I have taught many different courses at Ripon College in my twenty-four years at the institution. Listed directly below are my current responsibilities.
For you music educators–does this look like a lot? My job is something like being a high school band director with lots of things added on. (But, thankfully, no marching or pep bands.) My teaching life is never dull.
A little bit of information about some of these courses/ensembles:
Symphonic Wind Ensemble: Over the past fifteen years, the size of this
group has varied from between 40 and 65 members. In the last several years,
we have been near the high end of that figure. We perform a wide variety of
music every year, from transcriptions to band classics, marches, and new literature.
We perform one "big" concert each semester, a small group concert
and a pops concert every year.
Jazz Ensemble: With a standard big-band format, we do not necessarily operate as a standard big band. Combos are also part of the experience. The music we play ranges from the earliest jazz to the most contemporary sounds, with emphasis on jazz classics from all eras.
Jazz History and World Music: These are two of the numerous courses that the Ripon College Music Department offers for non-music majors. These courses can be used to fulfill the fine arts requirement at Ripon. Some majors do elect to take these courses. Teaching these are two of the most fun things I do at Ripon. I am including links to fairly recent syllabi from jazz history and world music here.
Music Theory I. This is the first course that students take as part of the music major at Ripon. Covered in the course are the basics of music theory found in most theory courses, as well as ear training and sight-singing. Students considering a music major or minor at Ripon should take this course as early in their career as possible. Some non-majors take this course as well.
Romantic Music Styles. The Music Department offers four musical styles class, covering the Western classical music tradition from medieval times to the present. This course, covering most of the music of the nineteenth century and some music of the twentieth century, is the third in that series. The four history courses can be taken in any order.
Private lessons. The Music Department offers lessons and virtually all orchestra and band instruments, as well as voice. My special area is brass, and I teach students on any and all of the brass instruments. I also teach lessons in jazz improvisation. Most lessons may be taken for credit or no credit. Music majors and minors can take lessons at no charge. There is a small fee (as of 8/06, $180/semester) for other students.
Prospective students, if you have any questions about any
of these groups or courses, contact
Kurt Dietrich.
For more information about the Music Department at Ripon College, see the Department
web page.
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