Merrimack College students interested in pursuing advanced music-related study or a career in the music industry can now declare a music major. The new major, launched this semester, provides interested students with a comprehensive music education.
“The major is an overview of the ways one can engage with music,” said Laura Moore Pruett, associate professor and music program director. “This includes making, composing and producing music, as well as studying music on the theoretical and cultural level.”
Students who major in music will study popular and classical music from around the world and develop their theoretical understanding of music composition. They will learn current trends in music production and engineering and become proficient in at least one vocal or instrumental area.
The bachelor of music is open to all Merrimack students and there are no prerequisites to apply. Auditions and the ability to read music are not required to declare the music major.
“We welcome all students who are passionate about music,” Moore Pruett said. “Our one requirement for new music majors is that music is something they love.”
There is a strong interdisciplinary component to the music major that benefits from Merrimack’s vibrant visual and performing arts community. Students get hands-on learning opportunities at the Rogers Center for the Arts and may participate in the College’s large number of student organizations involving music, studio art, graphic design, art history, dance, film and theater.
“We really want students to think about music in context with other subjects,” Moore Pruett said.
In addition to vast performance opportunities on campus, music majors will have the chance to sharpen their entrepreneurial thinking skills during their required experiential internship in an arts or business/management field.
The department had a contract major who graduated last spring as Merrimack’s first music major. With the music major’s official launch this semester, four undergraduate students have already declared music as part of their double major.
