Music
Overview
Students majoring in Music must choose, at the time of declaring the major, one of the following focuses (up to 48 units) and may choose to pursue an additional concentration (60 units): music creation (focus), instrumental performance (focus), vocal performance (focus), music studies (focus), composition (focus or concentration) or production (focus or concentration). Students who pursue a composition concentration must complete a composition focus. And similarly, students who pursue a production concentration must complete a production focus.
Students with no prior music theory experience must take MUSC 101, offered in the fall semester. Students with substantial experience in music theory should take the Music Theory Placement Exam to see if they can pass directly into MUSC 151, offered in the spring semester.
To declare the Music major, students must have completed MUSC 151 with a grade of C or higher. In addition, to declare the music production concentration, students must have also completed MUSC 148 with a grade of C or higher. Moreover, for production students, both MUSC 151 and MUSC 148 must be completed by the end of the sophomore year. Those declaring the composition concentration must complete MUSC 113 by the end of their sophomore year.
Students intending to study abroad in their junior year must begin the music theory sequence in their first year and should only consider study abroad programs that can advance their progress in the Music major. Students who study abroad in their junior year and are pursuing a vocal or instrumental performance focus will be accommodated with online MUSA lessons. Please note that MUSC 261, MUSC 263, and MUSC 285 are all prerequisites to MUSC 490. If you are studying abroad, or if you are a transfer student, at least two of the prerequisites must be fulfilled before the fall semester of your senior year.
Requirements
Major
Required Courses (26 units):
All students pursuing a Music major must complete the following courses:
| MUSC 151 | Music Theory II | 4 units |
| MUSC 231 | Keyboard Musicianship I | 1 unit |
| MUSC 232 | Keyboard Musicianship II | 1 unit |
| MUSC 251 | Music Theory III | 4 units |
| MUSC 263 | Western Music and Culture: 1830 to the Present | 4 units |
| MUSC 285 | Topics in the Critical Study of Popular and Non-Western Music | 4 units |
| MUSC 351 | Music Theory IV | 4 units |
| MUSC 490 | Senior Seminar | 4 units |
In addition to these 26 units required of all Music majors, students majoring in Music must choose one of the following focuses and may choose to pursue an additional concentration. Students who pursue a composition concentration must complete a composition focus. And similarly, students who pursue a production concentration must complete a production focus.
Production Focus (44 total units)
Required Courses (16 units):
| MUSC 113 | Learning to Compose | 4 units |
| MUSC 148 | Introduction to Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) | 4 units |
| MUSC 245 | Introduction to the Music Industry | 4 units |
| MUSC 247 | Pro Tools Fundamentals | 4 units |
Required Ensemble Participation (2 units):
Students must participate in two semesters of a faculty-led large Ensemble.
Production Concentration (60 total units):
Students must complete two semesters (4 units total) of MUSC 474 (Senior Production Comprehensive Preparation), which is required in the fall and spring semesters of their senior year.
Required Courses in addition to the Production Focus (12 units):
| MUSC 249 | Recording Techniques | 4 units |
| MUSC 348 | Mixing and Mastering | 4 units |
| Two semesters (4 units total) of: | ||
| MUSC 474 | Senior Production Comprehensives Preparation | 2 units |
Required Elective (4 units):
Students must complete one 200-level Production or Composition elective: MUSC 242 (Music and Artificial Intelligence), MUSC 246 (Live Sound Engineering), MUSC 248 (Advanced Production: Sampling and Synthesis), MUSC 252 (Introduction to Songwriting), MUSC 257 (Composition Seminar) or MUSC 258 (Introduction to Film Scoring)
Composition Focus (44 total units):
Required Courses (16 units):
| MUSC 113 | Learning to Compose | 4 units |
| MUSC 148 | Introduction to Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) | 4 units |
| MUSC 245 | Introduction to the Music Industry | 4 units |
| MUSC 257 | Composition Seminar | 4 units |
Required Ensembles Participation (2 units):
Students must participate in two semesters of a faculty-led large Ensemble.
Composition Concentration (60 total units):
Students must complete at least three additional semesters (12 units minimum) of MUSC 257 (Composition Seminar). MUSC 257 is required in the fall and spring semesters of their senior year.
Required Courses in addition to the Composition Focus (14 units):
| Three semesters (at least 12 units) of: | ||
| MUSC 257 | Composition Seminar | 4 units |
| MUSC 272 | Conducting | 2 units |
Required Lessons Participation (2 units):
Students must participate in at least two semesters of private study () courses.
Music Creation Focus (48 total units):
Required Courses (16 units):
| MUSC 113 | Learning to Compose | 4 units |
| MUSC 148 | Introduction to Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) | 4 units |
| MUSC 245 | Introduction to the Music Industry | 4 units |
| MUSC 257 | Composition Seminar | 4 units |
Required Elective, Lessons, and Ensembles Participation (6 units):
Students must complete one 200-level Production or Composition elective: MUSC 242 (Music and Artificial Intelligence), MUSC 246 (Live Sound Engineering), MUSC 248 (Advanced Production: Sampling and Synthesis), MUSC 252 (Introduction to Songwriting), MUSC 257 (Composition Seminar) or MUSC 258 (Introduction to Film Scoring) (4 units).
Students must participate in at least one semester of private study () courses (1-unit).
Students must participate in at least one semester of a faculty-led large Ensemble (1-unit).
Instrumental Performance Focus (48 total units):
Students pursuing the instrumental performance focus are highly encouraged to participate in lessons and an ensemble starting their Freshman year.
Required Courses (9 units):
| MUSC 113 | Learning to Compose | 4 units |
| MUSC 131 | Improvisation | 1 unit |
| MUSC 271 | Instrumental and Vocal Arranging | 2 units |
| MUSC 272 | Conducting | 2 units |
Required Lessons and Ensembles (13 units):
Students must complete six semesters of private study () on their principal instrument during the Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Years (6 units).
Students must complete six semesters of ensemble participation MUSC 127 (Jazz Ensemble) or MUSC 130 (Symphony Orchestra) or a combination of both (6 units).
Students must complete at least one semester of MUSC 129 (Chamber Music) or MUSC 128 (Chamber Jazz) (1-unit).
Vocal Performance Focus (46 total units):
Students pursuing the vocal performance focus are highly encouraged to participate in lessons and an ensemble starting their Freshman year and to take at least six semesters of Glee Club.
Required Courses (8 units):
| MUSC 107 | Voice Class II | 1 unit |
| MUSC 115 | Topics in Vocal Music | 4 units |
| MUSC 131 | Improvisation | 1 unit |
| MUSC 271 | Instrumental and Vocal Arranging | 2 units |
Required Lessons and Ensembles (12 units):
Students must complete six semesters of private study () in Voice or Jazz and Commercial Voice during the Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Years (6 units).
Students must complete six semesters of MUSC 121 (Glee Club: Sopranos/Altos) or MUSC 122 (Glee Club: Tenor/Basses) (6 units required at minimum).
Music Studies Focus (46 total units):
Students wanting to pursue musicology, ethnomusicology, or music theory should elect this focus.
Required Courses (12 units):
| MUSC 113 | Learning to Compose | 4 units |
| Four semesters (8 units total) of: | ||
| MUSC 293 | Directed Research | 2 or 4 units |
Required Elective, Lessons, and Ensembles Participation (8 units):
Students must complete one 100-level MUSC course elective (4 units).
Students must participate in two semesters of private study () courses (2 units).
Students must participate in two semesters of a faculty-led large Ensemble.
Minor (22-23 total units):
Required Courses (16 units):
| MUSC 113 | Learning to Compose | 4 units |
| MUSC 148 | Introduction to Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) | 4 units |
| MUSC 151 | Music Theory II | 4 units |
| And one course from: | ||
| MUSC 261 | Western Music and Culture: 1580-1829 | 4 units |
| Or | ||
| MUSC 263 | Western Music and Culture: 1830 to the Present | 4 units |
| Or | ||
| MUSC 285 | Topics in the Critical Study of Popular and Non-Western Music | 4 units |
Required Elective, Lessons and Ensembles Participation (6-7 units):
Students must complete one 200-level or 300-level MUSC elective in their area of interest (4 units).
Students must participate in at least one semester of private study () courses (1-unit).
Students must participate in at least one semester of a faculty-led large Ensemble (1-2 units).
Second-Stage Writing
Students majoring in Music will satisfy the second-stage component of ÃÛÌÒAPP's college-wide writing requirement by receiving a grade of B- or higher in MUSC 261, MUSC 263, or MUSC 285. All three courses must be completed by the end of the junior year to enroll in MUSC 490 unless you are a transfer student or a junior studying abroad, whereupon two of these three courses must be completed before one’s senior year. Please refer to the Music Overview. Music majors who do not complete the Second-Stage Writing Requirement through the standard course-based mechanism will need to submit a satisfactory writing portfolio (consisting of 4,000 to 5,000 words) from 200- and/or 300-level Music courses to the Department Chair prior to the end of their Senior Fall semester.Comprehensive Requirement
Senior music majors complete a senior project related to the student's area of interest. All senior projects involve both a written and a public performance/presentation component. The written component (thesis draft; or final draft of argument-driven analytic paper) must be completed by the end of MUSC 490, which is offered in the fall semester. Each component is graded Pass with Distinction, Pass, or Fail. A final grade of Pass with Distinction on the senior comprehensive will be awarded if both components (written and public performance/presentation) are graded Pass with Distinction.By January 15th of their junior year, students submit a proposal for their senior project to the Music Department faculty for approval. Music's "Senior Comprehensive Project" page provides details about the project proposal and the requirements of individual concentrations and focuses.
All seniors will present their work in a public forum during their last semester. At any point in the senior comprehensive preparation process, if the Music faculty determines that the student has not sufficiently prepared to complete the project in time, the student must take a written examination in lieu of the recital or thesis submission/presentation to fulfill the senior comprehensive requirement. The faculty will supply questions drawn from the material of that student’s course of music study at Occidental.
Awards
The Elinor Remick Warren Award is presented each spring to the student who has written the most outstanding piece of music, in a Music course, that academic year.
The Peters Prize is awarded to the "Music major who, in the opinion of the faculty, had done the most during the year to advance the ideals and the prestige of music on the campus."