Music Performance
Coordinator: Tim Harbold
Department home page: http://www.wheatoncollege.edu/Acad/Music/
Courses in ensemble and individual performance are offered to enhance a student's musical understanding, technical excellence and artistic expression at a particular level of advancement. Students may participate in a variety of faculty-directed ensembles and individual performance instruction is available either for credit or on a noncredit basis. All performance courses fulfill creative arts curriculum requirements.
Ensemble performance courses
Students may participate in any of five faculty-directed ensembles with or without academic credit: Chorale, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Band, Wind Symphony and World Music Ensemble. Criteria for credit are available from the director of the ensemble or the director of performance. Ensemble participation is also open on an audit or a pass/grade/fail basis. If taken for credit, ensembles award 1/4 credit per semester: however, two semesters of participation are required, resulting in 1/2 credit for the year. Membership in some ensembles is by audition (see descriptions below), but there are no pre- or corequisites. A student may count a maximum total of two ensemble credits (four years of participation) toward the 32 credits required for graduation.
Individual performance courses
Instrumental or voice lessons may be taken with or without academic credit.
To qualify for performance study with academic credit, a student must pass an audition (see individual course description for audition requirements) and enroll in Musc 114 and Musc 115 during the first year of study and in one semester course at or above the 200 level during the second year of study. Students may repeat any level of study for academic credit and accumulate up to four credits at one level. Students who wish to progress to the next level of study and are committed to more advanced repertoire and more intensive practice will request promotion at the end-of-semester jury and must have the approval of the instructor.
Usual credit: Credit for instrument or voice is given for two consecutive semesters of study counting as one semester course for the year. Each semester there are 12 private 60-minute lessons or the equivalent; six hours of preparation are required weekly. Credit students must pay a private lesson tuition fee of $450 per semester; however, there is no fee for declared music majors. Students may declare majors as early as the second semester of their first college year.
Double credit: Students entering at the 300 or 400 levels may request academic credit equal to a semester course per semester of lessons. This program calls for twelve 60-minute lessons per semester; 12 hours of weekly preparation are required, as well as half of a public solo recital for each year of enrollment in the program. Acceptance into this program is determined by special audition. Credit students must pay a private lesson tuition fee of $450 per semester; however, there is no fee for declared music majors.
Instrumental or voice lessons without academic credit are offered at any level of ability. A fee of $300 is charged for twelve 30-minute lessons each semester or $450 for twelve 45-minute lessons or $600 for twelve 60-minute lessons. This fee is non-refundable after the end of the registration period.
Specific requirements for all credit performance courses may be obtained from the instructor of the course or the director of performance. Auditions for performance courses are held early in the first semester and by appointment for the second semester.
Practice pianos, harpsichords and organ may be used without extra fee. Students must assume the cost of credit or noncredit lessons taken off campus.
Major
See the major in music.
Minor
See the minor concentration in music performance.
Courses in Performance
010. Wheaton College Chorale
The Wheaton Chorale is open to all students by audition. The chorale rehearses three hours weekly, performing two to three times each semester. Repertoire consists of music from various traditions, including major works, standard Western-practice choral literature, folk musics of the world, jazz, gospel and more.
(Tim Harbold)
015. Wheaton Chamber Orchestra
The chamber orchestra is open to all Wheaton students who play orchestral string instruments. The orchestra rehearses weekly and presents several concerts each year, both on and off campus. Repertoire includes music from the Renaissance through the 20th century and often involves collaboration with other campus ensembles.
(Earl Raney)
020. Southeastern Massachusetts Wind Symphony
The wind symphony is open to all Wheaton students who play woodwind, brass or percussion instruments. The ensemble rehearses weekly and presents several concerts each year, both on and off campus. Repertoire includes standard wind ensemble and concert band literature from the Renaissance through the 20th century.
(Earl Raney)
025. Wheaton Jazz Band
The jazz band is open by audition to Wheaton brass and woodwind players, guitarists, bass players, keyboardists, percussionists, drummers and vocalists. Other instruments may be incorporated with permission of the instructor. Repertoire covers a wide range of styles, including swing, bebop, progressive and fusion jazz. The ensemble rehearses weekly, presenting several performances each year.
(Rick Britto)
030. World Music Ensemble
The World Music Ensemble performs music from a variety of world traditions, including Brazilian, Irish and South Indian music. Open to all singers and instrumentalists regardless of background, the ensemble is a workshop for both learning repertoire and for learning how music is taught in different cultural settings. We rehearse weekly and give a public performance at the end of the semester.
(Sheila Falls-Keohane)
040. Beginning Class in Voice
Group lessons meeting for one hour once a week. Students will study folk song, art song and musical theatre repertoire and develop technique through specific vocal exercises. Students will sing in unison and individually. Class size is limited to four to six students and the students will share the fee for one-hour, noncredit lessons.
050. Piano Lessons
For declared or prospective music majors who need to fulfill the performance requirement (see major requirements) and who do not have the background to qualify for Musp 150. May be taught as a group lesson.
110. Flute
130. Violin
131. Viola
132. Cello
(Ronald A. Crutcher, Zarina Irkaeva)
134. Classic Guitar
140. Voice
150. Piano
(Leslie Amper, Lisa Romanul, William MacPherson, Ann Sears, Guy Urban)
151. Organ
152. Harpsichord
210. Flute
230. Violin
231. Viola
232. Cello
(Ronald A. Crutcher, Zarina Irkaeva)
234. Classic Guitar
240. Voice
250. Piano
(Leslie Amper, Lisa Romanul, William MacPherson, Ann Sears, Guy Urban)
251. Organ
252. Harpsichord
310. Flute
330. Violin
331. Viola
332. Cello
(Ronald A. Crutcher, Zarina Irkaeva)
334. Classic Guitar
340. Voice
350. Piano
(Leslie Amper, Lisa Romanul, William MacPherson, Ann Sears, Guy Urban)
351. Organ
352. Harpsichord
410. Flute
430. Violin
431. Viola
432. Cello
(Ronald A. Crutcher, Zarina Irkaeva)
434. Classic Guitar
440. Voice
450. Piano
(Leslie Amper, Lisa Romanul, William MacPherson, Ann Sears, Guy Urban)
451. Organ
452. Harpsichord
Other Instruments
Qualified students may pursue credit or noncredit study of any instrument not listed above with off-campus teachers approved by the department. However, this study, whether for credit or not, is paid for by the students, who must also provide their own transportation.
See also courses in Music History and Theory.
(William MacPherson)