Music at Hamilton
Facilities
Schambach Center for Music and the Performing Arts
Overview
Completed in 1988, the Hans H. Schambach Center for Music and the Performing Arts houses the music department, its classrooms, studios, practice rooms, and library. The center also contains the 630-seat Carol Woodhouse Wellin Performance Hall which serves as the performing arts facility for the Performing Arts at Hamilton series, the Department of Music concerts, and the Department of Dance concerts. Inquiries about the use of Wellin Hall should be directed to the Performing Arts Administrator, Michelle Reiser-Memmer.
Wellin Hall
Overview
Located in the Hans H. Schambach Center for Music and the Performing Arts, the Carol Woodhouse Wellin Performance Hall is the center of concert life at Hamilton. About twenty student, faculty, and professional concerts take place in this 700-seat auditorium every semester (including the Performing Arts at Hamilton series). These concerts draw audiences from the college and surrounding communities. Also, the Choral Ensembles, the Orchestra, and the Jazz Ensemble rehearse regularly on Wellin's stage.
Contact information
If you wish to reserve Wellin Hall, please contact Michelle Reiser-Memmer.
For technical information about Wellin Hall, please contact James Gadsby.
Telephone numbers
Box Office - 315-859-4331
Digital Music Studio
Resources and courses
The Digital Music Studio is a primary workspace and classroom for students taking Mus 270 (Introduction to Music, Sound, and Technology), Mus 370 (Advanced Audio Production), Mus 377 (Digital Arts Workshop), and for students doing senior projects and independent studies in music composition and audio production. Due to resource limitations, this facility is not available for use by students who are not enrolled in these courses.
Work in the Studio is principally based on the use of Macintosh computers running such software as Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Max/MSP/Jitter, and Finale.
Resources for Practicing
Practice Rooms, Lockers, Instrument Loans and Rental
Information on practice rooms, instrument lockers, and loaning and renting instruments can be found under Private Lessons.
Music Library
Overview
The Music Library (in the lower level of McEwen) is a branch of Burke Library and houses a collection of about 28,000 recorded items of classical, jazz and world music, and an uncatalogued collection of Broadway musicals. These recordings do not circulate. The library also houses the college’s collection of musical scores, most of which do circulate. Books on music are held in the Burke Library. The Music Library has ten listening stations, and items you will need for course listening, reading, and viewing are placed on reserve here, with some reading assignments available on-line as well. The Library is a comfortable, quiet, air-conditioned place to study or listen for pleasure. Food and drink, however, are not permitted in the library at any time. Open every day during the semester, the Music Library is an important resource for both music and non-music students.
Hours
The hours for the Music Library are:
Monday-Thursday 9:30 am-11:30 pm
Friday 9:30 am-4:30 pm
Saturday 12 noon-5 pm
Sunday 12 noon-11:00 pm
These hours are subject to change; check the schedule posted on the library door. Remember, the Music Library has a limited number of listening stations, so you should plan your study time accordingly.
Catalog and contact information
The general phone number and circulation desk for the music library is 315-859-4348. You may reach the Music Library Coordinator at 315-859-4349. For questions of policy, reference, and collection information, please ask for the coordinator.
Jazz Archive
Overview
Established in 1995, and dedicated in 2013 in honor of Milton F. Fillius, Jr. ’44 and Nelma “Nikki” Nenneau Fillius, the Fillius Jazz Archive holds a collection of videotaped interviews with jazz musicians, arrangers, writers and critics. The collection generally focuses on artists associated with mainstream jazz and the swing era. The interview collection has been fully transcribed and may be reviewed in print, video and audiocassette media. Support material includes LPs, CDs, photographs, commercial jazz videos, books and memorabilia as well as a concert documentary filmed in 1997 at Hamilton College with Joe Williams and the Count Basie Orchestra. Researchers, students and writers are invited to contact the archive director, Monk Rowe (x4071), for access guidelines.
World Music
Javanese Gamelan
The Music Department owns a Javanese gamelan, an ensemble that consists of approximately 25 instruments: metallic keyed instruments similar to xylophones, hanging pots, pot gongs, drums and flute. Gamelan music is a shimmering blend of slow-moving melodies and interlocking melodic elaborations punctuated by gong strokes and intricate drumming patterns. Students in a variety of music courses have an opportunity to play in the gamelan, and some classes will gain enough skill to feature the gamelan in performances throughout the year. Also, a group consisting of both students and faculty rehearses once a week when there is enough interest. Those interested in joining should contact Prof. Lydia Hamessley for more information.
African drums
The Music Department owns a set of Ghanaian Ewe drums and a set of Ghanaian Kete Drums. These instruments are used in several classes, and students perform publicly as part of those classes.