MUSC at Brown University

Gateway courses

Each of these unlocks the largest share of downstream work on this map. Courses from other departments can appear here when they genuinely gate MUSC coursework.

• MUSC 1900Introduction to Ethnomusicologyopens 2 courses (2 directly)
• MUSC 1100Introduction to Compositionopens 1 course (1 directly)
• MUSC 1570Jazz Harmony Applied To Bebop Improvisationopens 1 course (1 directly)

Tracks

Upper-level clusters, grouped by the gateway that opens them.

The longest ladders

The deepest prerequisite chains in MUSC. These are the routes that take the most semesters to climb.

• 3 courses deep, ending at MUSC 1110

  1. MUSC 0560Theory of Tonal Music
  2. MUSC 1100Introduction to Composition
  3. MUSC 1110Seminar in Composition

• 3 courses deep, ending at MUSC 1616

  1. MUSC 0570Jazz and Pop Harmony
  2. MUSC 1570Jazz Harmony Applied To Bebop Improvisation
  3. MUSC 1616Jazz Composition Seminar

• 3 courses deep, ending at MUSC 1932

  1. MUSC 0550Theory of Tonal Music
  2. MUSC 1900Introduction to Ethnomusicology
  3. MUSC 1932American Roots Music

• 2 courses deep, ending at MUSC 0900

  1. MUSC 0400AIntroduction to Music Theory
  2. MUSC 0900Haydn and Mozart

A suggested order for the 42 courses on the map, built from prerequisite chains and how often each course has run in fall and spring across the last 12 regular terms. It is not the department’s plan, and it is not a promise a course will run. Confirm against the department’s own advising material.

Grade medians

Teaching in Spring 2027

Instructors on MUSC sections in Spring 2027, from the registrar's schedule.

• Anthony Cheung
• Dana Gooley
• Ed Osborn
• Edward Tomassi
• Emily Dolan
• Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo
• Eric Nathan
• Genevieve Allotey-Pappoe
• Ivan Tan
• James Moses
• Joseph Rovan
• Joshua Tucker
• Kevin Plouffe
• L. Wang
• Lois Finkel
• Louis Jodry
• Lu Wang
• Marc Perlman
• Maria Teresa Magisano
• Mark Cetilia
• Mark Seto
• Mark Steinbach
• Martin Obeng
• N. Mitta
• S. Greenlee
• Saleem Abboud Ashkar
• Sandol Astrausky
• Stephan Griffin
• Timo Vollbrecht
• Todd Winkler

Clubs & organizations

Groups the university lists under this department.

• Barsaat, Brown
• Bear Necessities, The
• Beauty and the Beats
• Brown University Shape Note
• Chamber Orchestra, Brown University
• College Hill Irish Music Ensemble
• Fermata Composers Collective
• Harmonizing Grace Gospel Choir
• Higher Keys
• Intergalactic Community of A Cappella at Brown University, The

Clubs students here join