Music
Overview
An interest area
Music is more than just a combination of sounds - it’s a deep cultural, social, and historical human link. The Music program at Bryant delves into all of these aspects, drawing from several disciplines, including anthropology, musicology, and ethnomusicology.
You will explore both contemporary and traditional music from around the world, mastering skills to interpret sound, behaviors, and technologies associated with music. Classes include African Popular Culture, Anthropology of Music Industries, and introductory courses to world music and jazz, among others.
Future careers, post-grad opportunities
Studying music can open many unexpected doors in fields such as music therapy, community development, and arts administration.
Music faculty
Music faculty teach and research national and international music industries. They consult on the development of music rights and technology for several international organizations. They also work with area teachers to establish world music curriculum. The faculty foster music education, appreciation, and performance on Bryant's campus.
THE TANZANIAN CONNECTION
Alex Perullo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Anthropology and African Studies
A former Fulbright Scholar in Tanzania, Perullo was attracted to African culture as an undergraduate. “I found myself drawn to the connection between music, knowledge, and culture,” he says.
For five years, he has organized an African Studies workshop to encourage information and cultural exchange between Bryant students and Africans living in Rhode Island. The recipient of an Aluka Award for Innovative Teaching, he was recently awarded a $6,000 grant to create an African Digital Archive.
Perullo and his students also started the Tanzania Education Resource Network to collect books for universities and K-12 schools in that country.
Music is a hidden gem at Bryant.
Aaron Diamond ’13
Studying: Music, Communication, Marketing
When I arrived not many students knew about these opportunities. In addition to music courses, the music clubs - the Bryant Singers, Bottom Line A Capella group, Jazz Band, and the Chamber Ensemble - allow students to get together to play or sing what they love.
I am currently involved in two of them, the Jazz Band and Chamber Ensemble, and they have expanded to engage more of the student body.
PULLING THE RIGHT STRINGS
Danica Kwan ’12
Studied: Management, Chinese
Kwan was a management major with a passion for the performing arts.
She has played violin since third grade and performed in school orchestras. Kwan, who was active in a number of clubs and organizations including the Bryant Players, the student theatre group, teamed up with another student to have a Chamber Ensemble recognized as an official campus organization. They wrote a constitution, presented it to the Student Senate, and established a starting budget.
“I think that Bryant needed a group like this,” says Kwan, who hopes to start her own business one day.
