The Music Major at Barnard College
The Music Major of Barnard College provides both a core of foundational studies and an opportunity to specialize in one of the areas of music such as composition, computer music studies, ethnomusicology, music history, or music theory. The Major, which is taught in conjunction with the Department of Music of Columbia University, is designed to take its place within Barnard's liberal arts program. Its purpose is to give the student the experience of doing sustained and advanced work, including the possibility of independent research, within the field of music. The major is not designed to produce professional musicians (although those who major in Music while participating in the Barnard-Columbia-Juilliard Exchange Program, or engage in Barnard's exchange arrangement with Manhattan School of Music, may well go on to be such), and performance is not a primary component; nor is the Major designed specifically as a preparation for graduate study in music, at Columbia or elsewhere, although it can successfully serve this purpose.
The point at which a student must elect the Music Major is, at latest, the second term of the sophomore year. However, it is essential to plan for the major well in advance of that, since the prerequisites must all be completed by the end of the sophomore year. In fact, it may be advantageous to complete them by the end of the first year. It is therefore advisable to talk with the Department of Music's consultant early in your time at Barnard College - by the first semester of the sophomore year at the latest.
PREREQUISITES FOR THE MAJOR
These prerequisites may be satisfied either by successfully completing the courses or by passing a placement examination administered at the beginning of each semester. (Details are posted at the Columbia Department of Music main office, 621 Dodge.) It is also possible to place out of Fundamentals of Western Music with a score of 5 on the AP examination in Music. In addition, students who expect to major in Music are required to take a keyboard proficiency examination before embarking on their first semester of music theory. If they do not pass this examination, they are required to take:
MUSI W1517x-W1518y
Keyboard Harmony and Musicianship, 1 pt.
and must take this until they are able to pass the proficiency examination. The points, up to a maximum of 4, will count toward the major (see below).
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR
The major requires at least 38 points, plus a Senior Project.The required courses are:
both of the following year-long courses (12 pts):
V2318x-V2319y
Diatonic Harmony and Counterpoint. 3 pts x 2 = 6 pts
V3321x-V3322y
Chromatic Harmony and Counterpoint, 3 pts x 2 = 6 pts
*for details of the above, see Music Theory Courses four semesters of ear-training (concurrently with the above) from among (4 pts):
V2314-V2315
Ear-training, I-II, 1 pt each
V3316-V3317
Ear-training, III-IV, 1 pt each
[V4318-V4319 Ear-training, V-VI - not currently offered]
*for details of the above, see Music Theory Courses any two semesters of (6 pts):
V3123
Music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, 3 pts
V3124
Music of the Baroque, 3 pts
V3125
Music of the Classical and Romantic Periods, 3 pts
V3126
Music of the Modern Period, 3 pts
*for details of the above, see Music History Courses any one of the 3000-level theory electives (3 pts - see the Bulletin for precise details and yearly offerings) The above yield 25 pts. The remaining minimum points are to be earned as follows: 13 pts, to be earned at the 2000-, 3000-, and/or 4000-level under the following constraints:
- at least one course in a nontonal repertoire must be taken (see Bulletins for precise details and yearly offerings)
- no more than 6 pts of courses at the 2000-level
- no more than 4 pts of instrumental or vocal lessons, or participation for letter-grade in V1591-V1592 University Orchestra, or V1598-V1599 Chamber Ensemble
- V1517-V1518 Keyboard Harmony and Musicianship, when required, will be counted against the above 4-pt. performance limit.
