Senior Capstone Projects
Senior Projects come in four broad types: composition project, music technology project, recital, and thesis.
Students interested in doing a project should begin planning and even conducting preliminary work during their Junior year and be enrolled in the appropriate classes during the fall semester of their Senior year. For a general overview of the goals and expectations for a project, consult "So you want to do a senior project in music..." For complete details about prerequisites, about deadlines for proposing and completing a project, and about what to include in a project proposal, please consult the Music Major Capstone projects guidelines. Please print both of these documents out and consult them frequently as you plan your project.
A key component is beginning work with the faculty advisor appropriate for the project. The advisor can help you define your particular interest and identify achievable goals. Discussions with the Chair of the Department are strongly encouraged.
For Composition, Music Technology, or Thesis projects, a brief (100 words) statement of the project concept must be given to the Chair by October 1, and a full written proposal for the projects is due to the Department Chair by November 15th. The proposal should be a thoughtfully prepared, thorough document outlining the scope of the project. (See Capstone Project guidelines for more details.)
The faculty will consider proposals at the first faculty meeting in December. Students will meet individually with the faculty at that meeting to describe their proposals and to answer questions.
Senior Recitals require auditions in the semester preceding the recital. Please note the varying audition requirements for Classical Senior Recitalsand Jazz Senior Recitals. If you are considering auditioning, contact the current Head of the Artists-in-Residence and talk your plans through with your private teacher. If a student wishes to perform a hybrid program, lecture-recital or combination of Classical and Jazz, students should consult with their studio instructor as well as the Music Department Senior Recital Auditions coordinator to determine appropriate audition requirements.