Music Major

Requirements for the Major in Music

Music is an essential part of a liberal arts education. At Pomona College, the Music major is designed to enable and integrate studies in ensemble and solo performance, theory and musicianship, music history, ethnomusicology, and composition. Students majoring in Music gain technical and conceptual foundations in an instrument or voice, a knowledge of diverse musical repertoires and practices, the ability to integrate musical knowledge and skills, awareness of Western and non-Western musical styles, and insight into the complex, multifaceted roles of music in intellectual and cultural life.

During their time in the Music program, students are expected to develop the knowledge, skills, concepts, and sensitivities necessary to become informed musicians who are able to make personally expressive contributions to society in a number of fields. Students interested in pursuing graduate study in music can gain preparation through additional in-depth work.

By the end of their studies in our department, students:

1. Develop the ability to hear, identify, model, engage, and work conceptually with elements of music such as rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, texture, and form.

2. Develop the ability to read and realize musical notation, and to think critically about relationships between notation, composition, and performance.

3. Develop and demonstrate an understanding of a range of creative musical processes both modern and historical, sensitivity to aesthetic properties of style, and awareness of ways in which music communicates meanings in given contexts.

4. Expand knowledge of musical literature, music makers, and traditions, and engage ways in which these shape and are shaped by artistic, cultural, historical, and social forces.

5. Develop the ability to perform in both solo and ensemble contexts.

6. Cultivate skills of close, thoughtful, and critical listening, applicable to a range of career paths in and beyond music.

7. Develop habits of regular practice and informed exploration of music, whether familiar or initially unfamiliar.

8. Draw connections between musical knowledge and knowledge in other fields. 

The minimum requirements for the Major consist of the following courses. Except for courses restricted to CR/NC grading, the student must receive a grade of C or higher to count toward the Major.

1. Engaging Music (course)

2. Two Music Theory and Musicianship courses (course and course) or (course and course).

3. The Seminars in Music History (course and course).

4. Music Composition since 1900 (course).

5. One course in Ethnomusicology (i.e.,  course, courses numbered in the 70s or course).

6. Two course credits earned over a minimum of four semesters in a Pomona College music ensemble, e.g., Choir (course), Orchestra (course), Balinese Gamelan (course), etc.; In general, the four semesters should be in the same ensemble; consult with the department chair for guidance on how to pursue exceptions.

7. Four semesters in hour-long lessons (course and/or course) on the same instrument or voice. The Qualifying Exam should be passed in the first or sophomore year if at all possible.

8. One additional course credit (one 1.0-credit course or combination of 0.25 and/or 0.5-credit courses) from the Pomona College Music Department.

9. Senior Colloquium (course). 

An independent Senior Project (course) is optional.  The above requirements total 12 to 13 course credits, depending on which lessons-courses are taken. Students who take course prior to course may count MUS 004 PO as their additional course credit. It is possible to combine the above basic major with one from another Pomona College department or program to create a double major. In any case, students are encouraged to take additional courses offered by the Music Department.