2024-2025 Academic 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.
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.
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 (Four Course Units):
These courses are to be completed by the first semester of the junior year; exceptions must be approved by the Music Program Director:
B. The Concentrations (7 additional courses):
(1) Performance
(Admittance to this concentration requires approval of the Director of Music Performance)
2 semesters of Ensemble Performance (.5 credit per semester)
1 additional Music History course
Upper-level
1 Capstone Experience Course (usually MUSC 290 with a half recital)
2 additional Music History or Musicology courses
2 additional extension/workshop courses
A minimum of 2 semesters of ensemble performance on a non-credit basis (Music 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175 or by other arrangement with the Music Program Director).
Upper-level
1 Capstone Course (usually MUSC 210 or MUSC 290, or other suitable course chosen in consultation with the music major advisor.)
Note: Students in this track may enroll in up to four semesters of MUSC 180 (Private Lessons for credit). With approval of the music major advisor, two semesters of MUSC 180 (totaling one full course unit) may take the place of one of the required extension/workshop courses.
(3) Music Theory/Composition
1 additional Music History or Musicology courses
3 Extension or Workshop courses
A minimum of 2 semesters of ensemble performance (Music 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175 or by other arrangement with the Music Program Director). These maybe taken for credit or, with approval of the music program director, students may register for the courses as an audit.
Upper-level
1 Capstone Project or Capstone Course (usually MUSC 220 or MUSC 290)
Note: Students in this track may enroll in up to four semesters of MUSC 180 (Private Lessons for credit). With approval of the music major advisor, two semesters of MUSC 180 (totaling one full course unit) may take the place of one of the required extension/workshop courses.
1 additional Music History or Musicology course
3 Extension or Workshop courses
A minimum of 2 semesters of ensemble performance on a non-credit basis (Music 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175 or by other arrangement with the Music Program Director).
Upper-level
1 Capstone Course (usually MUSC 270, MUSC 290, or other suitable course chosen in consultation with the music major advisor.)
Note: Students in this track may enroll in up to four semesters of MUSC 180 (Private Lessons for credit). With approval of the music major advisor, two semesters of MUSC 180 (totaling one full course unit) may take the place of one of the required extension/workshop courses.
Ensemble Performance List
Music History Courses List
Extension/Workshop Courses List
Capstone Requirement
All Music majors must complete a Capstone project. Capstone projects integrate knowledge and skills that the student acquired through previous courses taken across all concentrations of the Music Major and within the university’s Program of Liberal Arts. Above all, a Capstone project cultivates and demonstrates the capacity to apply musical knowledge and skills with agility and creativity. 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.
The Capstone may be completed as an independent project carried out under the close supervision of a member of the music faculty (MUSC 290) or the student may enroll in Capstone course. Capstones take place in the student’s senior year. Students must have completed the Music Program’s core curriculum (MUSC 100, 141 and 121) before enrolling in a capstone course. 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.
Enrolling in MUSC 290 to pursue an independent Capstone project requires the approval of a student’s music advisor and the music program director. It is incumbent on the student to take the initiative in proposing an independent plan of study to be approved and mentored by a member of the music faculty.
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 with approval of the course instructor and the Music Program Director. Students who have taken these courses as sophomores and juniors may take them again in their senior year to fulfill the capstone requirement. These courses include:
MUSC 210 Seminar in Musicology
MUSC 216 Workshop in Music Criticism and Analysis
MUSC 220 Composition Seminar
MUSC 242 Soundtracks
MUSC 291 Portfolio Masterclass
All Music Program graduates must 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.
Even when a student double majors, 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.
Honors in Music
Honors in Music-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, in conjunction with MUSC 180)
1 additional semester of Music 280 Honors (first semester of the senior year)
MUSC 297 - a Senior Honors Recital (full program) with complementary paper in the second semester of the senior year. This serves as the Capstone Project.
(2) Honors are possible in any of the other tracks with:
1 additional music course relevant to the student’s program of study
Music 297 - Honors, which serves as the Capstone Project
Alternately, a student may propose a year-long project, ehich would involve two semesters of MUSC 297, to fufill the honors requirement.
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.
Cailin Marcel Manson, M.MUS - Program Director
Visiting
John Freyermuth, M.F.A.
Part-Time
Yelena Beriyeva, M.Mus.
Ashley Hames L’Esperance, B.A.
Samantha McGill, B.S.
Jerry Sabatini, M. Mus.
Brent Wetters, Ph.D
Affiliate
Hannah Berube, M. Mus.
Anastasia Black, M. Mus.
Anton Boutkov, M. Mus.
Deborah Cole, M. Mus.
Michael C. Connors,
Joseph W. D’Angelo,
Deborah Greenbaum, M.A.
Ariana Falk, D.M.A.
Joseph Halko,
William Jones, M. Mus.
James MacDonald, M. Mus.
Gabe Rami, M. Mus.
Amanda Romano Foreman, M, Mus.
Nicholas Tocci, M. Mus.
Emeriti
Gerald Castonguay, Ph.D.
Hartmut Kaiser, Ph.D.
Music Courses
Courses offered within the last 2 Academic Years
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