Mar 28, 2024  
Catalogue 2020-2021 
    
Catalogue 2020-2021 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Music Department


Chair: Kathryn Libin;

Professor: Jonathan Chenette;

Associate Professors: Christine Howletta, Kathryn Libin, Brian R. Mann;

Assistant Professors: Táhirih Motazedian, Justin Patcha;

Senior Lecturers: Drew Minter, Eduardo Navega;

Adjunct Associate Professor: Susan Botti;

Adjunct Assistant Professor: Drake Andersen;

Adjunct Instructor: Michael Sheetz;

Adjunct Artists: Gail Archer, Trevor Babb, Paul Bellino, Cheryl P. Bishkoff, Alexander Bonus, Christopher Brellochs, Courtenay Budd, Frank Cassara, Miriam Charney, Jeanmarie Chenette, Mike DeMicco, Yves Dharamaj, Anna Elashvili, Danielle Farina, Phillip Helm, Marija Ilic, Amy Kawa, Yenne Lee, Mary Nessinger, James Osborn, Robert Osborne, Anna Polonsky, Peter Reit, Elisabeth Romano, Rachel Rosales, Susan Rotholz, James Ruff, Thomas Sauer, Amy Schroeder, Peter Tomlinson, Ian Tyson, Roland Vazquez.

a On leave 2020/21, first semester

Advisers: The department.

Programs

Major

Correlate Sequences in Music

The music department offers five correlate sequences, each requiring six units of credit, of which no fewer than five should be taken at Vassar. No more than one course counted toward the correlate sequence may be taken NRO. Specific courses to be taken within each sequence are outlined below.

Students interested in pursuing a correlate sequence in music should discuss it with the music department chair as well as their major advisors during their sophomore or junior year, and they will be assigned a correlate advisor from the music faculty. To apply for the correlate sequence in music, each student will submit a one-page personal statement. Correlate sequences in music must be declared by the end of the junior year.

Courses

Music: I. Introductory

Music: II. Intermediate

Music: III. Advanced

Music: Ensembles

In the following six large ensembles (Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra, Choir, Women’s Chorus, and Madrigal Singers) the first semester is an uncredited prerequisite for the second: credited study is offered only in the second semester. Students wishing to enroll for credit in the second semester must register for the uncredited prerequisite in the first semester. No student should exceed 2 units of this credit in his or her four years at Vassar. Membership is open to all classes and assumes a full year commitment. Admission is by audition.

Music: Individual Instruction

The music department offers private lessons in most instruments and voice. Enrollment is limited in certain areas of instruction, especially voice. Music majors and students taking lessons for credit will be given preference. Beginners are accepted as instructors’ teaching hours allow.

Some lessons - such as piano, violin, viola, and voice - require auditions at the beginning of the year. Audition sign-up sheets are posted on the bulletin board outside Skinner Room 105 the week before classes begin.

Accepted students arrange for private lessons with the instructor and include one 50-minute period per week for a total of thirteen lessons per semester. Lessons require an additional fee per semester (see Fees ) although students on need-based Vassar scholarship qualify for a fee waiver.

Lessons are taught at various levels and the lesson numbers - for example, 137, 237, 337 - reflect the level of study. Lessons may also be taken for non-credit, and these registration numbers begin with zero, as in 037. All students taking lessons, whether or not for credit, must register for them. (See the individual course numbers for your instrument below.)

Course Requirements for Lessons:  All students who take lessons for credit (see Individual Instruction below) are required to take two music courses, preferably before their senior year.  The department strongly believes that music performance in a liberal arts environment should be studied in the context of some knowledge of music history or theory. Therefore, co-requisite courses in music should begin as early as possible, but no later than the third semester of credited study.  Freshman and first-semester sophomores are especially encouraged to take MUSI 101 , 105 , 140 , or 141 . Among the other courses that may count toward the co-requisite are:  MUSI 106 , 136 , 201 , 202 , 213 , 214 , 215 , 217 , 218 , 231 , 238 , and 259 .

Voice (MUSI 031 131  063 , 163 , 263 , 363 , 380 ): Courtenay Budd, Christine Howlett, Drew Minter, Mary Nessinger, Robert Osborne, Rachel Rosales, James Ruff.
Piano (MUSI 032 132  060 , 160 , 260 , 360 , 380 ): Miriam Charney, Marija Ilic, Anna Polonsky, Thomas Sauer.
Classical Guitar (MUSI 068 , 168 , 268 , 368 , 380 ): Trevor Babb, Yenne Lee.
Flute (MUSI 070 , 170 , 270 , 370 , 380 ): Susan Rotholz.
Oboe (MUSI 071 , 171 , 271 , 371 , 380 ): Cheryl Bishkoff.
Clarinet (MUSI 072 , 172 , 272 , 372 , 380 ): TBA.
Bassoon (MUSI 073 , 173 , 273 , 373 , 380 ): Elisabeth Romano.
Saxophone (MUSI 043 , 143 , 243 , 343 , 380 ): Christopher Brellochs.
French Horn (MUSI 074 , 174 , 274 , 374 , 380 ): Peter Reit.
Trumpet (MUSI 075 , 175 , 275 , 375 , 380 ): James Osborn.
Trombone (MUSI 076 , 176 , 276 , 376 , 380 ): Paul Bellino.
Tuba (MUSI 077 , 177 , 277 , 377 , 380 ): Paul Bellino.
Harp (MUSI 069 , 169 , 269 , 369 , 380 ): Ashley Jackson.
Organ (MUSI 061 , 161 , 261 , 361 , 380 ):  Gail Archer.
Harpsichord (MUSI 062 , 162 , 262 , 362 , 380 ): Gail Archer.
Jazz Guitar (MUSI 034 , 134 , 234 , 334 , 380 ): Mike DeMicco.
Jazz Piano (MUSI 042 , 142 , 242 , 342 , 380 ): Peter Tomlinson.
Percussion (MUSI 078 , 178 , 278 , 378 , 380 ): Frank Cassara, Trey Files.
Violin (MUSI 064 , 164 , 264 , 364 , 380 ): Anna Elashvili, Amy Schroeder.
Viola (MUSI 065 , 165 , 265 , 365 , 380 ): Danielle Farina.
Violoncello (MUSI 066 , 166 , 266 , 366 , 380 ): Yves Dharamraj.
Double Bass (MUSI 067 , 167 , 267 , 367 , 380 ): Phil Helm.
Other Instruments (MUSI 037 , 137 , 237 , 337 , 380 )

Music: Itemized List

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