Department of Humanities

The Music major allows specialization in voice, piano, or other instruments. The program is flexible, allowing students who begin as freshmen to complete the program in 3-1/2 years. Students who plan to serve in music ministry may earn Certification in Music Ministry through the United Methodist Church by completing a prescribed list of courses. The major follows National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) accreditation standards.

Music majors and minors benefit from excellent music faculty, personalized instruction, and an abundance of opportunities to perform in solo and group settings and in competition. Through involvement with area churches and in the Huntingdon Academy of Music, music students can earn experience as Church musicians and as vocal, piano, and instrumental teachers. Concert choir, the Huntingdon First Marching Band, solo recitals, and musical theatre are several ways in which music students can exercise their craft.

This complete undergraduate curriculum is offered in the context of a liberal arts environment. Outstanding artist-teachers provide the opportunity to develop musical skills to a high level, while grounding these skills in a firm foundation of music theory, history, literature, and pedagogy.

Major: Music
Minor: Music

The major requirements and course descriptions are outlined in the Huntingdon College Catalog.

Related Site: Huntingdon Academy of Music: Music Instruction for Pre-College and Adult Students

Faculty

• Dennis R. Herrick, Ph.D.
  Music Program Coordinator
• Gene Davis, M.M.Ed.
  Assistant Professor of Music (voice, choral)
• James W. Glass, D.M.A.
  Professor of Music
• Harald Rohlig, D.F.A.
  Professor of Music Emeritus
• Lauren Thompson, M.M.
  Instructor of Music

What makes the Music Program at Huntingdon College unique?

The faculty have a track record of producing both college and pre-college students who have been recipients of numerous awards, including winners of area concerto competitions, MTNA and NATS competitions at the state and regional levels, and events sponsored by the Alabama Music Teachers Association and other state-wide venues. Our pre-college and college students have been accepted at such schools as Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, The University of Alabama, University of North Carolina, University of Oklahoma, Florida State University, MIT, Hervard, and Priceton.

With the newly inaugurated Huntingdon Academy of Music (brahms.huntingdon.edu/ham) students in the pedagogy program will have unique opportunities to observe excellent teachers participating in the Academy as well as begin teaching within the Academy program itself. Along with the development of teaching skills, students will have ample opportunity to perform in venues both on and off campus and to participate in auditions and competitions throughout the state.

Music Careers

Music careers include music performer, music educator, church musician (choral conductor, organist, pianist, children's choir specialist), independent studio teacher, music therapist, music store owner-operator, recording studio owner, and composer for film, television, or concert, civic chorus or band director, member of a military choir or band, member of a professional chorus or orchestra, orchestral conductor, instrument repair or design and manufacture, and music critic. Many students who study music work in other fields outside of music, for which musical training was a vital part of their vocational preparation.

Performance Requirements for Admission as a Music Major

Entering music students are expected to demonstrate the following proficiencies by written examination and a hearing before the music faculty:

• an adequate performing ability in a major applied area (auditions will take place on published scholarship days or by special arrangement with the music office, but no later than the opening of the semester);
• an elementary knowledge of the structure of music;
• a satisfactory aural ability;
• an appropriate keyboard ability.

Music Alumni

• Wayne Gibson: Recent Past President of the Music Teachers National Association (the primary music teachers organization in the U.S. with approximately 24,000 members) and former music department chair at Kennesaw State University
• Rockland Osgood: Successful tenor in Boston, New York, and throughout the country; member of the Boston camerata
• Susan Cooper: Recent semi-finalist in the Birmingham opera competition
• Pedro Mayor: Recently completed a Master's degree in jazz piano at the Manhattan School of Music; active jazz pianist throughout Alabama
• Joshua Martin: Finished a Master's and Doctorate in piano performance at The University of Alabama and was recently hired as a full-time faculty member at Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Florida
• Lauren Walworth: Finished a Master's degree from The University of Oklahoma in piano performance and pedagogy; hired as full-time teacher in the Birmingham-Southern preparatory program, an adjunct faculty member at Samford University, and is teaching in the Huntingdon Academy of Music
• Rebecca McNair: Recently completed a Master's in piano pedagogy at The University of North Carolina (Greensboro) and has been hired as an adjunct at Eastern Connecticut University.
• Sarah Cheatham: Successful independent piano teacher in the Montgomery area, newly appointed faculty and registrar of the Huntingdon Academy of Music, teaching 40+ piano students weekly with a long waiting list
• Tiffany McGuire: Completed a Master's at the New England Conservatory; teaches at AUM, Faulkner University, and the Huntingdon Academy of Music
• Successful music teachers in public and private schools throughout the state, region and country: Ann Nickles, Kathy White Corbman, Fred Mullens, Kim Sanders, Rodney Hamilton, Michael Wilson, Brenda Booker Shuford, Schwayn Bradley, Carrie Thomas, Diana Gray, Katrina Straughn, Milton Williams, Lydia Patterson, and others