Instrumental Academics

St Olaf Music offers a variety of classes related geared towards instrumental majors.

Our techniques classes help our music educators and composers become better acquainted with the full spectrum of instruments.
Conducting and Literature and arranging get instrumentalist ready to take the podium and a future in ensemble leadership.
Our robust Chamber Music programs also offers our instrumentalist the opportunity to collaborate with fellow musicians in an intimate setting to broaden their musical horizons.

Students learn the basics of guitar playing as well as how to teach guitar classes. Course topics include: learning to play guitar at a basic level; tuning and maintaining a guitar; common performance issues and possible solutions; best practices for teaching class guitar; materials, methods and assessments for teaching guitar classes; the guitar as a tool for composition; technology for teaching, learning or composing for guitar. Required for BM music education majors. Others may register if space allows. Offered annually in fall semester.

Students learn basic performance practice on core instruments in each instrument family. Additional topics include: common performance issues and their possible solution; Best Practices in teaching and learning core instruments of the family; and technology for teaching, learning, or composing for instruments as appropriate. Offered annually in the spring semester.
Prerequisite: permission of instructor required for students not majoring in theory/composition or music education.

Students learn basic performance practice on core instruments in each instrument family. Additional topics include: common performance issues and their possible solution; Best Practices in teaching and learning core instruments of the family; and technology for teaching, learning, or composing for instruments as appropriate. Offered annually in the fall semester.
Prerequisite: permission of instructor required for students not majoring in theory/composition or music education.

Students learn basic performance practice on core instruments in each instrument family. Additional topics include: common performance issues and their possible solution; Best Practices in teaching and learning core instruments of the family; and technology for teaching, learning, or composing for instruments as appropriate. Offered annually in the fall semester. Course fee assessed.
Prerequisite: declared music education or composition major or permission of the instructor.

The music found in rehearsal folders plays a pivotal role in shaping the curricular focus of a school band or orchestra. This class helps students develop skills in assessing, selecting, and creating high-quality music literature appropriate for instructing instrumental ensembles in elementary and secondary schools. A comprehensive review of recommended published repertoire culminates in programming projects. Additionally, students acquire the technical craft and artistic sensibilities needed to create successful arrangements for instrumental ensembles. Counts toward BA music major and all BM majors. Required for BM music instrumental education majors. Offered alternate years in the fall semester.
Prerequisite: MUSIC 114.

Students learn basic conducting gestures (with and without baton) through exercises in meter patterns, preparatory beats and cut-offs, cueing, dynamics, fermata, articulations, phrasing, left hand independence, and face/eye usage. Offered annually in the spring semester.
Prerequisite: MUSIC 114 and sophomore status, or permission of instructor.

Students learn conducting techniques for instrumental literature, including rehearsal techniques, score preparation, and reading full score. Repertoire includes characteristic examples from standard band and orchestra literature. Students gain practical experience in conducting an instrumental ensemble. Course work includes observation of conducting faculty. Offered annually in the spring semester.
Prerequisite: MUSIC 251.

Drawing from the fields of biology, neuroscience, physics, and psychology, this course introduces students to the biological and psychological aspects of music performance. Students develop an understanding of the origins of performance-related injury, the mechanism of hearing, the sources of workplace stress in the lives of professional musicians. Each student will design and complete an exercise program tailored to their individual needs as a musician. Offered Interim alternate years.

Through regular rehearsals and coaching sessions, new or already-formed chamber groups prepare and perform selected literature, learn about related repertoire, and cultivate observation, communication, and leadership skills. Typical ensembles include string quartets, brass or woodwind quintets, piano trios, saxophone quartets, etc. May be repeated. Offered each semester.
Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

Students examine scores and listen to a broad range of string etudes, solos, sonatas, concertos, and orchestral excerpts with attention to notable performers of the past and present. Through required readings, listening assignments, video viewing, discussion, and hands-on teaching, students engage with practical issues of teaching, repertoire selection for beginning and intermediate players, performance and basic studio management.
Prerequisites: MUSIC 214, MUSIC 141, and MUSIC 242 or permission of instructor.

Working with a live instrumental or choral ensemble, students learn and conduct complete movements and/or entire works and encounter a variety of advanced baton techniques. Course activities develop skills in reading, preparing, interpreting and memorizing scores, with further focus on rehearsal procedures, performance practice, and concert programming. Participants are required to observe a variety of rehearsals on- and off-campus. Offered annually in the fall semester. Also counts toward management studies concentration.
Prerequisites: MUSIC 252 or MUSIC 253.