WPI has over 235 student-run clubs including many student-run music clubs. The Marching and Pep band, for instance, is a student-run organization dedicated to enriching school spirit through musical performance. Check out the high-energy African Percussion & Dance Ensemble or learn about broadcasting through the WWPI Campus Radio; explore one of the many music-related groups on campus!
Music @ WPI.
Music studies at WPI present a variety of opportunities to explore performance, technology, composition, research, history, theory, and more.
HUA Requirement
Every WPI student can focus their HUA studies in music culminating with a project-based capstone in performance (instrumental and vocal), technology, history, and theory.
Major/Minor
Study of Music at WPI need not stop at the completion of the HUA requirement. Minors and majors allow individualized work and collaborations with music faculty.
Performing Ensembles
We have numerous choral and instrumental ensembles. All ensembles perform at a high level and present concerts throughout the school year, kicking off with the annual Family Weekend Concert each October.
Courses
Our music curriculum is focused on a range of topics in performance, technology, history, theory, and more.
Research
WPI offers students unique opportunities to combine their technical and artistic interests. One of those ways is to contribute to research conducted in one of our music technology labs.
Student Groups
In addition to course-related music opportunities, we have many student-run music ensembles and clubs.
Courses and the HUA Requirement.
You can satisfy your Humanities and Arts (HUA) requirement by completing...+ one non-music HUA course (that's your “breadth”)
+ one course in any HUA discipline including another music course.
You, then, take a music Seminar (HU3900) or Practicum (HU3910) course as your "HUA capstone"; these small-group setting courses are typically project-based and focus on a range of topics in performance (instrumental and vocal), technology, history, and theory.
Music Course Pathways
Music Studies
1xxx - Music and Its Makers
2xxx - Sounds of Social Justice
PSY2501 - Music & Mind
3501 - Music in Time of Conflict
3xxx - Topics in African American Music
3xxx - Music, Gender, and Power
Music Technology
2300 - Foundations of Music Technology
3614 - Topics in MIDI
3615 - Topics in Digital Sound
3616 - Topics in Interactive Programming
3620 - Electronic Music Composition
Music Theory
1xxx - Foundations of Music Theory & Aural Skills
2723 - Music Composition
2724 - Arranging & Orchestration
3730 - Jazz Theory
Music History
2720 - Music History I
2721 - Music History II
2722 - History of American Pop Music
3001 - World Music
2719 - Jazz History
Music Ensembles
2631 - Glee Club
2632 - Alden Voices
2633 - Brass Ensemble
2634 - Jazz Ensemble
2635 - Stage Band
2636 - Concert Band
2637 - String Ensemble
2638 - Chamber Choir
26xx – Conducting
Get into Music Research
Join one of our many music research labs and groupsFor any lab or area of research that interest you, visit the lab website to contact the WPI faculty principal investigator (PI); there are many related research efforts going on all the time, so explore the types of research associated with each lab and then reach out to the PI to if you'd like to get involved.