The Hollywood Reporter has included the University of North Texas College of Music to its list of Top 20 Music Schools. Coming in at number 19, be sure to see the ranking details on page 78 at tinyurl.com/THRUNT
College Gazette named the University of North Texas the Best Performing Arts College in the United States. According to the authors, “These [ten institutions] are exceptionally prestigious schools that regularly invite major guest artists to campus, are highly selective, and have stellar faculty who are accomplished performing artists themselves.” In addition to the significant offerings of the College of Music, the ranking includes our friends in UNT Department of Dance and Theatre along with the extensive UNT Music Library.
http://collegegazette.com
The Yamaha Institution of Excellence program has included the UNT College of Music in its inaugural list of 10 distinguished colleges and universities recognizing extraordinary commitment to innovation in the study of music. “These schools rise to the level of exceptional academic leadership that first inspired Yamaha to introduce this vital program and we are eager to join with them in a shared mission,” said Dan Rodowicz, senior director, Institutional Sales, Yamaha. According to John W. Richmond, dean of UNT’s College of Music, “We are thrilled to be included in Yamaha’s inaugural class of Institutions of Excellence and are eager to evolve our relationship with Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA) from a transactional one to a collaborative one. We envision collaborations across domains in music performance, music technology, music education, music production/distribution, instrument design/engineering/testing, music business and musicians’ health. We believe this new way of work to be enlightened and momentous. We can’t wait to get started!”
https://tinyurl.com/yamahaunt
The curriculum includes studies in analytical techniques covering the entire history of Western musical practice (including specialized methodologies such as Schenkerian studies and set theory approaches, as well as historically established methodologies); applied studies in contrapuntal composition; history of music theory with direct study of treatises; music theory pedagogy with on-site involvement in class instruction. Emphasis is placed upon the acquisition of and development of fluency in basic music skills (sight-singing, ear-training, realization of part music at the keyboard).
The area’s emphasis on scholarship and publication facilitates active engagement in broader conversations within the discipline, an engagement that enhances its profile beyond UNT while enriching its service to the university. The interface between research, performance, and teaching finds an immediate expression in the graduate programs supported by the area. This interface remains evident through an array of courses in music history aimed at undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students from throughout the College of Music and across campus.
This is an important and worthy area of study that too often has been neglected. The study of non-Western music offers students a deeper understanding of not only other peoples, but also the possibility of gaining new insights into their own culture. A broader understanding of music cultures offers to majors in all fields of study a greater appreciation for the diversity and creativity of humankind.
