ONSTRUCTED IN TWO PHASES, Mount Holyoke’s music building comprises Pratt Hall, built in 1909, and the Hammond Wing, added in 1967. The construction and renovation have united the building’s disparate parts into a state-of-the-art facility to match the music program it houses.

A two-story addition on the north end of the building has been constructed, joining Pratt and Hammond and housing a forty-seat, fully mediated classroom, three studio offices, and a skylit connecting corridor. Pratt and Hammond also have been completely renovated. As a result, the entire building has become more visible and easily navigable for people entering and moving through. In short, Pratt has become user-friendly.

Throughout the building, all instructional and performance spaces have been soundproofed. The music and dance libraries have been consolidated in the new library, including portions currently held at Williston Library. The library and all its related components, including stacks, redings, multi-media stations, and keyboard lab, have been moved from eight different and widely dispersed locations to one central, easily accessible space. The choral library remains separate. A lounge area for student interaction has been created on the lower level, with an open ceiling to the second floor.

The entire facility has been air-conditioned, allowing for increased usage in the warmer months and protecting instruments and library materials. Entrances have also become completely accessible to handicapped persons.

Indeed, Pratt Hall represents a celebration of music at Mount Holyoke.

HE COLLEGE REGARDS the study of music as an artistic discipline that plays an essential role in liberal arts education. Through courses in music history, theory, performance, and composition the development of the individual is encouraged by allowing each student to explore her creative, intellectual, and critical abilities. The Five College Early Music Program is also located at Mount Holyoke and provides educational and musical experiences for those interested in music of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Baroque era.

Nine faculty members plus seven performance instructors, lecturers, and the Five College Early Music Director are available to students in their musical pursuits. Typically, there are fifteen to twenty students majoring in music, while more than forty declare it as a minor. All music department offerings, including individual instruction and ensembles, are taken for academic credit.

The music program at MHC is committed to an integrated curriculum, stressing the interrelationship between theory, historical context, performance, and composition. At every level of student involvement, in every type of learning environment, the value of exploring all areas of musical study is emphasized.

The department produces forty-five to fifty events annually, including faculty recitals, glee club and other choral group concerts, Christmas Vespers, orchestral performances, and solo recitals, representing the largest offerings of public events found anywhere on campus. In any given year, twenty percent of the student body participates in some aspect of the music program.