With only 23 concentrators, Music is one of the smallest fields in the College. It is the avowed intention of the Department to supply a broad musical background in history, forms, and appreciation, and it does not attempt to teach applied music (technique if an instrument or the voice) which would be required by a composer or a musician. It is very different from the Yale School of Music which is a separate unit and supplies a training similar to a conservatory.

Broad Background

Those entering the Department must consider this distinction carefully. It a broad musical background is desired, the field can be rated as adequate, especially with a complete reorganization which is being planned for next year. The tutorial is handled in an informal undisciplined fashion and the initiative of the student is important if he is to benefit from this valuable and essential part of the work. In general, the field may be rated as fairly easy, with the reservation that an interested student can do a lot of hard work.

New Music 1

Up until the present the work done in the field has not been considered as a unified whole, large gaps being left in the material covered. Next year, however, Music 3 (history) and Music 4 (appreciation) are being combined into Music 1 to be called "a general survey course" and will include both of the above fields. Requirements will be much stiffer here than in the past, the Department being auxicus to rid itself of the onus of giving the last "snap" course in the College. This should lay a complete foundation for an adequate coverage of the field.

Specialization in any period or genre of music has been difficult in the past except for the exceptional student. Next year, following Music 1, perquisite for concentrators, special courses are devoted to (1) periods and countries, (2) styles and mediums, (3) forms, and (4) individual composers. There is only one course listed under each of these headings, however, so that men for the coming year will still have a fairly limited approach to the subject matter. It is understood, however, that in the following year alternate courses will be given to fill out each of the above categories. This scarcity of courses is made necessary by the small faculty.

Library Paradox

There is one of the best music libraries of books and scores in the country at Harvard distributed between Widener and the Paine Hall "reading room," but it is almost impossible at present to get books from Widener, and the division of the books in two libraries is inconvenient in the extreme. All this collection should be placed in the music building in the opinion of concentrators. This will require a remodeled room and a full time librarian, the present room in the music building being grossly inadequate, with no writing tables supplied, and closed at inconvenient hours. Further, several practising rooms are needed in the music building. At present no student can play a piano or victrola at any time when classes are in session, which means most of the day. Sound proof practising rooms should be installed at once and better facilities for playing victorla records (of which there are plenty) supplied.

Knowledge of Instrument

A knowledge of piano playing, or any other reasonable instrument, is not required, but is practically obligatory, if only for playing over written exercises. Further, a knowledge of harmony is valuable for anybody entering the field. The staff is interested enough in modern music to give ample encouragement to any student whose interest lies in that direction (jazz players excepted).

Department Men

Concentrators' comments on the faculty in the Department: Hill--amusing but choppy lecturer, good for elementary courses, authority on orchestration. Leichtentritt--lectures well, overemphasizes detail, an authority on opera. Davison--grand lecturer, expert in church music. Ballantine-- although weak as lecturer and tutor, authority on appreciation and form. Piston--his field composition, excellent lecturer and tutor for advanced men. Merritt--completely enthralled by music and thus inspiring and a good tutor, especially for more advanced men. Woodworth--excellent as glee club leader, not as strong as tutor. Ramseyer--excellent job as assistant in Music 4, best piano player in Department, should be advanced