2019-2020 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Music Major
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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 music 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. The Music Major requires 11 courses: 3 foundational, 7 based on the particular student’s track and 1 non-music VPA course. In addition, students must take 2 semesters of music performance in an ensemble, which we count as .5 units per semester. In counting the ensemble requirement in addition to the 11 courses, the major is 12 units.
For more information, please visit the Music Department’s webpage.
Non-Majors
All of the courses, seminars, and activities in the music program-with the exception of MUSC 180-are open to qualified non-majors. 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
Non-majors and majors may audition for a variety of organizations, which rehearse regularly and perform several yearly concerts. Auditions are held during the first week of each semester. The following musical activities - MUSC 170 Clark Concert Choir, MUSC 171 Clark Chamber Chorus, MUSC 172 Concert Band, MUSC 173 Chamber Music Ensemble, MUSC 174 Jazz Workshop and Combo, and MUSC 175 Sinfonia -are open to all undergraduate and graduate students and offer 0.5 credit. MUSC 170 Clark Concert Choir, MUSC 171 Clark Chamber Chorus, MUSC 172 Concert Band, MUSC 173 Chamber Music Ensemble, MUSC 174 Jazz Workshop and Combo, and MUSC 175 Sinfonia are available to students who wish to audit and have their participation recorded on their transcripts.
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). A. Core requirements, taken by all majors (3 courses to be completed by junior year):
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 semesters of Ensemble Performance
1 Extension/Workshop course
Upper-level
1 Culminating Experience Course (usually MUSC 200, MUSC 210, or MUSC 291 and a half recital)
Additional Requirements
a. 1 non-music V&PA course pertinent to the student’s interests
b. Practical Musicanship Skills labs - Music 001 & Music 002 are required as co-requisites of Music 121 & Music 122. Advanced students may petition to take musicianship exams in lieu of these labs.
(2) Music History and Criticism
2 extension/workshop courses
Upper-level
1 Culminating Experience Course (usually MUSC 200, MUSC 210, or MUSC 291 and a half recital)
Additional Requirements
a. 1 non-music V&PA course pertinent to the student’s interests
b. Practical Musicanship Skills labs - Music 001 & Music 002 are required as co-requisites of Music 121 & Music 122. Advanced students may petition to take musicianship exams in lieu of these labs.
c. 2 semesters of music performance (Music 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175 or by other arrangement with the Music Program Director). Alternately, students may petition to take 2 semesters of ensembles for credit (1.0 credit) in fulfillment of a workshop/extension requirement.
(3) Music Theory/Composition
1 Music History course from
4 Extension or Workshop courses
Upper-level
1 Culminating Experience Course (usually MUSC 200, MUSC 210, or MUSC 291 and a half recital)
Additional Requirements
a. 1 non-music V&PA course pertinent to the student’s interests
b. Practical Musicanship Skills labs - Music 001 & Music 002 are required as co-requisites of Music 121 & Music 122. Advanced students may petition to take musicianship exams in lieu of these labs.
c. 2 semesters of music performance (Music 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175 or by other arrangement with the Music Program Director). Alternately, students may petition to take 2 semesters of ensembles for credit (1.0 credit) in fulfillment of a workshop/extension requirement.
3 Extension or Workshop courses
Upper-level
1 Culminating Experience Course usually MUSC 201 Additional Requirements
a. 1 non-music V&PA course pertinent to the student’s interests
b. Practical Musicanship Skills labs - Music 001 & Music 002 are required as co-requisites of Music 121 & Music 122. Advanced students may petition to take musicianship exams in lieu of these labs.
c. 2 semesters of music performance (Music 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175 or by other arrangement with the Music Program Director). Alternately, students may petition to take 2 semesters of ensembles for credit (1.0 credit) in fulfillment of a workshop/extension requirement.
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.Ensemble Performance List
Music History Courses List
Extension/Workshop Courses List
Capstone Requirement
In the Music Program, we refer to Capstone Courses as Culminating Experiences. In these courses, students learn to design and implement either individual or group projects. Capstone projects integrate knowledge that students acquire through previous courses taken across all concentrations of the Music Major and within the university’s Program of Liberal Arts. Capstone courses are designed to create a community of students who then work on their projects both individually and within the class. The capstone course environment serves as a resource for critical feedback and support.
Ultimately, with these projects students cultivate and demonstrate the capacity to apply knowledge of music with agility and creativity in the context of the collaborative environment of capstone course. Achieving this involves the ability to plan, organize, complete, and present research or creative work that integrates scholarly, creative, and/or performance skills. Especially valued in these experiences are engaged creativity and imagination, self-directedness, resilience and persistence. Capstone projects should demonstrate the ability to collaborate across differences and manage complexity. Students are required to present their capstone work in an end-of-term portfolio review.
The Music Program offers capstone courses each year on a rotating basis. Course offerings reflect the various expertise of the professors teaching them but any one of them can fulfill the Program’s capstone requirements. Students who have taken these courses as sophomores and juniors can take them again in their senior year to fulfill the capstone requirement.
MUSC 210 Seminar in Music History and Criticism
MUSC 220 Composition Seminar
MUSC 280 Honors Performance (1 unit)
MUSC 290 Capstone Project
MUSC 291 Portfolio Masterclass
MUSC 297 Honors Independent Study
MUSC 299 Directed Study
It is expected that capstone courses are taken in the student’s senior year. It is expected and that students will have completed the Music Program’s core curriculum before enrolling in a capstone course (MUSC 100, 141 and 121). Students planning their capstone must consult with their advisor to be sure they are ready to enroll in a capstone course and have accounted for their other graduation requirements. Since MUSC 210 and 220 are open to students as upper level courses, it is important for students to clarify with their advisor when these courses will fulfill the capstone requirement.
All Music Program graduates should complete, as part of their capstone course, a portfolio. Our graduation requirement is organized around the production and presentation of a portfolio of representative work. All details and requirements for student portfolios are found in the Music Program Student Handbook.
Whether students double major, a Music Program capstone is required. Well-reasoned exceptions may be made with this in consultation with the Music Program Director and the Director/Chair of the secondary major.
It is possible under some circumstances, and with the approval of a student’s music advisor and the music program director, for students to complete their capstone through an independent study involving direct mentoring with a professor. These options, listed above, are MUSC 280, 297 and 299. In each case, all requirements and expectations remain and it is incumbent on the student to take initiative in proposing an independent plan of study that will be approved and mentored by Program faculty.
Honors - requires two additional semesters of coursework
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 Recital (half program)
1 additional semester of Music 280 Honors
Music 297 - a Senior Honors Recital (full program) with complementary paper
(2) Honors are possible in any of the other tracks with:
1 additional music course relevant to the student’s interests
Music 297 - Honors
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. - Director
Benjamin Korstvedt, Ph.D.
Matthew Malsky, Ph.D.
Part-Time
Yelena Beriyeva, M.Mus.
Ashley Hames L’Esperance, B.A.
Samantha McGill, B.S.
Peter Sulski, B.Mus.
Affiliate
Anastasia Black, M. Mus.
Chester Brezniak, M. Mus.
Paul Buono, M.Mus.
Stephanie Busby, M.Mus.
Jose Castillo, M.B.A.
Jonathan Clark, M.Mus.
Deborah Cole,
Michael C. Connors,
Joseph W. D’Angelo,
Ariana Falk, D.M.A.
Joseph Halko,
Tracy Kraus, M.Mus.
Matthew Kim, M.Mus.
Lisa Lynch, D.M.A.
Carlos Odria, Ph.D.
Douglas Weeks, M.Mus.
Emeriti
Gerald Castonguay, Ph.D.
Wesley Fuller, M.Mus.
Hartmut Kaiser, Ph.D.
Music Courses
Courses offered within the last 2 Academic Years
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