Students practicing in Mabry auditorium

Department of Music

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Welcome to the Department of Music

College and career choices are among the more pressing decisions that young people make as they transition from high school to college, and you will want to make the most well-informed decisions as you consider a music major at Austin Peay. As you seek to learn more about us, we are certain you will find a department that is defined by

World-class faculty
Engaging arts community
Focus on community outreach
Supportive and encouraging environment
State-of-the-art facilities

Upcoming Events

February 11-13 Guitar Fest

February 14-16 Governors Honor Band Fest
February 18 Student-For-A-Day to learn more about music at Austin Peay!

What Do Music Majors Do After Graduation?

Music majors go on to pursue many different paths:

Performance
Music Education
Pedagogy
Theory and Composition
Musicology and Ethnomusicology
Worship or Sacred Music

Music Therapy
Music Business
Music Technology
Conducting
Instrument Repair
Music Librarian

Contact Us

Department of Music
Music/Mass Communication Bldg, Room 139
P.O. Box 4625
Clarksville, TN 37044
(931) 221-7818
music@apsu.edu

Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Prewitt in China

Dr. Spencer Prewitt, Clarinet

Dr. Prewitt recently completed a residency in China including performances and masterclasses at Zhejiang Conservatory, Sichuan Conservatory, Zhengzhou University, Hangzhou International School and Chengdu Middle School. Dr. Prewitt has also recently performed at the International Clarinet Association Conference in Belgium, Twickenham Festival, and two sold-out performances in Carnegie Hall. Dr. Prewitt teaches clarinet at Austin Peay.

Dr. Jeffrey Wood

Dr. Jeffrey Wood, Theory and Composition

Dr. Jeffrey Wood recently published a chapter in Music and War in the United States (Routledge Press). Dr. Wood's chapter is titled

World War I: Music Over Here for “Over There” and addresses some of the challenges faced by American composers during the war — from anti-German bias to attempting to respond to a war of unprecedented violence and bloodshed. In addition to this book chapter, Dr. Wood recently completed four new compositions including: Apocalpyisis: Two Songs on Texts of Edwin Muir, Ballade, The North Ship, and The Owl and the Pussy-Cat. Dr. Wood is Coordinator of Theory and Composition at Austin Peay.

Dr Yates

Dr. Stanley Yates, Guitar

Dr. Yates recently conducted research dealing with Victorian period guitar music at Bodleian Library Oxford and Guildhall School London. He was also a recently featured artist on WPLN’s Annual Classical Music Day (September, 2018). Several items from his Graded Repertoire anthologies were recorded by leading UK guitarists Milos Karadaglic, Gary Ryan and Stephen Goss for the for Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music grade exams. Dr. Yates has upcoming masterclasses and recitals scheduled in Princeton University and Altimira International Guitar Symposium (Hong Kong: Matiegka Sonatas). He also has presentations scheduled at Guitar Foundation of America International Guitar Convention Miami (“Ways of Knowing: Improvisation as a means to understanding composed music”), and the International Guitar Research Center (IGRC) Conference / Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.

Branscome

Dr. Eric Branscome, Department Chair

Dr. Branscome recently published Where Have all the Folksongs Gone? We've Replaced them Everyone (or have we?) in Visions of Research in Music Education, Vol. 32. This article explores the use of folk and traditional song literature in elementary music education basal series in North America from 1882 to the present. The full article is available at this link.Dr. Branscome also led workshops for the Tennessee Arts Commission entitled Visual Arts in Elementary Music and Navigating Tennessee’s new Music Standards; a session titled Try The Chinese Food: A Self-Evaluation for Future Music Educators for the #MusicEdLove Lecture and Podcast Series at UT Martin; and Professional Development Session, Organizing A Summer Music Program, for the elementary music teachers of Robertson County School System. Finally, Dr. Branscome recently led a team of high school and collegiate music educators from across the state to create a dual-credit Music Appreciation Course for the Tennessee Department of Education.

How Do I Get Started?

Admission is via audition and/or portfolio review and interview. Begin the application process now by setting up an audition date.

Set up an audition date