Music (MU)
Study of concepts, skills, and techniques necessary to read and understand music. An introduction to intervals, scales, key signatures, triads, and solfege. Not available for credit toward a Music Major or Minor.
Analytical and critical listening to music of various historical periods. Primary attention is given to music of European-American classical tradition as well as popular music styles. Not available for credit toward a Music major or minor.
A cultural, social, and historical survey of Latin American folk and art music which emphasizes African, European, and Amerindian roots of representative regional and national styles. Students learn through readings, lectures, films, listening, and performance on indigenous instruments.
A study of selected folkloric, popular and non- western art music traditions and their historical, social and cultural contexts.
Study of the growth and diffusion of popular music and its surrounding culture in the '50s and '60s, including concurrent historical events and movements, as well as trends in other arts.
Jazz from its origins through modern developments. Ethnic backgrounds, contributing factors, style characteristics, and interrelationships, literature, and performers.
This course examines the history of music in the United States, with an emphasis on twentieth century music. Students will study traditional, popular, and classical music from historical and social perspectives.
This course investigates the processes and techniques used in designing sound and music for visual media. Topics will include the perceptual properties of sound, software synthesis, wave mechanics, acquiring or creating auditory elements, and using audio production techniques and tools.
Students will explore cultural origins, diversity, and the role of music by using examples from various representative regions of Latin America.
This course is focused on integrating music into the classroom setting. Students will develop skills in singing, listening, creating, playing classroom instruments, and leading music activities.
Presented in a seminar format, this course involves a study of how experimentalism and the avant-garde developed in the context of rock music.
Jewish Music from biblical times to the present. Includes liturgical, cantorial, holiday, folk, and concert music; Israeli, Yiddish, Klezmer, and contemporary synagogue music; choral tradition and music of the Holocaust. Cross-listed as: IHHGS-305.
An interdisciplinary examination of Afro-Brazilian arts and culture, with an emphasis on music, literature, and film. Topics include the African Diaspora and negritude in Brazil, folkloric and contemporary Brazilian music, and current trends in Brazilian literature and film. Students will also consider their own place in history and contemporary society.
The course will enrich anyone's appreciation for this art form and provide an introduction to the music of the film industry. The development of film music will be traced from the early Silent Film era, through the advent of the Talkies, and onto the grand Romantic scores of modern times.
Includes such musical activities as meetings, recitals, concerts, small ensemble performances, master classes, and guest lectures.
Emphasizes the development and improvement of proper vocal techniques for those with little or no vocal training. Helps non Music majors with a variety of interests in singing.
Introduction to keyboard fundamentals, keyboard harmony, inprovisation at the piano, and reading the grand staff with two hands. Prepares students for first half of department piano proficiency exam.
Continuation of MU-118. More advanced study and development of keyboard technique and performance skills. Introduction to sight-reading and transposition at the keyboard, ensemble playing, and the accumulation of repertoire and skills necessary for successful completion of MU-283. Meets two hours a week. May be repeated once for credit.
Contemporary and historical analysis of public music education. Orientation to the teaching profession as a career choice through personal reflection, professional readings and field experience. Introduction to professional standards.
A study of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and its application to languages for singing. This course will primarily cover English, French, and Italian.
A study of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and its application to languages for singing. This course will primarily cover German, Latin, and Spanish.
Fundamentals, including key signatures, scales, intervals, triads, and 7th chords. Roman numerals, basic part writing using root-position chords, cadences, nonharmonic tones, basic figured bass analysis, basic keyboard harmony.
Counterpoint, part-writing using root position and first inversion chords, uses of six-four chords, harmonic tendencies, analysis and realization of figured bass, modes, secondary dominants and tonicization, keyboard harmony.
Sight-singing and aural dictation skills, including major and minor scales; major, minor, and perfect intervals; diminished, minor, major, and augmented triads; basic rhythms in simple meter; major and minor diatonic melodies; and basic root position harmonic progressions. Meets two hours a week.
Sight-singing and aural dictation skills, including major and minor scales; modes; consonant and dissonant intervals; triads in inversion; 7th chords in root position; rhythms in simple meter, with introduction to compound meter; major, minor, and modal melodies. Harmonic dictation to include secondary dominants. Meets two hours a week.
Open by audition to a limited number of students. Performance of traditional and/or contemporary chamber works in various ensembles. May be repeated.
(This course will be changing as of FA24. The following course description is for Spring 2024 ONLY.) Open by audition to any student with adequate singing ability, within limits of balance of voices. May be repeated.
Open to a limited number of singers selected by audition. May be repeated.
Open to any student with adequate playing ability, within limits of balance of instrumentation. May be repeated.
Open by audition to a limited number of players. A select group specializing in jazz of various periods. May be repeated.
Open by audition to any student with adequate playing ability, within limits of balanced instrumentation. May be repeated.
A performing group composed of various sizes of classical guitars, specializing in the performance of works for multiple guitars. Audition required. May be repeated.
Pianists are guided through the characteristics of appropriate collaborative performance practices in instrumental repetoire. Open by audition. May be repeated for credit.
Vocalists and pianists are guided through the characteristics of appropriate collaborative performance practices in vocal repertoire. Open by audition. May be repeated for credit.
An overview of the essential elements of music technology. Included topics will be sound, audio, MIDI, synthesis, and sampling. Also includes a review of the history of music technology and electronic music.
An introduction to the basics of recording technology. Topics will include analog and digital recording systems, microphone design, microphone placement, and basic mixing techniques. This course will be primarily classroom-based with some hands-on projects.
Preliminary study of the process of musical composition in a classroom setting. Includes the effective use of counterpoint; listening to examples from the standard literature; composing works for solo instrument or chamber groups.
Continuation of MU-213. More advanced work with counterpoint techniques. Additional literature review. Composing for a wider variety of instruments or voice.
Students will improve sight-reading and transposition skills through study of choral, band and orchestra scores. Figured bass, easy keyboard literature, and an introduction to vocal accompanying strategies. Meets two hours a week.
Students will lead the class, run a choir rehearsal, and practice teaching from the keyboard. Repertoire and ensemble playing will continue to reinforce sight-reading and performance skills. Meets two hours a week.
An introduction to music technology and its relationship to music education. Topics are based on the areas of compentency in music technology for K thru 12 music teachers established by the Technology Institute for Music Educators, and competency in music arranging.
Within the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre and form, this course will provide a foundation for developing extemporaneous musical skills useful in performance and teaching. Students are expected to have completed one year of music theory prior to taking this course.
Class instruction in string performance, pedagogy, methods, materials, and basic instrument maintenance. Two instruments are studied. Meets first half of semester only.
Continuation of MU-223. Additional stringed instruments are studied. Meets second half of semester only.
Class instruction in brass performance, pedagogy, methods, materials, and basic maintenance. Two brass instruments are studied. Meets first half of the semester only.
Two additional brass instruments are studied. Meets second half of the semester only.
Class instruction in woodwind performance, pedagogy, methods, materials, and basic maintenance.
Class instruction in clarinet and saxophone performance, pedgogy, methods, materials, and basic maintenance.
Class instruction in percussion performance, pedagogy, methods, materials, and basic instrument maintenance. Meets first half of semester only.
Continuation on MU-229. Meets second half of semester only.
Class instruction in basic guitar skills, emphazing application in classroom teaching situations at the elementary, and junior high levels, methods and materials, and basic instrument maintenance.
Class instruction in oboe and bassoon performance, pedagogy, methods, materials, and basic maintenance.
Part writing using all inversions, modulation to closely-related keys, chromatic harmonies. Keyboard harmony. Major forms, including binary, ternary, rondo, sonata-allegro. Analysis of Bach chorales, mid-to late-classical and early-Romantic music.
Modulation to distant keys, chromatic modulation, chromatic mediant relationships. Continued part-writing and analysis of late-classical and Romantic music. 20th Century rhythmic, tonal, and post-tonal concepts, and analysis of contemporary repertoire. Keyboard harmony and score reading.
Sight-singing and aural dictation skills, including scales, modes, consonant and dissonant intervals, all triads and dominant 7th chords in root position and inversions, Neapolitan and augmented sixth chords, and compound rhythm. Advance diatonic melodies and harmonies, including secondary dominants, chromatic chords, and modulation to closely related keys. Meets two hours a week.
Sight-singing and aural dictation skills, including major, minor, modal, and contemporary scales; compound intervals; triads and 7th chords in root position and inversions; chromatic chords. Rhythms in simple, compound, and changing meters. Melodies and harmonies to include secondary dominants, chromatic chords, and modulation to close and distant keys. Meets two hours a week.
Opera excerpts are studied and performed. Complete operas are also studied: composers, plots, and characters. May be repeated for credit.
Required of all music majors. One of three mid-level assessment exams required by the Department of Music necessary for continuation in the program. May be repeated once. Graded Pass/Fail.
Required of all music majors. One of three mid-level assessment exams required by the Department of Music necessary for continuation in the program. May be repeated once. Graded Pass/Fail.
Required of all music majors. One of three mid-level assessment exams required by the Department of Music necessary for continuation in the program. May be repeated once prior to junior level coursework (Music Education majors and BA candidates), or junior recital jury (Music Performance majors). Graded Pass/Fail.
Study of selected topics in music. May be repeated as topics change.
An opportunity for a qualified student to explore work in an area of individual interest, selected and pursued in consultation with a faculty member. Repeatable to a total of 8 credits.
A survey of Western art music traditions from the Medieval era up to the eighteenth century. Emphasis on the development of musical style.
A chronological survey of music from the eighteenth century to the present day. Emphasis on the development of musical style.
Basic conducting techniques, experience in score reading, baton technique, and interpretation.
Sequel to MU-315. More advanced conducting techniques used in both instrumental and choral ensembles.
Directed study of materials and approaches to studio teaching of one's primary applied instrument to students of all ages and levels. Vocal: Fall. Piano: Fall, odd years. Guitar: Spring, even years. Other instruments: as needed.
Sections offered in literature for voice, piano, guitar, and other instruments as needed. Classes include performance of examples with coaching in stylistic interpretation of literature from all periods.
This course will focus on the purpose and techniques necessary to implement general and ensemble music curriculum design and assessment.
This course will focus on laws governing special education and their impact on music educators in adapting music experiences to best meet students' needs in general and ensemble music classrooms.
Supervised field experience in K thru 12 General Music classroom(s).
Planning, teaching, and assessing general music lessons (K 12) in accordance with the National Music Standards. Implementation of Orff, Kodaly, and Dalcroze pedagogies including keyboard skills, singing, playing classroom instruments, solfege, and Curwin hand signs. Classroom observations and field teaching required.
Principles, techniques, and materials for developing and administering a complete school choral program. Includes sources and criteria for selection of repertoire.
This is a course designed to create supervised field esperiences in public school instrumental and/or choral music programs for music education majors.
Principles, techniques, organization, and materials for developing and administering a complete school instrumental program. Includes sources and criteria for selection of repertoire.
An advanced lecture and project-oriented course centered on the audio production processes of recording, mixing, and mastering. Topics will include aesthetics of a mix and various processes and techniques relevant to music production. Students will engage in extensive critical listening throughout the course.
Allows upper division Music Majors to participate as apprentices in performing groups. Students may be asked to assist in selection of literature, group logistics, rehearsal, and performance. May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credits.
Full time 7-week placement in elementary level music classroom setting(s) appropriate to intended certification. Supervision provided by college supervisor and field based professional towards mastery of principles, attitudes and techniques for successful teaching. Graded Pass/Fail.
Full time 7-week placement in secondary level music classroom setting(s) appropriate to intended certification. Supervision provided by college supervisor and field professional towards mastery of principles, attitudes and techniques for successful teaching. Graded Pass/Fail.
Seminar taken during student teaching focuses on current social, legal and ethical issues affecting music education. Includes reflection on professional identity and culminating portfolio development.
Integrates a student's knowledge and skills in music and applies them in an upper level seminar setting. Presents one topic per semester: Counterpoint, Analytical Techniques in Music, Twentieth Century Music, or other topics. Final projects relate to a student's degree specialization or interests. May be repeated as topics change.
A capstone project in Music Technology demonstrating competence as an audio engineer and sound designer. The project, in consultation with the instructor, may take the form of a lecture recital or significant development project with lecture presentation.
80-hour supervised, contracted internship arranged by the student with an approved music technology company, for either a semester's work or summer employment. Contract must be approved by the music technology coordinator. Responsible faculty supervision and review required.
Independent reading and study in a selected area of Music, conducted on a tutorial basis. Students must obtain approval of the supervising faculty member before registering. May be repeated for a total of 8 credits.