Music Major
Department of Music
Division of Humanities and Fine Arts
The music department at Washington College is committed to assisting both students who expect to study music in preparation for a professional career, as well as those who wish to pursue music as an interest or avocation. Our BA degree program is flexible and divided into specific advisory tracks that include performance (vocal and instrumental), music education, music history and criticism, world music and ethnomusicology, theory and composition, and the traditional liberal arts. The course offerings provide solid preparation for a lifelong engagement with music.
Music Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Music Theory | 12 | |
| Music Theory I | ||
| Music Theory II | ||
| Music Theory III | ||
| Select 1 Theory Elective From Below | 4 | |
| Analytical Technique | ||
| Orchestration and Arranging | ||
| Select 2 Music History Courses From Below | 8 | |
| History Western MUS: Ancient to Baroque | ||
| History Western MUS: Classical-Romantic | ||
| History Western Music: Music Since 1900 | ||
| Select 1 World Music Course From Below | 4 | |
| Intro to World Music & Ethnomusicology | ||
| Music of Latin America | ||
| Music of Asia | ||
| Music, Ritual and Early Christianity | ||
| Cuba Music and Culture | ||
| Theory and Method in Ethnomusicology | ||
| Two Music Electives - Any 4 credit music courses besides MUS 100 | 8 | |
Elective 1 | ||
Elective 2 | ||
| Must Enroll in MUS 400 Practicum Every Semester 4 | 0 | |
| Applied Music & Performance Requirements 1,2,3 | 18 | |
| Senior Capstone Experience (MUS SCE) | 2-4 | |
| Total Credits | 56-58 | |
- 1
Performance Requirements for students of Brass, Woodwind, Percussion, Strings, and Voice
- Four semesters of two-credit (400-level) applied music in their declared area (8 credits)
- Two semesters of two-credit (400-level) applied or class piano, or by passing a piano proficiency exam (4 credits)
- Performance ensemble participation (6 credits):
- Brass, Woodwind, and Percussion students must acquire at least four credits in MUS 277 Washington College Symphonic Band. The remaining two credits may come from any other ensemble offered by the Department of Music.
- String students must acquire at least four credits from MUS 291 Washington College String Orchestra. The remaining two credits may come from any other ensemble offered by the Department of Music.
- Voice students must acquire at least two credits from MUS 283 Washington College Chorus. The remaining two credits may come from any other ensemble offered by the Department of Music.
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Instruction in applied music solves technical problems, develops knowledge of the literature, and teaches performance techniques. 200-level applied music courses are one-credit and open to all students. Each course consists of a weekly 30-minute individual lesson. One hour of daily practice is expected. For non-majors, there is an additional fee of $360 for each 200-level applied music course. The fee is waived for music majors.
400-level applied music courses are for advanced students and may require auditions. They are 2 credits and are open to all qualified students. Each course consists of a weekly 60-minute individual lesson. One to two hours of daily practice per hour lesson is expected. For non-majors, there is an additional fee of $720 for each 400-level applied music course. The fee is waived for music majors.
- 2
Performance Requirements for students of Guitar and Composition
- Four semesters of two-credit (400-level) applied music in their declared area (8 credits)
- Two semesters of two-credit (400-level) applied or class piano, or by passing a piano proficiency exam (4 credits)
- Six additional credits of additional applied music or ensemble participation, of which at least four credits must be in a large ensemble (MUS 277 Washington College Symphonic Band, MUS 281 W.C. Jazz Ensemble, MUS 283 Washington College Chorus, or MUS 291 Washington College String Orchestra) (6 credits)
- 3
Performance Requirements for students of Piano
- Four semesters of two-credit (400-level) applied music in applied piano (8 credits)
- Ten additional credits of additional applied music or ensemble participation, of which at least four credits must be in a large ensemble (MUS 277 Washington College Symphonic Band, MUS 281 W.C. Jazz Ensemble, MUS 283 Washington College Chorus, or MUS 291 Washington College String Orchestra) (10 credits)
- 4
Performance Practicum
- Music majors should regularly enroll in MUS 400 Music Practicum every semester if they are a declared major. This course provides experiential learning for majors and minors through participation in music department events. By enrolling in this course, students commit to completing all required activities during the indicated semester.
- Course requirements are outlined by the instructor(s) at the beginning of the semester, they include attendance at concerts, attendance at department-sponsored lectures/masterclasses, and attending general information meetings. This is a zero-credit course and is graded pass/fail. Students majoring in Music must enroll in and pass the course four times; students minoring in Music must enroll and pass twice.
- 5
Music ensembles are one credit. Although students may provisionally register for music ensemble courses, enrollment in the course may be subject to audition. Students who do not successfully audition for an ensemble will be dropped from the course and communicate an enrollment list to the Registrar’s Office once auditions for the ensemble are complete. Auditions sometimes take place beyond the Drop/Add deadline for a semester. Additionally, spaces in these courses are not always guaranteed. Full-time students are encouraged to plan their course load so they do not drop below 12 credits if they do not succeed in their audition.
If a music major intends to pursue graduate work in music, the department strongly recommends studying two years of German or French, in that order of preference.
Distribution Requirement
To fulfill the Quantitative component of the Natural Sciences and Quantitative distribution requirement, students may complete two consecutive courses in the music theory sequence (MUS 131 Music Theory I, MUS 132 Music Theory II, MUS 231 Music Theory III). If the student chooses to take two Natural Science courses, then any one course in music theory (MUS 131 Music Theory I, MUS 132 Music Theory II, MUS 231 Music Theory III) may be used to satisfy the Quantitative component.
To fulfill the Humanities and Fine Arts distribution requirement with two Fine Arts courses and one Humanities course, students may complete eight credits of Music courses (except MUS 131 Music Theory I, MUS 132 Music Theory II, MUS 231 Music Theory III). This includes any combination of applied music (private instruction) and musical ensembles. To fulfill the Humanities and Fine Arts distribution requirement with one Fine Arts course, students may complete any four credits of Music courses (except MUS 131 Music Theory I, MUS 132 Music Theory II, MUS 231 Music Theory III) along with two Humanities courses.