Department of Music and Dance
Swarthmore College

(Revised 11/03/2006)

Majoring / Minoring in Music at Swarthmore

The most telling and comprehensive description of this Department's philosophy and expectations occurs at the beginning of the Music section in the College Bulletin:


The study of music as a liberal art requires an integrated approach to theory, history, and performance, experience in all three fields being essential to the understanding of music as an artistic and intellectual achievement.

We do not have a minimum GPA for admission as a major or minor. In its place is a consensus of Music faculty that the student can do good work in the discipline. The situation is perhaps more complex in Music than in other fields because we feel that a major (or minor) should have basic musical as well as purely intellectual abilities, not all of which can be measured by a GPA. We do very much consider the likelihood of a student's passing the Comprehensive Examination. Students applying for admission as majors in the Honors Program will have done exceptionally high-quality work in the Department and will have shown strong self-motivation.

Courses marked with an asterisk(*) are prerequisites for acceptance into the program. These courses are strongly recommended for first-year students and should be completed before the Junior year. If a student has not completed all of these prerequisites at the time of application for a major/minor, but has done good work in one or more courses in the Department, he or she may be accepted on a provisional basis.

 

Music Major in the Course Program:

A. Required: 5 courses in Harmony & Counterpoint, plus Musicianship Sections [Music 40]. Music 40 may be taken for 0.0 credit or 0.5 credit at the student's option.

B. Required: 5 courses in Music History and Literature:

plus at least three of the following:

Course Majors are strongly advised to take more than 5 history courses if possible.

C. Additional Requirements for Course Majors:

Here is a description of these additional requirements:

Keyboard Skills:

This program is designed to develop keyboard proficiency to a point where a student can use the piano effectively as a tool for studying music. Students learn to perform repertoire and, in addition, play standard harmonic progressions in all keys. The Department offers a free weekly private lesson to any student enrolled in a Harmony & Counterpoint course numbered 11 or higher who needs work in this area, and requires it of all students in Music 12. Music majors and minors who have completed the theory sequence but who need further instruction are still eligible. No academic credit is given for these lessons. All music majors are expected to be able to perform a two-part Invention of J. S. Bach (or another work of similar difficulty) by their senior year.

Score Reading:

By the end of their senior year, all majors are expected to be able to read an orchestral score that includes c-clefs and some transposing instruments. The Department provides at least a semester of private instruction in score reading to assist Senior majors in meeting this requirement. No academic credit is given for this. Another option: students may take Music 18 (Conducting and Orchestration) to satisfy this requirement.

Department Ensemble:

The Department requires majors and minors to participate in any of the Departmental ensembles (Orchestra, Chorus, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Gamelan). We also recommend that students participate in other activities, such as playing in Chamber Music ensembles or seeking out service learning experiences that incorporate music.

Comprehensive Exam:

During their senior year, majors in the Course program will take the departmental comprehensive examination, which normally consists of the study of a single musical work (selected in advance by the student, subject to the approval of the department) which demonstrates skills in the three areas of analysis, historical research, and performance. All seniors must take MUSI 094: Senior Research Topics in Music to help them prepare for their comprehensive.

Music Minor in the Course Program:

A. Required: at least 2 courses in Harmony & Counterpoint plus Musicianship Sections [Music 40]:

B. Required: at least 2.5 courses in Music History and Literature:

plus at least two of the following:

C. Required: at least one of the following:


D. Additional Requirements for course minors:

and at least one of the following, subject to Departmental approval of a written proposal:

 

Music Major in the Honors Program:

Summary: the Music Major in Honors is identical to the Music Major in Course in its prerequisites, required coursework, and requirements for keyboard skills, score reading, and Department Ensemble membership. The Honors Major differs in that there is no Senior Comprehensive exam. Instead, Honors Majors do three Honors Preparations in Music.

The Three Honors Preparations:

1. Music Theory:

2. Music History:

3. Elective (may be based on any of the following):

A 2-credit Senior Honors Recital Preparation is available only to students who have distinguished themselves as performers. It is therefore limited to those who have won Garrigues Scholarships. Students who wish to pursue this option must follow all of the steps listed in the Departmental Guidelines for Senior Recitals (see Department Website) and obtain approval of their program from the music faculty during the semester preceding the proposed recital. They should register for Music 99, Senior Honors Recital. This full credit, together with at least another full credit of coursework in music, will constitute the two-credit Honors preparation. One faculty member will act as head advisor on all aspects of the honors recital. As part of the Honors recital, the student will write incisive program notes on all of the works to be performed and an essay on one of the pieces to be performed. This work will be based on substantive research --- including analytical as well as historical work --- and will be overseen by one or more members of the Music faculty.

Students are encouraged to propose Honors preparations in any areas that are of particular interest, whether or not formal seminars are offered in those areas. The Music faculty will assist in planning the most appropriate format for these interests.

Written and Oral Examinations for Honors Preparations:

Oral examinations are given for all Honors Preparations in Music. Written examinations, in addition to oral examinations, are given only for those Preparations based on courses or seminars.


Senior Honors Study in Music:

There is no Senior Honors Study in Music.



Music Minor in the Honors Program:

A. Required: 4 courses in Harmony & Counterpoint plus Musicianship Sections [Music 40]:

B. Required: 2.5 courses in Music History and Literature:

plus at least two of the following:

C. One Honors Preparation:

The possibilities for preparations are the same as those listed above for the Major in the Honors Program.

D. Additional Requirements for Honors minors: (same as for Course minors)

and at least one of the following, subject to Departmental approval:

Special Majors in Music

The Department welcomes proposals for Special Majors involving Music and other disciplines. Recent examples include:

Other Special Majors are possible. For more information, contact the Department Chair.

 

Language Requirements for Graduate Schools:

Students are advised that many graduate programs in music require a reading knowledge of French and German.


Foreign Study:

Students are encouraged to seek out possibilities for foreign study, in accordance with their particular interests, in consultation with the Music faculty and the Foreign Studies Advisor.

 

List of Projected Music Course Offerings

Return to Music Program Home Page