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.
Curriculum & Courses
Sample Course Offerings
MUSC 150: Fundamentals of Music
MUSC 240: Music and Culture
MUSC 375: Popular Music
We offer lessons!
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
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.
-
Instrumental Ensembles
The College's jazz, wind and chamber ensembles perform music ranging from Count Basie big band tunes to classical masterpieces.
-
Internships
Music students have recently interned at Mill Mountain Theatre, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and Flat Five Press and Recording Co.
-
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.
-
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.
Faculty
Musician-Composer-Researcher Brings Creative Talent, Theory to Classroom
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
-
Join us in honoring these outstanding faculty members for their combined 73 years of dedication to higher learning and student success.
-
This was one of the first performances for the new marching band that just launched this fall. The band will next perform at the football team’s kickoff game Sept. 8.
-
Terrell Smith brings 16 years of experience in music instruction and band program leadership to his new role. He joins Roanoke College effective Sept. 1.
