About

Welcome from the School Director

A photo of Christopher Barrick
 Dr. Christopher Barrick
A photo of Christopher Barrick

 Dr. Christopher Barrick

It is my distinct honor to welcome you to the online home of the School of Music & Dance at Eastern Michigan University.

With roots dating back to 1854, the School of Music & Dance strives to promote lifelong learning, to prepare students for professional careers in music or dance, and to advance the cultural life of the campus, community and beyond. Known nationally for its programs in Music Education and Music Therapy, the School also offers the Bachelor of Music in Performance, the Bachelor of Arts in Music, and a Music Minor. Dance students can pursue the Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance, or a Dance Minor. The School also offers the Master of Music degree with concentrations in performance, education, conducting, and piano pedagogy.

The School of Music & Dance is home to over 40 faculty and lecturers who lead our students — over 230 majors plus minors and numerous students majoring in other fields — in approximately 200 music and dance events each year.  The School is housed in Alexander Music Building, with over 86,000 square feet of space dedicated to music and an inventory of 120 pianos.  Performances take place in Alexander Recital Hall, Legacy Theatre, Warner Dance Studios, the Honors College Auditorium, and Pease Auditorium, a 1500-seat historic concert hall that serves as a jewel of the EMU campus. Our Music Therapy majors conduct faculty supervised individual music therapy sessions in the EMU Music Therapy Center, a resource for both our students and the entire community. Our athletic bands proudly support the EMU Eagles, who compete in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) of NCAA Division I.  Eastern Michigan University has been an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music for over 50 years.

Founded in 1849 as a small teacher's college, Eastern Michigan University is now a major learning and research institution (Carnegie R-2) for nealry 15,000 students, offering more than 200 undergraduate majors, minors and certificates, plus more than 150 graduate programs.  EMU is situated in Ypsilanti, a culturally diverse college town with a hip arts scene and location convenient to all that Southeastern Michigan has to offer, including Ann Arbor and Detroit.

I invite you to explore our website, schedule a visit, register for an audition, or contact us for more information.  Also, please take a moment to read our mission statement below, newly revised in 2021. 

Dr. Christopher Barrick
Director and Professor, School of Music & Dance

 

Please enjoy our most recent newsletter the Alexander Accent

 

Learn more abour our ensembles

Bands

 
Choirs

 
Orchestra

 

Meet our students

 

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