About the Department
Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, The Music Department at SUNY Oneonta encourages individual students to pursue their musical, artistic, intellectual, personal, and civic development. The Music Department and SUNY Oneonta are dedicated to excellence in teaching, advisement, creative and scholarly activities, and the cultivation of an academic environment rich in opportunities for musical growth, personal challenge, and service. The Music Department provides education that will help students deal with the current and evolving realities of music and music-related professions, including consideration of ethical issues as they present themselves in the world of music and the general culture.
The Music Department has developed its two majors, Music and Music Industry, to be programs that are separate but that contribute equally to the overall academic rigor and robustness of the department's offerings. Each program has been designed to strengthen the other and to provide additional opportunities for quality of educational experience and student success.
The Music Department's mission, goals and objectives are appropriate to institutions of higher education offering courses of study in the field of music and reflective of the National Association of Schools of Music standards. The Music Department majors -- Music and Music Industry -- have been approved as liberal arts degrees.
Student/Faculty Interaction
The Music Department's 14:1 student/teacher ratio allows for engaging and meaningful mentorships, often highlighted in independent studies where faculty guide students working on their own research projects and creative activities. Students also have the opportunity to go on music-focused faculty-led trips across the globe, such as recent trips to Spain with Dr. Adam Kent (pianist) and England with Dr. Timothy Newton (choral director). In 2011, the Jazz Appreciation Society traveled with Professor Art Falbush (Big Band director) to New Orleans to help in the rebuilding of the Lower Ninth Ward after Hurricane Katrina.
In addition to activities directly related to courses and clubs, students have the opportunity to attend conferences with faculty every year. Two regularly attended conferences include the National Association of Music Merchants Convention (NAMM) and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). SUNY Oneonta offers student conference attendance and travel grants that make it possible for many students to take advantage of these opportunities at a very low cost.
2023 Music Industry Grad Nominated for GRAMMY
