Music
Join a vibrant and inclusive music community.
At Whitman College, the Music major can help you unlock your full potential and connect your passion for music through courses in composition, history, theory, performance and production. Our supportive environment meets students—music majors and all our music students—where they are but also challenges them to surpass their own expectations as they perform, create, critically examine and advocate for the music that matters to them. With performance halls, rehearsal spaces, a listening center, a music technology studio, 14 teaching studios, 25 practice rooms—and the guidance of talented and specialized music faculty—the Whitman Music program has the resources to help students fulfill their musical aspirations.
3 Reasons to Study Music at Whitman
In-Depth and Specialized Training
Whitman’s Music program offers a well-rounded education in all aspects of the music world. You’ll have a chance to specialize in an area that suits your particular career goals, with tracks for Composition, History, Jazz, Performance and Theory, and Music Technology and Production—or pursue a Standard track that balances all these areas.
Polished Performance
All Music majors at Whitman learn to play the piano proficiently. Plus, the department offers lessons for voice, brass, organ, harpsichord, strings, harp, woodwinds, guitar and percussion—with scholarships available for students who need assistance. Whatever your instrument, you’ll see your skill and artistry grow at Whitman.
Expanded Horizons
From Beethoven to the Beatles, you’ll explore an entire world of music at Whitman. You’ll learn to appreciate and respond to diverse perspectives as you develop a deep appreciation for this truly global art form.
Interested in Music?
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“I was intrigued by the liberal arts Music degree in which I’d be able to engage in a more holistic and intersectional study of the discipline. I wanted to be able to engage in music collaboration especially, which I’ve been able to do through participation in the Orchestra and Chamber Music program. I also wanted to find a place where I could form close and lasting relationships with professors and faculty.”
Our Whitman Student Voices BlogFaculty
Courses in Music
See just a few of the fascinating courses you might take.
Music Theory
What makes music work? In this class, you’ll dive into the fundamentals of music, including simple and compound time signatures, key signatures, scales, intervals, triads, common foreign language terms, tonal harmony and much more. It’s a thorough introduction to music theory that you’ll draw on throughout your Whitman career and beyond.
Songwriting
Explore the craft of songwriting in this interactive course covering form and structure, lyric development and creativity. By analyzing and evaluating works of past and present artists, you’ll learn what it takes to write successful songs. And you’ll draw on the concepts you learn to create and perform your own original works.
Orchestra
Experience the magic of live performance when you audition to be part of Whitman’s Orchestra. With your fellow musicians, you’ll study orchestral music of all periods from baroque suites to modern symphonies. The ensemble welcomes Music majors and nonmajors. Together you’ll present one or more formal concerts each semester.
Music History I: Middle Ages Through Baroque
In this course, you'll trace the history, styles and literature of music from the Medieval through the Baroque periods. Then go on to complete your survey of music history with other courses in the series, featuring the Classic and Romantic periods and music from 1900 to the present.
Hearing Islam
Discover the ways in which Islam has been conceived, represented and contested through sound. From calls to prayer to ghazals (love poems set to music) to Islamic rap, we’ll explore Islamic music from a wide range of historical and cultural contexts.
Intermediate Music Technology
Get hands-on experience with advanced recording and mixing techniques, synthesis, sampling and new music technologies. You’ll be introduced to programming in Max/MSP—and you’ll get to work on sustained projects of personal interest to you. Plus, you’ll discuss the intersection of music and technology and how it’s reflected in the music we hear every day.
Amazing Experiences You Can Pursue
Create and collaborate globally. Take your study of music abroad with Whitman’s off-campus studies program. Work with international musicians, explore local music scenes, do ethnomusicology research or attend performances in music-rich cities like Amsterdam, Milan or Vienna.
Experience artistic community. Want to develop deep friendships with other artistically minded students? Check out Whitman’s Fine Arts House, where students live and work together to promote studio art, theatre and music on campus.
Share the spotlight. Whitman Music majors perform regularly on and off campus. Audition for the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensembles, Orchestra, Chamber Music ensembles, Chorale or Opera Workshop. Star in a campus musical. Or work with the Walla Walla Youth Symphony.
Your Questions Answered
Studying music at the college level can prepare you for a career in music, for additional study at top graduate schools and for a lifelong enjoyment of music. You’ll learn to perform proficiently, to understand the history and theory behind the music that moves you, to create and collaborate with other artists, and to discuss and write about music meaningfully. If you dream of a life filled with music, this is the major for you.
Studying Music can prepare you for a vast range of career opportunities in the music industry, such as performance, teaching, composing, producing, music therapy and more. A bachelor of Music can also prepare you for advanced study at a graduate school or conservatory. And the skills you learn—like critical thinking, research, collaboration, and cross-cultural literacy—can lead to opportunities in fields like education, business, marketing, public relations, healthcare and law.
The Music major offers a vibrant social experience. Collaborating and creating music together provides opportunities for close friendships and a sense of community to develop. Musical theater and other performance groups draw students together from a wide variety of majors. And attending concerts and performances hosted by the Music Department and in the wider community allows students to socialize and connect with a diverse range of musicians and music lovers at Whitman and beyond.