See our COVID-19 web page for safety protocols and frequently asked questions for the Manhattanville Community for the 2021-2022 academic year.
DEGREES
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Arts
CAREER IDEAS
Actor/Actress, Artists and Repertoire Agent, Audio Production Specialist, Composer, Disc Jockey, Entertainment Lawyer, Librarian, Music Arranger/Orchestrator, Music Business Executive, Music Director, Musician, Sound Engineer, Technical Director/Manager, Theatre & Media Director, Video Engineer
If you are passionate about music, Manhattanville College is the place for you. Our music programs offer many exciting opportunities for music majors and liberal arts students. Students at Manhattanville create and explore music in a wide range of settings and styles. Students develop professionally valuable skills, and they learn about music in great detail. To meet these challenges, Students are guided by our supportive and engaged faculty at every step. programs offer a wide range of courses which are available to all students at the college, including courses in Music Performance, Music Business, Music History, Music Technology, Musical Theatre, Music Theory and Musicianship, Jazz, and Composition. Performance opportunities, open to all enrolled students, include orchestra, chorus, wind ensemble, large and small jazz ensembles, chamber chorus, chamber pop chorus, electronic music ensemble, chamber music, and a percussion ensemble. Repertoire for these ensembles runs the gamut from Handel’s Messiah to Herbie Hancock’s Chameleon, often with performances on and off campus such as the recent choral tours to Italy and Ireland.
MT Virtual Tour from Manhattanville College DFPA on Vimeo.
The Music programs offer private lessons and a wide range of courses that are available to all students at the college, including courses in:
- Performance
- Music Business
- Music History
- Music Technology
- Musical Theatre
- Music Theory
- Jazz Studies
- Composition
- Musicianship
We are dedicated to the transformative power of the liberal arts – and just as you’ll take courses in arts, science, and the humanities, any music course is available to students in other majors as well. As much as we’re focused on training future professionals, we’re intent on satisfying the creative needs of all students.
Full-Time Faculty
- Beth Burrier -- Musical Theatre, Cabaret, Vocal and Musical Theatre Ensembles, The Quintessentials
- Carmelo Comberiati -- Music History, Ethnomusicology
- Olivier Fluchaire -- Violin Instruction, Strings, Chamber Ensembles, Music History, Music Theory
- Geoffrey Kidde -- Music Technology, Music Theory, Music Composition
- Harvey Rachlin -- Music Business
Faculty Emeriti
- Francis Brancaleone
- MaryAnn Joyce-Walter
- Anthony LaMagra
Performance/Part-Time Faculty
Voice
- Diana Canova -- Voice
- Ronald Cappon – Voice
- Faith Esham – Voice
Keyboard
- Charles Blenzig -- Jazz Piano
- Diane Guernsey -- Piano
- Flora Kuan -- Piano
- Jeongeun Yom -- Piano
- Miles Plant—Organ
Strings
- Olivier Fluchaire – Violin/Viola
- James Lorusso – Guitar
- Marta Bedkowska-Reilly – Cello
- Ji Hyun Son – Viola
Brass/Woodwinds
- Bruce Eidem -- Lower Brass
- Geoffrey Kidde – Flute
- Ken Kraut -- Trumpet
- Jeremy Goldsmith – Clarinet
- Kristen Mather de Andrade -- Clarinet
- Stefani Borissa Starin -- Flute
Percussions
- Andrew Swift -- Percussion
Composition
- Geoffrey Kidde – Composition
Musical Theatre
- Michael Bartoli -- Musical Theatre
- Beth Burrier -- Musical Theatre
- Miles Plant-- Musical Theatre
Music Technology
- Jeremy Goldsmith -- Music Technology
- Andrew Swift -- Music Technology
Ensembles
- Beth Burrier – The Quintessentials Vocal Pop Group
- Olivier Fluchaire – Orchestra, Chamber Ensembles
- Jeremy Goldsmith -- Chorus, Vocal Ensembles
- Flora Kuan -- Chamber Ensembles
- Terrence Reynolds -- Jazz, Wind, and Brass Ensembles
- Andrew Swift – Midi Band and Small Jazz Ensemble
Visit the Auditions page for additional information.
2021-2022 Entrance Audition
Undergraduate: The Music Department uses the Acceptd.com web page to schedule live auditions and to upload materials for recorded auditions. All undergraduate student applicants must register online through Acceptd. Click on the following link to get started with the audition process: https://app.getacceptd.com/mville. See requirements below.
Graduate: contact FPA@Mville.edu
Audition Requirements for BA Music, BMus Education, BFA Musical Theatre, and BA Music Technology
Please note, a completed application for admission to Manhattanville College is required before scheduling or uploading an audition.
The Music Department accepts live auditions, as well as video recordings with materials submitted online, using the Acceptd website for undergraduate auditions. To schedule a live audition or to submit materials online, observe the guidelines listed below and then follow the directions at: https://app.getacceptd.com/mville.
Undergraduate Auditions
To schedule an undergraduate audition, please observe the following guidelines:
- A completed application for admission to Manhattanville College is required.
- Submit an audition application and schedule a time online through Acceptd.
- The instrumental or vocal performance of three compositions from different periods of music is required.
- Pianists and vocalists must perform at least one work from memory.
- B.A. in Music and B.Mus. in Music Education applicants must perform at least two works from the classical tradition.
- Musical Theatre applicants must perform at least one work from the classical tradition; the other two pieces should come from different productions. Musical Theatre applicants should bring a performance resume and head shot to the audition.
- Music Technology applicants may audition on an instrument or voice, or may audition by uploading three audio files in .mp3 format, along with an accompanying description page to Acceptd. The applicant should create these audio files using a DAW such as ProTools, Logic, Garage Band, Reason, etc. The description should include a discussion of how these tracks were made.
- An accompanist will be provided for vocalists only.
- A music theory placement examination (optional) is offered for students who have studied music theory and are requesting a waiver of the Music Theory I requirement.
Audition Requirements for MAT in Music Education
Graduate Auditions
To begin the audition process, contact the Music Department Coordinator to schedule your graduate audition; fill out the following linked information sheet and return it to the Music Department Coordinator, Kathryn DiBernardo at the address below.
GRADUATE MAT IN MUSIC ENTRANCE AUDITION FORM
Please observe the following guidelines:
- A completed application for admission to Manhattanville College is required before scheduling a live or submitting a recorded audition.
- Submit a completed information sheet to the Music Department Coordinator before scheduling the audition, which will entail the following:
- A one-hour written music theory examination (including analysis, figured bass realization, and general fundamentals).
- A one-hour written music history and literature examination covering significant musical developments, compositions, and key figures from the Renaissance to the present.
- The performance of three compositions from different periods of music performed on the major performing medium.
- A test of sight-reading skills at the piano.
- A test of sight-singing skills.
- A test of skills involving the harmonization of a melody at the piano.
For any additional information related to auditions please contact FPA@Mville.edu
Music Department Learning Objectives
Six learning objectives support the core philosophy of the Music Department. Associated with each objective are specific tasks within the curriculum which the Department uses to assess essential aspects of the disciplines.
Objective I: Real World Experience in Music
- Build skills in individual music performance through private and group instruction leading to public performance on and off campus.
- Build skills in group music performance through small ensemble and large group ensemble instruction leading to public performance on and off campus.
- Develop an overview of the types of employment available to those with music management training.
- Develop practical work skills in a music-related field.
- Preliminary observation and integrated student teaching as a capstone requirement for music education.
- Learn to analyze content and structure of musical material and utilize that information to arrive at more secure, better conceived and more informed performances.
Objective II: Critical Thinking and Aural Analysis
- Learn to examine pieces within specific historical and cultural contexts, and learn to ask questions about the style, context, and function for historical understanding, performance or transmission of ideas to others.
- Develop the ability to compare and contrast major works in history of music.
- Learn to read primary source texts and secondary works critically, and to question the assumptions of scholars.
- Be able to integrate aural analysis with a variety of theoretical approaches.
- Develop skills to integrate critical evaluation of source material into performance.
- Develop skills to integrate critical aural and analytical skills for the development of musical material into improvisation, new musical arrangements and original composition.
Objective III: Breadth of Knowledge
- Learn basic terminology associated with music.
- Develop approach to performance skills through knowledge of piano as a learning tool. Required for B.A. in Music, B.Mus.in Music Education and B.F.A. in Musical Theatre.
- Learn basic terminology and procedures associated with music technology.
- Understand and demonstrate knowledge of music technology within context of departmental courses and performances, including student responsibility for organizing and presenting material electronically and recording of department concerts.
- Learn to integrate singing, dancing and acting in performance for musical theatre.
- Learn the names, time periods and characteristics of major historical periods and styles.
- Learn a basic overview of music industry and career opportunities.
- Identify specialized areas of the music industry, including the recording and broadcast industries, music publishing, copyright law, and legal issues.
- Investigate deeper knowledge base in specialized fields; develop tools for building advanced level of knowledge.
- Demonstrate broad, generalized knowledge of repertoire, formal procedures, and chronology of style.
- Students are generally encouraged to study foreign languages, and are required to complete one year of language study for the BA in Music and the B.Mus. in Music Education.
Objective IV: Information Retrieval and Literacy
- Learn to locate and retrieve information from a variety of sources, both primary and secondary.
- Learn to evaluate information and its sources critically.
- Understand the legal, economic and ethical issues of information access in the music industry.
- Learn to demonstrate how research can support ideas when presenting an argument.
Objective V: Analytic and Research Writing Skills
- Develop a clear and grammatically-correct writing style.
- Learn to identify and cite sources properly, and to understand the standards of integrity in the pursuit of academic work.
- Learn to write effective comparative essays, including discussions of style, image function, and historical context.
- Develop effective thesis statements and/or topic sentences for advanced research papers and build arguments using both primary and secondary sources.
Objective VI: Develop a Global Outlook
- Develop a basic familiarity with international musical cultures in popular and art traditions in Western and non-Western cultures.
- Understand the influence religion, socio-economic, and political factors have in music.
- Understand the role socio-economic and political factors play in the music industry
Music Department Assessment
On a fundamental level, the courses in the Music Department rely on the same kinds of assessment as many other courses at the college. Objective evaluation is performed in most courses, including graded homework assignments, in-class quizzes and examinations, term paper assignments and exercises, and final examinations. Departmental learning objectives have been identified and coordinated on a course by course basis throughout the music curriculum and are posted on line within the course syllabi with related specific assessments in each course. Any specific rubrics or assessment guidelines are associated with specific courses.
Beyond these objective assessments, the Music Department offers department wide assessment for Music Performance and specific assessment as a capstone requirement for Senior Evaluation within each degree program. These major assessments monitor ongoing performance levels within the music program and take a cumulative measure of academic performance near the end of students’ studies. Finally, these assessments provide ongoing data for understanding the state of the department programs and can suggest curricular and budget adjustments.
Music Performance
Due to the nature of the discipline, the Music Department performs progressive and cumulative assessments related to musical performance that are the object of qualitative evaluation. Solo musical performances of our students are evaluated periodically: by audition before acceptance to the music major, each semester as a part of their applied music lessons, and finally as a part of the senior evaluation for students in our performance intensive programs. These students are required to present a Senior Recital for the B.A. in Music, the B.Mus. in Music Education, and the B.F.A. in Musical Theatre.
Entrance Audition: The Entrance Audition is carried out by panels drawn from the full-time faculty. It is required for prospective students in the B.A. in Music, B.A. in Music Technology, B.Mus. in Music Education, and the B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. The entrance audition measures performance training and attempts to predict a student’s timely success towards accomplishing an eventual Senior Recital. This qualitative evaluation is also used to recommend scholarship awards for incoming students. Transfer students and students changing their major to music are required to audition, as well.
Applicants for the B.A. in Music, the B.F.A. in Musical Theatre and the B.Mus. in Music Education are required to perform three selections which should generally be of diverse types and by different composers. Pianists, vocalists, and string players are asked to perform at least one work from memory. Applicants are evaluated by a panel of two to four faculty members on the following criteria: musical comprehension, technical ability and level of preparation. The panel recommends acceptance, provisional acceptance, or rejection as a major. They also, as a group, recommend a scholarship rating on a scale of 0-10.
Jury: At the end of each semester, students taking applied music lessons are required to perform a jury for faculty members instructing related instruments, e.g., piano and organ students perform for the keyboard faculty, string players for the string faculty, jazz players for the jazz faculty, etc. The members of the jury panel each provide students with a written qualitative evaluation and each juror grades the performance individually. The semester grade is determined as follows: 50% by the instructor and 50% by the average grade of the jury panel. A uniform jury rubric has been adopted.
Senior Recitals: The B.A. in Music, B.Mus. in Music Education, and the B.F.A. in Musical Theatre programs require a Senior Recital, which is evaluated by the full-time faculty along with the applied music teacher. The program selection is developed under the guidance of the applied teacher and the written concert program material is developed under the guidance of one of the full-time faculty. The recital evaluators provide a written qualitative critique of the concert for the student, as well as a quantitative grade, decided by consensus, for the course.
Music General Capstone Assessments
Senior Evaluations are specific to individual programs in the Music Department. Students in performance intensive programs must perform a Senior Recital, as described above. In addition, to the recital requirement, students in the B.A. in Music, B.A. in Music Business, B.A. in Music Technology, and the B.Mus. in Music Education programs must take the Senior Comprehensive Examination.
The Senior Comprehensive Examination tests students on a representative list of musical works presented by the class itself in a seminar format and assessed by three objective examinations. The seminar tests specific knowledge of the works, as well as general contextual knowledge for each major program.
Each semester, students provide materials for a shared study bibliography and develop an on line site that incorporates additional study materials and presentations for the seminar. In addition, the B.A. in Music , B.A. in Music Technology, and B.Mus. in Music Education students in the seminar undertake an analysis assignment, while the B.A. in Music Business students respond to a problem set based upon typical industry challenges. The in class presentations are evaluated based upon a presentation rubric.
Music Program Specific Capstone Assessments
All music students also undertake a program specific component of the senior evaluation. The nature of these undertakings emphasizes personal responsibility and independent professional development. Senior Projects are presented and evaluated in discipline-based seminars. Both the Internship and Student Teaching experiences require seminar participation and draw upon external evaluation in offsite assignments.
Senior Project: Students in the B.A. in Music and students in the combined B.Mus./MAT degree in Music Education prepare a major research-based project in MUH 3998: Music Senior Projects.
This seminar-based course requires a significant research project approved by the music faculty and completed under the supervision of a full-time faculty member. The project must demonstrate expertise in research, writing, and documentation appropriate to the level of a baccalaureate degree. The final presentation of the project may be linked to a vocal or instrumental performance.
Assessment for the senior project is based upon the following criteria:
- Level and consistency of preparation.
- Written Preliminary Project Proposal.
- Preliminary Project Bibliography and/or Survey of Materials.
- Interim Project Report with Outline and Final Bibliography.
- Presentation of Final Project whether in class or in a public venue.
Music Theatre Performance Seminar and Recital: MUA 3996 and MUA 3997. Students in the B.F.A. in Musical Theatre program will complete this specialized year-long coordinating seminar, combining the elements of Senior Recital and Senior Project. Assessment criteria for both components are outlined above.
Student Teaching: B.Mus. in Music Education students are required to complete a full semester of supervised student teaching with an associated seminar, EDU 3387: Student Teaching and Seminar: Music Education. They are placed in both an elementary placement (grades preschool through upper elementary) and a secondary placement (middle school or high school). Student teachers work with an on-site cooperating teacher and are supervised by college faculty. Students typically participate in general music, choral music, and/or instrumental music environments. One of the student teaching placements must be in an urban setting and the other in a suburban setting. Assessment is made based upon on site evaluations, cooperating teacher recommendation and a series of rubrics based assessments undertaken in the seminar. Topics for assessment and associated rubrics include the following:
- Reaching the expectations of the profession and of the School of Education.
- Writing curriculum with reference to national and state standards.
- Writing a personal philosophy of the teaching and learning of music.
- Working through pedagogical process and materials.
- Knowledge and application of vocal and instrumental pedagogy.
Internship Seminar: Students in the B.A. in Music Business program undertake a semester of supervised internship associated with a seminar. Students are responsible for finding, and participating in an internship at a placement associated with the music industry. Students will be evaluated by an onsite supervisor and a faculty member, and will be required to submit an ongoing log of activities to the faculty member. As part of the seminar assignment for the course, students research current controversial issues in the music business, document findings in a paper, and present to the class.
Satisfactory Progress towards Degree Requirements for Intended Music Majors
The Sophomore Review determines whether students are making progress towards acquiring skills necessary for success as a major in the Music Department. Each student is reviewed by music department faculty for progress in core areas of the music curriculum during their third semester at the College, except for transfer students who will be reviewed at the end of their first semester. All students will be evaluated for satisfactory grades in required Core Courses and acceptable progress in Music Theory. Students in the Bachelor of Music (Music Education), Bachelor of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Arts in Music Technology, and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre programs will also be evaluated for satisfactory progress on their major performing vehicle and piano.
Satisfactory progress is required in order to maintain standing as music major. The Sophomore Review focuses on both theoretical and practical areas of knowledge. The review will be used to determine that students have acquired sufficient technical knowledge about music to proceed to upper level courses as juniors and to accomplish the upper level courses in a timely manner.
Failure to maintain satisfactory progress can result in the following: either the student must withdraw from the major program or, upon recommendation of the faculty review, the student can continue in a provisional status. Provisional status can require the retaking of courses and either additional time or summer study for the completion of the degree.
Students transferring to Manhattanville with 40 or more credits should be on track to meet the same requirements. They will be reviewed at the end of their first semester of full time study at the College.
The following list summarizes the levels of satisfactory progress for each of the music degree programs.
B.A. in Music students:
- must be on schedule to complete either MUH 2011 or MUH 2012: Survey of Western Music I or II by the end of the second year of study.
- must be on schedule to complete MUT 2043: Music Theory IV, MUT 2044: Keyboard IV, and MUT 3021: Ear Training IV by the end of the second year of study.
- must be on schedule to complete their fourth semester of one-hour applied study (4 credits) by the end of the second year of study. The applied music jury will be used to determine if satisfactory progress towards preparation for a full Senior Recital has been made. Students using Music Technology as a major focus must be on schedule to complete one 3000 level class with the MUAT prefix.
- (major instrument other than piano) must be on schedule to complete their fourth semester of piano class and/or half-hour study of piano (2 credits) by the end of the second year of study. The applied music jury will be used to determine if satisfactory progress towards competency on piano as a secondary instrument has been met. Students not meeting satisfactory progress will be required to continue study.
B.A. in Music Business students:
- must be on schedule to complete at least one Music History course, two Music Business courses, and two required ECO or MGT courses by the end of the second year of study.
- must be on schedule to complete MUT 1033: Music Theory II, MUT 1034: Keyboard II, and MUT 2021: Ear Training II by the end of the second year of study.
- must have plans to complete the 3 required credits in Applied Music or Music Technology.
B.A. in Music Technology students:
- must be on schedule to complete either MUH 2011 or MUH 2012: Survey of Western Music I or II by the end of the second year of study.
- must be on schedule to complete two Music Technology courses, and one required MAC or COMM course by the end of the second year of study.
- must be on schedule to complete MUT 2043: Music Theory IV, MUT 2044: Keyboard IV, and MUT 3021: Ear Training IV by the end of the second year of study.
- must be on schedule to complete their second semester of piano class and/or half-hour study of piano by the end of the second year of study. Students not meeting satisfactory progress will be required to continue study.
B.F.A. in Musical Theatre students:
- must be on schedule to complete DTH 1000: Creative Process in Dance and Theatre and at least two courses in Music or Theatre History by the end of the second year of study.
- must be on schedule to complete MUT 1033: Music Theory II, MUT 1034: Keyboard II, and MUT 2021: Ear Training II by the end of the second year of study.
- must be on schedule to complete their fourth semester of MUA 1003—MUA 1004 Voice Class and/or one-hour applied study in voice (4 credits) by the end of the second year of study. The applied music jury will be used to determine if satisfactory progress towards preparation for participation in Musical Theatre productions has been made.
- must be on schedule to complete their second semester of piano class and/or half-hour study of piano by the end of the second year of study. Students not meeting satisfactory progress will be required to continue study.
B.Mus. in Music Education students:
- must be on schedule to complete MUH 2011 or MUH 2012: Survey of Western Music I or II, EDU 2000: Fundamentals of Schools and Teaching, and EDU 2010: Educating Learners with Diverse Needs by the end of the second year of study.
- must be on schedule to complete MUT 2043: Music Theory IV, MUT 2044: Keyboard IV, and MUT 3021: Ear Training IV by the end of the second year of study.
- must be on schedule to complete their fourth semester of one-hour applied study (4 credits) by the end of the second year of study. The applied music jury will be used to determine if satisfactory progress towards preparation for a half Senior Recital has been made.
- (major instrument other than piano) must be on schedule to complete their fourth semester of half-hour study of piano (2 credits) by the end of the second year of study. The applied music jury will be used to determine if satisfactory progress towards competency on piano as a secondary instrument has been met. Students not meeting satisfactory progress will be required to continue piano study.