About Music (General Overview)

The Ramapo College music program has a distinctly contemporary orientation, encouraging students to create, explore, and study music with a 21st century perspective. Music majors begin with a progressive foundation in musicianship, integrating theory with aural skills, composition and analysis of musical styles from Bach to Rock. Discovering music as both a highly individual and culturally formed expression, students develop an interdisciplinary view of music that crosses boundaries in our increasingly global digital world.

Ramapo music majors select from four concentrations:

• Music Industry:
  The Music Industry concentration focuses on the rapidly changing dynamics of the music business and the relationship of music, business, and technology in the contemporary digital media landscape.
• Music Performance:
  Music Performance is particularly experiential, developing musical skills and fostering individual expression in diverse styles and also provides a foundation for students who might pursue K-12 music teaching.
• Music Production:
  Music Production emphasizes original composition, recording, sound synthesis and multi-media, including training in major music software programs such as Pro Tools, Logic, and Ableton Live in our state-of-the-art Les Paul Sound Studio and Electronic Music Studio.
• Music Studies:
  Music Studies centers on the more analytical and interpretive disciplines, writing about music, and the preparation for graduate school.

Ramapo College has a dynamic vocal music program that includes five choral ensembles: The Ramapo Chorale, select ensembles CantaNOVA, Skylark, Take12, and Gospel Chorus. The choirs tour internationally, with recent trips to the Pacific Summer Music Festival, the Philippines, Vienna, and the Czech Republic. The ensembles won seven medals at the 2008 International Festival of Academic Choirs. The Gospel Chorus performs actively throughout the region, including an annual concert with the New Jersey Conference Choir. Musical Theater Workshop provides staged showcase opportunities and students take acting and other classes in the theater program. Individual lessons with outstanding instructors are available on campus for voice, piano, guitar, bass, and strings. Taking advantage of our proximity to New York, off-campus lessons are also supported.

Instrumental music at Ramapo centers on smaller ensembles, ranging from a string quartet to a lively community of student bands and performers. The groups perform actively in wide range of venues in Manhattan, New Jersey, and at events produced by the Ramapo Music Club. The Ramapo ensembles explore a variety of musical styles and forms including contemporary, jazz, improvisation, concert band, chamber music, live electronic music, and Brazilian percussion.

With Ramapo’s proximity to New York City, our students frequently find internships in major recording studios, management firms, record labels, and internet promotion companies. Additionally, Ramapo offers a number of study abroad options to enhance students’ experiences as music majors including an exchange program with Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England. To view these opportunities please click here to visit the Ramapo Study Abroad webpage.