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!
Although it is easy to change your major at most colleges, Dartmouth takes this statement to an entirely new level. While you declare your major at other institutions before your first year, Dartmouth students declare their major during their fifth term in residence—usually sophomore winter. Even though there is still plenty of time for me to decide upon my major, I have known for years that I wanted to major in music. However, you're probably thinking, "Hmm going to Dartmouth for music? That's weird." And yes! Yes, it is!
The music major at Dartmouth consists of taking 10 courses that cover creative practice, performance, and musical engagement and the music proseminar. In general at Dartmouth, it is incredibly easy to double major because we students take a total of 35 courses typically. However, I plan to only major in music and have a minor (undecided still) so I can take plenty of music classes! I do not know what my goal is from studying music, but there are so many options. I could become a professor teaching, become a composer for films, or even a musicologist!
DCWE's after-concert dinner
So far, I have taken five classes that are offered by the music department. In addition, my first year writing and seminar classes revolved around music too! First, I took a class on music and media in our everyday lives, which regards the scholarly writing of music. In the winter term, I took a class studying music history from late Classical to modernist styles. Now, I am taking a film scoring class where I write music for short films; I'm also taking programming for audio-visual arts which is also a music class!
A picture I took to advertise the DCWE concert in 22W!
In addition to classes, students have the option to take lessons or join faculty led ensembles for credit! That is the main part of the performative aspect for most music majors. Since it is my third term of taking tuba lessons, I am getting a fourth credit this term! Classes that cover critical engagement involve studying musical theories, histories, and the intersectionality of music with other disciplines. Classes about creative practice range from studying music theory to writing music yourself! The music department also offers two different study abroad programs. I am going to study abroad in Vienna next spring, which I am incredibly excited for! The other program is based in London. Although I am not a double major, most music majors have a second major which often complements their musical studies. I'll make sure to update you all along the way as I encounter more musical experiences through Dartmouth!
Through Dartmouth's Guarini Institute for International Study, I am getting to take classes and experience life at Wellesley College, an all-women's school!
Academics can be challenging at Dartmouth. But there are lots of groups across campus here to support you through your academic journey. Read on for my experience asking for help and a few organizations that might be helpful to you!
