General

Welcome new students!

Whether you intend to major in music or not, we welcome your participation in the music program at Willamette. There are many opportunities available to any student depending on musical background. Auditions for piano, voice, strings, winds and the various ensembles are held during Opening Days (see below). Sign-up sheets for individual audition times are located in the Rogers Music Center and you must audition during these times.

More Information

Further questions regarding the auditions or the music program, please call the Music Office at (503) 370-6687, after July 20, 2009.

If you plan on being a music major you must take the Music Theory Assessment on Friday, August 28 at 4:30pm.  For more information please read the letter online.  A sample assessment is available online to help you prepare. Stop by the Music Office during the first week of classes to complete a Declaration of Music Major form.  It will be helpful for you to obtain advising from a music faculty member to insure your enrollment in the appropriate classes for your specific music major. (See the online list of faculty and music major advisors).

AS A MUSIC MAJOR YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE WEEKLY STUDENT RECITAL CONVO THAT IS HELD EACH TUESDAY AT 11:30 am in Hudson Hall, RMC. As noted above, the first Music Student Convo is scheduled for Wednesday, September 2, 7pm in Hudson Hall and will include a Music Student Handbook orientation. This meeting is critically informative for those desiring to major in music, so please allow time in your schedule to attend.

Applied Lesson Information

You must register for lessons during the first week of classes.  The cost of 14 weekly one-half hour lessons is $325 and $650 for one-hour lessons per semester.  If lessons are discontinued during the first three weeks, a pro-rated refund will be given.  The deadline for a refund of lesson fees is exactly one week after the Registrar's official add-drop deadline each semester.  If you are a music major there is no charge for a one hour lesson.  Beginning in the 2009-10 academic year, a studio fee of $48.00 per semester will be charged to all studentes enrolled in an applice music lesson.

VOICE and PIANO LESSONS

Voice - Please contact Allison Swensen-Mitchell (503) 370-6844

Piano - Please contact Anita King (503) 370-6452 or Jean-David Coen (503) 370-6064

If you wish to study voice or piano at Willamette University, you will need to audition with the appropriate faculty in order that they may assess your skills and make a teacher assignment.  (Please see the schedule on page 1 for audition times.)  For voice lessons, please plan to sing a prepared song for the voice faculty (an accompanist will be provided).  For piano lessons, please plan to play a prepared piece. (These voice and piano pieces do not need to be memorized).

On the day following your audition, your teacher assignment will be posted outside the music office.  IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONTACT THE INSTRUCTOR AND SCHEDULE YOUR LESSONS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES. If after contacting your instructor, you have not been able to set up a meeting within one week, please seek assistance from the department chair.

OTHER APPLIED LESSONS

If you plan to register for lessons on one of the following instruments, please contact the professor directly either by phone, e-mail or at the teaching studio listed below.   Please come prepared with a schedule of your classes.  If you are unable to reach an instructor, please contact the Music Department Administrative Assistant at (503) 370-6214 or Room 106 in Rogers Music Center and a message will be given to the instructor.  IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONTACT THE INSTRUCTOR AND SCHEDULE YOUR LESSONS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES. If after contacting your instructor, you have not been able to set up a meeting within one week, please seek assistance from the department chair.

ENSEMBLE INFORMATION

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

Dr. Grant Linsell, Director of Wind Program and Wind Ensemble
Dr. James Miley, Director of Willamette University Jazz Ensemble

WIND-BAND ENSEMBLE POOL, M, 4:45-6:15p, W 5:30-7:00p and some Fridays 4:45-6:15p Rogers Rehearsal Hall.

The Willamette University Wind Ensemble is a large wind and percussion ensemble. Unlike other large ensembles in which you may have been involved, the Wind Ensemble is not a set-instrumentation group. Rather, it is a pool of players from which many different ensemble configurations may be drawn. This pool system allows the Wind Ensemble to challenge the most talented and dedicated players on campus while allowing members with less time or experience to participate in a meaningful and artistic way. The ensemble performs music from a wide variety of styles, time periods, and traditions and gives two or three public concerts per semester. The Wind Ensemble is open to all students regardless of academic concentration. Everyone interested should plan to perform a short audition during Opening Days and the first week of classes.  Audition information and materials can be found on the music department website.

JAZZ ENSEMBLE, TU, TH, 2:30-4:00p Rogers Rehearsal Hall (+ 1 hour sectional each week). 

The Willamette University Jazz Ensemble performs the finest big band literature of the past and present, with particular emphasis on new music by leading composers in the field as well as contributions from emerging artists and student arrangers.  In addition to hosting the annual Willamette University Jazz Festival-this year featuring saxophonist Tim Ries (Rolling Stones, Maria Schneider Orchestra)-the group performs regularly on campus and throughout the region.  Open by audition to all Willamette University students.

JAZZ COMBOS, 2 hours rehearsal each week, TBA.  

Jazz small groups are scheduled according to interest, improvisational ability of students, and availability of rhythm section players.  Each ensemble performs on campus each semester as part of the Bistro jazz series.  Open by audition to all Willamette University students.

INSTRUMENTAL CHAMBER ENSEMBLES

Chamber Ensembles, meeting for two hours per week are organized according to the interest and availability of players.  Ensembles are offered in single-instrument groups and mixed ensembles including string, wind and percussion instruments.

ORCHESTRA AND CHAMBER MUSIC

Dr. Hekun Wu, Director of University Chamber Orchestra
Dr. Daniel Rouslin, Director of Small Ensemble Program

UNIVERSITY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, T,TH 4:45-6:15p, Hudson Hall.  

Exploration of literature for chamber orchestra from all periods. Spring semester may include performing as part of the orchestra for the productions of Dramatic Vocal Arts and for the winner(s) of the WU Concerto/Aria Competition. Open to all students through audition.  Wind and percussion audition materials can be found on the music departments website.

CHAMBER ENSEMBLES

Experienced string players are invited to audition for Willamette's undergraduate string ensembles which perform regularly on and off campus.  Other ensembles including strings plus piano, brass or woodwinds may also be formed, depending on instruments available and student interest.  Flutists, oboists, clarinetists, bassoonists, and French horn players are encouraged to audition for a position in the undergraduate woodwind quintet, and brass players including French horn players should consider trying out for one of the brass ensembles, such as the brass quintet. 

CHORAL and VOCAL ARTS ACTIVITIES

Dr. Wallace H. Long, Jr., Director of Choral Activities
Dr. Paul Klemme, Director of Male Ensemble Willamette and Willamette Master Chorus
Professor Christine Welch Elder, Director of University Women's Choir-Voce Femminile
Professor Allison Swensen-Mitchell, Director of Dramatic Vocal Arts

Our choral program is structured to provide a wide variety of music opportunities to students who have backgrounds which range from limited experience to years of training.  Most of our groups have at least 70% of their membership made up of non-music majors.  The audition for all choirs will include (1) an interview; (2) singing scales to find your range, and (3) sight reading both melodies and rhythms.

VOCE FEMMINILE, M,W,F, 11:30a-12:30p, Rogers Rehearsal Hall and Hudson Hall.
MALE ENSEMBLE WILLAMETTE, MWF, 11:30a-12:30p, FAW145, Hudson Hall and Rogers Rehearsal Hall. 

These two groups will be of particular interest to those students who may not have had extensive choral experience and want to develop their reading skills and vocal technique.  Other students join these groups for the opportunity to perform literature written exclusively for male or female voices or because they may not have the time to commit to our other more intensive ensembles. Each ensemble enrolls approximately 30-40 singers from a broad cross-section of majors on campus. The ensembles perform approximately 4 times yearly.  Literature for Male Ensemble comes from the best of barbershop, doo-wop, popular, and classical music.  Voce Femminile performs classical choral literature from a broad spectrum of historical periods.  Twice yearly, the men and women combine to sing music composed for mixed voices.  For your audition you will be asked to do rudimentary sight reading and vocalize for voice placement and group assignment.

WILLAMETTE SINGERS, T,TH, 12:50-2:20p, Rogers Rehearsal Hall. 

This group of 12 voices and jazz combo will concentrate on vocal jazz and will share performance dates with the Willamette Jazz Ensemble. Willamette Singers participates in a yearly tour and in recent years has traveled to Japan, Boston, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Chicago, Washington, Idaho, California and New York.  Members must have significant experience in singing and/or instrument playing and are required to audition for entrance.  Students interested in playing in the instrumental combo should audition during the special times for jazz instruments. 

CHAMBER CHOIR, M,W,F, 4:10-5:40p, Hudson Hall. 

The choir consists of 36-44 singers and engages in a tour (usually taken during the winter break) as well as frequent on-campus performances.  Literature is drawn from the best of classical repertoire from all historical periods. Members must have significant experience in singing and are required to audition for entrance.

WILLAMETTE MASTER CHORUS, M, 7-9:30p, Hudson Hall. 

Master Chorus combines vocalists from the Salem community with Willamette students to form a 60-member choir. The group specializes in performing large choral works with orchestra and gives concerts three to four times annually.  Members have significant experience in singing and are required to audition for entrance.

DRAMATIC VOCAL ARTS, T,TH, 2:30-4:30p, Hudson Hall.

Willamette University Dramatic Vocal Arts offers students a varied experience with dramatic music. This creative workshop-ensemble presents a range of programs including staged opera and musical theatre. The year-long course explores literature in opera and operetta.  Students are involved in all aspects of production and learn not only performance skills but also acquire the necessary technical skills to bring a production to the stage.

GENERAL COURSES IN MUSIC

MUSC 102X Alexander Technique for Musicians (.25)

This course is for students interested in exploring movement as it relates to playing a musical instrument or singing. Students will gain ease in performing and learn how improved coordination enables them to avoid fatigue, injury, and technical limitation. Open to majors and non-majors.

Prerequisite: Experience with singing or playing an instrument (need not be advanced)

• Offering: Fall
• Instructor: King

MUSC 111 Basics of Singing (.5)

Designed for beginning singers to try out their voices, learn the basics of vocal technique, and develop confidence by performing along side and in front of their classmates. This course may also help a student who is interested in subsequent private lessons or in joining one of Willamette's vocal ensembles. Some musical background and ability to read music is helpful but not required.

Prerequisite: Students without any musical training may prefer to start by taking MUSC 130

• Offering: Every semester
• Instructor: Staff

MUSC 121 (CA) Creating Music with Technology (1)

Creating music offers insights into the composer's art and a means of personal expression. Current technology allows the opportunity to compose music even for those without traditional skills or training. Intended for the non-music major, this hands-on class will directly involve students in the creation and recording of origional music and sound resources. Final project recordings will be presented in a virtual concert.

Mode of Inquiry: Creating in the Arts

Prerequisite: Students should have basic computing and computer file management skills

• Offering: Yearly
• Instructor: Nord

MUSC 129 (CA) Uniting the Ear, Mind, and Body Through Music (1)

Designed for the non-music major, this course delves into the language of music through direct experience and creative activities. Students will develop musicianship skills by critically listening to recorded and live music, sight singing, improvisation, expressing music through movement, and composing melodies with basic harmonizations. When relevant, connections of music to other art forms will be encouraged and explored. At the end of the semester, each student will present a final project in the form of a composition and/or a performance. Emphasis on students' performing on their own instruments, where applicable.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Creating in the Arts

• Offering: Spring
• Instructor: Staff