Music
DILLARD UNIVERSITY MUSIC
Whether you dream of performing on grand stages, composing groundbreaking music, teaching future generations, or making an impact in the music industry, the Dillard University School of Music will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to make your mark.
Our program is designed to equip you with a solid foundation in music theory skills, complemented by a comprehensive liberal arts education, providing you with the tools to launch a successful career, pursue graduate studies, or enter professional programs.
Whether you dream of performing on grand stages, composing groundbreaking music, teaching future generations, or making an impact in the music industry, the Dillard University Music program will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to make your mark.
As a student in our program, you’ll have numerous opportunities to showcase your talents through performances, recitals, and collaborations with fellow musicians. You’ll be immersed in a supportive community that values artistic expression and fosters an environment of creativity and collaboration.
At Dillard, we believe that music has the power to transform lives and transcend boundaries. Be part of a musical journey that not only shapes your future but also enriches the cultural landscape of our campus, the vibrant city of New Orleans, and the entire nation.
CONCENTRATIONS
- Dillard’s music industry concentration
- provides the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the industry through:
- legal,
- business
- marketing classes
- provides the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the industry through:
- vocal performance concentration is
- a four-year training process that prepares students for a career in
- entertainment and
- music education.
- a four-year training process that prepares students for a career in
Welcome to the Dillard University School of Music web page, where the power of music comes alive and empowers students to shape their futures. In our program, you will embark on a transformative journey that equips you with a solid foundation of music theory skills and a comprehensive liberal arts education, setting the stage for successful careers, advanced studies in graduate school, or professional programs.
Our curriculum encompasses a broad range of musicology, allowing you to explore diverse musical genres, styles, and traditions. Whether your passion lies in classical, jazz, gospel, or contemporary music, our program provides you with the necessary knowledge and training to excel. With a focus on both theory and practical application, you’ll have the opportunity to effectively train with the instruments of your choice, honing your skills and unleashing your musical potential.
By joining the Dillard University School of Music, you become part of a rich legacy that enhances the cultural fabric of our campus, the vibrant city of New Orleans, and the entire country. Our faculty members, who are renowned musicians and educators, are dedicated to nurturing your artistic growth, fostering creativity, and igniting your passion for music. They will guide you every step of the way, providing mentorship and personalized attention that will inspire you to reach new heights.
As a student in our program, you’ll have numerous opportunities to showcase your talents through performances, recitals, and collaborations with fellow musicians. You’ll be immersed in a supportive community that values artistic expression and fosters an environment of creativity and collaboration.
At the Dillard University School of Music, we believe that music has the power to transform lives and transcend boundaries. We invite you to explore our web page further to learn more about our curriculum, faculty, and the exciting possibilities that await you. Be part of a musical journey that not only shapes your future but also enriches the cultural landscape of our campus, the vibrant city of New Orleans, and the entire nation.
Our program is designed to equip you with a solid foundation in music theory skills, complemented by a comprehensive liberal arts education, providing you with the tools to launch a successful career, pursue graduate studies, or enter professional programs.
In our School of Music, we believe in nurturing well-rounded musicians, and our curriculum reflects that philosophy. You’ll have the opportunity to explore a broad range of musicology, delving into the rich history, theory, and cultural context of music. Additionally, you’ll have the freedom to effectively train with the instruments of your choice, honing your skills and developing your unique musical voice.
But being a part of the Dillard University School of Music means much more than just receiving a top-notch education. You become part of a rich legacy that enhances the vibrant culture of our campus, contributes to the vibrant music scene in New Orleans, and leaves a lasting impact on the music landscape of our country. Our students and alumni have made significant contributions to the world of music, spreading joy and inspiration through their performances and compositions.
With our dedicated faculty and staff, who are renowned musicians and educators themselves, you’ll receive personalized attention and mentorship that will help you reach your full potential. Our small class sizes and supportive community foster an environment where your artistic expression can flourish, and your musical aspirations can become a reality.
Whether you dream of performing on grand stages, composing groundbreaking music, teaching future generations, or making an impact in the music industry, the Dillard University School of Music will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to make your mark.
We invite you to explore our web page to learn more about our program, faculty, and the remarkable experiences that await you as a student in the Dillard University School of Music. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of melody, harmony, and rhythm as we guide you towards a fulfilling and successful musical journey.
Complete a total 120 credit hours of coursework for graduation
General Education Core – 41 credit hours
Major Requirements – 49 credit hours
Additional Coursework – 30 credit hours
Major Requirements
- Applied Music (piano or voice)
- HUM 400 Senior Portfolio
- MUS 103 Ear Training/Sight Singing
- MUS 104 Ear Training/Sight Singing
- MUS 109 Music Theory
- MUS 110 Music Theory
- MUS 131 Piano Class
- MUS 132 Piano Class
- MUS 147 Concert Choir/Ensemble
- MUS 148 Concert Choir/Ensemble
- MUS 213 Music Theory
- MUS 214 Music Theory
- MUS 231 Piano Class
- MUS 232 Piano Class
- MUS 223 Music History
- MUS 224 Music History
- MUS 247 Concert Choir/Ensemble
- MUS 248 Concert Choir/Ensemble
- MUS 347 Concert Choir/Ensemble
- MUS 348 Concert Choir/Ensemble
- MUS 439 Special Topics
- MUS 140 Introduction to Music Business
- MUS 349 Legal Environment of Music
- MUS 229 Principles of Music Marketing
- MUS 226 Introduction to Music Technology
- MUS 369 Music Production Management
Additional Coursework
- General Elective (9 credit hours)
- Humanities Elective (3 credit hours)
- Minor or Elective (18 credit hours)
Music – Music Industry Curriculum
First Year
First Semester
- AWS100 or REL208 Survey of American World or The Black Church in U.S. (core) 3
- ENG 111 Expository Writing (core) 3
- FGR 121 or FFR 121 Elementary German or Elementary French (core) 3
- FYS 101 First Year Seminar I (core) 1
- MAT 121 College Algebra (core) 3
- MUS 103 Ear-training and Sight-singing 1
- MUS 147 Concert Choir/Ensemble 1
- UCO 101 University Convocation I (core)
- Applied Music (piano or voice) 1
Total: 16
Second Semester
- BIO 101 or PHY101 Biological Science I or Physical Science I (core) 3
- BIO L or PHY L 101 Biological Science I Lab or Physical Science I Lab (core) 1
- FGR 122 or FFR 122 Elementary German or Elementary French (core) 3
- FYS 102 First Year Seminar II (core) 1
- ENG 112 Argument and Research (core) 3
- MUS 104 Ear-training and Sight-singing 1
- MUS 148 Concert Choir/Ensemble 1
- UCO 102 University Convocation II (core) 0
- Applied Music (piano or voice) 1
- General Elective 3
Total: 17
Second Year
First Semester
- ENG 201/202 Reading in World Lit. I or II (core) 3
- ECO 203 Principles of Macroeconomics (core) 3
- MUS 109 Music Theory I 2
- MUS 131 Piano Class 1
- MUS 140 Introduction to Music Business 3
- MUS 247 Concert Choir/Ensemble 1
- Social Science electives (core) 3
- Physical Education Activities (core) 2
Total: 18
Second Semester
- MUS 226 Introduction to Music Technology 3
- ENG199 Writing Proficiency Exam 0
- MUS 110 Music Theory II 2
- MUS 132 Piano Class 1
- MUS 248 Concert Choir/Ensemble 1
- Social Science electives (core) 3
- Humanities electives (core) 3
Total: 13
Third Year
First Semester
- MUS 349 Legal Environment of Music 3
- MUS 223 Music History 3
- MUS 213 Music Theory III 2
- MUS 231 Piano Class 1
- MUS 347 Concert Choir/Ensemble 1
- General Elective 3
Total: 13
Second Semester
- MUS 229 Principles of Music Marketing 3
- MUS 224 Music History 3
- MUS 214 Music Theory IV 2
- MUS 232 Piano Class 1
- MUS 348 Concert Choir/Ensemble 1
- General elective 3
- Humanities General Elective 3
Total: 16
Fourth Year
First Semester
- MMUS 439 Special Topics 3
- Minor or General Elective 3
- Minor or General Elective 3
- Minor or General Elective 3
- Minor or General Elective 3
Total: 15
Second Semester
- HUM 400 Senior Portfolio 3
- MUS 369 Music Production Management 3
- Minor or General Elective 3
- Minor or General Elective 3
- Minor or General Elective 3
Total: 12
Total Required Hours: 120
*Service Learning: Students will earn a total of 30 service learning hours after successful completion of FYS 101 and FYS 102.
**Community Service: Students must contact the Office of Student Affairs for pre-approved community service project to earn a total of 90 hours of community service by the end of their junior year.
***Writing Proficiency Examination: Students must complete ENG 111 and ENG 112 with a minimum grade of ‘C’ to register for ENG 199 – Writing Proficiency Examination. Students who fail to take or do not pass ENG 199 must take ENG 200 – Review of Writing Strategies (3 credit hours).
Complete a total 121 credit hours of coursework for graduation
General Education Core – 41 credit hours
Major Requirements – 54 credit hours
Additional Coursework – 26 credit hours
Voice Performance majors must:
- A 15-min Jury performance is required by the end of each semester.
- A 30-min Junior Recital is required by the end of the 3rd year study.
- A 60-min Senior Recital is required as the exit examination for program.
Music students meet on Wednesdays at 12-1 p.m. for performance activities.
Major Requirements
- MUS 113 Applied Voice
- MUS 114 Applied Voice
- MUS 215 Applied Voice
- MUS 217 Applied Voice
- MUS 315 Applied Voice
- MUS 317 Applied Voice
- MUS 401 Applied Voice
- MUS 403 Applied Voice
- MUS 103 Ear Training/Sight Singing
- MUS 104 Ear Training/Sight Singing
- MUS 204 Ear-training/Sight-singing
- MUS 204 Ear-training/Sight-singing
- MUS 207 French Diction
- MUS 208 German Diction
- MUS 109 Music Theory
- MUS 110 Music Theory
- MUS 213 Music Theory
- MUS 214 Music Theory
- MUS 304 Music Theory
- MUS 306 Music Theory
- MUS 131 Piano Class
- MUS 132 Piano Class
- MUS 231 Piano Class
- MUS 232 Piano Class
- MUS 223 Music History
- MUS 224 Music History
- MUS 307 Choral Conducting
- MUS 308 Choral Conducting
- MUS 458 Opera Workshop
- MUS 458 Opera Workshop
- MUS 301 Form/Analysis
- MUS 323 Vocal Literature
- HUM 400 Senior Portfolio
- MUS 410 African and American Music
- MUS 439 Special Topics
Additional Coursework
- MUS 147 Concert Choir
- MUS 148 Concert Choir
- MUS 247 Concert Choir
- MUS 248 Concert Choir
- MUS 347 Concert Choir
- MUS 348 Concert Choir
- MUS 447 Concert Choir
- MUS 448 Concert Choir
Minor or General Elective 18 credits
Music – Voice Performance Curriculum
First Year
First Semester
- AWS100 or REL208 Survey of American World or The Black Church in U.S. (core) 3
- ENG 111 Expository Writing (core) 3
- FGR 121 or FFR 121 Elementary German or Elementary French (core) 3
- FYS 101 First Year Seminar (core) 1
- MAT 121 College Algebra (core) 3
- MUS 103 Ear Training/Sight Singing 1
- MUS 113 Applied Voice I 1
- MUS 147 Concert Choir 1
- UCO 101 University Convocation I (core)
Total: 16
Second Semester
- BIO 101 or PHY 101 Biological Science I or Physical Science I (core)
- BIO L or PHY L 101 Biological Science I Lab or Physical Science I Lab (core) 1
- FGR 122 or FFR 122 Elementary German or Elementary French (core) 3
- FYS 102 First Year Seminar (core) 1
- ECO 203 Principles of Macroeconomic (core) 3
- MUS 104 Ear Training/Sight Singing 1
- MUS 114 Applied Voice II 1
- MUS 148 Concert Choir 1
- UCO 102 University Convocation II (core) 0
- ENG 112 Argument and Research (core) 3
Total: 17
Second Year
First Semester
- ENG 201 or ENG 202 Reading in World Lit. I or II (core) 3
- MUS 109 Music Theory I 2
- MUS 131 Piano 1
- MUS 203 Ear Training/Sight Singing 1
- MUS 215 Applied Voice III 1
- MUS 247 Concert Choir 1
- Social Science electives (core) 3
- MUS 207 French Diction 1
- Physical Education Activities (core) 2
Total: 15
Second Semester
- ENG199 Writing Proficiency Exam 0
- MUS 110 Music Theory II 2
- MUS 132 Piano 1
- MUS 204 Ear Training/Sight Singing 1
- MUS 217 Applied Voice IV 1
- MUS 248 Concert Choir 1
- Social Science electives (core) 3
- MUS 208 German Diction 1
- Minor or General elective 3
- Minor or General elective 3
Total: 16
Third Year
First Semester
- MUS 213 Music Theory III 2
- MUS 223 Music History 3
- MUS 231 Piano 1
- MUS 315 Applied Voice V 1
- MUS 247 Concert Choir 1
- MUS 307 Choral Conducting I 1
- MUS 323 Vocal Literature 3
- Minor or General elective 3
Total: 15
Second Semester
- MUS 214 Music Theory IV 2
- MUS 224 Music History 3
- MUS 232 Piano 1
- MUS 317 Applied Voice VI 1
- MUS 248 Concert Choir 1
- MUS 308 Choral Conducting II 1
- MUS 301 Form/Analysis 2
- Minor or General elective 3
Total: 14
Fourth Year
First Semester
- MUS 304 Music Theory V 2
- MUS 458 Opera Workshop I 1
- MUS 401 Applied Voice VII 1
- MUS 447 Concert Choir 1
- MUS 410 African and American Music 3
- Minor or General elective 3
- Humanities Elective (core) 3
Total: 14
Second Semester
- MUS 306 Music Theory VI 2
- MUS 459 Opera Workshop II 1
- MUS 403 Applied Voice VIII 1
- MUS 448 Concert Choir 1
- MUS 439 Special Topics 3
- Minor or General elective 3
- HUM 400 Senior Portfolio 3
Total: 14
Total Required Hours: 121
*Service Learning: Students will earn a total of 30 service learning hours after successful completion of FYS 101 and FYS 102.
**Community Service: Students must contact the Office of Student Affairs for pre-approved community service project to earn a total of 90 hours of community service by the end of their junior year.
***Writing Proficiency Examination: Students must complete ENG 111 and ENG 112 with a minimum grade of ‘C’ to register for ENG 199 – Writing Proficiency Examination . Students who fail to take or do not pass ENG 199 must take ENG 200 – Review of Writing Strategies (3 credit hours).
Violet G. Bowers, M.A.
vbowers@dillard.edu
Associate Professor of Music
M.A. in Piano and Music Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
Location: Cook 118
Office: 504.816.4113
S. Carver Davenport, M.M.
sdavenport@dillard.edu
Associate Professor of Music and Concert Choir Director
M.M. in Music, Vocal Performance & Choral Conducting, University of Michigan
Location: Cook 124
Office: 504.816.4760
Wen Zhang, D.M.A.
wzhang@dillard.edu
Coordinator and Associate Professor of Music
D.M.A. in Vocal Performance, University of Nevada at Las Vegas
Location: Cook 128
Office: 504.816.4813
