blumhofer, D.M.A.
Donald Boothman, B.A.
Chester Brezniak, M. Mus.
Timothy Bowles
Stephanie Busby, M.Mus.
Jonathan Clark, M.Mus.
Deborah Cole,
Michael C. Connors,
Joseph W. D’Angelo,
Joseph Halko,
Tracy Kraus, M.Mus.
Brooks Milgate, B.A.
Shay Rudolph, M.Mus.
Robert Paul Sullivan,
Douglas Weeks, M.Mus.

Emeriti


Gerald Castonguay, Ph.D.
Wesley Fuller, M.Mus.
Hartmut Kaiser, Ph.D.

Musics Courses