Music
Leila Falk
Musicology, chamber music.
Virginia Hancock
Musicology, conducting.
David Schiff
Composition, conducting.
Prospective majors should begin their course of study with Theory
II (112) and the Historical Survey (122) in the first two years.
Students should make early inquiry into their preparation for
Theory II by taking the placement examination, which is given at
the beginning of each year. We recommend that majors also take
piano lessons if they have never done so. Majors are expected to
participate in performance activities; therefore, fees for private
instruction are waived for junior and senior music majors.
Music majors must complete Theory II, Historical Survey, and at
least one other course above the 110 level in order to make formal
application for junior status; still another course above the 110
level must be completed before the junior qualifying examination.
The department strongly recommends that one of these courses be
Theory III (212).
For the junior qualifying examination in music, students will write
essays about musical selections from the Medieval to post-modern
periods and about selected prose passages about music from those
eras.
Topics not ordinarily included in the regular curriculum may be
offered to juniors and seniors with special interests as
independent study courses (481).
Requirements for the Major
1. Theory courses—Music 112, 212, and 343.
2. History courses—Music 122 and 311.
3. Four semesters of ensemble from among 103 (orchestra), 105
(chorus), 107 (Collegium), 109 (chamber music); one-half unit to be
taken in each of four semesters.
4. Thesis (470).
5. Four more one-unit courses, two of which may be met by taking
instrumental or vocal lessons (Music 101) in the junior and senior
year, provided that such study culminates in a senior recital, the
program to be approved by the department at the beginning of the
junior year. This recital does not substitute for a senior
thesis.
Recommended but not required: piano lessons.
Senior Thesis
Students planning to do theses in music must demonstrate their
competence, before the senior year, in the particular area in which
they wish to work. That is, they may not use the thesis as an
occasion to explore an entirely new area, which may be done in a
regular 481 (independent study) course. The thesis may be an
extended historical or analytical essay or a composition thesis,
which must include a printed score and a tape of a performance. To
be considered for a composition thesis, a student should have
already taken composition and at least one semester of independent
study in advanced composition. At the beginning of the senior year,
students prepare short written statements describing the nature of
their theses and meet with the entire department to discuss their
thesis proposals.
Facilities
Music department facilities include the Kaul Auditorium, where the
orchestra, Collegium and chorus perform; the chapel, which is used
for Collegium and Friday at Four concerts and other chamber music;
a band practice room in the commons; a library of scores and
recordings, housed in the library; an adjacent music listening
room; and 20 instrumental practice rooms (including 15 pianos and
other keyboard instruments) in Prexy, formerly the president’s
house. All students have access to the practice rooms. Both the
Library and Prexy house modest computer music laboratories equipped
with computers, synthesizers, and laser printers for students
in theory and composition courses. Prexy is open from 7 a.m. until
midnight, seven days a week. For additional recreational use,
students may use pianos in the student union and in the social
rooms of several of the residence halls.
Performing Opportunities
Reed attracts many students who are accomplished musicians.
Performance activities sponsored by the department are open to all
members of the community. A significant percentage of the student
body participates in music-making on the campus—as solo players or
singers, in chamber music ensembles, or in the ensembles conducted
by faculty members. Registration procedures for lessons and
ensembles are explained in the class schedule each term. A number
of student recitals and concerts by the ensembles are held each
year. The Friday at Four series, consisting of 8-10 concerts each
year, usually features students who take private lessons. The
chamber orchestra and chorus perform a concert in Kaul Auditorium
each semester.
The department also helps organize and coach chamber ensembles,
which are available by audition for students interested in playing
together in small groups. In addition, coaching sessions with
members of the music performance staff can sometimes be substituted
for private lessons with department approval.
Private Instruction—Bonnie Garrett, director
Reed offers individual instruction in guitar, harpsichord, piano,
voice, and all orchestral instruments, as well as jazz and some
ethnic instruments. Our teachers, all of whom are accomplished
performers, are selected from the best available in the Portland
community. Some are members of the Oregon Symphony, the Portland
Opera Orchestra, the Portland Baroque Orchestra, and various
chamber, jazz, and ethnic ensembles in the area, and have appeared
as solo artists with these groups. Our private music instructors
include Craig Jones (jazz piano); Phil Baldino (saxophone); Jeff
Homan (saxophone and jazz flute); Marcy Lohman (flute); Dunja
Jennings (clarinet); Pablo Izquierdo (oboe); Bonnie Cox (bassoon);
Joe Berger (French horn); Craig Gibson (trumpet); David Bryan
(trombone); Bill Hunt (violin and viola); John Hubbard (cello); Don
Hermanns (double bass); Kevin Deitz (jazz bass); Scott Kritzer
(classical guitar); Scott Pemberton (jazz guitar), Deborah Cleaver,
Susan Smith, and Denise Van Leuven (piano); Bonnie Garrett (piano
and harpsichord); Jenny Lindner (harp); Elizabeth Nicholson, folk
harp; Gayle Neuman (recorder and other Renaissance winds); Timothy
Scott (viola da gamba); Barbara Irvin and John Vergin (voice);
Nisha Joshi (sitar, Northern classical Indian singing); Jan deWeese
(mandolin and banjo); Janna McAuslan (flamenco guitar); Joel
Bluestone and Kyle MacLowry (percussion); and Obo Addy (Ghanaian
drumming). Instructors of other instruments are added to the staff
as need arises.
Fees
Fees for private instruction (Music 101) are $387 each semester for
twelve 45-minute lessons; some scholarship aid is available.
Private instruction fees are waived for junior and senior music
majors, who are expected to enroll in private instruction for at
least two of their final four semesters.
Academic Credit for Music Performance
All students participating in music performance courses (Music 101,
103, 105, 107, 109) should register; these courses are graded on a
credit/no credit basis. The courses carry variable credit: either
one-half course or zero credit for one semester. To qualify for
credit, students must have taken or be currently enrolled in a
one-unit course at level 110 or above at Reed, for which they can
receive two half-units of credit for a music performance course,
one-half unit per semester. No more than one-half credit may be
earned per semester. A second one-unit course at level 110 or above
qualifies the student for another two half-units of credit for
music performance. No more than two units may be received for the
same music performance course. A third one-unit course at level 110
or above qualifies the student for two more half-units of credit in
a different music performance course. These credits in music
performance may be used toward the quantity requirement of 30 units
for graduation, though not toward the Group A or Group X
requirements. If the accompanying classroom course is dropped,
credit for music performance must also be relinquished.
