Director of undergraduate studies: AZ (A. Zayaruznaya); yalemusic.yale.edu

The Department of Music offers introductory and advanced instruction in the history of music, the theory of music, composition, music technology, and performance. The Music major provides a general music program in the humanities, as well as preparation for graduate studies or music careers. 

Courses for Nonmajors and Majors

All undergraduate courses offered by the music department are open to majors and nonmajors. Introductory courses, numbered from 1000 to 1999 require no previous experience in music. 

Course Numbering

Introductory courses are numbered from 1000 to 1999. Intermediate courses, numbered between 2000 and 3999, may require prerequisites or familiarity with music notation. Advanced courses, numbered between 4000 and 4994, are intended for students who have completed intermediate courses in the relevant field. They are intended primarily for students majoring in music, but they may be elected by others who meet the stated prerequisites.

Lessons and Corequisites

Qualified students, whether majoring in music or not, may offer up to four credits of instruction in performance for academic credit toward the 36-course-credit requirement for the bachelor's degree. Of these four course credits, up to three may be applied to the major in Music.

Auditions for MUSI 3245 and 4245 (lessons on classical instruments offered through the School of Music) are held at the beginning of the fall term; students sign up at the School of Music auditions website. Students who audition for lessons are placed into one of three groups: (1) noncredit instruction for a fee; (2) lessons for academic credit at the intermediate level (MUSI 3245), graded Pass/Fail; or (3) lessons for academic credit at the advanced level (MUSI 4245), graded A–F. Only students with exceptional proficiency are placed into MUSI 4245. 

To enroll in MUSI 4246 (Lessons in Gospel, graded A–F, offered through the Institute for Sacred Music), students should submit a recording of their playing or singing to eric.donnelly@yale.edu no later than 7 days before the start of term. Students will be notified if their recorded audition is successful by the beginning of term.

Students taking MUSI 3245, 4245, or 4246 are required to enroll concurrently in a non-introductory academic music studies class for two terms, or they must complete one term of the music studies requirement before enrolling in MUSI 3245,  4245, or 4246 for the first time, and another before enrolling in MUSI 3245, MUSI 4245,  or 4246 again.  Eligible corequisites include MUSI 1111 or any course designated as Group I, III, or IV within the music major. For students taking MUSI 4246, one of the co-requisites must be MUSI 4483, and the other may be any MUSI class in groups I, III, or IV.

Students accepted for noncredit instruction are charged $550 for ten hours of lessons per term or $350 for six hours of lessons per term. The fees are added to the Student Financial Services bill and are not refundable after the first two weeks of lessons each term.

Placement Procedures 

There is no longer a placement test for the music theory curriculum; instead, we invite students to identify the right course for them by using our self-placement guide and consulting with the course instructors.

Requirements of the Major

See Links to the attributes indicating courses approved for the Music major requirements.

Thirteen courses are required, two intermediate courses and one advanced course in each of four groups, and the senior requirement. Group I (MUSI 2100–2199; 3100–3199; 4100–4199) includes music theory and technology courses focused on the materials and structures of musical works and repertoires. Group II (MUSI 2200–2299; 3200–3299; 4200–4299) includes composition, technology, and performance courses with a practical focus on techniques of artistic production. Group III (MUSI 2300–2399; 3300–3399; 4300–4399) includes lectures and seminars taking a research- and writing-based approach to the Western art-music tradition. Group IV (MUSI 2400–2499; 3400–3499; 4400–4494) includes lectures and seminars taking a research- and writing-based approach to popular or vernacular music or to music of non-Western traditions.

With permission of the DUS, students may count one 1000-level course towards the major in place of an intermediate course within the appropriate group. 

Credit/D/Fail No course taken Credit/D/Fail may be applied toward the requirements of the major.

Outside credit Courses taken at another institution or during an approved summer or term-time study abroad program may count toward the major requirements with DUS approval. 

Senior Requirement

Each student majoring in Music must satisfy the senior requirement by completing a senior essay, project, composition, or recital in MUSI 4996, 4997, 4998, or 4999.

The standard major Students must submit a completed Senior Project Form to the director of undergraduate studies (DUS) by the end of the course selection period in the term during which the project will be completed. The Senior Project Form, available in the departmental office, includes a brief description of the project and a timeline for completion. The form must be signed by the project's primary and secondary advisers, at least one of whom is a member of the faculty of the Department of Music.

The intensive major The intensive major is for students of high standing who are qualified to do sustained independent and original work in music research or in composition. Students wishing to elect the intensive major must register for the senior project (MUSI 4997–4999 in their second-to-last term at Yale (usually fall of their senior year). A plan for progress must be included in the project proposal at the beginning of this term, specifying a deliverable end-of-term product with approximately the same scope as a one-term senior project. Upon satisfactory completion of this work, a student may be admitted to the intensive major, which consists of a second term of registration for the senior project (MUSI 4997– 4999). The additional course for the intensive major is supplementary to the thirteen term courses that constitute the standard major.

Advising

Simultaneous B.A./M.M. degree program Exceptional students may be able to structure their undergraduate programs to become eligible for a simultaneous master’s degree in selected graduate programs. Students must successfully complete relevant graduate course requirements and earn qualitative grades of Honors, High Pass, or Pass. At least two grades of Honors are required, and all grades must average High Pass in order to fulfill requirements for the master’s degree. 

Interested students should consult with both the DUS and DGS prior to submitting the online application, which is due no later than the last day of classes in their fifth term of enrollment in Yale College. Students should also review the GSAS Degree-Granting Departments and Programs page and select the relevant program for specific requirements and application information.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites None

Number of courses 13 term courses numbered 2000 or above (incl senior req)

Distribution of courses 2 intermediate courses and 1 advanced course from each Group I–IV

Senior requirement One-term senior essay, composition, or recital in MUSI 4996–4999

Intensive major Two-term senior essay or project in MUSI 4997–4999; additional course is supplementary to the 13 req courses

Requirements 

13 courses (13 credits), including the senior requirement

Note: 4 performance instruction courses may count as academic credit toward the 36-course-credit requirement for the bachelor's degree; 3 may count toward the major requirements

• 2 intermediate courses and 1 advanced course from Group I 
• 2 intermediate courses and 1 advanced course from Group II 
• 2 intermediate courses and 1 advanced course from Group III 
• 2 intermediate courses and 1 advanced course from Group IV
• 1-term senior essay, composition, or recital in MUSI 4496–4499

Requirements for the Intensive Major

• same as for the standard major with 1 additional course (14 courses)
  • one extra term of the senior project for a two-term senior project focused on music research or composition (MUSI 4997-4999) 

The Department of Music offers courses in ethnomusicology, music history, music theory, music technology, composition, and performance. Students may take most introductory courses without a prerequisite. The department also offers First-Year Seminars without prerequisites. 

FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

Professors Kathryn Alexander (Adjunct), Richard Cohn, Daniel Harrison, Gundula Kreuzer, Richard Lalli (Adjunct), Ian Quinn (Chair), Gary Tomlinson, Michael Veal

Associate Professors Robert Holzer (Adjunct), Konrad Kaczmarek (Adjunct), Brian Kane, Markus Rathey (Adjunct), Braxton Shelley, AZ (A. Zayaruznaya)

Assistant Professors Ameera Nimjee, Jessica Pertiz, Lindsay Wright

Lecturers Phil Acimovic, Nathaniel Adam, Trevor Bača, Maiani da Silva, Daniel Egan, Grant Herreid, Annette Jolles, Sara Kohane, Ian MacMillen, Joshua Rosenblum, Wendy Sharp

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