Mission Statement
The mission of the °®¶¹´«Ã½ Music Department is:
- To train professionally-oriented students for careers in music in performance, composition, music history and music theory. The department aims to accomplish this objective through bachelor’s degrees and graduate programs. The professional music degrees are supported by a broad foundation in the liberal arts, a historical strength of Harpur College.
- To enrich the musical life of all students on campus through specially designed courses, various ensemble participation, and studio instruction in most instruments and voice; these are open and available to all matriculated students. Indeed, the department has always prided itself on the rich "hands-on" choices for music study it provides to the general liberal arts student. In addition, there are numerous concerts of all kinds that enrich the musical life of the University community.
- To serve as an important arts resource for the civic community and region through the active presentation of faculty, guest and student concerts (over 100 per year), special courses, lectures, workshops, master classes, community outreach programs and cooperative projects with other musical institutions in the area. The department views this as central to the mission as a public institution in a relatively small metropolitan area.
- To expand the Department of Music’s reputation through the active concert touring of its artist faculty and through the publications of its scholars so that the department’s influence is felt not only regionally, but nationally and internationally as well.
Graduate Programs
The Department of Music offers graduate studies leading to the Master of Music (MM) degree. In the MM degree, the field of specialization may be collaborative piano, composition, conducting, instrumental performance, music history, opera or vocal performance.
Admission
All students entering the MM program must satisfy the general conditions for admission as stated in the Academic Guide (Formerly Bulletin).
Students applying for the MM program in composition or music history should submit examples of their recent work and arrange for a personal interview. Students applying for the MM program in all other performance areas are expected to arrange for an audition and should submit a pre-audition tape exemplifying recent performance capabilities.
Placement Examinations
Upon admission to the graduate program, students are expected to demonstrate levels of achievement in music history and theory equivalent to those for the baccalaureate degree with a major in music. Proficiency is determined by written placement examinations normally given each semester during the week preceding the beginning of classes. The results are used for diagnostic and advisory purposes; students may be required to do remedial work before taking specified graduate courses.
Master of Music Program
Course Requirements (except Opera Specialization)
A minimum of 32 graduate credits in music with a grade of at least a B average must be completed. Distribution of requirements are listed below:
| Courses | Credits |
| MUS 501 Music History and Research I | 4 |
| MUS 502 Music History and Research II | 4 |
| MUS 522 Analytical Techniques | 4 |
| Field of specialization | 12 |
| Electives | 4 |
| MUS 599 Thesis | 4 |
| Total | 32 |
Course Requirements (Specialization in Opera)
Offered by the University in collaboration with the Tri-Cities Opera, the program with the specialization in opera is generally a two-year program of professional training in preparation for an operatic career. A minimum of 36 graduate credits in music, with at least a B average must be completed. Distribution requirements are listed below:
| Courses | Credits |
| MUS 501 Music History and Research I | 4 |
| MUS 520 Graduate Theory Review | 2 |
| MUSP 556A Studio Voice Lessons | 6 |
| MUSP 567D Studio Voice Repertoire Class | 4 |
| MUSP 569A Opera Workshop | 4 |
| MUSP 586C, D, E, F Lyric Diction: Italian, French, English/IPA, German (4 semesters) | 4 |
| MUSP 586A Vocal Literature | 4 |
| MUSP 556E, F, G, H Voice Coaching | 4 |
| MUS 599 Thesis (Opera Role, Voice Recital) | 4 |
| Total | 36 |
* A student who demonstrates theory and musicianship competencies through the theory diagnostic examination will be able to apply those two credits to electives.
** These courses are offered in a rotating, four-semester sequence.
Additional Requirements for Music History Specialization
All music history candidates must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language (German or one romance language). Proficiency is demonstrated by translating a passage from a reading in the field of music, chosen by the music history faculty.
Piano proficiency must be demonstrated by the ability to play a Bach chorale or an equivalent musical passage.
Comphrehensive Examinations
All MM students are required to take comprehensive examinations during their program of study, prior to graduation. The examinations consist of two components: an oral examination by a faculty committee and a listening examination. Details concerning these examinations are made available to each entering MM student.
Thesis
Candidates in collaborative piano music present a graduating recital, for which at least half of the music must be newly prepared, i.e., not having been played previously for any other student’s recital. There must also be a mixture of instrumental and vocal repertoire.
Candidates in composition must submit a portfolio containing at least two substantial compositions; acceptability is judged by the thesis committee, consisting of the principal advisor and two other faculty members.
Candidates in conducting must conduct in public performances, one substantial work (or concert segment) with a major ensemble and at least two additional appropriate performances.
Candidates in instrumental performance must present two recitals (minimum 45 minutes of music per recital), one of which must include chamber music.
Candidates in vocal performance must present at least 60 minutes of public performance in which the performer is a soloist. This must include a full-length (i.e., 45 minutes of music) recital, and other performances, which may include the following or their equivalent: A half- or full-length recital, a role in a fully staged opera production, a solo in an oratorio, or a performance of chamber music where the performer has a role as a soloist.
Candidates in music history must submit an acceptable written thesis that demonstrates knowledge of appropriate research techniques. Acceptability of the thesis is judged by a thesis committee consisting of the principal advisor and two other faculty members, and an oral defense of the thesis must be made before the same committee.
Candidates whose field of specialization is opera must perform either one leading/featured role or two supporting roles (according to AGMA's Schedule C) in fully staged opera productions. In addition, opera majors must present a full-length (i.e., 45 minutes of music) recital.
All thesis recitals and roles must be approved in advance by the graduate committee and the performance be judged satisfactory by a thesis committee, consisting of the principal advisor(s) and two other faculty members.
Evaluation
All MM degree candidates are reviewed at the end of each semester of study; continuation in the program of specialization is contingent on satisfactory academic progress, as well as satisfactory artistic progress as judged by a committee of faculty experts in, or appropriate to, the candidate’s discipline.