WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY HORN STUDIO

Name: Western Connecticut State University Horn Studio
Address: US

Dr. Marjorie S. Callaghan, professor of horn

The Western Connecticut State University Horn Studio provides horn players in music major and minor programs with the knowledge they need to succeed in their desired fields. Students in the WCSU Horn Studio perform full recitals, half recitals, and in convocation recitals; solo with the WCSU ensembles; play in woodwind quintets, brass quintets, and horn ensembles; and gig outside the school. We are a strong, supportive group of horn players who want to create music together and see each other succeed.

MISSION STATEMENT

Teaching is a privilege and a joy, and it comes with responsibility. The goal is not just to teach the material with expertise and to graduate excellent horn players, but to create good people in the process. Students should in turn be able to communicate

kindness
respect
expectations with compassion
a strong work ethic
encouragement
positivity
the joy of learning
honesty in praise

Best advice: "Play the Gig." Do what you need to do to the best of your ability. Show up, be humble, and do your best. Keep striving. Take personal responsibility.

ABOUT THE HORN PROFESSOR

Dr. Marjorie S. Callaghan

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Marjorie Seymour Callaghan

Dr. Marjorie Seymour Callaghan teaches horn, sight singing/ear training, and classes in music history at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at Western Connecticut State University. She is a member of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra, Madera Winds, and freelances in the Connecticut/New York area. She has performed with the orchestras for ACT of Connecticut, the Irish Tenors, Peter Cetera, the rock group “Yes.” In 2014, Dr. Callaghan performed under Maurice Peress at The Town Hall, New York City for the 90th Anniversary of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue: A Celebration of Paul Whiteman’s Historic 1924 Aeolian Hall Concert. She has also maintained a private studio since 1984.

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Dr. Callaghan has presented clinics on teaching beginning horn students, anxiety and the horn, and the music of Charles Ives at Music Education Conferences in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Maine. Her book, The Horn Guide: A Reference for Solving Technical Problems, is published by T.D. Ellis Music Publishing.

Dr. Callaghan earned a D.M.A. degree from Manhattan School of Music, a M.M. degree from the Hartt School, and a B.A. degree in music and Spanish from Gettysburg College.

DEGREE PROGRAMS

Student Learning Outcomes

Bachelor of Science in Music Education

Students in the Music Education degree receive 7 semesters of horn lessons before they student teach. Horn students will converse about and diagnose problems of a pedagogical nature, e.g. tongue placement, registral issues, embouchure placement, rhythmic issues, tone production, etc. Students will perform all major and minor scales, the chromatic scale, and arpeggios with fluency. In addition, they will study etudes and solo repertoire, gaining an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the performance practice, technique and phrasing.

Bachelor of Music in Performance

BM Performance majors receive 8 semesters of horn lessons and are required to perform half and full recitals in their junior and senior years, respectively. Horn students will perform all major and minor scales, whole tone and chromatic scales, and all arpeggios, including M7, D7, m7, half-diminished 7, and fully-diminished 7. Performance majors will study etudes and solo repertoire as well as orchestral excerpts, learning proper performance practice and phrasing, and prepare for auditions and/or graduate schools.

Bachelor of Music in Audio and Music Production

Students in the BM Audio and Music Production degree receive 4 semesters of horn lessons followed by 4 semesters of upper division audio lessons. At a minimum, horn students will learn all major and minor scales, the chromatic scale, and arpeggios with fluency and will perform etudes and pieces from solo repertoire. Emphasis will be placed upon characteristic tone quality, proper articulation, appropriate range, and stylistic accuracy.

Bachelor of Arts

BA degree students receive 4 semesters of horn lessons. Horn students will study the technique of playing horn: embouchure and hand placement, tone production and quality, tongue placement, expansion of register, rhythms and articulations, etc. At a minimum, students will perform all major scales, arpeggios, and the chromatic scale with fluency, study etudes, and begin in-depth study of horn repertoire.