These campus fact sheets are designed to help orient Graduate Center Fellows as they begin their teaching assignments. Depending on the year, fellows are assigned to a CUNY campus where they can expect to teach two courses per year of less than 50 students. GCFs are commonly placed at the following senior colleges: Baruch College; Brooklyn College; City College; Hunter College; Lehman College; and Queens College. Fellows are able to request a placement at the end of their first semester (though requests cannot be guaranteed), which will begin in the fall of their second year. We hope that the information shared in these fact sheets can help fellows make an informed decision about their placement request and learn about their assigned campuses before arriving to teach.
Each fact sheet includes key department contacts and information on the student body, location, building access, and commonly taught courses. We are always in the process of compiling more information for each campus. Please contact us (musicteachinghub@gmail.com) if you would like to contribute or clarify any information. Completed entries can be selected from the “Campus Fact Sheets” drop-down menu.
Baruch College
Campus Information
- Baruch College offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in music, as well as a specialization in the management of musical enterprises
- The Baruch College Department of Fine and Performing Arts is housed on the 7th floor of the Newman Vertical Campus at One Bernard Baruch Way (5 Lexington Ave)
- Department Chair: Anne Swartz (Anne.Swartz@baruch.cuny.edu)
- Department of Fine Arts Office Admin: N/A
- Other GC Fellows at Baruch: Bahar Royee; Charlie Weaver; Stephen Spencer
Courses commonly taught by graduate instructors
| Course title | Course description | Required textbook | Class size | Course contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music in Civilization (MSC 1003) | An introductory survey of music in cultural and social history. The course proceeds chronologically through historical style periods to consider the development of Western classical music in relation to the cultural background with some inclusion of non-Western traditions. Credit will be granted for MSC 1003 or MSC 1005, not both. | Listening to Western Music (Craig Wright) | 25–50 | Abby Anderton (abby.anderton@baruch.cuny.edu) |
| Principles of Music (MSC 1005) | An introductory music course in which musical elements, structures, and styles are studied. Development of analytical abilities will be emphasized through consideration of major musical works by diverse composers. A wide variety of types and forms of music literature will be explored, including symphony, concerto, song, and opera. Credit will be granted for MSC 1003 or MSC 1005, not both. | The Essential Listening to Music (Craig Wright, 2nd ed.) | 20 | Andrew Tomasello (Andrew.Tomasello@baruch.cuny.edu) |
Brooklyn College
Campus Information
- Brooklyn College offers the following music degrees: B.A. in Music; B.Mus. in Music Composition, Music Education, or Music Performance; M.Mus in Global & Contemporary Jazz Studies, Media Scoring, Music Composition, or Music Performance; M.A in Music Teacher or Musicology; Advanced Certificate in Music Education or Music Performance.
- The Conservatory of Music’s office is located on the third floor of Whitehead Hall (#2 on Brooklyn College campus map), in room 422. In-person music courses are held in different buildings around campus, often though not always in Whitehead Hall.
- Brooklyn College is approximately a 50 minute commute from the Graduate Center via the B or Q trains.
- Department chairperson: Marianne Gythfeldt (mgythfeldt@brooklyn.cuny.edu)
- Assistant director: Douglas Cohen (dcohen@brooklyn.cuny.edu)
- Graduate deputy director: Alexandra Lewis (alewis@brooklyn.cuny.edu)
- Blackboard support person: Carlos Cruz (carlosa@brooklyn.cuny.edu)
- GC Fellows past & present: M. Agustina Checa; Carlos Cuestas; Natalie Oshukany; Lynne Stillings; Carolyn Stallard; Farah Zahra; David Marker; Brian Dolphin; Michelle Yom; Lindsey Eckenroth.
Courses commonly taught by graduate instructors
| Course title | Course description | Required textbook | Class size | Course contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSC1300: Music: Its Language, History, & Culture | Introduction to music through the study of works representing different times, places, and peoples. The grammar, syntax, and communicative purposes of music; the musical dialects of different cultures and how these have changed over time. Recorded, concert, and classroom performances. Satisfies Pathways Flexible Core Creative Expression requirement. (Not open to students who have completed Core Studies 2.2, Music 11.1, or Core Curriculum 1130). | No requirement. Many instructors offer this as ZTC (Zero Textbook Cost). | 30-35 | |
| MUSC3101: Music in Global America | The transnational roots of America’s vernacular music traditions. The diaspora of folk and popular styles from Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia, and the transformation and hybridization of those music styles in diverse U.S. ethnic and cultural communities. Loops of ongoing transnational interaction between contemporary U.S.music styles and urban musics around the world. Satisfies Pathways Flexible Core U.S. Experience in Its Diversity requirement and qualifies as an International Cultural Competency (ICC) course for Pathways College Option purposes. Prerequisite: English 1010 or permission of the department. | No requirement. Many instructors offer this as ZTC (Zero Textbook Cost). | 30-35 |
City College
Campus Information
- City College offers Bachelor’s degrees in popular music, sonic arts (focus on recording and music technology), and jazz; a music minor; and a Master’s degree in jazz.
- In-person music courses are held at City College’s Shepard Hall (160 Convent Ave, NY NY 10031), which is also home to the music library and recital hall. The departmental office is located in the basement at SH 72. One needs to show CUNY ID to enter most campus buildings, including Shepard Hall. GC Fellows can obtain a CCNY ID at the North Academic Center (NAC Building). Accompanied guests can enter upon showing ID.
- Shepard Hall has a few entrances, but not all of them are open consistently. Most reliable entrance is at intersection of 139th St. & Convent Ave: from that intersection, walk southeast along the paved walkway towards the building, enter through double-doors (go up the stairs at the entrance). To reach music library from here: walk straight into main hallway, open library door on right. To reach music office from here: walk straight into main hallway, turn left and walk to end of hallway, take stairs down one flight, turn left, walk through double doors, office is immediately to your left after double doors.
- CCNY is approximately a 30 minute commute from the Graduate Center via the D train, slightly longer via the 1 train.
- Department chair: Shaugn O’Donnell (sodonnell@ccny.cuny.edu)
- Music office admin: Maria Alexandre (malexandre@ccny.cuny.edu)
- For technology help: Winy Taveras (wtaveras@ccny.cuny.edu)
- GC Fellows past & present: Miranda Fedock (mfedock@gradcenter.cuny.edu); Matthew Schreiber; Erin Johnston.
Courses commonly taught by graduate instructors
| Course title | Course description | Required textbook | Class size | Course contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUS10200: Introduction to World Music | An exploration of music from around the world and its relation to historical, social, and cultural forces. Investigates music related to religion, ritual, politics, work, and social function in terms of musical form, style, and literary content. Does not serve as a prerequisite for history courses in the music major. [Eligible to be a SEEK class: typically in fall semester, class may be chosen to be offered to SEEK students. If so, instructor receives small additional stipend to complete mid-semester evaluations and offer students some extra support.] | Titon, Jeff Todd. Worlds of music: an introduction to the music of the world’s peoples. Cengage Learning, 2016. Possible to convert to Open Educational Resource/Zero Textbook Cost class. | 25 |
Miranda Fedock (mfedock@gradcenter.cuny.edu): Instructor
Shaugn O’Donnell (sodonnell@ccny.cuny.edu): Administration
Sherri Rings (slrings@ccny.cuny.edu): SEEK contact |
Hunter College
Campus Information
- Hunter College grants both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in music, in addition to music minors. Many introductory music courses are also offered non-majors to fulfill elective or general education requirements.
- The Hunter College Music Department is located on the fourth floor of the North Building on Hunter’s 68th Street campus. Students, faculty and staff with a Hunter OneCard may enter the North Building of Hunter College using the entrance on East 69th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues. Walk into the lobby and take one of the elevators immediately to your left, and take it to the 4th floor, where you will find the Music Department. (The elevators to your right do not stop on the 4th floor.)
- Department Chair: Suzanne Farrin (sf1357@hunter.cuny.edu)
- Music Office Admin: Shani Baker (sb6033@hunter.cuny.edu)
- For technology help: Brad Stoller (bstoller@hunter.cuny.edu)
- Other GC Fellows at Hunter: Evangeline Athanasiou (eathanasiou@gradcenter.cuny.edu); Stephen Gomez (sgomez@gradcenter.cuny.edu); Audrey Chen; Rebecca Coale
Courses commonly taught by graduate instructors
| Course title | Course description | Required textbook | Class size | Course contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Thousand Years of Listening (music appreciation) | Selected compositions primarily from the European tradition studied with aim to develop perceptive listening. | Esther Morgan Ellis, ed., Resonances: Engaging Music in its Cultural Context (Dahlonega, GA: University of North Georgia Press, 2020) | 40 | Cathy Coppola ccoppola@hunter.cuny.edu |
| Music Theory Fundamentals | Basics in Western Art Music notation, listening, theory, and composing. Assumes no prior musical knowledge of students. Topics include staff, notes, rhythm, meter, scales intervals, triads, seventh chords, Roman numerals, and basics of musical composition. | Joseph N. Straus, Elements of Music, 4th ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2022) | 32 | Philip Ewell pewell@hunter.cuny.edu |
Lehman College
Campus Information
- Lehman College grants a Bachelor of Science in Music, along with a music minor. Many introductory music courses are offered to non-majors to fulfill elective or general education requirements.
- In-person music courses are held in the Music Building at Lehman College’s Bronx campus. The Music Building is located in the north-east section of Lehman’s campus; prior to COVID, there was no ID requirement to enter the building. Directly to the south of the Music Building are the library and concert hall; Lehman College does not have a stand-alone music library.
- The commute to Lehman College from the Graduate Center is approximately 50 minutes via the 4 or D trains, which are in walking distance of campus.
- Department chair: Diana Battipaglia (diana.battipaglia@lehman.cuny.edu)
- Music office admin: Darina Qafleshi (Darina.Qafleshi@lehman.cuny.edu)
- Other GC fellows at Lehman College: Robert Wrigley (rwrigley@gradcenter.cuny.edu)
Courses commonly taught by graduate instructors
| Course title | Course description | Required textbook | Class size | Course contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSH 114 Introduction to Music | “History of Western music through the study of various complete works. Focus on the skills and perspectives needed for informed listening.” Lehman College gives much discretion in how to teach this course, though they request a strict focus on Western art music. | Instructor’s choice | Wide variation with each semester, from 15 to 50 | N/A |
Queens College
Campus Information
- Queens College grants Bachelor’s degrees in music, music education, and music performance, in addition to music minors and Master’s degrees in composition, musicology, music theory, music education, jazz, and performance. Many introductory music courses are also offered to non-majors to fulfill elective or general education requirements. Music fundamentals, however, is not commonly taken by non-majors; it serves primarily as a remedial course for music majors and is taught by QC faculty.
- In-person music courses are held in the Aaron Copland School of Music, a three-story building in the middle of the north edge of the Queens College Campus (65-30 Kissena Blvd. Flushing, NY, 11367). The building also houses LeFrak Concert Hall and the Music Library, open M-F 10am-4:45pm. Textbooks can be deposited as course reserves in the Music Library, allowing students to access a copy of the textbook when the library is open.
- Queens College is approximately an hour commute from the Graduate Center: F train to Forest Hills-71st Ave; transfer to Q64 bus; get off at Jewell Ave/Kissena Blvd and walk north along Kissena until main entrance to QC; walk northwest past QC dining hall on the left and Rathaus Hall dorm on the right to school of music main entrance. Before COVID, there was very little security: one could just walk in without showing ID and guests did not have to be announced.
- Department chair: Michael Lipsey (michael.lipsey@qc.cuny.edu)
- Music office admin: Tom Lee (Thomas.Lee1@qc.cuny.edu)
- For technology help: Justin Tricarico (Justin.Tricarico@qc.cuny.edu)
- Other GC fellows at Queens College: Samuel Teeple (steeple@gradcenter.cuny.edu); Stephen Gomez (sgomez@gradcenter.cuny.edu)
Courses commonly taught by graduate instructors
| Course title | Course description | Required textbook | Class size | Course contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course title | Course description | Required textbook | Class size | Course contact |
| MUSIC 1 Introduction to Music | Content and course organization depend on instructor. Traditional approach is akin to “Music Appreciation,” emphasizing a chronological survey of Western Art Music. Newer approaches emphasize critical thinking, content organized by topic/theme, and more diverse and inclusive repertoire. | Instructor’s choice | 25-35 | Emily Wilbourne (emily.wilbourne@qc.cuny.edu) |
| MUSIC 171, 172, 271, 272: Sight Singing and Dictation Sequence | Four-semester sequence taken by all music majors. Queens College uses “movable do” solfege. First semester established foundation in diatonic singing and dictation. Second semester adds chromaticism and modulation to closely related keys. Third semester adds more challenging chromaticism, modal mixture, and common-tone related modulation. Fourth semester adds atonal singing. | A New Approach To Sight Singing (4th ed.) by Berkowitz, Fontrier, and Kraft | 12–18 | Mark Anson Cartwright (mark.ansoncartwright@qc.cuny.edu) |
| MUSIC 173, 174: Harmony, Counterpoint and Keyboard Skills 1 and 2 | First two semesters in the six-semester theory sequence at ACSM. Goals include learning species counterpoint, fundamentals of harmony and voice-leading in tonal music, 4-voice partwriting, figured bass, and small-scale form and phrase techniques | Harmony and Voice Leading (5th ed.) by Eric Aldwell and Carl Schachter | 12–18 | Mark Anson Cartwright (mark.ansoncartwright@qc.cuny.edu) |
