Santa Clara University

DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

Professor Emeritus: Lynn R. Shurtleff
Professors: Hans C. Boepple, Teresa McCollough
Associate Professor: Nancy Wait-Kromm (Department Chair)
Assistant Professor: Christina Zanfagna


The Department of Music offers a degree program leading to the Bachelor of Arts in Music as well as a minor in music. A minor in musical theatre is available in conjunction with the Department of Theatre and Dance.

The Department of Music is committed to the education of the whole person: intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual. The overarching goal of the department is to provide a stimulating artistic and intellectual environment that fosters individual expression and creativity through the study of music and performance within the context of liberal arts studies in a Jesuit university. 

The Department of Music's curriculum is designed to provide students of diverse backgrounds with the skills necessary to comprehend, perform, and appreciate music's role in human history and its power to enhance the lives of all people. Because individual study and performance is essential to the expression and acquisition of music as a language and art form, private instruction is available to all Santa Clara students.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR

In addition to fulfilling University Core Curriculum requirements, students majoring in music must complete the department's lower-division core requirements and choose one of three upper-division emphases. Students must choose an emphasis after they have completed their lower-division requirements.

Lower-Division Core

• MUSC 1–3
• MUSC 1A–3A
• MUSC 8
• MUSC 9
• Minimum of three quarters of private instruction
• Minimum of three quarters in an approved departmental ensemble

Upper-Division Emphases

Theory/Composition Emphasis

• MUSC 104
• MUSC 104a
• MUSC 105
• MUSC 156
• Two Culture and Context courses*
• One elective course
• Minimum of three quarters of private instruction in composition

Performance Emphasis

• MUSC 104
• MUSC 104a
• Two Culture and Context courses*
• One elective course
• Minimum of six quarters of private instruction
• Minimum of three quarters in an approved departmental ensemble

Culture and Context Emphasis

• MUSC 130
• MUSC 131
• Two Culture and Context survey courses*
• One Culture and Context topical elective course
• One upper-division elective course
• Minimum of three quarters in an approved departmental ensemble

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR

Students must fulfill the following requirements for a minor in music:

Music Skills/Literacy courses

• Two courses from the Music Theory sequence
• Two courses from the Aural Skills sequence

Culture and Context courses

• MUSC 8
• MUSC 9
• One Culture and Context course*

Experience courses

• Performance ensembles: A minimum of three quarters in any approved departmental ensemble
• Private instruction: A minimum of two quarters from any of the following: MUSC 58/158, 59/159, 60/160, 61/161, or MUSC 30, 34, 35, 35A, 36, or 37

Elective courses

• One upper-division elective course

*Note: All upper-division Culture and Context courses also satisfy the elective requirement for music majors and minors.

 

LOWER and UPPER DIVISION COURSE LISTINGS are AVAILABLE in the Undergraduate Bulletin (PDF)

PRIVATE INSTRUCTION

The Department of Music offers private instruction in composition, and vocal and instrumental studies. Please contact the department office for further information on specific areas of interest.

Note: Private instrumental, composition, and vocal lessons are available to all Santa Clara students. Students may enroll in 1-hour, 45-minute, or 30-minute lessons depending upon their status as a major, minor, or elective student. A full description of the private instruction protocols is available in the Music Department Student Handbook. Nine private lessons are given each quarter. All students taking lessons are required to participate in a jury. Private lessons may be repeated for credit and are open to nonmajors by audition only and on a space-available basis. Priority registration is given to music majors, minors, musical theatre minors, and students enrolled in departmental ensembles or preparing for a junior or senior recital.