Instead of a senior thesis, music majors at Hillsdale College perform a senior recital for their capstone project.
The recital is the culmination of four years of music training under the guidance of Hillsdale’s music faculty.
“It’s a culmination of four years of private study on an instrument. Learning different repertoire, learning different techniques and advancing yourself,” Professor of Music James Holleman said.
While the senior recital is required of music majors, other non-major music students also have the option to put together a recital.
The process of the senior recital starts at the end of junior year, when students start compiling their programs with the aid of their studio teacher.
“This is based on their four year growth, their skill level and expertise, their specific studio teacher,” Holleman said. “So they’ll have pieces they want to do but those get tempered a little by their teacher. They make sure they’re doing the pieces we feel are the right level of challenge and the right level of variety over the program.”
A recital program is usually 10-12 pieces long with at least half of the music classical.
“When you’re a major at Hillsdale, you’re taught classically and then you can branch out. So half of the recital has to be classical,” Voice Teacher Melissa Osmond said.
Between the choice of music and practice, the process of putting together a senior recital is a long one.
“We work on it both semesters,” Osmond said. “It does take that long to work it in the voice and work it in the brain. It’s a huge undertaking to put together a senior recital. … Picking out music, making sure that it’s something that fits the individual’s voice [or instrument], something that they like. … In order for them to do a good job, they have to really connect with the music. They have to find something special in that piece that speaks to their soul.”
Holleman noted the importance of getting an early start on the program compilation process.
“By the beginning of fall semester and even the end of spring semester junior year, most of the program has been chosen,” Holleman said. “There can be additions but you want the music to digest, solidify, and be at their highest level and that’s part of the process too. If you just have it ready to perform, it’s not the same experience as really having something that’s a part of your soul, if you will.”
Senior music major Claire Ziegler is preparing to perform her senior recital in April. She has been working on the program since her junior year.
“I remember the very evening after I had finished my junior recital, Missy, my voice teacher, was saying to me ‘Oh you did such a good job. I’ve got lots of pieces already for you to look at for next year,” Ziegler said.
Ziegler said that Osmond gave her the opportunity to choose much of the music for her recital and to create a program with a lot of variety.
“I chose a lot of music that was important to me or that I particularly loved,” Ziegler said. “There’s a lovely mix of different languages and a mix of different topics. There are some love songs. Actually most of them are love songs of one kind or another but some of them are happy or sad. There’s one with a really fun kind of Spanish rhythm and then there are other slow legato ones. I really enjoyed putting together a varied program.”
At the end of the first semester of her senior year, Ziegler was able to begin practicing her pieces for the recital.
“By about the end of last semester I had a firm program down and I really started working on the polishing and perfecting of the pieces themselves,” Ziegler said.
Taking on the task of curating and performing a senior recital can be daunting. Ziegler had some advice for those who will be facing that challenge: take advantage of the people around you and listen to their recommendations for music.
“I wish I had known the importance of word of mouth, because what’s actually happened is one of the great things about the Hillsdale music department is this wonderful community of students and professors that exists here,” Ziegler said. “If I had to do it over again, I would relax and not worry so much about having to come up with everything on my own and allow the music department and that community to support me in that way.”