From the classroom to the stage
The Department of Music offers a diverse program of musical studies, including appreciation, history/literature and theory courses, as well as ensembles and applied music lessons at all levels in voice, piano, organ, harpsichord, stringed instruments, brass, woodwind and percussion instruments.
The music department works with students as individuals and in groups to develop performance skills and knowledge of music theory, history and literature. Music students share a personal relationship with faculty whose work as teachers, performers and scholars keeps them and their students in touch with the realities of today’s musical world.
The Ripon College Music Department offers two majors: Music and Music Education. In the liberal arts tradition, the Music major can be tailored toward each student’s interests. Performance, musicology, and theory/composition are all possible emphases. Students have paired the Music major with diverse double majors, including Business, Computer Science, and Theatre. The Music Education major focuses on preparing students for careers teaching music, and, when combined with the prescribed Education coursework, successful completion of the Music Education major results in eligibility for Wisconsin teaching licensure.
Faculty
Total Credits:
48 credits
Prerequisites:
Music Theory sequence (MUS 121 Music Theory I, 123 Aural Skills I, 221 Music Theory II, 223 Aural Skills II, 225 Music Theory III and 227 Aural Skills III); Music History cluster (MUS 330 Departmental Studies, 331 and 332)
Elective Courses:
Six semesters of lessons, not including piano lessons or lessons at the 050 level ; 4 semesters of piano ; six semesters of ensembles (MUS 190:xx); MUS 500 (students may elect either a seminar paper or recital option); and at least 6 additional credits in Music.
Lessons:
Sections for lessons: Note that there is no MUS 050:09. Beginning piano students should take MUS 102. (MUS 100, 140, 240, 150:xx or 250:xx) 1. Trumpet. Jensen 2. French Horn Jensen 3. Trombone. Jensen 4. Euphonium. Jensen 5. Tuba. Jensen 6. Guitar. Cramer 7. Organ*. Stellmacher 8. Percussion. Elford 9. Piano. MacKenzie 10. Violin. A. Stephan 11. Viola. A. Stephan 12. Cello. C. Stephan 13. String Bass. C. Stephan 14. Flute. Sackman 15. Oboe. Polcyn 16. Clarinet. Nelson 17. Saxophone. Nelson 18. Bassoon. Polcyn 19. Jazz Woodwind. Nelson 20. Jazz Brass. Dietrich 21. Jazz Keyboard. Dietrich *Organ prerequisite: MUS 150:09 or permission of instructor.
Piano Lessons:
050 Beginning Instrumental Lessons, 100 Group Voice Class, 102 Class Piano I, 103 Class Piano II, 104 Class Piano III, 105 Class Piano IV, 140 Intermediate Voice Lessons, 150 Intermediate Instrumental Lessons, 240 Advanced Voice Lessons, 250 Advanced Instrumental Lessons
Music Credits:
010 Recital Attendance, 110 Music and Gender, 111 Foundations in Music, 113 Foundations in Aural Skills, 112 World Music, 121 Music Theory I, 123 Aural Skills I, 200 Topics in Music, 221 Music Theory II, 223 Aural Skills II, 225 Music Theory III, 227 Aural Skills III, 230/330 Western Music History Antiquity-1750, 231/331 Western Music History 1750-1900, 232/332 Western Music History 1900-Present, 265 Diction for Singers, 270 Introduction to Music Education, 280 Music Technology, 300 Departmental Studies, 302 Elementary School Music Methods, 306 Middle and High School Music Methods, 334 Conducting I, 335 Conducting II, 500 Senior Project
Ensembles:
(190)One credit EXCEPT Chamber Winds (enrollment in Chamber Winds includes participation in Symphonic Wind Ensemble). Membership in the following ensembles is open to all students (minimum training on appropriate instruments may be required) EXCEPT Chamber Singers and Chamber Winds, which are open by audition. Instruments are available on loan. May be repeated, but only eight total credits may be counted toward graduation. Grading is Pass-Fail, except for Section 04, Chamber Singers, which is letter graded. Section 1. Jazz Combo Dietrich Section 2. Concert Choir P. Thompson Section 3. Choral Union P. Thompson Section 4. Chamber Singers P. Thompson Section 5. Jazz Ensemble Dietrich Section 6. Orchestra Grine Section 7. Symphonic Wind Ensemble Shucha Section 8. Rally Band Shucha Section 9. Chamber Winds Shucha Section 11. Brass Ensemble Jensen Section 12. Guitar Ensemble Cramer
Techniques Courses:
Three credits – Techniques of making and teaching music on instrument families or in vocal settings. Section 1. Brass Techniques Jensen Section 2. Percussion Techniques Elford Section 3. String Techniques A. Stephan & C. Stephan Section 4. Vocal Techniques Bryan Section 5. Woodwind Techniques Polcyn Section 6. Choral Techniques P. Thompson
Additional Criteria:
Additionally, Music majors must pass five semesters of MUS 010. Students who earn a 4 or 5 on the AP Music Theory exam are excused from MUS 111.
Total Credits:
20 credits
Elective Courses:
At least one Music Theory course ; at least one Aural Skills course at least one of the following ; 3 semesters of MUS 010 Recital Attendance
Music Theory Courses:
MUS 111 Foundations in Music, MUS 121 Music Theory I, MUS 221 Music Theory II, or MUS 225 Music Theory III
Aural Skills:
MUS 113 Foundations in Aural Skills, MUS 123 Aural Skills I, MUS 223 Aural Skills II, or MUS 227 or MUS 110 Music and Gender, MUS 112 World Music, MUS 121 Music Theory I , MUS 200 Topics in Music, MUS 221 Music Theory II, MUS 225 Music Theory III, MUS 265 Diction for Singers, MUS 330 , MUS 331, MUS 332, MUS 280 Music Technology
Additional Criteria:
The remaining credits may be selected from any courses in music.
Interested in teaching music?
Career Tracks
Music majors from Ripon College have successfully pursued careers in public school and studio teaching, performance, higher education, church music, and other professional fields.
Unique Opportunities
- Through the Department of Educational Studies, certification in instrumental music, choral music and general music is available in early childhood/adolescence (birth-grade 12).
- Students of any discipline, can participate in Chamber Singers, Choral Union, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Orchestra.
- Chamber Singers tours annually over spring break.
Ensembles
Chamber Singers
Chamber Singers is Ripon College’s premier choral ensemble and is open to students of all majors by audition. Chamber Singers performs a wide array of choral repertoire throughout the year. The ensemble performs multiple times on campus each semester. Every spring, the Chamber Singers go on tour to share music with schools and communities throughout the region. For more information please contact Paul Thompson.
Choral Union
Ripon College’s Choral Union is open to students, faculty, staff and community members. The choir performs on its own, and also joins other choirs and the Ripon College Orchestra for a masterwork concert every spring. Rehearsals are Thursdays from 6 – 8 p.m. For more information, please contact Paul Thompson.
Concert Choir
The Ripon Concert Choir is a mixed choir open to any student on campus. This choir is designed to be a singing home for students regardless of past choral experience. No audition is required; simply sign up and come to rehearsals. The group will sing varied choral repertoire with a focus on music as a vehicle to build our voices, skills, and humanity. For more information please contact Paul Thompson.
Jazz Ensemble
The Ripon College Jazz Ensemble is a big band that plays music from the earliest jazz through the most contemporary jazz styles. From within the group, a number of different jazz combos perform as well on the two major Jazz Ensemble concerts each year. Development of improvisation skills is a major goal of the group. The Jazz Ensemble also performs on a pops concert each year and occasionally at off-campus events. For more information, please contact Paul Dietrich.
Orchestra
Unlike many schools its size, Ripon College has a long-standing, vital College Orchestra. Made up of students and community members, the group puts on two concerts a year that feature orchestral works from all of the style periods of Western music. Concerts often feature guest soloists. Children’s concerts are another type of event that the orchestra puts on with some regularity. For more information, please contact Yukiko Grine.
Symphonic Wind Ensemble
The Ripon College Symphonic Wind Ensemble is made up of brass, winds and percussion. In recent years, the group has had approximately 50 to 55 members. It is largely a student group, although there are a few community members. The group performs two major concerts each year, as well as a pops concert and a concert of small ensemble music. Literature ranges from band classics from throughout the 20th century to transcriptions of music from other media, marches and lighter fare. For more information, please contact Toby Shucha.
Chamber Winds and Percussion
An extension of Symphonic Wind Ensemble, this small chamber ensemble is open to players of wind, brass, and percussion instruments by audition and/or consultation with the instructor. The group allows a more ensemble-led approach to music-making. For more information, please contact Toby Shucha.
Rally Band
Rally Band is Ripon College’s athletic band. The band performs at many athletic contests and other events on campus, including football and basketball games. The band plays an array of arrangements of pop and rock tunes. For more information, please contact Toby Shucha.
Jazz Combo
This small jazz ensemble focuses on learning to play in a combo setting, and developing jazz improvisation skills For more information, please contact Paul Dietrich
Chamber Ensembles
Offered based on student interest, Ripon College is able to offer a variety of coached chamber ensembles including Guitar Ensemble, Brass Quintet, String Quartet, Woodwind Quintet, etc. If you are interested in one of these, please reach out to Music Department Chair Erin Bryan and express your interest so we can plan which ensembles to offer.
Advising
Ripon College faculty and professional staff are dedicated to helping you reach your goals, whatever they may be and however often they may change along the way. It’s part of our value statement to you.
As a student at Ripon, you will be assigned a faculty adviser based on your area(s) of interest. You will meet with your faculty adviser throughout your time as a student to discuss your current aspirations, plan your course schedule and plot a future trajectory. We also work collaboratively with Ripon College Career and Professional Development to help match your interests and skills to concrete goals and construct a plan for professional success offering personalized career counseling, off-campus learning opportunities and an online job board with potential to connect with local, national and international employers.
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