Music

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Term
Time & Day Offered
Level
Credits
Course Duration

African American Music: An Overview — MHI2112.01

Fall 2021
Instructor: Carly Rudzinski
Credits: 4
This course will survey African-American music tracing its development from African origins to more contemporary forms. Studying the genres in order of chronological development, the course will cover both secular and religious music forms of African-American culture, identifying the characteristics that clearly delineate and define the African American music-culture. Study of
Music

African Music Ensemble — MHI4134.01

Spring 2014
Instructor: Michael Wimberly
Credits: 4
African Music Ensemble explores the music, drumming and songs of West Africa and Mozambique. This performance ensemble will explore traditional bala (West African xylophone), djembe, dundunba, kpanlogo, n'todje, shakere, and songs in Wolof, Manding, Yoruba.
Music

African Music Ensemble — MHI4134.01

Fall 2015
Instructor: Michael Wimberly
Days & Time: TBA
Credits: 2
This course is a continuation of the class Drumming: An Extension of Language. Using indigenous percussion instruments from West Africa, students will continue to develop hand and stick drumming patterns, techniques, and songs in several African languages. The class will expand on this music in preparation for outreach and performances at Bennington College,
Music

African Music Ensemble — MHI4134.01

Fall 2014
Instructor: michael wimberly
Days & Time: TBA
Credits: 4
The African Music Ensemble explores folkloric and popular music from Africa, Cuba, Brazil and the African diaspora. Using rhythms and songs, drums and non-traditional African instruments such as, violin, viola, cello, electric and acoustic guitar, bass, flute, trumpet, and saxophone, we will learn songs and arrangements for performance on campus and for the greater Bennington
Music

Alexander Technique — DRA2265.01

Spring 2016
Instructor: Rebecca Brooks
Credits: 4
The Alexander Technique begins with the premise that the human organism is perfectly designed for an expansive range of activities. It is our own misuse that gets in the way of this potential. The Alexander Technique maps a neuromuscular process by which we use our thinking to undo habitual layers of use, and make conscious choices that create more freedom and range, resulting
Dance Drama Music

Alexander Technique & The Art of Performance — DAN2420.01

Fall 2025
Instructor: Ros Warby
Days & Time: WE 8:30am-12:10pm
Credits: 4

The Alexander Technique invites students to engage with how they move through the world. Students will learn to notice what it is they are doing in their everyday movement, dance practice, performance, & an overall deeper engagement with the body. 

This course supports a students ability to notice how they allow a letting go of unnecessary tensions,

Dance Drama Musical Performance

America's History Through Her Music: 1500-1900 — MHI2103.01

Fall 2013
Instructor: Kitty Brazelton
Days & Time: TBA
Credits: 4
Start with the tributaries: European, African, then Caribbean. Trace these forward in great whorls, mingling currents in a hard-rushing river. For instance, chamber music from Germany in the Pennsylvania countryside was venerated by the High Anglican merchants in Philadelphia and the gentlemen farmers further south. And while those noble white gentlemen listened in parlors to
Music

America's History Through Her Music: 1500-1900 — MHI2103.01

Fall 2015
Instructor: Kitty Brazelton
Days & Time: TBA
Credits: 4
Start with the tributaries: European, African, then Caribbean. Trace these forward in great whorls, mingling currents in a hard-rushing river. For instance, chamber music from Germany in the Pennsylvania countryside was venerated by the High Anglican merchants in Philadelphia and the gentlemen farmers further south. And while those noble white gentlemen listened in parlors to
Music

Anatolian Rock Ensemble: Psychedelia and Social Change in Modern Turkey — MPF4244.01

Fall 2023
Instructor: Joseph Alpar
Credits: 2
This performance ensemble will immerse participants in the distorted lutes, fuzzy guitars, swirling electronic effects, driving percussion, and wailing vocals of rock music in Turkey. Inspired by the music of Elvis Presley and Fats Domino, the earliest Turkish rock musicians began to explore the sonic possibilities of adapting western instruments and amplification to the sounds
Music

Artist's Portfolio — DAN4366.01

Fall 2019
Instructor: Dana Reitz
Credits: 2
Explaining artwork often goes against the grain, yet artists are regularly called upon to articulate their processes, tools, and dynamics of collaboration. To help secure any of the myriad forms of institutional support including funding, venues, and engagements, artists must develop–creatively and flexibly–essential skills. Finding a public language for what is the private
Dance Drama Music

Artist's Portfolio — DAN4366.01

Fall 2018
Instructor: Dana Reitz
Credits: 2
Explaining artwork often goes against the grain, yet artists are regularly called upon to articulate their processes, tools, and dynamics of collaboration. To help secure any of the myriad forms of institutional support including funding, venues, and engagements, artists must develop–creatively and flexibly–essential skills. Finding a public language for what is the private
Dance Drama Music Visual Arts

Artist's Portfolio — DAN4366.01

Fall 2014
Instructor: dana reitz
Days & Time: TBA
Credits: 2
Explaining art work often goes against the grain, yet artists are regularly called upon to articulate their processes, tools, and dynamics of collaboration. To help secure any of the myriad forms of institutional support including funding, venues, and engagements, artists must develop, creatively and flexibly, essential skills. Finding a public language for what is the private
Dance Drama Music Visual Arts

Artist's Portfolio — DAN4366.01

Fall 2020
Instructor: Dana Reitz
Credits: 2
Explaining artwork often goes against the grain, yet artists are regularly called upon to articulate their processes, tools, and dynamics of collaboration. To help secure any of the myriad forms of institutional support including funding, venues, and engagements, artists must develop–creatively and flexibly–essential skills. Finding a public language for what is the private
Dance Drama Music Visual Arts

Artist's Portfolio — DAN4366.01

Fall 2016
Instructor: Dana Reitz
Credits: 2
Explaining artwork often goes against the grain, yet artists are regularly called upon to articulate their processes, tools, and dynamics of collaboration. To help secure any of the myriad forms of institutional support including funding, venues, and engagements, artists must develop–creatively and flexibly–essential skills. Finding a public language for what is the private
Dance Drama Music Visual Arts

Artist's Portfolio — DAN4366.01

Fall 2015
Instructor: Dana Reitz
Days & Time: TBA
Credits: 2
Explaining artwork often goes against the grain, yet artists are regularly called upon to articulate their processes, tools, and dynamics of collaboration. To help secure any of the myriad forms of institutional support including funding, venues, and engagements, artists must develop--creatively and flexibly--essential skills. Finding a public language for what is the private
Dance Drama Music Visual Arts

Artist's Portfolio: Parts I (the verbal) Part II (the visual) — DAN4150.01 (cancelled

Fall 2021
Instructor: Dana Reitz
Credits: 4
This is for advanced students (juniors and seniors) of the performing arts and visual arts disciplines who wish to find the language, both verbally and visually, that is reflective of their true creative processes, helps clarify and further their own investigations, and is readily available to present to others. Finding a public language for what is the private process of
Dance Drama Music Visual Arts

Audiovisual Performance — MPF4229.01

Fall 2018
Instructor: Senem Pirler
Credits: 2
In this course, we will explore various forms of emerging practices in audiovisual media such as visual music, VJing, video/audio mashups, live Foley for video and movement. The readings and discussions will give an introduction the audiovisual performance practice as well as the history of early audiovisual tools, theories on audiovisual perception, and aesthetics of collage.
Music

Avant Improv Ensemble — MIN4334.01

Spring 2018
Instructor: Michael Wimberly
Credits: 2
Avant Improv Ensemble is an experimental group of musicians who learn to take risks while improvising in the jazz and noise music traditions. The ensemble will touch on melodies and harmonic material in the vein of Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, Charles Gayle, Brian Eno, Albert Ayler, Misha Mengelberg and others. Students must have a mid to advanced working knowledge on their
Music

Bad Citizen: letting go of being good for a better world and A New Dream — MPF2167.01

Spring 2023
Instructor: Being, FKA Kriss Mincey, MFA Teaching Fellow
Credits: 4
This class examines what it means to perform the identity of a good artist, from the perspective of the performer, and how the tenets of good citizenship get in the way of doing our most radical—from the root—work. By making this inquiry, we reclaim the performance process as both a medium and a model for building relationships that
Music

Balkan Ensemble — MPF4204.01

Spring 2026
Instructor: Joseph Alpar
Days & Time: WE 10:00am-11:50am & WE 2:10pm-4:00pm
Credits: 4

Balkan music is fierce brass, complex harmonies, and mind-bending asymmetrical dances. It is spirited Macedonian wedding music, dissonant village songs, devastating Bosnian love ballads, Greek polyphonic songs, and heart-pounding Turkish rhythms. In the Bennington Balkan Ensemble, we will learn to perform a variety of traditional, urban, village, and popular music from

Ethnomusicology Musical Performance

Balkan Ensemble — MPF4204.01

Spring 2020
Instructor: Kerry Ryer-Parke
Credits: 4
Balkan music is fierce brass, complex harmonies, and mind-bending asymmetrical dances. It is spirited Serbian wedding music, dissonant village songs, devastating Bosnian love ballads, saucy songs of the Greek underworld, and heart-pounding Turkish rhythms. In the Bennington Balkan Ensemble, we will learn to perform a variety of traditional, urban, village, and popular music
Music

Balkan Music Ensemble — MPF4227.01

Spring 2023
Instructor: Carly Rudzinski
Credits: 2
Balkan music is fierce brass, complex harmonies, and mind-bending asymmetrical dances. It is spirited Serbian wedding music, dissonant village songs, devastating Bosnian love ballads, saucy songs of the Greek underworld, and heart-pounding Turkish rhythms. In the Bennington Balkan Ensemble, we will learn to perform a variety of traditional, urban, village, and popular music
Music

Banjo — MIN2215.01

Spring 2015
Instructor: John Kirk
Credits: 2
Beginning, intermediate, or advanced group lessons on the 5-string banjo in the claw-hammer/frailing style. Student will learn to play using simple song sheets with chords, tablature, and standard notation. Using chord theory and scale work, personal music-making skills will be enhanced. Awareness of traditional styles of playing the instrument will be furthered through a
Music

Banjo — MIN2215.01

Fall 2018
Instructor: John Kirk
Credits: 2
Beginning, intermediate, or advanced group lessons on the 5-string banjo in the claw-hammer/frailing style. Student will learn to play using simple song sheets with chords, tablature, and standard notation. Using chord theory and scale work, personal music-making skills will be enhanced. Awareness of traditional styles of playing the instrument will be furthered through a
Music

Banjo — MIN2215.01

Fall 2021
Instructor: John Kirk
Credits: 2
Beginning, intermediate, or advanced group lessons on the 5-string banjo in the claw-hammer/frailing style. Student will learn to play using simple song sheets with chords, tablature, and standard notation. Using chord theory and scale work, personal music-making skills will be enhanced. History of the African origins of banjo and its introduction to the western world will be
Music