{"id":185,"date":"2026-06-17T11:20:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T15:20:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/?page_id=185"},"modified":"2026-07-30T10:44:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T14:44:38","slug":"music-ba","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/academics\/music-ba\/","title":{"rendered":"Music, B.A."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-music-b-a\">Music, B.A.<\/h1>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><nav class=\"is-responsive wp-block-navigation is-layout-flex wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Menu 3\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/navigation\" data-wp-context='{\"overlayOpenedBy\":{\"click\":false,\"hover\":false,\"focus\":false},\"type\":\"overlay\",\"roleAttribute\":\"\",\"ariaLabel\":\"Menu\"}'><button aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Open menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-open\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.openMenuOnClick\" data-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M4 7.5h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><path d=\"M4 15h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"menu-title\">Menu<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container\" id=\"modal-1\" data-wp-class--has-modal-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\" data-wp-class--is-menu-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\" data-wp-watch=\"callbacks.initMenu\" data-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\" data-wp-on--focusout=\"actions.handleMenuFocusout\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-close\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-dialog\" data-wp-bind--aria-modal=\"state.ariaModal\" data-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.ariaLabel\" data-wp-bind--role=\"state.roleAttribute\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button aria-label=\"Close menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-close\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.closeMenuOnClick\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"m13.06 12 6.47-6.47-1.06-1.06L12 10.94 5.53 4.47 4.47 5.53 10.94 12l-6.47 6.47 1.06 1.06L12 13.06l6.47 6.47 1.06-1.06L13.06 12Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-content\" data-wp-watch=\"callbacks.focusFirstElement\" id=\"modal-1-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__container is-responsive wp-block-navigation\"><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/academics\/music-ba\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Overview<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/academics\/music-ba\/curriculum\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Curriculum<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/academics\/music-ba\/capstone\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Capstone<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/academics\/music-ba\/ensembles-and-performance\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Ensembles and performance<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/academics\/music-ba\/careers\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Careers<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/nav>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-overview\">Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-intro\">Music is one of the most ancient and universal forms of human expression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Music travels across cultures, adapts to new technologies, and builds communities. Studying music seriously means understanding all of that: not just how to play or compose, but how music works in the world and what it can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull split-background-75 has-purple-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Robbie-Wilson-015.avif\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Robbie Wilson \u201923 works on an original composition, \u201cThe Forest Is Full of Color,\u201d inspired by the natural environment of Massachusetts and New England.\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Robbie-Wilson-015.avif 2560w, https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Robbie-Wilson-015-300x200.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Robbie-Wilson-015-1024x683.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Robbie-Wilson-015-768x512.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Robbie-Wilson-015-1536x1024.avif 1536w, https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Robbie-Wilson-015-2048x1366.avif 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns sidebar is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:45rem\">\n<p>At Clark, the music major is built around four distinct tracks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>performance<\/strong>,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>composition and theory<\/strong>,&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>musicology<\/strong>, <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and&nbsp;<strong>technology<\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you&#8217;re drawn to the stage, the recording studio, the archive, or the intersection of all three, there&#8217;s a genuine path here for you here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;ll start making music from the moment you arrive. Ensembles, private lessons, and performance opportunities are available from day one, allowing you to develop musicianship alongside your coursework \u2014 and to connect with a community of performers and makers across disciplines. At Clark, that community extends well beyond music: students work alongside filmmakers, visual artists, game designers, and writers, creating opportunities to score films, build sound installations, and compose for interactive media in ways few music programs can offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Musical practice at Clark is also connected to something larger. Students have used their skills to serve at-risk youth, generate political action, and explore how music drives social change. String players can join the Neighborhood Strings program, mentoring Worcester youth in one of the program&#8217;s most direct expressions of music as a social practice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-white-color has-darker-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-c47c59634cf0ec498c677547934041e3 is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-c385debf wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe provide tools and experiences to help students discern their own paths as artists and scholars and find their own legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n<cite>Professor Cailin Marcel Manson, Director of the Music Program<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-stretch is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-186 size-full\" alt=\"Students playing violins in an orchestra performance at family weekend\" src=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/visual-and-performing-arts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Family-Weekend-0170.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#736764\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-study-music-at-clark\">Why study music at Clark?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-checkmark-list has-small-font-size\">\n<li>You&#8217;ll play from day one. Clark&#8217;s ensembles \u2014 Concert Choir, Chamber Chorus, Concert Band, Jazz Workshop, Chamber Music Ensembles, and the Sinfonia string orchestra \u2014 are both academic courses and living musical communities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Private lessons in voice and a wide range of instruments are available with or without course credit, for majors, minors, and non-majors alike.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Four tracks mean four genuinely different educations. Performance, composition and theory, musicology, and technology each have their own professional trajectories \u2014 and the curriculum is designed to let you go deep in the direction that fits you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Faculty are working scholars and practitioners who bring their own creative and intellectual work into the classroom. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Worcester has a real music scene. Music Worcester, the Hanover Theatre, the Worcester Chamber Music Society, and numerous other venues offer discounted student tickets and, in many cases, connections to Clark faculty who perform and present there.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently asked questions <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Do I need to be an experienced musician to major in music at Clark?<\/summary>\n<p>You don&#8217;t need to have experience to study music at Clark. Each of the four tracks serves students with different backgrounds and goals. The core requirements build essential skills that all majors share, and private lessons and ensemble participation support your development from wherever you start. The best first step is to connect with the music program director, who can help you assess fit and plan your path.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Can non-music majors participate in ensembles and take lessons?<\/summary>\n<p>Yes \u2014 and this is one of the things that makes Clark&#8217;s music program genuinely open. All ensembles and most courses are available to non-majors. Private lessons are offered with or without course credit. Students who love music but are majoring in another field can participate fully in the musical life of the program, or declare a minor.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What is the difference between the four tracks?<\/summary>\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong>performance<\/strong>&nbsp;track is for students whose primary goal is developing as a performing musician.&nbsp;<strong>Composition and theory<\/strong>&nbsp;is for students who want to create music and understand its structural underpinnings.&nbsp;<strong>Musicology<\/strong>&nbsp;is for students drawn to the history, criticism, and cultural study of music. <strong>Technology<\/strong>&nbsp;is for students interested in recording, audio engineering, sound design, and music production. Many students combine elements of more than one track; the structure is a guide, not a rigid requirement.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Overview Music is one of the most ancient and universal forms of human expression. Music travels across cultures, adapts to new technologies, and builds communities. Studying music seriously means understanding all of that: not just how to play or compose, but how music works in the world and what it can do. 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