Music study at Occidental College involves three main areas: music courses, performing ensembles, and applied lessons.

For 2008-09:

The Music Major curriculum at Occidental College entails a three-year course of study with courses in music theory and musicianship, music history and ethnomusicology, electives, applied music lessons and performing ensembles culminating in a Senior Project in the student’s final year of study. Since the first year of music theory and musicianship is required for all other courses pertaining to the major, students are strongly urged to begin this sequence in their freshman year. Students who are undecided about majoring in music (or who are unable to fit first-year theory into their freshman studies) can begin their music studies in the fall semester of their second year and still complete the major by the end of the fourth year. We do, however, strongly recommend that students begin the music major sequence in their freshman year to avoid taking required courses in their senior year while concurrently preparing a Senior Project.

Music majors should know that graduate work in music theory, music history (musicology), and classical voice requires a reading knowledge of French and German; a reading knowledge of Latin is also a very good idea.

Music majors receive complimentary tickets to many concerts and events sponsored by the Music Department, and are expected to attend all music major meetings, as well as student and faculty recitals and guest artist performances each semester.

Please consult the sample timetables in the Appendix for a four-year course of study and a three-year course of study.

Performing Ensembles at Occidental are open to all students by audition regardless of major. The Women's Glee Club, the Men’s Glee Club, the Occidental Chorale, the Occidental-Caltech Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music, Jazz Ensemble, and the Caltech-Occidental Concert Band hold auditions at the beginning of the academic year, and some ensembles also hold auditions in the spring term. Ensembles are taken for one course unit each term.

Music majors are required to participate in ensembles while at Occidental.

Applied Music Lessons are open to all Occidental College students. Students at Occidental have the benefit of the best professional teachers in the Los Angeles area. Private lessons are offered in voice and instruments. Class lessons are also offered in Piano, Voice, Guitar, Electronic Music, and Jazz Improvisation. (Scholarship opportunities for lessons are described in a later section of this handbook.) Lessons receive one course unit each term, and serve as partial fulfillment of the College's Fine Arts requirement.

Music Theory Placement: Placement in Music Theory I (MUSC 151/151L) is determined in one of two ways: satisfactory performance on the Occidental Music Theory Placement Test, given during Orientation week each Fall, or by receiving a 4 or higher on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in Music Theory. Students who have earned a 5 on the Music Theory Advanced Placement test will only be placed in MUSC 153/153L following satisfactory completion of MUSC 151/151L, or by passing a Music Department-administered placement exam for MUSC 153/153L.

Piano Proficiency is required of all music majors. Students can satisfy this requirement either by passing MUSC 232, Piano Proficiency, which is offered every Fall semester, or by examination. This requirement should be fulfilled by the end of the music major's sophomore year. You can view the requirements, and examples of the skills you are expected to master, at http://departments.oxy.edu/music/pianoprof.htm.

Students may take the exam or MUSC 232 a maximum of three times in order to satisfy this requirement.

Academic Advising is essential to your successful career at Occidental. All music majors have an advisor from the Music Department. However, students who “double major” with another field listed as their primary major must speak to the Music Department Chair to obtain an additional advisor in the Music Department. You are encouraged to meet regularly with your advisor, either during posted office hours or by making an appointment. You are also able to change advisors within the department, should you feel that another member of the faculty has similar academic or professional interests to yours. Even if you are not a music major, all music faculty are available to discuss possible music courses with you.

Student Deadlines must be met each semester of your music study at Occidental -deadlines for one thing or another, from scheduling your applied lessons to completing your Senior Comprehensive requirement. You can view the schedule for deadlines during each of your four years through this link to student deadlines.  Please print out these deadlines; you’ll be referring to them often.