Rebecca Miller

Professor of Music
Hampshire College Professor Rebecca Miller
Contact Rebecca

Mail Code CS
Rebecca Miller
Adele Simmons Hall 208
413.559.5545

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

  • In this course, students will learn to play by ear and develop a repertoire of traditional Appalachian dance music (old time) and old time country song. Prior experience with old time music is not necessary, but a basic working knowledge of one of the following instruments is required: fiddle (violin), banjo, guitar, upright bass, mandolin, cello, harmonica, ukelele, and other appropriate instruments in consultation with instructor. While this is primarily a performance course, students will also complete regular reading/written and listening assignments. Keywords:music, performance, ethnomusicology, American Studies, folk arts

  • In this course, we will learn how to produce music pieces for public radio and podcasts. We will learn the basics of radio journalism, including reporting, recording, scriptwriting, production, and the effective use of music and ambient sound. Students will produce two music-related pieces - a vox pop and a final project in a style consistent with public radio. Students will gain a working knowledge of sound editing techniques using Adobe Audition. In addition to workshopping students' projects in class, there will be reading and listening assignments that introduce students to creative public radio pieces focusing on music. Students can borrow digital recorders, microphones, and other equipment from Media Services. Prior college-level coursework in media production, writing, or ethnography is strongly recommended. Keywords:journalism, radio, podcasting, music, sound

  • 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

  • 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