General Information | Music Major Core | Areas of Concentration | Performing Ensembles

The mission of the Department of Music at Westfield State College is to instill a greater appreciation and understanding of human experience through musical expression. We place the student at the center of our focus while creating an educational environment that fosters intellectual challenge, genuine curiosity, collaborative scholarship and artistic creativity. By introducing and deepening the knowledge and understanding of all aspects of music, the Department strives to enrich the lives of students, faculty and both local and national communities through research and performance. We are proud to serve the local community of Western Massachusetts in particular, including educational institutions of all levels, by presenting an active and dynamic series of public concerts, festivals and clinics as well as contributing to the enhancement of general level of musical interest and awareness.

The Department of Music offers a full range of musical opportunities to majors and non-majors in a learning environment supported by the guidance of an excellent and diverse faculty. The Department demonstrates a unique focus and competence in integrating musicianship training into all aspects of its well-balanced curriculum. We strive to emphasize high quality applied skills in private lessons and a variety of ensembles; introduce students to current music technologies; acquaint students with fundamental aspects of traditional theory and the history of Western music, jazz, and the music of other world cultures.

The Department of Music is a vital and integral component of a liberal arts college that nurtures a stimulating and inviting atmosphere for the arts. Our goal is to prepare knowledgeable and creative professional musicians committed to their art. The faculty is dedicated to the advancement of music through traditional study and performance, while promoting and encouraging the development of new paths and visions that will enable students to meet with confidence the ever-changing demands of the professional world of music