Music 

The mission of the Rhodes College Music Department is to create a dynamic, welcoming, and collaborative community that helps students write their own unique music stories. Every semester, over one quarter of the Rhodes student body joins with us to perform, compose, take classes, and gain real-world experiences that connect them directly with professionals in the field. Every story is different, and the Department of Music is committed to supporting each student’s journey through a flexible and student-centered curriculum, access to top-tier faculty, international learning opportunities, and a deep connection to the vibrant and culturally rich city of Memphis.  Rhodes College is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music [NASM].

Becoming a Music Major

Music majors are required to undergo a sophomore-year review in February.  This review helps assess academic and artistic progress and helps focus direction for the remainder of their undergraduate studies in music. Students must complete a Declaration of Major form which includes: an outline of their proposed course of study, an essay which details why they wish to major in music, and consultation with their academic advisor. The review includes assessment of all previous juries, review of the student's Declaration of Major form, and an interview with full-time music faculty. 

Music and Other Academic Disciplines

There are many ways to pursue music and other academic disciplines. There is the interdisciplinary major, Music & Psychology, as well as the Data Analytics Major with a concentration in Empirical Musicology.

A Music Minor, Dance Minor, or Music Industry Studies Certificate pairs nicely with any major across campus. 

Performance Opportunities 

All Rhodes students have the opportunity to participate in private lessons and musical ensembles, regardless of their major. Our well-rounded Liberal Arts framework prepares students to become accomplished performers, composers, music scholars, and entrepreneurs.

All students are invited to enroll in performance ensembles. See course offerings: MUSC 181 through 199.

All students are invited to enroll in private (applied) lessons in voice/instrument. See course offerings: MUSC 160 through 180.

Applied Lesson Fee

Applied Music Fee. Students enrolled in applied music will be charged an additional fee of $490.00 per credit for private lessons. After the first applied music lesson, this applied lesson fee is nonrefundable.

Once declared, Music majors will have the Applied Music fees waived for up to eight (8) credits of their principal applied instrument. Music majors taking more than eight (8) credits of Applied Music and lessons taken prior to declaration of the major will be charged the applied fee for those credits.

Once declared, Music minors will have the Applied Music fees waived for up to four (4) credits of Applied Music and lessons taken prior to declaration of the minor will be charged the applied fee for those credits.

*All students enrolled in 20 or more credits in a semester are assessed the extra fee for each credit beginning with the 20th credit. When one of those credits is an applied music course which carries its own fee, the following happens:

Students who are neither music majors nor music minors are assessed the applied music fee, but have the extra hour fee removed from their account.

Students who are either music majors or music minors have the applied music fee removed from their account, but are assessed the extra credit fee at a rate that is equal to the current applied music fee.

Professors

Carole Choate Blankenship. 1990. B.A., Rhodes College; M.M., D.M.A., University of Memphis. (Voice, Senior Seminar, Opera Scenes.)    
Courtenay L. Harter. 2000. Chair. B.F.A., Carnegie Mellon University; M.M., Northwestern University; Ph.D., University of Connecticut. (Music Theory, Music & Psychology, Oboe/English Horn, Chamber Music.)    

Associate Professors

John B. Bass, III. 2010. B.M., University of Southern Mississippi; M.M., Ph.D., University of Memphis. (Director of the Mike Curb Institute for Music, African-American Music, Jazz Studies, Improvisation, Guitar.)    
Thomas E. Bryant. 1987. B.M., M.M., University of Georgia; D.M., Northwestern University. (Piano, Collaborative Piano, Music Literature.)   
Charles Hughes. 2012. B.A., M.A., and Ph.D., University of Wisconsin. (African-American History, Popular Music and Culture, Twentieth-Century United States History.) 
Vanessa L. Rogers. 2010. B.M.E., Illinois Wesleyan University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Southern California. (Music History, Music Literature, Search.)

Assistant Professors

D. Jason Bishop. 2024. B.A., Rhodes College; M.M. Boston University; D.M.A. University of Oklahoma. (Choral Conducting, Music Theory, Music History.)
Jacob Sunshine. 2023. B.A., Columbia University; M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University. (Ethnomusicology, African/African-American Studies, Jazz Studies, Guitar.) 

Adjunct Instructors

Brianna Allen, B.A., Arkansas State University; M.M., Ph.D. Candidate, University of Memphis. (Bassoon.)
Mike Assad. B.M., University of Kentucky; M.M., University of Memphis. (Percussion, World Drum Ensemble.)
Alex Benford. B.M., Marshall University; M.M., University of Tennessee; D.M.A., University of Alabama. (Collaborative Piano, Organ.)    
Whitney Branan. B.A., Wagner College; SAG-AFTRA. (Dance, Choreography.)  
Elizabeth Cawein.  B.A., Murray State University; M.A., Brunel University. (Music Urbanism, Mike Curb Institute for Music.) 
Brittany Cooper-D'Orsay. B.A., Vanderbilt University; M.M., University of Michigan. (Horn.)
Jawaun Crawford. B.P.S., University of Memphis. (Trumpet.)
Jenny Davis. B.M., Middle Tennessee State University; M.M., Boston University. D.M.A. Candidate, University of South Carolina. (Flute, Flute Ensemble.)    
Rena Feller. B.M., Oberlin College Conservatory of Music; M.M., The Juilliard School. Memphis Symphony Orchestra. (Clarinet.)    
Daniel Gilbert. B.M., Indiana University; B.M., Roosevelt University; M.M., University of Memphis. (Violin.)
Alaina Graiser. B.M., University of Texas; M.M., University of Toronto; D.M.A., Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. (Harp.)   
Desiree Howe. B.M., M.M., Texas Tech University; D.M.A. Candidate, University of Memphis. (Voice, Opera Scenes, Musical Theatre.)   
Kevin Houston. B.M., University of Memphis. (Music Technology.)   
Marcus King. B.M.E., University of Memphis; M.M., University of Memphis. (Voice.)        
Francisco Lara. B.M., Northwestern University, M.M., Ph.D., Florida State University. (Musicology, Ethnomusicology.)    
David T. Lay. B.M., Lambuth University. (Guitar.)    
Sean O'Hara. B.M., The Juilliard School; M.M., Carnegie Mellon University. (Classical Bass.)   
Žak Ozmo. B.M., Wilfrid Laurier University; M.M., D.M.A., University of Southern California. (Music History, Music and Healing.)    
John Ross. B.M., Northern Illinois University; M.M., Illinois State University. (Guitar, Guitar Ensemble.)    
Jane Gerard-Schranze. B.M., Eastman School of Music; M.M., New England Conservatory. (Viola, Violin, Chamber Music.)    
Sylvester Sample. B.S., University of Memphis; M.B.A., Illinois Institute of Technology. (Jazz Bass.)  
Victor Sawyer.  B.M., University of Memphis; M.M., Manhattan School of Music. (Trombone, Low Brass.)
Jonathan H. Schallert. B.M.E., Harding University; M.M., Ph.D., University of Memphis. (Orchestra, Conducting, Music Theory.)    
David L. Shotsberger. B.M., M.M., Pennsylvania State University; D.M.A., University of Memphis. (Music Technology, Composition, Jazz Band.)    
Gerald Stephens. B.F.A., University of Memphis. (Jazz Piano.)    
Kate Stimson. B.A., Hollins College; M.M., University of Memphis. (Piano.)      
Yukiko Whitehead. B.M., University of Tennessee; M.M., D.M.A., University of Memphis; Yamaha Music Foundation Suzuki Piano Teachers Certificate, Suzuki Association of America. (Piano.)    
Carl R. Wolfe. U.S. Navy Chief Musician (ret.); U.S. Armed Forces School of Music. Memphis Jazz Orchestra. (Saxophone.)

Staff

Erika Pope. 2016. Musical Arts Coordinator. B.A., Henderson State University.

Requirements for the Certificate in Content Production

Students must complete a total of 14 credits as follows:

1. MUSC/URBN 262: Music & Community in Memphis (2 credits)  
    
2. Twelve (12) credits from the following electives:     
   MUSC 222: Music Tech I  
   MUSC 322: Music Tech II  
   MUSC 323: Audio Engineering: History, Theory, & Practice  
   MUSC/URBN 382: Music & Community in Memphis II  
   ART 102: Intro to Digital Art I  
   ART 110: Film & Experimental Video Production  
   ART 115: Creative Publishing: Zines, Comics, Manifestos, and Artist’s Books  
   ART 202: Intermediate Digital Art  
   MST 120: Acting for New Media  
   MST 245: Screenwriting  
   ENGL 206+207: Creative Publishing I & II  
   Relevant Department or Program Topics Courses approved by Curb Institute Director and Department/Program Chair  
    
3. Mike Curb Institute Fellowship (one semester minimum)

Requirements for the Certificate in Arts Entrepreneurship

Students must complete a total of 14 credits as follows:

1. MUSC/URBN 262: Music & Community in Memphis (2 credits)  
    
2. Twelve (12) credits from the following electives:     
   MUSC 250: Music Urbansim  
   MUSC/URBN: Survey of Music Industry Studies  
   MUSC/URBN 382: Music & Community in Memphis II  
   MUSC 140: Music & Healing  
   BUS 125: Intro to Entreprenuership  
   MST 265: LGBTQ++ Culture in Media  
   PLAW 208: Media & Politics  
   PLAW: Urban Politics and Policy  
   URBN 340: Non-Profits in the City  
   Relevant Department or Program Topics Courses approved by Curb Institute Director and Department/Program Chair  
    
3. Mike Curb Institute Fellowship (one semester minimum)

A total of twenty-two (22) credits as follows:

1. Dance Performance (14 credits)
   Select from MUSC 150-155 and MUSC 251-255, such as:
      •MUSC 150 (Dance for Musical Theatre) [F5]   
      •MUSC 155 (Topics in Dance) [F5 pending]   
      •MUSC 251 (Adv Jazz/Contemporary Dance) [F5]   
      •MUSC 255 (Advanced Topics in Dance) 
    
2. Musical Structure (4 credits/1 course, dependent on placement)
   •MUSC 103 (Elements of Music) [F5] OR    
   •MUSC 204 (Understanding Musicianship) [F5] OR    
   •one from MUSC 306-313 [F6 & F2i available] 
    
3. Dance in Culture (4 credits/1 course)
   •ANSO 333 (Sociology and Hip Hop) [F9]
   •MUSC 265 (History of Musical Theatre) [F3 & F5]   
   •MUSC 231/HIST 226 (Musical Paris 1870-1940) [F3 & F5]   
   •Other courses/topics as approved by department. 
    

A total of fifty (50) credits as follows:

1. Performance Courses (14 credits)
         a. 6 semesters of applied music lessons (MUSC 160-180 = 1 credit each)
         b. 6 semesters of ensemble performance (1 credit each) 
             • MUSC 181: Rhodes Orchestra
             • MUSC 184: Rhodes Jazz Ensemble
             • MUSC 185: Rhodes Pep Band
             • MUSC 187: Archipelago Ensemble
             • MUSC 190: Rhodes Singers
             • MUSC 390: Rhodes Choral Collaborative
             • Other ensembles may count with departmental approval.   
         c. MUSC 414: Conducting I (2 credits)
    
2. Music Electives (8 credits)
   MUSC 101 does not fulfill this requirement.
    
3. Music Theory Courses (12 credits) -- See Music Theory Placement Information
           a. MUSC 204: Understanding Musicianship [F5]* – offered in Fall semesters
           b. Two 300-level music theory courses (306-313)
          *If placement test determines this course is redundant,
           choose three (3) 300-level music theory courses.
    
4. Music History & Literature Courses (12 credits)
         a.  MUSC 267: The Cultural Study of Music [F9] – offered in Spring semesters
         b.  Two 200-level music history courses selected from MUSC 227-229 [F3]
    
5. Senior Experience (4 credits)
         a. MUSC 485-486: Senior Seminar & Presentation (4 credits)**
         **Co-requisite of applied music lessons (if choosing a performance project) OR
            Co-requisite of applied composition lessons MUSC 320 (if choosing a composition project).
    

Once declared, Music majors will have the Applied Music fees waived for up to eight (8) credits of their principal applied instrument. Music majors taking more than eight (8) credits of Applied Music and lessons taken prior to declaration of the major will be charged the applied fee for those credits.

NOTE: Fine Arts Scholarship waivers for Applied Music fees are outlined in the award letter which supersedes music major and minor fee waivers outlined here.

A total of twenty-four (24) credits as follows:

1. Performance Courses (8 credits)
         a. 4 semesters of applied music lessons (MUSC 160-180 = 1 credit each)
         b. 4 semesters of ensemble performance (1 credit each) 
             • MUSC 181: Rhodes Orchestra
             • MUSC 184: Rhodes Jazz Ensemble
             • MUSC 185: Rhodes Pep Band
             • MUSC 187: Archipelago Ensemble
             • MUSC 190: Rhodes Singers
             • MUSC 390: Rhodes Choral Collaborative
             • Other ensembles may count with departmental approval.
    
2. Music Electives (8 credits)
    
3. One Music Theory Courses (4 credits) -- See Music Theory Placement Information
           a. MUSC 204: Understanding Musicianship [F5]* – offered in Fall semesters OR
           b. One (1) 300-level music theory course (306-313) depending on placement test.
    
4. One 200-level Music History & Literature Course (4 credits)
         a.  Select from MUSC 227-229 [F3] or MUSC 267 [F9]

Once declared, Music minors will have the Applied Music fees waived for up to four (4) credits of their principal applied instrument. Music minors taking more than four (4) credits of Applied Music and lessons taken prior to declaration of the minor will be charged the applied fee for those credits.

NOTE: Fine Arts Scholarship waivers for Applied Music fees are outlined in the award letter which supersedes music major and minor fee waivers outlined here.

A music theory placement test is given by the department to determine a student’s skill level. Any student demonstrating the appropriate level of proficiency may place into either MUSC 204 or a 300-level music theory elective. 

Students may alternatively fulfill this prerequisite by taking MUSC 103.

Students may self-enroll to take placement tests with their Rhodes credentials: https://rhodes.instructure.com/enroll/TADXTL

Contact Dr. Courtenay Harter for more information or an in-person evaluation of your skills.

All Honors in Music candidates must meet the College's eligibility criteria established for the Honors Program. Only students with a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 and a GPA within the major of 3.5 by the end of the fall semester of their junior year will be eligible to pursue honors. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for the major, students seeking honors will be expected to complete the following additional work:

1. The one-credit Honors Tutorial, Music 399, in spring of the junior year: in consultation with an appropriate member of the Music faculty, the Honors candidate must write a proposal for Honors work, positing a substantial Honors thesis or creative project that demonstrates an exceptional understanding of the area(s) studied, to be implemented in the senior year. The department must approve the proposal.

2. The Senior Honors Tutorials, Music 495-496, in fall and spring of the senior year. An overall grade of A- on the thesis or project itself is required for Honors credit.