Music
Music
courses
Music department home page
Director of undergraduate studies: Kathryn Alexander, 143 Elm St., 432-2986, dus.music@yale.edu
FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
Professors
Richard Cohn, Margot Fassler, Alain Frogley (Visiting), Daniel Harrison (Chair), James Hepokoski, Patrick McCreless, Ellen Rosand, Craig Wright
Associate Professors
Kathryn Alexander (Adjunct), David Clampitt, Michael Friedmann (Adjunct), Shinik Hahm (Adjunct), Richard Lalli (Adjunct), Toshiyuki Shimada (Adjunct), Michael Veal, Su Zheng (Visiting)
Assistant Professors
Seth Brodsky, Gundula Kreuzer, Klara Moricz (Visiting), Ian Quinn, Sarah Weiss
Lecturers
Annette Jolles, Michael Klingbeil, Sarah Kohane, Sarita Kwok, Judith Malafronte, Robert Mealy, Ilya Poletaev, Wendy Sharp
The Department of Music offers introductory and advanced instruction in the history of music, the theory of music, composition, music technology, and performance. Level I courses, which are introductory courses numbered below 200, are open to all undergraduates and require no previous experience in music. Level II courses, numbered in the 200s, require at least a minimal proficiency in reading music notation. Intermediate courses, Level III, are numbered in the 300s; they have as prerequisite MUSI 211a or b or the equivalent. Advanced courses, Level IV, are numbered in the 400s and are for seniors and qualified juniors. Level III and IV courses are intended primarily for students majoring in Music, but they may be elected by others with permission of the instructor.
Qualified students, whether majoring in Music or not, may offer up to four terms of instruction in performance for academic credit toward the 36-course-credit requirement for the bachelor's degree (MUSI 360a or b, 361a or b, and 460a or b, 461a or b). Of these four credits, only two may be applied to the major in Music.
The major. The Music major provides a general music program in the humanities, as well as preparation for graduate studies or for careers in music. For the Class of 2009 and subsequent classes, the standard major consists of twelve term courses, eleven of which must be numbered 300 or above, excluding the prerequisites, MUSI 210a or b, 211a or b, 218a or b, and 219a or b. To gain a comprehensive familiarity with the history and theory of music, a student majoring in Music completes a survey covering music history from the medieval period to the present as well as a two-term music theory sequence. Students may choose two courses from MUSI 310b, 311b, or 410a to satisfy the music theory requirement. The three survey courses in music history are MUSI 350a, 351b, and 352b. A fourth survey course in world music is required, MUSI 353a. Also required is one course designated "Major seminar" during the junior year and one course designated "Senior seminar" during the senior year. Prospective majors are advised to begin the required courses by their sophomore year. Four additional term courses in music chosen from Levels II, III, and IV (only one of which is from Level II) complete the major.
For the Class of 2008, the major consists of eleven term courses. The requirements are the same as those listed above, except that MUSI 353a is not required.
Students intending to go on to graduate work are advised to study German and French to achieve at least a reading knowledge of those languages. All Music majors are urged to undertake regular studies in musical performance.
The intensive major. The intensive major is for students of high standing who are qualified to do independent and original work in the history or theory of music or in composition. Those admitted to this major elect MUSI 490 as one of their courses for the senior year.
Senior requirement. Each student majoring in Music must satisfy a senior departmental requirement by electing a senior seminar (designated "Senior seminar" in the course listing) during one of the final two terms. The final essay, composition, or other project completed for the senior seminar should provide an appropriate culmination to the student's work in the major and in Yale College. In exceptional circumstances, a graduate seminar in the Music department may substitute for the senior seminar; this requires written permission both from the director of graduate studies and from the director of undergraduate studies. Senior seminars are also open to interested juniors with the permission of the instructor and the director of undergraduate studies, but one seminar must be taken in the senior year to fulfill the senior requirement.
B.A./M.M. Program
Students in Yale College possessing outstanding ability in performance or composition may anticipate, through their undergraduate programs, one year of the Master of Music program in the School of Music, provided they have completed four terms of performance (MUSI 360a or b, 361a or b, 460a or b, and 461a or b) and MUSI 210a or b and 211a or b by the end of the junior year.
The program is open to majors both in Music and in other subjects. Majors in subjects other than Music may present four courses toward the M.M. degree in addition to four terms of performance. These courses normally include two from MUSI 310b, 311b, and 410a, and two from MUSI 350a, 351b, 352b, and 353a, taken by the end of the junior year.
Candidates admitted to the B.A./M.M. program are expected to sit for placement examinations and juries in the School of Music at the beginning of their senior year. They must take lessons and MUS 544, the School of Music Seminar in the Major, in that year and they are advised to take two terms of a performance ensemble if their schedules permit. Students seeking the B.A./M.M. degree in an orchestral instrument are required to participate in the Yale Symphony or the School of Music Philharmonia during their senior year. Composers, singers, and keyboard players should consult their principal teacher about requirements in the senior year beyond the lessons and seminar.
Interested students should consult their principal teacher at the beginning of the first term of their junior year and file an application in the Office of Student Affairs at the School of Music.
Students who have accelerated the undergraduate program are ineligible to apply for the B.A./M.M. program.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisites: MUSI 210a or b, 211a or b, 218a or b, and 219a or b, or equivalents
Number of courses: Class of 2008—11 term courses beyond prereqs, 10 numbered 300 or above; Class of 2009 and later—12 term courses beyond prereqs, 11 numbered 300 or above
Specific courses required: Class of 2008—MUSI 350a, 351b, 352b, and 2 from 310b, 311b, or 410a; Class of 2009 and later—same, plus MUSI 353a
Distribution of courses: 1 major sem; 4 addtl courses from Levels II, III, IV, of which only 1 is from Level II
Senior requirement: 1 senior sem
Intensive major: Senior sem and senior essay or project (MUSI 490)
