Music Degree

The Music department at Whitman College emphasizes the understanding and appreciation of music as an art, perparing students for advanced work in composing, research and performance.  By providing high-qualty music education and performance opportunities for majors and non-majors alike, the department supports the College's liberal arts mission.

We encourage our students to pursue creative, analytical, and scholarly activities through a balanced list of curse offerings. As a music major, you many select from five options within the program: the Standard Degree, the Performance Track, the Music History Track, the Theory/Compsition Track, and the Jazz Track.

The Music Major

Students majoring in music may select from four options within the music major program:

Basic Requirements

All music majors must complete a minimum of thirty-six credits in the following courses, ensemble credit and private lessons to satisfy a basic musicianship:

Applied Music Requirements

Requirements for the Applied Music credit hours differ according to the degree tracks as follows:

Additional Requirements

Music majors in the Performance Track and Standard Degree must give a full (Performance Track) or half (Standard Degree) recital in their senior year. Any student desiring to perform a recital must present a pre-recital jury to the music faculty at least three weeks prior to the scheduled recital date. Majors in the Music History Track are required to write a Senior Thesis and those in the Theory/Composition Track are required to produce a Senior Project.

Private piano instruction or a piano proficiency exam and an aural proficiency examinations are required of all students majoring in music. It is recommended these examinations be taken by the end of the junior year.

The comprehensive examination for music majors consists of three segments: written, aural, and oral.

The Music Minor

A minimum of 18 credits selected to include:

The P-D-F option is not allowed for anycourses applied to the music minor.

Advisory Information

Potential Music Major

It is strongly recommended that potential music majors enroll in Music 125, 126 and applied music in their freshman year. Required music history courses are only offered in alternate years.  Music majors intending to study abroad should complete most of the required courses before going abroad.

Applied Lessons

Instruction is offered in piano, voice, organ, harpsichord, violin, viola, cello, string bass, woodwinds, and brass at all levels; and guitar and percussion at the introductory and intermediate levels. All college students enrolled in applied music for credit must take a jury examination at the conclusion of each semester.

Scholarships for Applied Lessons

Scholarships are available to offset the fee for lessons. Students receiving scholarships are required to participate in the appropriate major ensemble (Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra, or Chorale) or Accompanying 251E/252E (a minimum of two half-hour lessons per week per semester).

Non-Majors

The following courses are recommended as an introduction to music for liberal arts students (some courses require auditions and/or consent of the instructor):

Grading and credit limitations

All ensembles (211, 212, 231, 232, 241, 242, 251, 252, 253, 254, 261, 262, 281, 282) are graded on a regular basis; a maximum of twelve credits is applicable toward degree requirements. Applied music courses are graded on a regular basis. Applied music courses cannot be taken P-D-F.  A maximum of 16 credits in applied music is applicable toward degree requirements.