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The
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| The Students | ||||||||
| Currently
there are more than sixty students majoring in music. Almost all of
these students combine a major in music with a major or minor in another
discipline. Many music majors plan for graduate studies in law or
medicine. The classes for the major, all of them taught by faculty
members, are of moderate size, from 5 or 6 to 25 students. After completing
the required courses for the major, most students elect to take additional
courses at the advanced undergraduate or graduate level. Almost all music majors choose to supplement their academic studies with musical performance in ensembles and/or individual instruction in instruments or voice, for which scholarships are available. Students who qualify may work towards a Distinguished Major in Music History, Composition, or Performance. Students who intend to continue their musical studies in graduate school are strongly encouraged to take advanced courses in music. Many faculty members offer independent study for those who would like to begin composition or who wish to explore some specific topic in musical studies. Example topics for these individual tutorials include the last piano sonatas of Mozart, the songs of Debussy, and the early works of Duke Ellington. Students who qualify may work towards a Distinguished Major in Music History, Composition, or Performance. |
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| Academic Faculty | ||||||||
| The Department of Music has sixteen academic faculty members, many of whom have received awards from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. | ||||||||
| Performance Faculty | ||||||||
| The outstanding performance faculty leads a multifaceted program that maintains a high standard of excellence and offers a broad spectrum of musical experiences for the aspiring conductor, performer, and listener. As instructors they direct and coach performance groups and offer private instruction. As performers, they serve as principals in the orchestra, present a chamber music series, and give recitals throughout the academic year. | ||||||||
| The Music Library | ||||||||
| The Music Library is the largest in the Commonwealth. It contains over 50,000 books and scores, 32,000 sound recordings, and over 10,000 microfilms. The collection focuses on classical music, jazz, and folk music, and includes some popular music and several specialized research collections. The music librarian is a member of the faculty and teaches a course in music bibliography, which all music majors take as an adjunct to their course in music history. | ||||||||
| The Virginia Center for Computer Music | ||||||||
| The Virginia Center for Computer Music, founded in 1988 by composer and Professor Judith Shatin, is the region's most advanced facility for work in computer sound generation and related topics. In 1991, in recognition of its achievements, the program was awarded an Academic Enhancement Award by the University. | ||||||||
| Music Performance | ||||||||
| Music instruction is offered for credit on all instruments and voice; registration takes place at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. In addition there are several ensembles directed by faculty for academic credit, and the department sponsors several student-directed groups. Auditions for all ensembles take place during registration at the beginning of each semester. | ||||||||
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As
a liberal arts department, music has a two-fold mission to serve
both aspiring music professionals and non-professionals for whom
music is a vital interest. Members of the distinguished academic
faculty of historians, theorists and composers are principally involved
in training students in the materials of their craft, as well as
engaging them in ideas about music and its larger cultural context.
Students thus may learn the principles of theory, analysis and composition,
study history, criticism, and interdisciplinary approaches, and
investigate new or lesser-known musical worlds, whether computer
music, jazz, ethnic musics, performance practice, women and music,
or unfamiliar terrain within the broad umbrella of Western European
art music. Such studies are available to students at all levels
from the uninformed music lover to the skilled professional pursuing
advanced work.
