Music Requirements

The Department of Music is a major creative force at Colby that involves hundreds of students every semester, working and performing alongside world-class musicians and scholars. In addition to a wealth of performance and academic opportunities, music students and faculty work together to explore new and evolving relationships among sound, art, media, culture, and technology, deeply engaging in the broad world of the humanities and beyond.

Co-Chairs, Director of Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble Brendon Wilkins and Associate Professor Natalie Zelensky

Associate Professor Natalie Zelensky; Assistant Professors José Martínez and Emmalouise St. Amand; Visiting Assistant Professors Keer Wang and Yiqing Ma

Music 111, 181, 182, choice of two history courses from 241, 242, 341, and other courses approved by the department, 252 or 262, and 493 or 494; three four-credit electives in music at the 200 level or higher (MU 153 can be counted as an elective); two semesters of applied lessons (both of which must be taken on the same instrument and for credit); and two semesters of ensemble participation (both of which must be taken for credit).

The point scale for retention of the major applies to all courses in music. No requirement for the major may be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory.

The following courses count toward the Music History requirement for majors and minors. Additional courses may be approved by the department.

• MU 227 Sound and Scandal: 800-1750
  
• MU 230 Gender and Sexuality in the Classical Canon: 1750-1900
• MU 234 History of Rock
• MU 255 Sounding the Great Migration: 1900-1945
• MU 256 Music and Childhood
• MU 275 Samurai Music

Music Theory Placement Exam

Before enrolling in any section of MU 181, students must take a placement exam that will advise them to enroll in either section A or B. This will help us place students in a classroom with students of a similar level. It’s not possible to “fail” this test; rather it helps us understand which section fits you better. 

Music Theory Placement Exam

MU 181 – Music Theory I Test Out Exam

Students who have already taken music theory prior to coming to Colby and wish to skip the introductory level can take this test to opt out of MU 181 and enroll directly in MU 182. This is a sample of the syllabus for this class; you are expected to know all the topics listed here. Please have in mind that opting out of the class does not grant you credit. This test will only be open during advising and enrollment weeks.

MU 181 Test Out Exam 

Music 111, 181, 182, 282, and 491 or 492 (in collaboration with computer science); one 200-level or higher music (MU 153 may also be counted as an elective); two semesters of applied lessons (both of which must be taken on the same instrument and for credit); Computer Science 151, 231, 251 or 252; two of 351, 365, or other approved 300- or 400-level courses.

The point scale for retention of the major applies to all courses in music and computer science. No requirement for the major may be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory.

A student may elect only one of the majors offered by the Music Department.

Music 111, 181, 182; one semester of music history chosen from Music 241, 242, 252, 341 (or other courses approved by the department); two four-credit music courses at the 200 level or higher  (MU 153 may also be counted as an elective); two semesters of applied lessons (both of which must be taken on the same instrument and for credit); and one semester of ensemble participation (for credit). The College does not subsidize the cost of lessons for minors. For additional information concerning applied music options, refer to the statement below.

An honors program is available to students majoring in music who have a 3.25 overall grade point average and a 3.50 average in the major. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for the music major, honors students must take one additional course in music, approved by the department, at the 300 level or above; they must also complete the honors sequence (Music 483, 484) in one of four areas (theory/analysis, history/culture, performance, or composition/theory). During the second semester of the junior year, students seeking admission to the honors program submit a formal proposal outlining their proposed research or creative project to the department for approval.

Private lessons in voice and a variety of instruments are available, with or without academic credit (see Music 091, 191). MU 111, 153, 181, 252, or MU 225 Introduction to Afro-Latin Music will fulfill the co-requisite for graded credit in Music 191 and 193. Fees for lessons, billed through the College’s Business Office, depend on the number of credits elected; consult the Music Department for specific charges. By electing any applied music, the student incurs responsibility for the appropriate fee. Students electing Music 091 or 191 or taking extracurricular instruction must consult the applied music coordinator. Individual lessons/times are scheduled in consultation with the appropriate applied music associate.

Instruction in applied music is also available in January, but no academic credit may be earned in January. Music majors, beginning in the first semester of their sophomore year, are eligible for six semesters of subsidized instruction in applied music (Music 191 for two credits) in the instrument of their choice, provided they continue to make satisfactory progress in the major. Majors in good standing are also eligible for an additional four semesters of subsidized instruction on a second instrument; however, the College will not fund more than two instruments per semester. Subsidies are not available for noncredit lessons. Students who either add or drop the major after the start of the semester will have their lesson fees prorated based on the date that the add/drop request was processed.