MUSC 490 Senior Seminar
In this seminar, students work through a staged process to complete their senior comprehensive paper—an argument-driven academic essay that engages with and contributes to recent and relevant scholarship in the fields of musicology, ethnomusicology, sound studies, and/or music theory. Students with a musicology, ethnomusicology, or music theory & analysis concentration will produce a complete draft of their 6,250-word essay. Students with a composition, production, instrumental performance, or vocal performance concentration (all of whom give a senior recitals or presentation) will produce a 2,500-word essay on music on their recital (for performers), on the music of a composer who has influenced their own approach to composition (for composers), or on music or a music technology that has influenced their approach to production (for producers); students in these four concentrations will also research and produce a draft of their recital program notes or, for producers, liner notes. Over the course of the semester students will discuss and share their work, as well as analyze and discuss exemplary academic papers, program notes, liner notes, and music reviews in order to develop their ability to write about music for academic and non-academic audiences in compelling ways. Open only to juniors and seniors.