Through multiple modes of inquiry and experience, the department advances new ways of understanding music as both creative expression and cultural practice throughout the world. The department promotes musical education, research, and engagement at the highest standards of excellence on an open and inclusive basis.
Department of Music
Department of Music
The Department of Music is a community of scholars, creators, and performers dedicated to exploring music’s past, present, and future.
Department of Music
The Department of Music is a community of scholars, creators, and performers dedicated to exploring music’s past, present, and future.
Academics
Undergraduate
Our diverse curriculum combines creative courses in composition, technology, and performance with speculative studies in history, theory, ethnomusicology, philosophy, and musical aesthetics.
Graduate
At Brown, your degree is what you make it: the more adventurous you are, the more exciting your program is likely to be.
Music Making
The Department of Music at Brown offers a huge array of performing opportunities, all available for academic credit.
Students seeking to improve their playing or singing ability have the option of taking individual private lessons with about thirty professional musicians from the greater Boston-Providence area.
Recent News
Yale School of Music
Erica Haskell (PhD '11) Announced as Managing Director of the Yale School of Music
After a rigorous nationwide search, the Yale School of Music announced that Erica Haskell, Ph.D., has been appointed Managing Director, effective early summer 2026. Congratulations, Dr. Haskell!
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Last Friday, acclaimed clarinetist and composer Kinan Azmeh joined the Brown Jazz Band for a poignant eight-song performance at the 38th Eric Adam Brudner ’84 Memorial Concert in the Lindemann Performing Arts Center. The concert was directed by Timo Vollbrecht — an associate teaching professor of music and Azmeh’s longtime friend.
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National Humanities Center
David Fossum (PhD '17) Named as a 2026-27 Fellow by the National Humanities Center
David Fossum (PhD '17, Ethnomusicology) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre at Arizona State University. His project discipline tied to this NHC grant is "Remembered Innovation: A History of Creativity in Turkmen Music." Congratulations, Professor Fossum!
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