Rebecca Miller
Professor of Music
Rebecca (Becky) Miller received an A.B. from Bryn Mawr College, an M.A. from Wesleyan University, and a Ph.D. from Brown University in ethnomusicology. She conducted dissertation research as a Fulbright Fellow on the Caribbean island of Carriacou, Grenada.
Professor Miller is the author of Carriacou String Band Serenade: Performing Identity in the Eastern Caribbean (Wesleyan University Press, 2008; 2nd edition, 2024) and Are You Dancing?: Showbands, Popular Music, and Memory in Modern Ireland (Indiana University Press, forthcoming, March, 2025). She conducted fieldwork in Ireland as a Whiting Fellow and, in 2018–19, was a fellow in Irish Studies at National University Ireland, Galway.
Professor Miller has worked as a public radio producer and public sector folklorist, documenting and presenting the traditional arts from immigrant and refugee communities throughout the United States. Her work has culminated in recordings, festivals, publications, and the production of film and radio documentaries, including the award-winning public radio series, "Old Traditions-New Sounds" and, as co-producer/writer, the documentary video "From Shore To Shore: Irish Traditional Music in New York City."
At Hampshire College, Professor Miller teaches courses in music, ethnomusicology, and journalism and leads the Five College Old Time String Band Ensemble. A fiddler, Professor Miller performs regularly in concert and at dances and teaches workshops at fiddle camps and at festivals.
Recent and Upcoming Courses
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This course focuses on the broad fundamentals of western music, theory, and literacy (how to read western music notation). We will study concepts such as pitch, melody, timbre, and texture, and learn about rhythm, intervals, scales, chords, and harmony. We will also develop our musical understanding through composing music and through "deep listening" in classwork and concerts. Students are required to attend a once/week ear training class, either Monday or Thursday evening, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. No prior music training or literacy is required Keywords:music, listening, composition, ear training
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In this course, students will read and try their hand at different types of music writing, including music journalism, reviews, fiction, memoir, and literary non-fiction. Our reading and listening will cover a broad range of music styles, including rock/pop, rap, R&B, jazz, folk/traditional music, western classical, and others. In addition to learning basic music terminology and concepts to strengthen how we communicate about music, we will do "deep listening" with respect to the music itself -- its lyrics, structure, style, and performance. A writing intensive course, there will also be regular reading and listening assignments. At the end of the semester, students will choose a piece of music or a song, analyze it musically, structurally, and lyrically, and share their work in a short oral presentation. Keywords:Music, writing, journalism, American Studies
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In this course, we will learn the basics of radio journalism and producing podcasts, including interviewing, recording, scriptwriting, production, and the effective use of music and ambient sound. Students will produce three music-related pieces: a vox pop, a music recording review, and a podcast in a style consistent with public radio. Students will gain a working knowledge of sound editing techniques using Adobe Audition software. In addition to reading and listening assignments that introduce students to creative radio production, we will workshop students' projects in class. Students can borrow digital recorders, microphones, and other equipment from Media Services. Keywords:ournalism, radio, podcasting, media studies, music
