Music

Statement of programs and library needs

The Virginia Tech Department of Music provides training to music majors, as well as ensembles and courses for large numbers of non-music majors. The major in music leads to a B.A. degree. Four areas of music are emphasized: music education, performance, theory/composition, and a designed option tailored to a student's needs. The department also offers several courses as a music education concentration for the M.A. and Ed.D. in education.

In addition to supporting the above programs, music materials are also collected to support other university programs such as satisfying the core curriculum requirement within the Humanities Program.

The Music Department provides and sponsors numerous music programs which contribute to the cultural life of the University community.

I. Collection areas

A. Area: Music

 

B. Classes and Levels

L              Education--General                  Research
LB             Theory and Practice of Education    Research
M 1-4          Music:  Collections, Manuscripts
                 Collected Works                   Research
M 5-1490       Instrumental Music
                 Music Before 1700                 Research
M 1495-5000    Vocal Music Study
ML             Literature of Music                 Research
MT             Music Instruction and Study         Research

C. Chronology

All periods with emphasis on 18th, 19th and early 20th century music.

D. Geographic Guidelines

Emphasis is on music of the Western world, with some attention to Asian and African music.

E. Languages

English is the primary language of the collection. Other languages are purchased if requested by a faculty member.

F. Treatment

Collected works, collections (including anthologies and "monument" editions of early music), and scores currently published in Europe are collected as comprehensively as funding allows. Music education and German music of the 19th and early 20th century receive particular emphasis. Music history, criticism and theory are collected extensively. All genres of music are collected in order to provide examples and performance models. "Popular" music is purchased selectively. Material dealing with the music industry is purchased selectively. An attempt is made to acquire samples of a variety of musical genres for the enjoyment of the entire university community. Available indexes, abstracts, encyclopedias and publications of professional organizations are collected.

G. Formats

Chiefly printed materials, scores and compact discs form the basis of the collection, though electronic full-text is also of growing importance for journals. Bibliographic databases are available through the Internet. The purpose of the collection of compact discs housed in the Media Center is to provide a basis for the course on the history and analysis of musical styles which is required for majors. Videos are acquired upon faculty request, funds permitting.

H. Multiple copies

Multiple copies of heavily used works of a serious nature are acquired.

II. Acquisition Strategy

Materials are selected by the music bibliographer, with priority given to requests from the academic department faculty. University press publications are received on an approval plan, as are books published by outstanding trade publishers.

III. Collection Notes

Textbooks are not collected. Theses and dissertations from other universities are acquired only at faculty request.

The curriculum in music relies heavily on the computer facilities of the libraries. Music technology is used to enhance the curriculum in all areas. The Music Department and the music bibliographer must coordinate their activities in order to provide the best resources for music and non-music majors alike.

Revised 10/2000