Music

Faculty

View faculty details

Chair

Linda Dusman

Associate Chair

Joseph Morin

Professor

Stuart Saunders Smith

Associate Professors

Thomas Goldstein
E. Michael Richards
Anna Rubin

Assistant Professors

Lisa Cella
David Kim-Boyle
David Smith
Airi Yoshioka

Lecturers

Nancy Beith
Joseph Morin

Associate Staff

Janice Jackson
Alan Wonneberger

Affiliate Artists

Tom Baldwin
Darren Bange
Gina Beck
Matthew Belzer
Kimberly Buschek
Wayne Cameron
Barry Dove
Zane Forshee
Rachel Franklin
Thomas Hawley
Joel Holmes
Hamid Hossain
Yi-Ping Huang
Gita Ladd
Thomas Lagana
Vladimir Lande
Jason Love
Jacqueline Pollauf
Laura Ruas
Brian Sacawa
Travis Siehndel
Richard Spittel
Kazuko Tanosaki
Christian Tremblay
Max Vanderbeek
Jari Villanueva

Courses in this program are listed under MUSC.

The study of music at UMBC stresses the interdependence of theory, performance and history. Students in the program explore the traditions of Western music, as well as examine new music and other cultures, leading to a balanced understanding of music as a universal form of human artistic expression. Music also is studied in conjunction with an overview of the other arts, providing students with opportunities to interact with artists from other creative disciplines.

Students in music courses, as well as vocal and instrumental ensembles, study technical and historical aspects of music both by playing and hearing it.

Students at UMBC are given the opportunity to study and perform with professional musicians. The music department faculty bring a rich and varied background in professional performance and research to UMBC. The faculty is widely recognized for its expertise in performance, composition and music technology. An audition/interview before a faculty committee is required of all students wishing to major in music. The audition for the performance emphasis in voice or main instrument should include compositions that demonstrate the student’s level of ability.

Voice students should prepare two well-contrasted compositions, one of which must be in English. Along with an audition, students interested in the composition emphasis must submit scores for review by the composition faculty. Students interested in the music technology emphasis need to audition on an instrument or voice and to submit an example of their work in recording or music technology.

Career and Academic Paths

The degree prepares students for advanced study in performance, theory, musicology, composition, education or technology. Graduates typically continue on to graduate school, professional performance, teaching, research, composition or the music industry.

Academic Advising

Faculty advisors are available every semester for guidance in all aspects of the music curriculum.

Major Programs

B.A. in Music

As a music major, a student concentrates in one of six emphases: performance, performance/musicology, composition, jazz, music technology or music education. These emphases range from 56 to 86 credits. A grade of “C” or better in any course counts toward the major, except where otherwise specified. All music majors, regardless of emphasis, take the following courses:

B.A. in Visual and Performing Arts – Music

Core Requirements

MUSC 101
Fundamentals of Music Theory [3]
MUSC 110
Musicianship Lab I [1]
MUSC 111
Musicianship Lab II [1]
MUSC 125
Theory I – Basics of Music [3]
MUSC 126
Theory II – Harmony and Voice Leading [3]
MUSC 178-A and -B
Beginning Keyboard
Skills [2]
(two semesters)
MUSC 179-A and -B
Intermediate Keyboard Skills [2]
(two semesters)
MUSC 311
Free Composition [3]
MUSC 321
Music History I [3]
MUSC 322
Music History II [3]
MUSC 193
Performance Studies for Music Majors [12]
MUSC 300-310
Ensembles [8]
VPA 225
Ideas in the Arts [3]
VPA 325
Contemporary Art in Process [3]
MUSC 492
Senior Project [2]

Electives: 18 credits from other arts disciplines, to be designed with the advisor for the major

Minor Program

Students who wish to pursue a minor in music are required to complete the following:

MUSC 101
Fundamentals of Music Theory [3]

Three semesters of ensemble participation [6]
Three semesters of Applied Individual Performance Studies [6]
One course selected from the following:

MUSC 100
Introduction to Music [3]
MUSC 214
History of Jazz [3]
MUSC 230
Musics of the World [3]
MUSC 217
History of Rock and Related Music [3]

Private Instruction

All music majors registering for MUSC 193, 194 or 390 and all music minors registering for MUSC 190 (private instruction) are expected to perform each semester in a music forum, with the exception of the first semester of study, when public performance is at the discretion of the instructor.

All other students registered for MUSC 190 may perform in a student recital upon the recommendation of their instructor. A faculty jury examination is required of all music majors in performance studies at the end of each semester.

Special Opportunities

Symphony Orchestra and the New Music Ensemble

Students have many opportunities to gain performance experience. The department presents more than 100 concerts each year. The UMBC Symphony Orchestra and the New Music Ensemble bring together students and professional musicians.

UMBC Camerata
UMBC’s premier choir, the UMBC Camerata, has completed nine international tours. After their recent return from a performance at Carnegie Hall, they were invited to sing for the President at Christmas in Washington, which was broadcast nationally on TNT.

Studio 508
The UMBC music department’s
recording studios are state-of-the-art facilities for music production. Staff engineers and students record, mix and master a limitless variety of music for commercial release and for other productions.

There are many internship possibilities within the music department in which students may gain preprofessional experience in concert management, music education, pedagogy, recording and music business.