Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Blair School
of Music
Music at Vanderbilt 248
Classes for the General Student 249
The Degree Program 252
Bachelor of Music Degree Requirements 252
Liberal Arts Core 256
Minor Area and Concentration Requirements 257
Teacher Education 258
3+2 B.Mus./MBA Blair-to-Owen Program 260
Special Programs 261
Academic Regulations 262
Honors 269
Courses 271
Administration and Faculty 285
248 VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
Music at Vanderbilt
Blair Woodwind Quintet
TheBlairWoodwindQuintetformsthecoreofthewind
departmentatBlair.Establishedin1971,theensemblecon-
certizesregularlythroughouttheUnitedStates.Membersof
thequintetprovideprivateinstruction,coachchambermusic
ensembles,conductwoodwindseminars,andteachorchestral
repertoireclasses.
Blair Brass Quintet
TheBlairBrassQuintetservesasafocalpointforthebrass
facultyatBlair.Itsmembersprovideprivateinstruction,coach
chamberensembles,conductbrassseminars,andteach
orchestralrepertoireclasses.
Blakemore Trio
Foundedin2002,theBlakemoreTrioisBlairsnewestfaculty
ensemble.Itsmembersteachprivately,coachchambermusic,
andholdperformanceclassesatBlair.Thetrioperforms
throughouttheUnitedStates.
Facilities
TheBlairbuildingincorporatesinnovativedevelopmentsin
acousticaldesignandengineering.Itcontainsteachingstudios
andfacultyoffices,state-of-the-artcomputerlearningstations,
classrooms,rehearsalhalls,practicerooms,library,admin-
istrativeoffices,MIDIpianolabswithindividualcomputer
workstations,andthreeconcertvenues.The278-seatSteve
andJudyTurnerRecitalHallthefocalpointoftheoriginal
facility(1980)isthelocusforstudentrecitalsandconcertsand
masterclassesbyfacultymembersandvisitingartistsheldona
regularbasis.Openedinspring2002,the620-seatIngramHall
garneredimmediateacclaimforitssuperbacoustics,itsvisual
beauty,anditsenhancementoftheschoolsabilitytohostand
produceorchestra,opera,andothermajorconcertevents.The
ChoralHall,whichseatssixty,wasupgradedtoarecitalspace
duringsummer2007.Thebuildingstotalsquarefootage,nearly
tripledin2002,is131,000.Buildinghoursare7a.m.to9p.m.
Officehoursare8a.m.to3p.m.
TeAnnePotterWilsonMusicLibraryisadivisionof
theJeanandAlexanderHeardLibrarysystem.Tecollection,
begunin:,,wasmovedfromPeabodyCollegetoitsnew
andpermanenthomeatBlairinthesummerof:8,.Named
tohonorAnnePotterWilsonbytheVanderbiltBoardofTrust
in:8,,the8,ooo-square-footlibraryholdsmorethan,,,ooo
books,scores,soundandvideorecordings,andsubscriptions
tomorethan:,ojournals.Itisequippedwithaseminarroom,
exceptionallisteningandviewingstations,andstudyfacilities.
Accreditation
AllprogramsleadingtotheB.Mus.degreeareaccreditedby
theNationalAssociationofSchoolsofMusic,11230Roger
BaconDrive,Suite21,Reston,VA20190-3248;telephone:
(703)437-0700.
B
LAIRSchoolofMusicservesasthefocalpointat
Vanderbiltforthestudyofmusicasahumanendeavor
andasaperformingart.Theschoolcontributestothe
qualityoflifeattheuniversitythroughconcerts,lectures,and
recitalsbyfaculty,students,andvisitingartists,scholars,and
composers,andthroughcourseofferingsinperformance,
musicliterature/history,composition,andtheory.Inanage
ofincreasingtechnologyandsocialcomplexity,musicoffers
topersonsofallagesavitalmediumfortheexpressionofthe
humanspirit.
TeBlairSchoolhasbeenanintegralpartofNashvilles
musicalenvironmentsinceitsfoundingin:obytheJustin
andValerePotterFoundationthroughabequestofValere
BlairPotter.In:8:theschoolwasmergedwithVanderbilt
followingtheuniversitysdecisiontodevelopanexcellent
programinmusic.StudiesleadingtotheprofessionalBachelor
ofMusicdegreeinperformancewereinitiatedin:8o.
Knowingtheimportanceofabalancededucationinmusic,
BlairSchoolsubsequentlyexpandeditsBachelorofMusic
degreeprogramtoincludemajorsincomposition/theoryand
musicalarts.Temajorincomposition/theoryemphasizes
analyticalskillsaswellasthedevelopmentofstudentscreativ-
ity.Temajorinmusicalartsistheschoolsmostexible
program;itlaysasolidfoundationintheartofmusic,with
equalpreparationinthethreebasicdisciplinesofperformance,
theory,andmusicliterature/history.Temusicalartsmajor
alsoformsthebasisforave-yearprograminteachereduca-
tionoeredcooperativelywithPeabodyCollege.Students
inthiscurriculumcanearntheB.Mus.degreeinfouryears
andtheM.Ed.andteacherlicensureforinstrumental/general
orvocal/generalmusicinthefhyear(JuneMay).AllBlair
degreeprogramsareaccreditedbytheNationalAssociationof
SchoolsofMusic(NASM).
Anon-professional,:-hourliberalartsmusicmajor
makesitpossibleforstudentsoutsidetheBlairSchoolto
choosemusicasasecondmajor.Studentsinotherschools
andcollegesoftheuniversityalsomaypursueaminorin
music,musichistory,ormusicperformance.AndBlairoers
aremarkablevarietyofelectivesforstudentswhowishto
enrichtheirstudieswithcreditinmusiccourses,ensembles,
orperformanceinstruction,ortoselectmusicasanextracur-
ricularactivity.
BlairSchoolofMusicishometointernationallyknown
facultysoloistsandensembles,andBlairsperformers,com-
posers,andmusicologistsareamongthemostrespectedin
theirelds.Teirdedicationtoteachingandalowstudent/fac-
ultyratioprovidestudentsthepersonalattentionthatfosters
maximummusicalgrowthandunderstanding.Teschoolis
committedtoitsgoalofdevelopingstudentswhoareamong
themostarticulate,culturallyaware,andartisticallysensitive
ofanygraduatesinthecountry.
The Faculty Ensembles
Blair String Quartet
Foundedin1967,theBlairStringQuartetisthenucleusofthe
stringdepartment.Itsmembersprovideprivateinstruction
andcoachchambermusicensemblesandperformanceclasses.
ThequartetperformsthroughouttheUnitedStates.
249 Blair School of Music / Music at Vanderbilt
B
ClassesfortheGeneralStudent
TheBlairSchoolofMusicwelcomesthegeneralstudentinto
itsclassesandstudios.Alargenumberofcoursesaredesigned
specificallyfornon-majors.ManyclassesareheldinSarratt
Cinemaandothercentralcampuslocations.Non-majorsmay
alsoparticipateinanyandallmusicmajorcoursesforwhich
theyarequalified.
Awidevarietyofmusiccoursesfulllliberalartscore
requirementsforundergraduatesintheCollegeofArtsand
Science,theSchoolofEngineering,andPeabodyCollege.
Tesearelistedbycoursenumbersineachschools/colleges
sectionofthiscatalog,whererequirementsoutliningArts
andScienceAXLE,Engineeringliberalartscore,orPeabody
liberaleducationcorerequirementsaregiven.Requirements
andthecourseswhichfulllthemdierforeachVanderbilt
school.
Coursesofparticularinteresttothegeneralstudentare:
First-Year Writing Seminars*
MusicandGlobalHealth MUSL113F[W,INT]
MusicandModernism MUSL113F[W,HCA]
ShakespeareandMusic MUSL113F[W,HCA]
Music Composition and Theory
TechniquesofChoral
Composition MUSC223
Mozart MUSC118
MusicTheory(Surveyof) MUSC120A120B
NashvilleNumberSystem,The MUSC104
SongwritingandElementsof
MusicTheory MUSC100
SongwritingII MUSC102
Music Literature and History*
AfricanMusic MUSL171[INT]
AmericanMusic MUSL147[US]
AmericanPopularMusic MUSL149[US]
ArtMusicoftheUnitedStates
after1900 MUSL243[HCA]
Blues,The MUSL131[US]
ChoralMusic(Surveyof) MUSL143[HCA]
Concerto,The MUSL143[HCA]
CountryMusic MUSL132[US]
ExploringtheFilmSoundtrack MUSL264[US]
Introductionto
MusicLiterature MUSL140[HCA]
Jazz(Surveyof) MUSL148[US]
LoveandDeathinMusic MUSL184[HCA]
MusicandtheFallof
Segregation MUSL134[HCA]
MusicCityMuseumsand
Memorabilia MUSL263[HCA]
Music,Gender,andSexuality MUSL201[HCA]
Music,Identity,andDiversity MUSL261[P]
MusicinLatinAmericaand
theCaribbean MUSL230[INT]
MusicoftheSouth MUSL262[US]
Music,theArts,andIdeas MUSL183[HCA]
MusicalTheatreinAmerica MUSL103[HCA]
Opera MUSL221A,B[HCA]
RockMusic(Historyof) MUSL133[HCA]
Symphony,The MUSL144[HCA]
WomenandMusic MUSL200[P]
WomenandRockMusic MUSL233[HCA]
WorldMusic MUSL160[INT]
Other Courses
BuildingCommunitiesthrough
MusicandtheArts MUSO106
CreatingMission-DrivenArts
andSocialProgramming MUSO107
BusinessofMusic,The MUSO100
ComputerRecording
TechnologySeminar MUSO102
MusicInternships MUSO280A,280B,280C
TebracketedlettersindicatecategoriesoftheArtsand
ScienceAXLEcurriculum,whichmayalsobeveriedinthe
ArtsandSciencesectionofthecatalog.Tesedesignations
areasfollows:HumanitiesandtheCreativeArts[HCA];
InternationalCultures[INT];HistoryandCultureofthe
UnitedStates[US];SocialandBehavioralSciences[SBS];and
Perspectives[P].
Composition/Theory, Musicianship, and Keyboard
Harmony
Coursesdesignedforthegeneraluniversitystudent(MUSC
100,102,104,118,120A120B)focusontherecognitionof
stylisticandstructuralpatterns.Thisskillenhancesthenon-
technicallistenersawarenessbothanalyticalandaffective
ofcreativeexpressioninmusic.
Temusictheoryandmusicianshipsequence(MUSC:,o-
:,oE,:,:-:,:E,:,:-:,:E,:,,-:,,E)introducesseriousstudents
ofmusic,whethermajorsornot,totheprinciplesofharmony,
voice-leading,counterpoint,structure,andanalytical/compo-
sitionaltechniquesinavarietyofhistoricalstyles;further,it
fosterstheall-importantskillsofhearingtonalrelationships
withfacilityandofcommunicatingorallythestructuresand
materialsofmusic.
Ensembles
TheBlairSchoolofMusicsponsorsseveralmajorperforming
ensembles,includingtheVanderbiltSymphonicChoir,Cham-
berChoir,theinstrumentalensembles(encompassingPercus-
sionEnsemble,Orchestra,WindEnsemble,andcontemporary
ensembles),OperaTheatre,andJazzBand.Othernon-western
andvernacularensembles,suchasAfricanPerformingEnsem-
ble,theSteelDrum/PanEnsemble,andFiddleEnsemble,are
alsoavailableforcredit.Alargenumberofsmallerensembles
andchambermusicgroupsalsoexist,offeringstudentsawide
varietyofexperiences.
Auditions.Auditionsforthemajorperformingensembles
areheldatthebeginningofeachsemester.Auditioninforma-
tioncanbefoundontheBlairSchoolofMusicwebsite.Students
mustauditioneverysemesterunlessexcused.Assignmentis
atthediscretionofthedirector.Openingsatmid-yeararenot
guaranteed.Studentsneedtheapprovaloftheappropriate
facultychambermusiccoordinatorbeforeenrollinginchamber
music;ifparticipationhasnotbeendiscussedwiththecoach,
studentsmayregistertentativelyforthetobeassignedsection
ofchambermusic.Openingsarenotguaranteed.
Credit.Studentsmayregisterforcoursecredit.Auditstatus
orregistrationforzerohoursmaybepossiblewithpermission
ofthedirector.
250 VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
Music Literature and History
Coursesintheliteratureandhistoryofmusicaredesignedto
developstudentsunderstandingofmusicwithintheprevail-
ingsocialandculturalcontexts;toestablishaframeworkfor
criticalevaluationofmusicandmusicalpractices;toachievea
workingfamiliaritywithrecognized,oratleastrepresentative,
masterworksofmusicalliterature;todevelopstudentsability
tospeakarticulatelyaboutthestylesandsubstanceofmusic;
andtoequipstudentswithanalyticandliteraryskillsandwith
aworkingknowledgeofthebibliographyofmusic.
Performance
Performanceinstructioninindividualorgroupsettingsis
availableforuniversitycreditforanadditionalfee.Private
instructionisofferedinallorchestralinstrumentsandinpiano,
organ,guitar,dulcimer,mandolin,saxophone,euphonium,
fiddle,banjo,steeldrum/pan,andvoice.Creditisflexible,
butbeginningstudentsmayregisterforonly1credithour.
Studentscontractwiththeprivateinstructorregardinglesson
lengthandpracticehoursandcanearneither1or2credit
hourseachsemester.StudentsintheSchoolofEngineering
cancount3hoursofperformanceinstruction(orensembles)
towardsliberalartscorerequirements.Forothers,performance
iselectivecredit.Groupinstructionisofferedinpiano,guitar,
fiddle,steelpan/drum,andpercussion;groupshavemaximum
ofsixstudentsandearn1credithour.
Group Performance Instruction: Non-Major
Groupinstructionisdesignedforbeginningstudentswith
emphasisonbasictechnique,rhythm,tone,andmusical
interpretation.Groupsarelimitedtosixstudents.
Registration.Newstudentsmustinterviewwiththeappro-
priatefacultymemberbeforenalizingregistration.Instruc-
tionsaregivenintheonlineregistrationsystem.
Fees.Musicfeesareinadditiontotuitionchargesandare
notrefundableaferthechangeperiod.Tecostforgroup
instructionisso,,.oopersemesterforone,o-minutelesson
weekly.(Fees,setannuallybytheBoardofTrust,aresubjectto
reviewandchangewithoutfurthernotice.)
Individual Performance Instruction
Individualinstructionisfocusedontheartandpracticeofan
instrumentorvoice,withemphasisontonequality,technique,
rhythm,interpretation,andliterature.
Blairoerscollegiate-levelinstructionthrough:oo-and
:oo-leveloerings.StudentsfromoutsideoftheB.Mus.
programenrollthrough:oo-levelstudy.:oo-levelcoursesare
openonlytoB.Mus.studentsintheirjuniorandsenioryear.
Registration.Newstudentsmustinterviewwiththeappro-
priatefacultymemberbeforenalizingregistration.Informa-
tionisavailableinYES.Enrollmentsarelimited.
Credit. Universitystudentsenrolledinindividualinstruc-
tionmayearn:or:credithoursdependingonlessonlength
andpracticecommitment.
30-minute or 45-minute lessons with 5 hours minimum
weeklypracticeearn:credithour.
60-minute lessons with 10 hours minimum weekly
practiceearn:credithours.
Beginnersmaynotregisterformorethan:hourofcredit.
Fees.Musicfeesarechargedinadditiontoregulartuition,
andarenotrefundableaferthechangeperiod.Students
receivingneed-basednancialaidmayrequestthatmusicfees
beconsideredintheirnancialaidpackage.Studentswith
adeclaredsecondmajororminorinmusicwillbecharged
approximatelyone-halfthemusicperformanceinstructionfee.
ForcoursesnumberedMUSP:,::8,feespersemesterareas
follows:
Elective Credit / 2nd Majors and
NonBlair Students Minors
One 30-minute lesson weekly $ 870 $435
One 45-minute lesson weekly $1,225 $610
One 60-minute lesson weekly $1,535 $770
Fees,setannuallybytheBoardofTrust,aresubjectto
reviewandchangewithoutfurthernotice.
Music Minors
Studentsmayelectoneofthreeminors:music,musichistory,
ormusicperformance.Formaladmissiontothegeneralminor,
theperformanceminor,orthesecondmajoriscontingent
uponaperformanceauditionthatmeetsdepartmental
standardsfortheintermediateoradvancedlevelofstudy.Fol-
lowinginterviewswiththeappropriateperformancedepart-
ment,studentsplantheirstudieswithBlairadvisers.Contact
informationanddeclarationpaperworkareavailableonline:
blair.vanderbilt.edu. Studentsmustcompleteallrequirements
forthemusicminorswithstandardgradingbasis(thatis,not
Pass/Fail).
Music Minor. 24 or 25 hours.
Music Theory. or hours.
MUSC::oA::oB;or:,o-:,oEand:,:-:,:E
Music Literature/History. hours.
MUSL:::Wor:o
Onecoursechosenfrom:MUSC:,MUSL::,F-o:
(ShakespeareandMusic),:,,:,:,,:::-:,8,::,:,,
:,:,,:,o,and,withapprovalofdepartmentchair,
:.
Onecoursechosenfrom:MUSL::,F-o:(MusicandGlobal
Health),::,F-o,(MusicandModernism),:oo,:,:,:oo,:o:,
:::-:,8,:,,:,o,:o:,and:.
Onecoursechosenfrom:MUSC:oranyMUSLcourse
Performance. hours.
Individualperformanceinstructioninasingleinstrument
foratleastsemesters(anyorchestralinstrument,
piano,organ,guitar,saxophone,euphonium,orvoice).
Studentsmustmeetminimumstandardsandobtainthe
approvaloftheappropriatedepartmentchair(brass/
percussion,guitar/harp,keyboard,strings,voice,wood-
winds).DeclarationformsareavailableintheBlair
officeandonlineatblair.vanderbilt.edu/academics.
Ensemble. hours ( different semesters).
Participationfortwosemesters(orfourmodules)inan
appropriateperformingensemble,afterconsultation
withtheminoradviser.
Music History Minor. 18 or 19 hours.
Music Theory. or hours.
MUSC::oA::oB;or:,o-:,oEand:,:-:,:E
251
B
Blair School of Music / Music at Vanderbilt
Music Literature/History. hours.
MUSL:::W,:::,onecoursefrom:::-:,8,and:,.
*Students who have completed MUSL 140 must substitute another course for
MUSL 121W, selected from MUSL 103, 143, 144, 145, 147, 148, 149, 151, 152,
153, 160, 171, 183, 200, 201, 221-238, 245, 250, 253, 261, 262, 264, 265, or 294.
Music Performance Minor. 25 or 26 hours.
Music Theory. or hours.
MUSC::oA::oB;or:,o-:,oEand:,:-:,:E
Music Literature/History. hours.
MUSL:::Wor:o
OnecoursechosenfromMUSL:::-:,8
Performance. hours.
Individualinstructioninasingleinstrumentforatleast
osemesters(anyorchestralinstrument,piano,organ,
guitar,saxophone,euphonium,orvoice.)
Studentsmustmeetminimumperformancestandardsfor
admissiontotheprogram,earningatotalof::hours.
Repertoireinformationanddeclarationformsareavail-
ableintheBlairofficeandonlineatblair.vanderbilt.
edu/academics.
Ensemble. hours (two different semesters).
Participationfortwosemesters(orfourmodules)inan
appropriateperformingensemble,asassignedfollowing
audition.String,woodwind,brass,percussion,andharp
studentsmustauditionforMUSE:o:,Instrumental
Ensemble.Guitarandvoicestudentsmustaudition
forMUSE:o:A,SymphonicChoir.Keyboardstudents
mustparticipateasapianistforonesemesterinMUSE
:o:,:o:B,:o:D,:o:D,:::,:::,or::,;orin:ooA,:o:,
:o:A,:o:F,:o:G,:o:A,or::o,contingentuponpermis-
sionoftheensembleinstructorandthepianoinstructor.
Music as a Second Major
Blairoffersanon-professionalliberalartsmajorinmusicthat
requiresaminimumof31hours.DesignedjointlybyBlairand
theCollegeofArtsandScience,itisalsoavailabletoPeabody
andEngineeringstudentsasasecondmajor.Followinginter-
viewswiththeappropriateperformancedepartment,students
plantheirstudieswithBlairadviserProfessorCarlSmith,coor-
dinatoroftheprogram.Contactinformationanddeclaration
paperworkareavailableonline:blair.vanderbilt.edu. Students
mustcompleteallrequirementsforthemusicasasecond
majorwithstandardgradingbasis(thatis,notPass/Fail).
Music Major (Second Major). 31 hours.
Music Theory. hours.
MUSC:,o-:,oE,:,:-:,:E,:,:-:,:E,:,,E.