Harvard University Department of Music

== Harvard University Department of Music == The Harvard University Department of Music is an integral part of one of the world's leading academic institutions, Harvard University. Located within the Fanny Peabody Mason Music Building, the department offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs in music, fostering creativity, musicianship, collaboration, and scholarship among its students. === History and Overview === The Department of Music at Harvard University has a long-standing tradition of excellence in music education. While the department does not offer performance degrees such as a Bachelor of Music (B.M.), Master of Music (M.M.), or Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.), it places a significant emphasis on the role of performance within its academic coursework. Students have the opportunity to engage in a wide array of extracurricular music performance groups on campus, enriching their educational experience. The music building itself is a hub for musical activity and houses classrooms, practice rooms, the Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, John Knowles Paine Concert Hall, the Harvard University Studio for Electroacoustic Composition (HUSEAC), an Ethnomusicology Lab, SoundLab, and faculty and administrative offices. The department is also known for sponsoring numerous concerts, colloquia, lectures, and special music events each month, which are open to students and the public. === Academic Programs === Harvard's Department of Music offers an undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) with a concentration in music. The graduate program allows students to pursue a Ph.D. in various disciplines, including musicology, ethnomusicology, theory, composition, or Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry. Additionally, the department has established dual degree programs with the New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music, allowing students to earn both an A.B. from Harvard and a M.M. or M.A. from the partner institution over five years. === Creativity and Musicianship === Creativity is a cornerstone of the department, with courses and opportunities that span from the study of classical operas to the music of Mali and Neo Soul. The department has a rich legacy of notable alumni, such as John Adams, Leonard Bernstein, and Yo-Yo Ma, who have significantly influenced the world of music. To support budding composers and musicians, the department offers composition courses, new studios, and performance groups like the Harvard Group for New Music. Musicianship is central to the department's mission, with a focus on informing the performance of music through academic study and providing rigorous training for scholars, musicians, and composers. The performance aspect is woven into the curriculum and is a vibrant part of the community life on campus. === Collaboration and Scholarship === Collaboration is key to the learning environment within the department, with faculty and students often working together on projects, thesis work, and publications. Interdisciplinary collaborations frequently lead to the creation of new courses and seminars that span multiple areas of expertise. The department is committed to scholarship, providing students with access to the extensive Harvard library system, specialized labs, and an array of scholarly events, including the prestigious Norton Lectures. Graduate students are supported in their research endeavors through grants and fellowships, and both graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to present their work at conferences and publish their scholarly research. === Facilities and Resources === The Department of Music boasts state-of-the-art facilities and resources, including specialized libraries like the Isham Memorial Library and archives of notable musicians. Students benefit from high-quality resources such as autographed manuscripts at Houghton Library, as well as electronic and digital support, including composing software and recording equipment. In summary, the Harvard University Department of Music is a distinguished institution that nurtures the next generation of musicians, composers, and scholars through a rich blend of academic rigor, creative exploration, and collaborative opportunities, all set within the vibrant and historically rich context of Harvard University.