Music

The undergraduate music program offers a major and minor in music; a master's of art degree in jazz history and research is offered through the Graduate School-Newark. In addition, courses and performance opportunities are available to Rutgers students in all types of music.

Our faculty includes internationally recognized artists and scholars in classical and jazz music. The music offerings are designed to foster a broad view of music encompassing traditions from around the world. Students have frequent contact with faculty advisers, who aid in planning work and defining goals.

Courses include music appreciation, fundamentals of music (how to read and notate music), the history of classical music, Beethoven, Bach, jazz appreciation, rock, music from other cultures, women in music, and others. Bradley Hall is equipped with practice rooms and studios with 10 Steinway grand pianos, an organ, a recital hall, and a collection of instruments that students may use in the building during ensembles. The Institute of Jazz Studies on our campus offers the largest jazz archive in the world. Rutgers students earn academic credits by singing in the Rutgers University Chorus and playing in the Mosaic Jazz Ensemble. The Chorus, made up of 50 students from the Newark Campus, performs regularly throughout northern New Jersey and has made many concert tours in Europe and Great Britain. Mosaic, the student jazz ensemble, performs frequently on and off campus. Members of the ensemble learn to improve their reading and their improvising, and to play in a variety of styles. Graduates of our program succeed in a wide variety of careers, including teaching and performing, as well as the recording industry and arts management.

The Rutgers University Chorus, Newark Campus, is made up of 50 singers and has distinguished itself by giving concerts in such notable venues as Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, and the Segovia Cathedral in Spain. Since 1997 the Chorus has made eight concerts abroad. The Chorus has earned the enviable reputation as “one of the more outstanding vocal groups in the United States.” (Diario de Avila, Avila, Spain). The chorus has performed live over BBC Wales Radio and has made five CD recordings. Its ongoing campus outreach has included performances in over 25 communities in the state making it, in the words of The Star Ledger, the musical “prime ambassadors” of Rutgers-Newark. See our INITIATIVES page for more information on the Rutgers Chorus.

The Mosaic Jazz Ensemble is made up of undergraduate students and is known for its excellent appearances on campus and in the surrounding area.

Available to our undergraduate music students is an optional five-year combined program of studies for the Bachelor of Arts in Music and the Master of Arts in Jazz History.

Major Requirements

Our music major curriculum is designed to give students a broad understanding of music. It consists of three components: the music theory sequence, courses in music history, and applied music. The theory sequence gives students a foundation in music analysis and composition. The history courses provide students with an historical and stylistic background in music from different periods and cultures. Applied music, which includes private lessons and ensembles, helps students express themselves musically through vocal and/or instrumental performance. Classroom studies in applied musicianship are designed to further their skills of musicianship. Our curriculum includes all types of music, including classical, jazz and world music. An academic background of this kind prepares students for careers in teaching, performing and music technology, as well as related post-baccalaureate studies.

Music History and Theory Courses (27 credits)

21:087:101 Introduction to Music (3)
21:087:121 Music Theory I (3)
21:087:122 Music Theory II (3)
21:087:224 Applied Musicianship (3)
21:087:235 Advanced Studies in Music Theory 435 (3)
21:087:236 Advanced Studies in Music Theory 436 (3)
21:087:237 Survey of Western Music to 1750 (3)
21:087:238 Survey of Western Music Since 1750 (3)

Three credits from the following:

21:087:280 World Music (3)
21:087:201 Music, Culture and Technology (3)
21:087:135 Music and Film (3)
21:087:202 Opera and Music Drama (3)
21:087:265 Jazz (3)

Applied Music Courses (6 credits)

All students majoring in music should aim for at least six semesters of private study in voice, piano, or guitar. Ensembles (Chorus and Mosaic) also count toward applied music.