Major Requirements

Requirements of the Standard Major

Students who are interested in majoring in Music should consult a Music professor or the Chair in their sophomore year to plan their academic programs. Ethnomusicology students should consult with the Chair. Prospective Music majors should complete the prerequisites by the end of their sophomore year and are encouraged to complete them by the end of their freshman year. By the end of their first year as a Music major, the student should select a faculty advisor.

The Music major's courses should include:

1. Foundation Courses: Choose one or the other.
   1. MUSI BC1001 - An Introduction to Music I
   2. MUSI BC1002 - An Introduction to Music II
2. Courses: Minimum of 40 points, including 
   1. MUSI UN2318, UN2319, UN3321 & UN3322 - Music Theory I - IV
   2. MUSI UN3128 - History of Western Music I: Middle Ages to Baroque
   3. MUSI UN3129 - History of Western Music II: Classical to 20th Century
   4. MUSI UN3400 - Topics in Music and Society 
   5. Four semesters of ear-training, unless the student is exempt by exam
   6. At least three 3000- or 4000- level electives in an area of interest (theory, history, composition, or ethnomusicology)
   7. Remaining points from 2000- to 4000- level electives. (No more than 6 points of 2000- level courses and no more than 4 points of instrumental or vocal lessons count towards the major.)
   8. MUSI BC3993 - Senior Seminar (4 points)
3. Senior Project: It can be an expansion of a paper written in a 4000- level course, a composition, or a recital.

Requirements of the Ethnomusicology Track

The Ethnomusicology major is not subdividable further without consultation with the Ethnomusicology faculty about whether that is appropriate.

1. Prerequisites
   1. Choose one:
      1. MUSI BC1001 - An Introduction to Music
      2. MUSI BC1002 - An Introduction to Music II
   2. Choose one to take ideally during sophomore year; cannot be deferred to senior year:
      1. MUSI UN3400 - Topics in Music and Society
      2. MUSI V3420x - Social Science of Music 
2. Courses
   1. MUSI V2318 - Diatonic Harmony/Counterpoint (3 credits)
   2. MUSI V2319 - Diatonic Harmony/Counterpoint (3 credits)
   3. MUSI V2314 - Ear Training I (1 credit)
   4. MUSI V2315 - Ear Training II (1 credit)
   5. MUSI V3420 - Topics in Music and Society
   6. Up to 4 performance credits (lessons or ensembles)
   7. One 3000-level Western music history course (3 credits)
   8. One Asian Humanities-Music (AHMM) course (3 credits)
   9. Three ethnomusicology electives, one at the 2000 level and the others from the upper division electives (9 credits)
   10. Two courses in Anthropology, one at the introduction to cultural anthropology level; the other, an elective (6 credits)
   11. Strongly recommended in junior or senior year: MUSI G4401x - Field Methods and Techniques in Ethnomusicology 
3. Ethnographic thesis of 30-40 pages, developed over the senior year (6 credits)

Recommendations

• Languages: Students who plan to do graduate work in music, the study of German, French, Italian, and/or Latin is recommended.

• Music Lessons at the Manhattan School of Music or the Juilliard School: Current students should consult with Gail Archer, the Barnard Director, to apply to take lessons. Prospective students and current students should refer to the Juilliard School Programs and the Manhattan School of Music Program information page. (For non-majors, there is a six-semester limit but majors may continue for the remainder of the program.)

Resources

• Regular Practice Rooms: Practice rooms are available, at a nominal fee, upon application to the Music Department in 319 Milbank. Applications should be made during the first week of class. Preference in assigning hours is given to students taking piano instruction and majors.