Music.
There were fewer than seven students in both classes. The professor was absurdly accessible and a lot of fun. It was cool to see everyone enjoy themselves. ”
Within the context of a liberal arts education, the Drew University Music Department nurtures and supports the development of a well-rounded and integrated understanding of music through a balanced curriculum providing experiences in historical study and research, solo and ensemble performance, theoretical and style analysis, and original composition work. The foundation of our curriculum is built upon the classical Western European tradition with extensions provided into musics of the world, jazz, popular, and new music practices.
The study of music at Drew extends a student’s comprehension of history and society while also preparing him or her for a career in music. The expression of ideas and emotions through music is integral to every culture. The broadly educated musician is in demand in the recording industry, education, theater, film, television, and radio.
Faculty work closely with students to create a curriculum integrating the study of Music History, Composition/Theory & Performance.
Students who excel in the arts, may elect apply for the Drew Scholarship in the Arts and submit samples of work. Areas of concentration include visual art, music, theatre arts.
Students awarded the Scholarship in the Arts receive an annual award of $1,500 per year ($,6000 over 4 years). This award is in addition to any academic merit awards received.
The Moog synthesizer pictured on the cover of the recording of Wendy Carlos’ Switched-On Bach belonged to Columbia Records. Sometime around 1978 Lydia Ledeen, then chair of the Music Department, got a call from a friend who worked for Columbia Records asking if we might be interested in acquiring these modules. They had been replaced by newer equipment. Lydia asked Norman Lowrey, at that time our resident composer, and he jumped at the chance.
Already by 1978 this equipment was becoming obsolete. Its manufacturing date was 1968. Only 10 years old. But what a wonderful teaching tool. We’ve now expanded into the digital realm, but the Moog still serves as the starting point for our Electronic Music Composition course. It’s still capable of producing groovy analog sounds like no other synthesizer!
