Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir, Francois Clemmons, Director
and Middlebury College dancers
January 19, 2009
Course Work
We offer a wide selection of courses in music history, theory, and composition, electronic music, and performance. From the very beginning compositions course involve composing and performing. Courses in diatonic and chromatic theory, and musicianship; performance courses in chamber music, early music, or vocal music; history courses in the music of the Weimar Republic, Bob Dylan, or jazz topics provide the groundwork as well as intense, advanced work in a wide area of musical topics.
Department Offices: Center for the Arts
Phone: 802-443-5221
Fax: 802-443-2057
Department Chair: Peter Hamlin:
phamlin@Middlebury.eduAcademic Coordinator: Deborah Young,
young@Middlebury.edu
Information for current students:
Requirements for the Major:
Music Majors are required to take
- MUSC 0209
- MUSC 0220-0221
- MUSC 0260-0261 (formerly 0301 and 0302)
- a performance elective such as MUSC 0240, or MUSC 0500
- three 0200-level or above elective music courses
- MUSC 0400, senior seminar.
Piano proficiency: All music majors will be required to take a piano proficiency test in the semester when the major is declared. If the test isn’t passed, they will be required to take a semester of piano lessons geared to theory skills, arranged through the music office. Musicianship: All music majors will be required to take a sight singing test in the semester when the major is declared. If the test isn’t passed, they will be required to take Musicianship (MUSC 0259). If possible, Musicianship should be taken before or during Theory II (MUSC 0260).
In addition to the curricular requirements, majors are required to participate for three semesters in at least one departmentally approved ensemble.
Those approved ensembles are:
- Middlebury College Orchestra
- Middlebury College Women's and Men's Choirs
- Middlebury College/Community Choir
- Middlebury College Sound Investment Jazz Ensemble.
For the ensemble participation a student is going to use to satisfy this requirement, the director of the ensemble must be notified at the beginning of the semester.
The purpose of this requirement is that every music professional - performer, historian, composer - should have experience with performing in an ensemble with a professional director.
Required for the Joint Major: A minimum of eight courses, which must include MUSC 0260-0261, MUSC 0220-0221, plus MUSC 0400 (Music Senior Seminar) and or completion of senior work.
In addition to the curricular requirements, joint majors must participate for three semesters in at least one departmentally approved ensemble. Please see above for approved ensembles.
Required for the Minor: Students who do the voluntary minor in music are required to complete five courses, two of which may be general introductory courses (0100-level). The three other courses would all be at an upper level (0200-0400- level); all three may be in a specific area of specialization, or two may be in a specific area with the third in another area. Students may also do an independent project (MUSC 0500), which counts as one course toward the voluntary minor.
Departmental Honors: Departmental honors in music reflect a student's overall achievement in and contribution to the department as well as excellence in a senior work project (MUSC 0704). To be eligible for senior work, a grade average of at least B+ in all music courses is required. Eligible students may propose a senior work project (MUSC 0704) of one or two semesters in length; proposals must be submitted by April 1 of the junior year. A grade of B+ in senior work and B+ in departmental courses will be eligible for honors; A- in senior work and A- in departmental courses will be eligible for high honors; A in senior work and A in departmental courses will be eligible for highest honors.
The student-run Middlebury Musicians Guild. Learn more.