The Aaron Copland School of Music offers a liberal arts music major and a major in performance, an additional sequence in music education, and a cultural music major; music minors in music literature or theory; and a concentration in composition. The curriculum is planned to develop the interdependent skills of performing, listening to, and understanding music, and thus to provide the thorough training so necessary for graduate study and an eventual career in the profession.
The Aaron Copland School gives all students of the college a finer appreciation of music by broadening their experience in listening and participating. Courses in appreciation and the rudiments of music are available for the general student without previous training in music; other courses and performing ensembles are open to qualified nonmajors.
The school presents public concerts and recitals by ensembles, students, and faculty, artists-in-residence, and guest artists; lectures by faculty members or guests; and occasionally workshops by performance faculty or guest artists. College ensembles include a symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, opera workshop, various chamber groups and ensembles (including early and contemporary music groups), and several choirs. There is in addition a college-community choir, the Queens College Choral Society. Opera productions and musicals are produced in cooperation with the Department of Drama, Theatre, and Dance. Most of these events are free, and all are open to the public.
