Opportunities for Non-Music Majors

Attend a concert 

The Aaron Copland School of Music hosts hundreds of concerts and musical performances each year, most of which are free to Queens College students and open to members of the wider public. Details can be found on our performance calendar. 

Play in an ensemble 

The Aaron Copland School of Music ensembles are open to all qualified students, regardless of your major or degree program. Current instrumental ensembles include the symphonic orchestra, symphonic wind ensemble, and baroque ensemble, as well as the undergraduate jazz ensemble. Current choral groups include the treble choir, the vocal ensemble, and the choral society. Each of these ensembles can be taken for credit and each requires an audition.  

For the fall semester, auditions are typically held in late May and late August; for the spring, auditions are held in late December and late January. Register your interest in auditioning. 

Take a class 

The Aaron Copland School of Music offers a number of classes that are open to non-music majors, several of which fulfil Pathways credit. The most popular are MUSIC 1 Introduction to Music, a basic music appreciation course that provides Creative Expression (CE) credit within the Pathways Flexible Core or College Option, and either MUSIC 121 Writing about Music or 122 Writing Musical Culture, both of which provide College Writing 2 (EC2) credit within the Required Core (121 Writing about Music classes focus on Western repertoire, whereas 122 Writing Musical Culture classes focus on non-Western musics; the specific topic of each writing class can be seen when you build your schedule). 

If you are interested in the technical side of recording and producing music, consider MUSIC 314 Recording Studio Fundamentals. 

Become a music minor or music major 

If you have taken a class or two in the music department and want to take other music classes, consider becoming a music minor. The Aaron Copland School of Music offers minors in Music & Production (the technical side of recording and producing music), Music Theory (focusing on theory and analysis courses), and Music Literature (focusing on music history courses).  

Only music majors are eligible to take individual lessons in voice or in instrumental performance. Qualifiedstudents are welcome to transfer into the music degree; if you are interested, contact the music office for more details and consult the undergraduate audition requirements.