The music curriculum is intended to meet the general needs of liberal arts students while providing students interested in a music major or minor with the skills needed to excel in their area of concentration?performance, education, history, composition. In keeping with a liberal arts philosophy, the department encourages interested students campus-wide to participate in its varied ensembles. Curriculum also combines theory and practice to provide students majoring in music with the necessary skills to excel in their area of concentration (performance, composition, history, bluegrass). Acknowledging the need to examine the contributions of various cultures, the curriculum exposes students to a broad spectrum of musical influences (western European, jazz, world music, American folk, African- American, computer music).

In addition, individual ensembles are designed to meet the students' musical needs while providing a positive educational experience. Private instruction (instrumental, vocal and composition) is intended for those students desiring to raise their musical skills to a higher level.?

The department also generates or sponsors concerts throughout the academic year to make music an important aspect of life at Denison.

The music curriculum combines theory and practice to provide students majoring in music with the necessary skills to excel in their area of concentration (performance, composition, history, and bluegrass). Students who complete the music major at Denison develop their full artistic, creative, and intellectual potential, while developing a working knowledge of both the history of Western music and the basic theoretical and formal concepts that will allow them to analyze musical works and reflect critically on musical performances. Students apply these skills in the performance of music both as soloists and within the context of ensembles. In addition to developing an understanding of performance practice appropriate to their area of study, our students experience music outside the traditional Western canon (jazz, world music, American folk, African-American). In keeping with the goals of a liberal education, the department encourages students to seek private instrumental or vocal instruction and to participate in its varied ensembles, all in an effort to make music an integral aspect of life at?Denison.