(Division of Humanities and the Arts)

Professor Suzanne Pittson, Chair • Department Office: SH 72 • Tel: 212-650-7656

General Information

The City College offers the following undergraduate degrees in Music:

B.A.

B.M.

Departmental Mission

The mission of the Music Department is to cultivate students' analytical, creative, and performative understandings of music. Through an education rooted in scholarly and active music-making environments, CCNY music students are trained to think critically, apply contemporary technologies, and perform repertoire, thus preparing them for careers as informed and inquiring thinkers, creators, performers, teachers, and cultural leaders.

Advisement

All students should meet with an area advisor at registration each semester. Students who have questions regarding special areas of study should contact the appropriate program director:

Students who have questions regarding special areas of study should contact the appropriate program director:

Director of Popular Music Studies
Prof. Jon Pieslak
SH 78A
jpieslak@ccny.cuny.edu

Sonic Arts Director
Prof. Paul Kozel

SH 82D; 212-650-8217

Sonic Arts Advisor

Prof. Jon Perl
SH 82C; 212-650-6837

Director of Jazz Studies

Prof. Steve Wilson

SH 72B; 212-650-7660

Associate Director of Jazz Studies

Prof. Suzanne Pittson

SH 76A; 212-650-7656

Facilities

In 1993 the Music Department relocated to historic Shepard Hall. In addition to new offices, studios, rehearsal rooms and an electronic piano lab, the state-of-the-art facilities include the following specialized locations:

Recital Hall

A beautifully appointed, natural acoustic concert hall (SH 95) is the site of performances by soloists and small ensembles. Seating approximately 100, it features audio recording and playback capabilities. Its warm ambiance makes it the ideal location for important lectures and symposia.

Practice Rooms

Individual and group practice rooms are available to students registered in music major courses. Apply at the beginning of each semester in the Music Office (SH 72).

The Music Library

The Music Library (SH 160) has a collection of over 18,000 recordings, 18,400 scores, and 13,300 books about music, as well as 60 current periodicals subscriptions. All areas of music, including European and American art music, non-Western music, folk, jazz, and popular music, are represented. In addition to Internet work stations and playback facilities for recordings and videos, students have access to 10 Mac stations for computer-aided instruction.

The Sonic Arts Center

A cutting-edge facility consisting of four Production Studios, a Sound Lab, a Control Room/Classroom, and an Isolation Room. The Sonic Arts Center is the site for courses and student projects in sound design and synthesis, digital audio, audio for film and video, music production, and acoustic recording techniques.

Aaron Davis Hall

Located on the South Campus is the well-known Aaron Davis Hall of the Davis Center for the Performing Arts. Its stunning architecture houses an innovative three-theatre performing arts complex that presents public performances and exhibitions by students as well as professional artists, and serves as the cultural hub of upper Manhattan.

Department Activities

Performing Groups

Vocal and instrumental ensembles are open to all qualified students. Consult the instructor of each group for information about audition procedures.

CUNY Jazz Festival

The CUNY Jazz Festival is held every Spring at Aaron Davis Hall. Presented in cooperation with Jazz at Lincoln Center, it is a showcase for the best student bands from CUNY and selected area high schools. Each year a world-class artist is invited to perform with the student ensembles as well as their own group. Recent guest artists have included Wycliffe Gordon, Victor Goines, Luciana Souza, and Adam Rogers, Dave Leibman, and the Village Vanguard Orchestra.

Visiting Artist Series

• Fred Hersch Master Class: Each semester a traditional master class is conducted by the gifted teacher and renowned pianist Fred Hersch, a unique artist who Downbeat magazine referred to as "one of the small handful of brilliant musicians of his generation."

• Master Class Series: Each semester two master classes are given by a variety of invited jazz artists such as Dave Liebman, Maria Schneider, Jim McNeely, The Stockholm Jazz Orchestra, Dick Oatts, Norma Winstone, Dave Gilmore, Tim Ries, Jon Gordon, Charles Pillow, Pete McGuinness, Scott Wendholt, and John Stowell.

Awards and Scholarships

The ASCAP-Chappell/City College Gershwin Award

For composing, music for the theater, dance, or film.

The Jerome Ash Scholarship

To a deserving Sonic Arts student.

BMI Foundation/Evelyn Buckstein Scholarship

To a talented songwriter, composer, performer, or future teacher.

The Ella Fitzgerald Memorial Scholarship in Music

For an outstanding jazz vocal student.

The Friar Foundation Award

For an entering student on the basis of the audition for the Jazz Studies program.

The Rosalind Joel Scholarship

To a talented Jazz Studies student focusing on piano, voice, or composition.

The Presser Foundation Scholarship

To an outstanding Popular Music Studies student about to enter their senior year.

The Sweet Basil Jazz Club Scholarship

To outstanding Jazz Studies student.

The Westchester Jazz Orchestra Scholarship

To an outstanding Jazz Studies student.

The Sidney Zolot Award For Excellence in Music

To a senior music major who has demonstrated excellence as a performer, composer or scholar.

Faculty

Matt Carter, Lecturer
B.F.A, The City College, M.A.; Ph.D., CUNY Graduate Center

Ray Gallon, Lecturer
B.F.A., The City College, M.A.

Michael Holober, Professor
B.A., SUNY (Oneonta); M.M., SUNY (Binghamton)

Chadwick Jenkins, Associate Professor
B.A., Towson State University; M.M., Univ. of Maryland; M.Phil., Columbia Univ., Ph.D.

Paul Kozel, Professor
B.Mus., Cleveland State Univ.; M.A., The City College

Orly Krasner, Lecturer
B.A. Univ. of Connecticut; M.A., Queens College; Ph.D., CUNY Graduate Center

Shaugn O’Donnell, Associate Professor and Chair
B.A., Queens College, M.A.; Ph.D., CUNY Graduate Center

Jonathan Perl, Associate Professor
B.F.A. The City College, B.A., SUNY Purchase

Jonathan Pieslak, Professor
B.A., Davidson College; M.A., Univ. of Michigan, Ph.D.

Suzanne Pittson, Assistant Professor
B.A., San Francisco State Univ., M.A.

Steve Wilson, Professor

Professors Emeriti

David Bushler

Ronald L. Carter

David Del Tredici

John Graziano

Barbara Russano Hanning

Scott Reeves

Name	Degree	Type	NYSED Code	HEGIS Code	CIP Code
Jazz Studies Instrumental	BMUS - Bachelor of Music	Major	39309 - JZSTDIN-BM	1004.00	50.0910
Jazz Studies (Vocal)	BMUS - Bachelor of Music	Major	39311 - JZSTDVO-BM	1004.00	50.0910
Popular Music Studies	BA - Bachelor of Arts	Major	02196 - POPMUS-BA	1005.00	50.0901
Sonic Arts	BMUS - Bachelor of Music	Major	39313 - SONCART-BM	1004.00	50.0913

Department: Music