The Department of Music was formally founded in 1947, but music has been an important facet of the University from its inception, when founder Jane Stanford encouraged sacred concerts in Memorial Church.

We offer undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of subjects, as well as group and private lessons for students, and opportunities for ensemble participation. The Department of Music presents approximately 150 concerts and recitals each year, providing performance opportunities for students throughout the University. Over 800 students, most of whom are not music majors, participate in ensembles, chamber groups, private lessons, and major productions, including a fully-staged presentation of Mozart's The Magic Flute (2002).

Braun Music Center is the departmental home base, which houses our major venues, Dinkelspiel Auditorium and Campbell Recital Hall, as well as rehearsal studios, practice faciltiies, classrooms, and faculty offices. It is also home to the Center for Computer-Assisted Research in the Humanities (CCARH), a pioneer in the field of large-scale databases for music research; the Music Library, with over 110,000 books and scores, over 34,000 sound recordings, and 9,000 microforms; the Archive of Recorded Sound, with 300,000 recordings; and the Harry R. Lange Collection of musical instruments and bows. The Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) is housed in the department's former home at the Knoll, and is one of the world's top-rated facilities for digital sound research.

The Department of Music receives support from the Friends of Music at Stanford, a community-based organization which provides scholarship support for private lessons, presents concerts for local school students, organizes financial support for ensemble tours, awards prizes to undergraduate musicians, and does much more to help the Department provide services and concerts.

Services and Special Areas

Incorporated in the Department of Music are a number of special services and resources for students and visiting scholars:

• Archive of Recorded Sound, with 300,000 recordings and a wide variety of historical materials (Braun Basement)
• Center for Computer-Assisted Research in the Humanities (CCARH), a pioneer in the field of large-scale databases for music research (Braun 128)
• Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA), housed in the department's former home at the Knoll, is one of the world's top-rated facilities for digital sound research
• Harry R. Lange Collection of musical instruments and bows, some of which are available for use by students (Braun Music Center)
• Music Library, with over 110,000 books and scores, over 34,000 sound recordings, and 9,000 microforms (Braun Music Center)

Facilities and Hours

Braun Music Center

Fall, Winter, & Spring Quarters

Monday–Friday: 8am–11pm
Saturday: 9am–6pm
Sunday: 12 noon–10pm

Year-Round Office Hours

Monday - Friday: 8am - noon & 1pm - 4pm

Closed Tuesdays at 2:30 for staff meeting.
Also open by appointment

Hours during summer quarters, intersessions, and university holidays falling within these quarters are posted on all building entryways. During these periods, the building is generally open only during weekday (office) hours.

CLOSED: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Independence Day, Labor Day.

Music Library

The Music Library supports music research, composition and performance at Stanford with a collection of 110,000 books and scores, 34,000 sound and video recordings, 9,000 microforms, and several hundred active periodical subscriptions. Most of Stanford's rare music materials form the Memorial Library of Music, housed in the Green Library Department of Special Collections. Some music books and recordings are also located in the Green Library stacks and the Media/Microtext Center.

Music Library hours during the academic year are:

Monday–Thursday, 9am–10pm
Friday. 9am–5pm
Saturday, 1pm–5pm
Sunday, 1pm–10pm

Hours for intersessions and holidays are posted spearately on the Music Library's website, as is information on access, borrowing, course reserves and more.

Archive of Recorded Sound

300,000 recordings in the Archive of Recorded Sound make it one of the five largest archives of its kind in the United States. From wax cylinders to compact discs, the collection reflects the entirety of recorded sound history. See the archive's website for information on hours, listening appointments, and research consultation

The Knoll

Fall, Winter, & Spring Quarters

Monday - Friday: 9am–5pm

Abbreviated hours and holidays are the same as Braun Music Center.

Scheduling a Music Department Concert or Recital

Recitals at a Glance

Consult the Information Sheet for Recitals (Recitals at a Glance) which you may read online or download as a pdf.

• All requests for concerts/recitals must made via the Booking Calendar
  • Please note: No two departmental concerts or events may be scheduled at the same time (even if one is on campus and one off campus)
• Scheduling Campbell Recital Hall, Braun Rehearsal Hall, Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Dinkelspiel Rehearsal Hall or Braun Courtyard (for a rehearsal, lecture or other department activity):
  • Use the on-line Booking Calendar to find an available room, date, and time
  • Submit your request on the Booking Calendar
  • You will recieve email confirmation of your request, and subsquent approval or denial, shortly. If you have questions concerning a pending request or a denial, please send a message to admin@musiccal.stanford.edu.

Reserving and Scheduling Rooms

The Department of Music has a number of facilities that are sometimes available for use by University departments and student groups. To schedule rooms in Braun Music Center, you may use the on-line Booking Calendar to determine availability and make a reservation request. Rooms available for use include: 103 (seminar - 40 persons), 105 & 106 (classrooms - flexible seating), Campbell Recital Hall (220 persons), and Dinkelspiel Auditorium (Rates depend on your Stanford affiliation.)

While reservation requests can now be made via the Booking Calendar, only those requests that are directly related to a Music Department course or a Music Department activity can be officially scheduled at the Music Department. All other requests must be made through the Registrar's Scheduling Office.

Scheduling Rooms 103, 105, 106:

Classroom, rehearsal, and performance space is very limited. Non-Music Department groups may sign up for rooms 103, 105, and 106.

You must schedule any use of Music Department space in advance!

You may only submit requests that fall within normal building hours:
Monday – Friday : 8 am – 11 pm Saturday: 9 am – 6 pm Sunday: 12 – 10 pm.
You must be finished, cleaned up, and out of the building by close.

• Use the on-line Booking Calendar to find an available room, date, and time and to submit your request.
• You will receive an email confirmation of your request, and subsequent approval or denial, in a short time.
• For questions about pending requests or denials send a message to admin@musiccal.stanford.edu.

Department Forms

Click here to download department forms including Financial Forms (Discretionary Funds, Travel Expenses, Paying Guest Visitors), and Payroll Forms. You must have a valid SUNET ID to access the forms page.

Student Jobs in Braun Music Center

To apply for positions in the Department of Music, bring your résumé to the Department Office in Braun Music Center, Room 101, or fax it to us at 650.725.2686; student applicants should complete an application form (available from our receptionist) as well. We will contact candidates for interviews.

Tech Staff

Tech Staff assist in presenting concerts. They also open and close the buildings, and work in the office signing out practice rooms, keys, and lockers. Duties may include moving large objects (pianos, sound shells, etc.), setting up and operating recording and lighting equipment, set changes, and other backstage work. Must be able to lift 50 lbs.

Hours and days are flexible, but are generally evenings and weekends. Contact Mark Dalrymple for more information.

• Hours: variable, usually average 5-10 hours per week
• Pay Scale starts at $12/hr

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