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Department of Music

The Department of Music is accredited by National Association of Schools of Music.

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One of the 10 Best "Hidden Gem" Music Schools

The Music Department at William Paterson was recently named one of the 10 best “Hidden Gem” music schools by Music School Central.

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Flexibility!

Degrees in Classical Performance, Jazz Studies and Performance, Popular Music Studies, Music Education, Music Management, and Sound Engineering Arts.

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Performance!

Exceptional student opportunities with top-notch ensembles.

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Jazz!

One of the nation's oldest and most respected programs, creating a true jazz environment with world-class New York faculty.

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Technology!

State-of-the-art music production and recording studios.

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Professional Experience

Opportunities to gain professional skills on and off-campus.

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The Department of Music provides the opportunity for degrees at the BA, BM, and MM levels. The programs provide the resources, guidance, and diverse environment in the New York metro area that motivates students to build and maintain careers in a variety of music professions.

Learn more about each of our programs:

  • BM in Performance
  • BM in Jazz Studies
  • BM in Music Education
  • BM with an Emphasis in Music & Entertainment Industries
  • BM in Sound Engineering Arts
  • BA in Music
  • BA in Music with Popular Music Emphasis
  • Music Honors
  • Minor in Music & Entertainment Industries
  • Minor in Musical Studies
  • MM in Music Education
  • MM in Jazz Studies & Arranging
  • MM in Jazz Studies & Performance
  • MM in Music & Entertainment Industries
  • MBA with concentration in Music & Entertainment Industries
  • Graduate Certificate: Jazz Pedagogy
  • Graduate Certificate: Orff Schulwerk

The William Paterson Music Department provides the resources, guidance, and diverse environment in the New York metro area that motivates our music students to build and maintain careers in a variety of music professions. Students are prepared for careers in classical performance and composition, jazz performance and composition, sound engineering arts, music education, and music & entertainment industries.

Music Mission Statement

The Department of Music at William Paterson University is a community of musician-educators committed to professionalism in performance, teaching, scholarship and creative activity, and community service. We collaborate to provide the foundations of comprehensive musicianship for all music majors at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and to create a thriving cultural life on the campus and in the community through challenging academic offerings and performances of the highest artistic level. We provide the resources, guidance, and diverse environment that motivate our students to seek excellence as they build and maintain careers in music, including classical and jazz performance and composition, sound engineering arts, music education, and Music and Entertainment Industries. Combining traditional teaching and learning with innovative approaches, the Department gives students the knowledge and skills to meet the challenges of the contemporary musical environment.

 

Music - BA Goals

  1. An understanding of the elements of music, and ability to apply this understanding.
  2. A broad knowledge of music history and literature.
  3. An ability to engage in creative music making.
  4. An ability to integrate technology into the study and practice of music.
  5. Entrepreneurship and self-promotion in the music business.

 

Music - BA Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to demonstrate fluency with the fundamental materials of music theory (such as pitch, rhythm and meter, scales, key signatures, intervals, triads, seventh chords, etc.) by writing and identifying them quickly and accurately.
  2. Students will be able to demonstrate appropriate performance practices for different instrumental genres and stylistic historical periods
  3. Students will be able to Apply a conceptual understanding of music theory to sounding music by verbal and written means.
  4. Students will be able to write four-part chorale-style phrases using traditional voice-leading practices.
  5. Students will be able to develop a conceptual understanding of rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, timbre, and form, and their inter-relationships as they form the basis for listening, performing and creating.
  6. Students will be able to sight-sing melodies of moderate difficulty.
  7. Students will be able to recognize, identify, and transcribe melodic harmonic, and rhythmic patterns of moderate difficulty.
  8. Students will be able to understand Western music and music from around the world within historical, cultural, artistic, social, and political contexts.
  9. Students will be able to recognize distinguishing features in the music of different historical periods and geographical locations.
  10. Students will be able to recognize the music of significant composers, innovators, and performers.
  11. Students will be able to understand the relationship between music history, literature, performance practice and analysis.
  12. Students will be able to use critical thinking skills and the skills necessary to research, organize, analyze and synthesize information.
  13. Students will be able to write, perform, and record solo and group compositions/arrangements that students have organized themselves.
  14. Students will be able to utilize compositional techniques that demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the historical and cultural aspects of music.
  15. Students will be able to use analytical and theoretical skills to enhance the creation process.
  16. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of modern popular song and songwriting.
  17. Students will be able to demonstrate a conceptual understanding of how computers manipulate information, and ability to work comfortably and productively with computers and computer software to generate materials relevant to a career in music.
  18. Students will be able to apply the resources of networked computers, such as the Internet, to a variety of tasks involving music and a career in music.
  19. Students will be able to Communicate effectively orally and in writing about their musical abilities, and related skill sets and talents in music.
  20. Students will be able to analyze, coordinate, and direct the varied activities of a musical career, both individually and in groups.

 

Music -  BM Goals

  1. A high level of musicianship
  2. An understanding of the elements and organization of music, and ability to apply this understanding.
  3. A broad knowledge of music history and literature
  4. An ability to engage in creative music making
  5. An ability to integrate technology into the study and practice of music.
  6. Specialization in the area of the profession.
  7. Entrepreneurship and self-promotion in the music business.

 

Music - BM Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to perform recognized works of music from the standard repertory in large ensembles and in chamber ensembles
  2. Demonstrate appropriate performance practices for different instrumental genres and stylistic historical periods
  3.  Apply the fundamentals of Western music theory to performance skills.
  4. Students will be able to demonstrate fluency with the fundamental materials of music theory (such as pitch, rhythm and meter, scales, key signatures, intervals, triads, seventh chords, etc.) by writing and identifying them quickly and accurately.
  5. Students will be able to apply a conceptual understanding of music theory to the analysis of a broad range of music.
  6. Students will be able to apply a conceptual understanding of music theory to sounding music by verbal and written means.
  7. Students will be able to write four-part chorale-style phrases using traditional voice-leading practices
  8. Students will be able to develop a conceptual understanding of rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, timbre, ad form, and their inter-relationships as they form the basis for listening, performing and creating.
  9. Students will be able to sight-sing melodies of moderate difficulty
  10. Students will be able to recognize, identify, and transcribe melodic harmonic, and rhythmic patterns of moderate difficulty
  11. Students will be able to understand western music and music from around the world within historical, cultural artistic, social and political contexts.
  12. Students will be able to recognize distinguishing features in the music of different historical periods and geographical locations
  13. Students will be able to recognize the music of significant composers, innovators, and performers
  14. Students will be able to understand the relationship between music history, literature, performance practice and analysis
  15. Students will be able to use critical thinking skills and the skills necessary to research, organize, analyze and synthesize information
  16. Students will be able to write, perform, and record solo and group compositions/arrangements that students have organized themselves.
  17. Students will be able to utilize compositional techniques that demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the historical and cultural aspects of music.
  18. Students will be able to use analytical and theoretical skills to enhance the creation process.
  19. Students will be able to use electronic compositional (i.e., Digital Performer), notational (i.e., Finale), and MIDI sequencing software to create original compositions, arrangements, and manuscripts for publication or performance.
  20. Students will be able to demonstrate competency in "Sound Design" (electronic manipulation of sound).
  21. Students will be able to understand the role new technologies have played throughout history in the development of musical culture.
  22. Students will be able to apply sound critical judgement in evaluating the relevance and practical utility of unfamiliar technologies.
  23. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of acoustics
  24. Students will be able to demonstrate a conceptual understanding of how computers manipulate information, and ability to work comfortably and productively with computers and computer software to generate materials relevant to a career in music.
  25. Students will be able to apply the resources of networked computers, such as the Internet, to a variety of tasks involving music and a career in music.
  26. Students will be able to demonstrate technical fluency and accuracy in pitch, rhythm, tempo, meter, pulse, articulation, dynamics, phrasing, and control and quality of sound production.
  27. Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in the performance of scales, arpeggios, and sight reading.
  28. Students will be able to demonstrate a deep understanding of interpretive elements in a variety of styles and genres of music, showing a mature sense of musicianship, as well as creativity and original thought in phrasing, tone colors, and character.
  29. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of stage presence, professionalism in performance, and complete commitment t
  30. Students will be able to perform effectively on their respective instruments, demonstrating proficient instrumental techniques such as overall dexterity, good sound production, and accurate pitch.
  31. Students will be able to perform improvised jazz solos demonstrating an understanding of musical theory and in a variety of jazz stylistic traditions.
  32. Students will be able to perform in a variety of jazz ensembles in a musical fashion, demonstrating skills such as blending, volume balance, phrasing with other musicians in a group, playing in an appropriate style, combo band member role/interaction skills.
  33. Students will be able to demonstrate a high level of music reading skill.
  34. Students will be able to demonstrate music writing skills, such as composing-arranging, orchestration, and transposition.
  35. Students will be able to demonstrate a basic level of jazz keyboard skill, including playing various chord voicings and chordal accompaniment.
  36. Students will be able to identify and internalize linear and harmonic musical information from a variety of jazz styles.
  37. Students will be able to present themselves effectively on stage and in other performance situations, being able to demonstrate good stage presence, ability to speak to an audience, proper dress codes.
  38. Students will be able to present performances in a punctual manner, staying within given time constraints.
  39. Students will be able to discuss the theoretical and practical aspects of the business, creative, and legal components of the music and entertainment industries.
  40. Students will be able to analyze, coordinate, and direct the varied activities of a musical career, both individually and in groups.
  41. Students will be able to specialize in the industry according to their interests and talents.
  42. Students will be able to recognize musical accuracy in terms of pitch, rhythm, tempo, and timbre and apply correction or enhancement through audio recording and mixing techniques.
  43. Students will be able to discern frequency bandwidths and dynamic ranges and properly apply various audio signal processing such as equalization and dynamic range compensation.
  44. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of transducer design and implementation, signal flow, audio measurements, signal processing, magnetic tape recording, digital audio recording and processes, recording session protocol, troubleshooting.
  45. Students will be able to utilize familiarity of the music business to create strategies for networking, self-promotion, and developing a career in music
  46. Students will be able to communicate effectively orally and in writing about their musical abilities, and related skill sets and talents in music.
  47. Students will be able to collaborate with peers to produce performances and events

 

Music -  MM Goals

  1. Engage in and conduct original research.
  2. Complete a substantial music-related academic or creative project.
  3. Prepare to be active professionals in careers in music.
  4. Develop leadership skills in an area of the music profession.
  5. Become proficient in presentations about music.

 

Music -  MM Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to Demonstrate high level skills in research and academic writing
  2. Students will be able to Create an academic project
  3. Students will be able to Discuss the theoretical and practical aspects of the business, creative and legal components of the music industry
  4. Students will be able to Demonstrate a technical and theoretical knowledge of past and current jazz improvisational and writing styles through creative jazz performance and composition/arranging
  5. Students will be able to Demonstrate advanced music performance skills
  6. Students will be able to apply contemporary pedagogical methodologies to active teaching
  7. Students will be able to utilize contemporary music education technology in the classroom.
  8. Students will be able to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historical, theoretical, and philosophical foundations of the music teaching profession.
  9. Students will be able to perform on instrument/voice at professional level, or create professional level compositions/arrangements.
  10. Students will be able to demonstrate a basic working knowledge of the most important technologies used for musical applications including networked computers, MIDI and MIDI sequencing, digital audio, and music notation software.
  11. Students will be able to analyze, coordinate, and direct the varied activities of a career in MEI.
  12. Students will be able to explicate verbally and in writing, together with instrumental performance and music writing, in-depth topics concerning jazz performance, composition/arranging, or pedagogy.
  13. Students will be able to analyze, coordinate, and direct the varied activities of a career in MEI.
  14. Students will be able to create a high-level musical presentation using peer involvement.
  15. Students will be able to demonstrate conceptual knowledge of musical and social currents and issues throughout the history of jazz.

Music News

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Department Spotlight

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Daniel Spadaro '16 interviewed aspiring artists of various musical genres. He then wrote, produced, and recorded songs in their styles to depict their stories for his research project "More Than a Song". Spadaro plans a career in songwriting, producing, and performing.