Course Descriptions

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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 063 , 163 , 263 , 363 , 380 ): Ms. Howlett, Mr. Minter, Ms. Nessinger, Mr. Osborne, Ms. Rosales, Mr. Ruff.
Piano (MUSI 060 , 160 , 260 , 360 , 380 ): Mr. Crow, Ms. Polonsky, Mr. Sauer, Ms. Charney.
Classical Guitar (MUSI 068 , 168 , 268 , 368 , 380 ): Mr. Champlin.
Flute (MUSI 070 , 170 , 270 , 370 , 380 ): Mr. Solum.
Oboe (MUSI 071 , 171 , 271 , 371 , 380 ): Ms. Bishkoff.
Clarinet (MUSI 072 , 172 , 272 , 372 , 380 ): Mr. Guy.
Bassoon (MUSI 073 , 173 , 273 , 373 , 380 ): Ms. Romano.
Saxophone (MUSI 043 , 143 , 243 , 343 , 380 ): Mr. Xiques.
French Horn (MUSI 074 , 174 , 274 , 374 , 380 ): Mr. Reit.
Trumpet (MUSI 075 , 175 , 275 , 375 , 380 ): Mr. Osborn.
Trombone (MUSI 076 , 176 , 276 , 376 , 380 ): Mr. Bellino.
Tuba (MUSI 077 , 177 , 277 , 377 , 380 ): Mr. Bellino.
Harp (MUSI 069 , 169 , 269 , 369 , 380 ): Ms. Jackson.
Organ (MUSI 061 , 161 , 261 , 361 , 380 ):  Ms. Archer.
Harpsichord (MUSI 062 , 162 , 262 , 362 , 380 ): Ms. Archer.
Jazz Guitar (MUSI 034 , 134 , 234 , 334 , 380  ): Mr. DeMicco.
Jazz Piano (MUSI 042 , 142 , 242 , 342 , 380 ): Mr. Tomlinson.
Percussion (MUSI 078 , 178 , 278 , 378 , 380 ): Mr. Cassara, Mr. Files.
Violin (MUSI 064 , 164 , 264 , 364 , 380 ): Ms. Lee, Ms. Quan.
Viola (MUSI 065 , 165 , 265 , 365 , 380 ): Ms. Farina.
Violoncello (MUSI 066 , 166 , 266 , 366 , 380 ): Ms. Shao.
Double Bass (MUSI 067 , 167 , 267 , 367 , 380 ): Mr. Pappas.
Other Instruments (MUSI 037 , 137 , 237 , 337 , 380 )

Music: Itemized List