Music
Department of Music
College of Arts and Sciences
222 Baird Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-4700
Phone: 716.645.2758
Fax: 716.645.3824
Web: wings.buffalo.edu/AandL/music/
Stephen Manes
Chair
Office of the Chair
716.645.2764
Jeffrey Stadelman
Associate Chair
Michael Burke
Director of Student Programs
About the Department
The Department of Music provides students with a comprehensive program of music theory, music history, and performance practice. Students may choose to pursue a B.A. in Music or a Mus.B. in Music Performance. Academic and Performance Minors are also available.
The Music department sponsors many performance groups, including the UB Symphony Orchestra, University Chorus, University Choir, UB Jazz Ensemble, UB Percussion Ensemble, UB Flute Choir (‘PLOSION), UB Concert Band, UB Pep Band and Marching Band, Opera Studio, Contemporary Ensemble, and all types of chamber music ensembles.
New Music plays an important role in the activity of the department, allowing music students the unique advantage of starting their careers on music’s leading edge.
The Music Library, housed on the first floor of Baird Hall, is considered to be one of the finest in the country. Fully-catalogued holdings of 169,000 items include 75,000 scores and performance parts; 34,000 volumes of literature; 18,700 periodical and serial volumes; thousands of microforms; several hundred video tapes; and over 2,000 slides for iconographic studies.
Fully catalogued recordings number over 31,000 items. The collection includes jazz, folk, pop, liturgical, classical, and non-Western classical music. It is especially rich in electro-acoustic and computer-generated works, reflecting the Music department's special interest in New Music. Twenty-four listening stations permit users to audition recordings in any format. The Music Library Information Network provides another option for reserve listening.
The department has access to two excellent performance spaces: Slee Hall, which seats 700 people, and Baird Hall, which seats 180 people. Aulitional facilities include over 60 practice rooms, three practice organs, and a C.B. Fisk pipe organ: three manuals, pedal, and tracker action with 2,882 pipes. This unique organ is housed in Slee Hall.
Three computer music studios equipped with Macintosh and NeXT computers provide production facilities for both MIDI-based and software synthesis composition and performance projects.
An extensive concert season features over 200 public performances including the Annual Slee Beethoven Series of six concerts presented by world-renowned string quartets performing the complete Beethoven String Quartets.
The department has a very strong graduate program (over 70 graduate students) that enhances and strengthens the undergraduate program.
Degrees Offered
Undergraduate: B.A., Mus.B., Minor
Graduate: M.A., M.M. in Performance, Ph.D.
About Our Degrees
The curriculum is intended to give the student the best possible training in music theory, music history and performance practice. A student completing either of our undergraduate degree programs will be well-prepared to continue advanced music studies at the master’s or doctoral level in their chosen music specialty.
Admission to all undergraduate degrees requires a diagnostic theory examination to determine the student's theory placement level. In aulition, applicants to the performance degree must perform an audition in voice or on their major instrument to determine acceptance into the program.
The January audition date is the deadline for Performing and Creative Arts Honors Scholarship eligibility. The March audition date is the deadline for departmental scholarships. All other applications to the department are accepted up to the beginning of the fall semester.
There is no limit to the number of music majors accepted each year, although the normal number of new students ranges between 25 and 30. Currently there are approximately 80 undergraduate music majors enrolled.
Acceptance Criteria
Passing the freshman theory exam and successful completion of MUS 105 constitutes conditional departmental acceptance.
Successful completion of MUS 105, MUS 106, and MUS 213 with a minimum GPA of 2.5 followed by formal application to the B.A. degree program constitutes official departmental acceptance.
Acceptance Information
Deadlines: Rolling
Minimum required GPA: 2.0
Audition: Required for Mus.B. in Performance
Theory Placement: Diagnostic Music Theory test required of all new and transfer students
Number of applicants (2001-2002): 39
Number of accepted majors (2001-2002): 22
Total number of majors currently enrolled: 54
Further courses are selected after advisement with the Music Programs Director.
Degree Requirements
See the Undergraduate Catalog.
Minors
Academic (no instrument study required) and Performance Minors are available. The core curriculum for both includes 2 semesters of theory, 2 semesters of music history and 2 semesters of any ensemble.
Transfer Policy
Transfer students must apply to the department as well as to the university. The Office of Student Programs will evaluate the transfer credits in music. Up to one-half of the departmental requirements in the areas of music history, theory (determined by examination), performance (determined by audition), and ensemble can be accepted. Grades of D do not fulfill departmental requirements. Performance credits are transferred for degree fulfillment only if the candidate has been accepted as a performance major at the initial audition for admission. Theory credits transfer into the program based on the results of the transfer theory placement exam. Sample transfer exams are available upon request. Music history credits transfer into the program upon the approval of the coordinator of history.
About Our Courses
The core course requirements for the B.A. in Music and the Mus.B. in Performance are four semesters of both music theory and music history. The performance degree requires one more theory and history elective and the B.A. requires four upper-level electives relevant to the student’s thesis proposal. The minimum ensemble requirement is 2 semesters for the B.A. and 6 semesters for the Mus.B.
Private voice and instrument lessons are given on a weekly basis. Students perform regularly in master classes and at student noon recitals.
The theory and history classes usually do not exceed 15-20 students. The first semester theory class is the only exception, with 50-60 students enrolled.
TA’s are utilized for the ear-training, sight-singing and keyboard labs which are taught in aulition to the classes in written theory. TA’s also teach the majority of non-major General Education music courses.
Suggested Introductory Courses
For course descriptions, please see the Undergraduate Catalog.
About Our Faculty
The faculty is comprised of renowned scholars in their respective fields. Members of the Music faculty currently hold the Slee Chair, the Birge-Cary Chair, and the Ziegele Chair. The applied music faculty is active in current performances and several are members of the acclaimed Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Recent New York City performances in Carnegie Hall by the UB Chorus and Choir, the Baird Trio and other members of the performance faculty have received accolades from the critics.
Faculty biographies and recent activities can be found at http://www.music.buffalo.edu/faculty/index.html.
The Director of Student Programs is the university advisor for all music majors. Students may schedule meetings with the director for purposes of advisement and assistance in all areas of academic concerns.
Special Academic Opportunities
The Department of Music offers scholarships ranging from $400 to $2,500. Awards are given each year based on entrance auditions and special scholarship auditions held in March.
The departmental scholarship awards are funded by the following:
- Baird Scholarship
- Buell Scholarship
- Garahee Scholarship
- Livingston Gearhart Scholarship
- Lund Scholarship
- Olmstead Scholarship
- Simon Scholarship
- WPHD Music Scholarship
Each year the Baird Concerto Competition is held, and several outstanding students are chosen to perform with the UB Symphony Orchestra in a special public concert.
Students working on special projects in connection with their undergraduate thesis, or other specialized interests, may enroll in Independent Study or specially-arranged internships for credit.
Extracurricular Activities
Once or twice a month the department offers Brown Bag recitals. These are free and are held in the Slee Hall lobby. Often these are previews of upcoming faculty or student recitals.
The Department of Music offers a concert season of approximately 200 performances, some for a nominal fee and others free of charge. These include concerts by all of our department ensembles, faculty recitals, the Visiting Artist Series, the Organ Concert Series, the Slee Beethoven String Quartet Series, and various lectures and Master Classes – all open to the public.
See the UB Student Association.
Complementary Programs and Courses
Majors that Complement Music
- Business Administration
- Dance
- English
- Foreign language
- History
- Media Study
- Theater
Courses Outside Music that Might Improve Employment Opportunities
- Dance
- English
- Management
- Media study
- Theater
Advising Information
Students interested in the music degree programs should prepare by taking private voice or instrument lessons prior to and throughout high school. While in junior and senior high school student should participate in the ensembles and enroll in any theory courses offered.
Students may also prepare by obtaining the theory book Scales, Intervals, Keys, Triads, Rhythm, and Meter (3rd Edition) by Clough, Conley and Boge (W.W. Norton & Company). If a student completes this text successfully, he/she will have no problem with any theory placement examination, and should be prepared to study theory at the college level anywhere.
Career Information
Most music students continue their studies at the master’s level, and some continue on to the doctorate. Some of the following career opportunities require advanced degrees, while others may be possible with only the bachelor’s degree.
- Accompanist
- Arranger
- Band musician
- Church/synagogue musician
- Composer
- Concert pianist
- Conductor
- Music critic
- Music editor
- Music librarian
- Music producer
- Music salesperson
- Music teacher
- Music therapist
- Opera singer
- Orchestra musician
- Organ builder
- Organist/choir director
- Performer
- Songwriter
- Sound recording engineer
- Technician/tuner
- Vocalist