Performance, Ensembles, Instruction

Performance
The Music Department offers a broad range of opportunities in group and solo performance. Musical performance at Goucher includes both large and small ensembles as well as private lessons.

Ensembles 
The Chamber Symphony, the Chorus, and the African Drum and Dance Ensemble are Goucher’s three large ensembles. Small groups include the Goucher Chamber Music Group, the Chamber Singers, the Opera Workshop, Baroque Ensemble, Piano Ensemble, and the Jazz Ensemble. Participation in group performance ordinarily requires audition or permission of the instructor. Audition times are announced at the beginning of each semester. Course credit may be earned at the rate of 1.5 credit hours per semester per group. Ensemble participation can be taken for credit or as an audit. The department maintains informal ties with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra (BCO) and the Baltimore Choral Arts Society (BCAS), whose director, Tom Hall, is also the director of the Goucher Chorus. Goucher is home base for the performances of both the BCO and the BCAS.

Private Instruction 
Individual instruction in woodwind, brass, stringed instruments, guitar, organ, piano, percussion, and voice is available to all students at all levels from beginning through advanced. Lessons are given by the finest musicians in the Baltimore-Washington area, many of whom also teach at the Peabody Conservatory and perform with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Course credit is earned at a rate of 1.5 credit hours per semester. Ordinarily, there is a limit of one course of private lessons per semester. (See course description MUS 160-188, for information regarding requirements.)  Students may take up to a total of 24 performance credits (including credit earned in private instrumental and vocal lessons and in ensembles). With the permission of the instructor, there is no limit to the number of times that ensemble performance courses may be taken as an audit. Music majors who concentrate in either performance or education may take an additional 1.5 credits for the senior recital. Ordinarily the 24-credit limit may not be exceeded unless the student petitions the department explaining the need for more performance credits in a particular course of study. (Private conducting and composition lessons may be included in the 24 performance credits at the discretion of the department chair.)