Music Major

The curriculum emphasizes the development of musical listening and performance skills as applied to both contemporary and traditional music. Students can concentrate in the areas of Composition, Performance, Literature, Technology or Jazz & the Music of the African Diaspora.

The major consists of nine lower-division and fifteen upper-division courses, plus the Department Seminar (Music 143), which must be taken each quarter that a student is a declared Music major. All courses, except 143, must be taken for a letter grade. All courses used for satisfying major requirements in Music must be passed with a grade of C or better.

Requirements for students entering Fall 2006 and After:

Lower-Division

• Basic Musicianship: Music 2A-B-C
• Basic Keyboarding - one of the following sequences:
  • Music 2AK-BK-CK (performance, composition, literature, and technology)
  • Music 2AK-BK-JK (jazz & African diaspora)
• Ensemble Performance - one of the following sequences:
  • One quarter from Music 95B-W, 130, 131, or 134, and two quarters from 95C, 95D, or 95K (performance, composition, literature, and technology)
  • Two quarters of Music 95JC or 131, plus one quarter of Music 95C, 95D, 95G, or 95K (jazz & African diaspora)

Upper-Division:

• One of the following sequences:
  • Music 101A-B-C (performance, composition, literature, and technology)
  • Music 101A-B and 104 (jazz & African diaspora)
• One of the following sequences:
  • Music 102A-B-C (performance, composition, literature, and technology)
  • Music 137A-B-C (jazz & African diaspora)
• Music History and Literature: Music 120A-B-C
• Projects in New Music Performance: Music 133
• One of the following:
  • Music 107, 110, 116, 150 (performance, composition, literature, and technology)
  • Music 150 (jazz & African diaspora)
• One additional course to be selected from:
  • Music 107, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 126, 127A-B, and 150 (performance, composition, literature, and technology)
  • Music 151-154 (jazz & African diaspora)
• Area of Emphasis:
  • Composition: Music 103A-B-C
  • Performance: Music 132 x 3 quarters
  • Literature: Three courses from the series Music 107-116, 126, 126, 127A-B and 150 of which at least one must be from 107, 110, 116 or 150 (in addition to Music 107, 110, 116, 150 above)
  • Technology: Music 170-171-175
  • Jazz & African Diaspora: Two courses from Music 105, 126, 127A, and 127B; plus one course from Music 107, 110, 111, 114, 115, or 150 (in addition to the Music 150 requirement above)
• Department Seminar: Music 143 every quarter

Requirements for students entering between Fall 2003 and Spring 2006:

Lower-Division

• Basic Musicianship: Music 2A-B-C
• Basic Keyboarding - one of the following sequences:
  • Music 2AK-BK-CK (performance, composition, literature, and technology)
  • Music 2AK-BK-JK (jazz & African diaspora)
• Ensemble Performance - one of the following sequences:
  • Three quarters of Music 95, 130, 131, or 134, including two quarters from 95C, 95D, or 95K (performance, composition, literature, and technology)
  • Two quarters of Music 95JC or 131, plus one quarter of Music 95C, 95D, 95G, or 95K (jazz & African diaspora)

Upper-Division:

• One of the following sequences:
  • Music 101A-B-C (performance, composition, literature, and technology)
  • Music 101A-B and 104 (jazz & African diaspora)
• One of the following sequences:
  • Music 102A-B-C (performance, composition, literature, and technology)
  • Music 137A-B-C (jazz & African diaspora)
• Music History and Literature: Music 120A-B-C
• Projects in New Music Performance: Music 133
• One of the following:
  • Music 111 or 114 (performance, composition, literature, and technology)
  • Music 150 (jazz & African diaspora)
• One additional course to be selected from:
  • Music 111-115, 126, 127A-B, and 150 (performance, composition, literature, and technology)
  • Music 151-154 (jazz & African diaspora)
• Area of Emphasis:
  • Composition: Music 103A-B-C
  • Performance: Music 132 x 3 quarters
  • Literature: Three courses (in addition to Music 111 or 114) from the series Music 111-115, 126, and 127A-B
  • Technology: Music 170-171-175
  • Jazz & African Diaspora: Two courses from Music 105, 126, 127A, and 127B; plus one course from Music 107, 110, 111, 114, 115, or 150 (in addition to the Music 150 requirement above)
• Department Seminar: Music 143 every quarter

Requirements for students entering PRIOR to Fall 2003:

Lower-Division:

Upper-Division:

Area of Special Interest (Choose one three-quarter sequence):

HONORS IN MUSIC

Students wishing to pursue Honors in Music must obtain a faculty sponsor and complete an application for department honors in the spring quarter of their junior year. In addition to the application, Composition, Literature, and Technology emphasis students must submit a portfolio of works, and Performance emphasis students must audition. A GPA of 3.6 in the major, and overall GPA of 3.0 is required to apply for honors. Students may choose one area of emphasis for honors:

Admittance into the honors curriculum does not guarantee that a student will receive honors. Honors will be determined in the spring quarter of the senior year by a Faculty Honors Committee reviewing the student’s overall academic achievement and recital or project.

Honors in Jazz and Music of the African Diaspora: It is possible to pursue honors in jazz. Please see the undergraduate advisor for further information.

If you intend to apply for honors, please speak with the departmental undergraduate advisor for more specific information.