Musical Studies

Fostering critical thinking, perceptive listening, and an expansive curiosity.

Through one-on-one tutorials, small seminars, and thematically integrated coursework, students take ownership of a holistic education that connects musical training with historical, cultural, and societal contexts to develop reflective and well-rounded artists.

Musical Studies Seminar Program

The Musical Studies Seminar Program at Curtis encourages artistic growth by fostering perceptive listening skills and critical thinking, while exploring diverse perspectives on culture and art. It is designed to integrate Musical Studies with historical, cultural, and societal contexts through multidisciplinary study—including classics, world literature, visual art, architecture, philosophy, science and technology, dance, and theatre.

Each year of study is thematically integrated, focusing on selected composers, visual artists, authors, poets, and topics in philosophy, science, and technology.

Applied Musicianship Tutorial

The Applied Musicianship Tutorial, conducted one-on-one, is uniquely designed to address the specific needs of Curtis’ international and pan-cultural student body. The close connection between student and tutorial faculty member fosters significant progress in areas that support individual artistic growth and enhance musical skills.

Capstone Tutorial

The Capstone Tutorial, generally completed in the fourth year of study, offers students a distinctive opportunity to continue deepening their intellectual and artistic development. Capstone tutorials are conducted with student pairs or small groups and a faculty member. Topics often focus on contemporary issues in classical music and in-depth explorations of specific works and composers. These are developed collaboratively by students and faculty.

  • Foundational Studies

    In the early years of study at Curtis, students learn essential concepts such as intervals and chords, notation conventions, species counterpoint, figured bass, scales and modes, tuning systems, and musical forms. Students also study Solfège with individual instruction to aid in the development of aural perception, sight-singing, and dictation.

    In the Foundational Seminar, students are encouraged to think critically about music by studying music in historical, social, and cultural contexts through multidisciplinary studies including classics, world literature, visual art, science and technology, dance, and theatre.

  • Music in Society and Culture

    Seven semester-long required courses, exploring the role and importance of music in society and culture.

    • Studies in Musical Cultures of the World
    • Survey of musical techniques of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
    • Improvisation
    • 4 electives and/or tutorials from Musical Studies two of which must include topics in Music History.
  • Musical Studies Electives and Tutorials

    Semester long courses are offered that cover selected topics in Performance, and Musical Studies as well as tutorials in Music History. Certain elective offerings change by academic year. Current offerings are announced yearly. The following electives will be offered regularly.

    • Jazz theory and improvisation
    • Composition for non-majors
    • Orchestration
    • Advanced score reading
    • Conducting for non-majors
    • Advanced Conducting for non-majors
    • Historical Improvisation
    • Aural perception in 20th and 21st century music
    • Selected tutorials in topics from Music History
    • Supplementary piano

Additional Details

  • Supplementary Piano

    Weekly lesson for all entering students, continuing through the second year of study (4 semesters).

    Required for all composition and conducting fellows for the duration of their study
    at Curtis.

    Continued study after fulfillment of the requirement may be selected as an elective,
    but may not count as a required elective credit.

  • Keyboard Studies for Piano and Organ Majors

    Development of score-reading skills including vocal, chamber, orchestral and opera scores. Fluency in figured bass, including chromatic sonorities, transposition, improvised accompaniments.

  • Preparatory Musical Studies

    Pre-college instruction and seminar in Musical Studies for those students not ready for entry into the Bachelor or Diploma program.