Hello! My name is Chase and I am a '25 from South Carolina. I'm currently considering studying more film scoring and video game composition to learn about writing music for movies and games! But when I'm not hanging out with friends or doing classwork, you can find me composing music. I'm involved in the Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble (DCWE), Dartmouth Chamber Orchestra (DCO), and the fraternity Zeta Psi.
As someone who did not know the ins and outs of marine policy, I loved learning about aspects of the blue economy. This class encourages us to be aware of the human aspect of marine problems regarding coastal erosion, pollution, and climate change. Professor Webster is the coolest!
I could not recommend this class enough to anyone who goes to this school! Professor Beaudoin has truly influenced me as both a musician and a student. We learn the music from the 1800's to present day including famous composers like Tchaikovsky, but also music by Beyonce and even the music of Dartmouth's professors. This is much more than a music history class. It is a class about music, our lives, and exploring the concept of sonder through musical lens.
If you're scared of coding or have a love for music, this is the class for you. This computer science class is cross-listed with music to teach students how to code using a language called processing to learn the basic principles of design through coding. We created several projects throughout the term, but Professor Casey really taught me that there is more to music than I think. For my final, I created an interactive keyboard which created a visual effect for each key that created music which made it a musical instrument! Genuinely such an amazing and fun class that I think people should consider.
Although this class is only offered during the F.I.R.E. study abroad program, it was such an amazing class. I absolutely adored having Professor Canepa teach us about Italy from its politics, music, food, and much much more. This class taught me hands on what Italian culture is through visits to famous landmarks, food tastings, or tours of Italian regions. If you don't want to study abroad, I suggest taking a class with Professor Canepa because she truly is one of my favorite professors I have had yet.
FallHanover, New Hampshire
I was on an off term, but decided to live on campus to join a fraternity and work in town. I took the time to write music for one of my friend's short films and learned a lot about the film music industry.
Dr. Moseley has been one of my most favorite professors by far. I have loved taking this class to divulge into my musical passion through creating music and learning about ways to create music. If you are interested in taking a music class, I highly recommend Dr. Moseley if you find a class with him that interests you!
I took this class with composer Miguel Kertsman who was incredibly knowledgeable in every type of compositional technique that I wanted. I studied electronic music composition with him to understand music digital signal processing better.
Although I'm not a fan of reading literature for the classroom, this class completely changed the way I perceive literature. I adored this class with Prof. Hollister as it engaged with the dissections of film, novels, and short stories regarding how humanity views the end of the world.
I took an off-term this Fall, but I decided to sit in on a class on how to arrange music for strings and woodwinds! After many hours of long work, I had a piece performed and recorded by professional musicians that I worked on in the class!
This has to be arguably one of my favorite classes I have taken at Dartmouth with one of the most qualified and talented professors! Throughout the term, I mixed eight different songs of all different genres and learned the ins and outs of sound engineering. This means figuring out the best ways to create and produce music in the industry. Now, I feel confident publishing my own music and have started helping others publish theirs too by working on their projects!
Jodie Mack's "History of Visual Music" truly changed my Dartmouth career. In their class, students learn about the ways artists has dealt with the intersection of sound and sight through film, sculpture, and live performance. Throughout the term, students present two films or performances of their own creative works. Now, Professor Mack is one of my advisors for my thesis which is a long-form piece of visual music!
SummerGreer, SC
During this Summer, I spent time at home with my parents while teaching at a high school marching band. I took a lot of time to write music to prepare my composition portfolio for grad school applications and took time to visit friends before we graduate!
Throughout this year, I am working on a film entitled "Queer Idyll." You can read more about the senior fellowship and my project on the blog, or at the link on above. My favorite part of my research and project this term has been visiting farms owned or cared for by queer individuals. I have witness so many amazing stories, beautiful locations, and friendly people!
If you know this infamous question and need reassurance, here is why.
Matriculation Day :)
Going to Orientation feeling extremely excited for the next four years of your life, but more importantly about to learn why people go to a school in the middle of the woods. Going cliff jumping into the River below the Quechee Bridge with people you just met. Then, finishing your Orientation and telling your friends and family back home about it with their responses all being in disbelief at the wild adventures you've already begun. Convincing your family that the Twilight Ceremony is a totally normal thing for 1000+ people to do together every year. Almost stepping on a snake with a girl (who you barely know) who then becomes your best friend. Meeting new friends as the song says "dance the night away."
Didn't my mom ask "if your friends jumped off a bridge, would you?"
Fall football
Sending a picture of both the Sun God and Keggy to your non-Dartmouth friends as they question you. Making 20 signs that say "Choate Sweet Choate" and hanging them up all over the Choates! Going apple picking with a bunch of total strangers who strangely share your love for wind ensemble? Then, meeting some of your closest friends when talking about the number three. Walking around the biggest (controlled) fire you have ever seen as everyone tells you to go touch it (but don't!). Laughing as someone yells "Whose socks are these?" and everyone yelled "Yale's socks." Going on top of a fire tower at 7am. Throwing a bicycle wheel into a tree (and retrieving it). Playing your first collegiate solo on stage. Constantly taking absurd pictures.
Band friends my first sunrike
Oh, and the sunrise view too
Taking a selfie with a giant tree. Having your first snowfall in town and going sledding down massive hills. Photoshopping many pictures of your friends. Building a rubber duck out of snow that is bigger than you. Watching that duck melt over the next several weeks. Spending hours by yourself in the plaster room for art class. Using a trash can for balance ice skating for your first time. Then, falling 100+ times the next day skiing for your first time. Doing another hike at 6am. Doing the polar plunge and feeling alive. Learning what a squall is. Having one of the most fun photoshoots for your friend's birthday.
Grace, the friend who almost stepped on a snake!
The polar plunge... cold thinking about it!
Having one of the most eventful weekends of your life. Building your final project which took 26 hours in two days. Laughing extremely loud in the quietest part of the library. The selfies on the Dartmouth Coach and of Boston in the air. Drawing a bunch of silly images after learning to code a few days ago. Watching one of your friends play tennis because she is an absolute legend. Smiling as you finally start to see spikeball back on the Green.
Go Ujvala! Go Green!
Dartmouth coach rides
There's a lot more, but that's my updated why Dartmouth!
Most students have to go back to college after Thanksgiving to take their finals, but not at Dartmouth! We have a six-week winter break, known as "winterim!" Let me tell you how I spent my winterim!
Applying early to a university can be overwhelming and confusing. As someone who did not apply to Dartmouth through early decision, here are a couple tips that I could have used when thinking about applying early to a school!
As a second-year at Dartmouth, I've embraced leadership roles that foster community, creativity, and support! Here's a look at how each role has shaped my journey.
