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Music Studies

Available as a concentration

Our music program provides a nurturing and creative home for students. Our faculty are active in their fields, regularly performing, publishing and debuting new work.

conductor stands in front of band

Curriculum & Courses

Sample Course Offerings

MUSC 150: Fundamentals of Music
MUSC 240: Music and Culture
MUSC 375: Popular Music

Roanoke College choir singing at a concert

We offer lessons!

Woman playing oboe

Looking to take your performance to the next level? Want to learn a new instrument? We offer a full range of applied music instruction no matter what major you are. Lessons can be taken for credit or for fun! Check out lessons and instructors.

Student Experiences

Roanoke College Choir

What Makes Roanoke Different?

Roanoke offers outstanding performance opportunities on campus, in the community and through concert tours.

Learn by Doing

You’ll find a wide range of musical experiences at Roanoke

  • Choirs 

    Both the Roanoke College Choir and the Oriana Singers are recognized for their beautiful sound, and they often collaborate with professional musicians.

    oriana singers on stage singing

  • Instrumental Ensembles

    The College's jazz, wind and chamber ensembles perform music ranging from Count Basie big band tunes to classical masterpieces.

    student playing instrument

  • Internships 

    Music students have recently interned at Mill Mountain Theatre, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and Flat Five Press and Recording Co. 

    student playing instrument

  • Independent studies

    We encourage you to pursue research and creative projects. Recent topics include computer-assisted composition, old-time mountain music, music education in early childhood and 21st -century song cycle.

    hands hovering over piano keys

  • International travel

    Our choir tours locations domestic and abroad. International destinations included Italy, France, Ireland, Germany Brazil, England, Scotland, Wales, the Netherlands, Belgium and the Czech Republic. 

    choir in Ireland

Faculty

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Musician-Composer-Researcher Brings Creative Talent, Theory to Classroom

Dr. Marsh talks with a student

An understanding of how other musicians practice their craft can help enrich the experiences and work of students. Dr. Gordon Marsh, professor of music at Roanoke College, provides a unique classroom experience by being a musician, composer, and a researcher. In his research, he studied the works of Alfred Schnittke and developed "a theory of understanding how Schnittke approaches musical form." In his compositions, Marsh writes for many instruments other than his own. When doing so, Marsh said that, "it's empathy, it's identification, it's knowledge, it's understanding, it's research."

News

Interested in exploring music studies at Roanoke College?

Request Information

Our music program provides a nurturing and creative home for you, whether you want to focus on performance, composition, or research into the theory and history of music.

The music program provides a dynamic and creative home for students who wish to focus on music performance, composition or research. Our faculty are active in their fields, regularly performing, publishing and debuting new work. Our Resident Artists provide high-caliber instruction in their specialized performance areas. Our curriculum is designed to give you a foundational education with courses in history, theory, and musicianship.

You'll get a wealth of musical experience in and out of the classroom. Music students are required to perform in ensembles and take lessons to further their performance education. You'll find quite a range of music here in the Roanoke Valley, from classical and jazz to folk and bluegrass.

Roanoke music students have recently pursued graduate studies at the Aaron Copland School of Music, Carnegie Mellon University, Pomona College and University of Chicago. Music graduates are working as professional performers and teachers, as well as in fields as diverse as mental health counseling and wilderness engagement.

We offer a concentration in music studies.