Music Department
Professor Emeritus: Wayne Wold
Associate Professor: Noel Verzosa (chair, music history and literature, world music, appreciation, musical theater, popular music, special topics)
Instructor: Lynn Staininger (choral activities, conducting, appreciation, musicianship theory, special topics)
Adjunct Instructors: Anna Claire Ayoub (bassoon), Lisa Dodson (voice), David Duree (clarinet and saxophone), Lynn Fleming (string bass), Brian Hinkley (brass and wind ensemble, conducting), William Powell (piano appreciation), Gregory Shook (oboe and English horn), William Simms (guitar, early music ensemble), Barbara Spicher (flute), Wayne Wold (organ, harpischord, composition), Antony Zwerdling (voice).
Music is a cornerstone of a liberal arts education. Hood offers majors and minors in music history and literature, performance, and piano pedagogy and certificates in piano pedagogy and performance. The music curriculum has the following objectives: development of the enjoyment of music, proficiency in musical performance, understanding of music as a cultural and historical artifact, preparation for a career in music, and preparation for graduate school.
Most members of the department are concert artists, some of whom have performed nationally and internationally. Several are award-winning recording artists.
Facilities: Hood’s facilities for the study of music include eight practice rooms with Yamaha studio upright pianos, teaching studios with grand pianos (mostly Steinways), a large pipe organ, a practice organ, a harpsichord, a music-lab computer station and several performing venues: Brodbeck Music Hall, Hodson Auditorium, and Coffman Chapel.
Performances: Students have many performing opportunities through participation in recitals; performance labs; choir; chamber singers; the wind, string, jazz, and early music ensembles; and other smaller chamber groups. The choral groups perform several times each semester, including the annual “Messiah and More” performance, Candlelight Vespers, and the other ensembles present end-of-the-semester concerts each term. Numerous concerts each year by distinguished guest artists and faculty artists are also held.
Credit by audition: Students who have a substantial background in an instrument may audition with the department to earn up to 4 credits of applied music.
Undergraduate Programs Offered:
Applied Music (Lessons)
Hood offers individual instruction in piano, organ, harpsichord, violin, viola, cello, string bass, flute, English horn, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, all brass instruments, voice, guitar, composition, and conducting. Beginning instruction in all areas is available with consent of the Department. In all instrumental areas except piano, organ, and harpsichord, students are expected to provide their own instruments.
All Hood students are eligible to take lessons regardless of their field of study. Students may take applied music for credit; music majors and minors have specific requirements regarding the areas of applied music and the number they must take. Students may choose to take either one 30-minute lesson per week, which will earn them 1 credit for the semester; or one 60-minute lesson per week, which will them 2 credits for the semester. Two 30-minute lessons may be combined into a 60-minute lesson each week at the discretion of the instructor.
Students taking applied music for credit must attend three department-approved concerts each semester and are expected to participate in performance labs scheduled throughout the semester. Applied music credits are based on reasonable progress, fulfillment of the concert and performance requirements, and successful completion of an end-of-semester departmental exam ("jury"). Students in their first semester of study are exempt from juries. Students taking lessons in more than one area of applied music must complete a jury for each area of study.
There is a modest fee for lessons and use of the practice rooms; the department is sometimes able to award scholarships to help cover these fees.
For detailed, up-to-date information on the applied music program and policies, please consult the Applied Music Handbook.
Music Ensembles
All Hood students may participate in music ensembles regardless of their field of study. Students may enroll in ensembles for credit; music majors and minors have specific requirements regarding the ensembles and number of credits they must enroll in. Students earn 0.5 credit for each semester of ensemble and may earn up to 6 credits during their Hood careers.
Note: in all cases, the appropriate director must approve placement in music ensembles.