Appreciation and History
Music Theory
Piano Class
Guitar Class
College Chorus
Chamber Ensemble
Orchestra
Individual Instruction
Jazz Studies
Music Production and Business
Advanced Studies
APPRECIATION AND HISTORY
Humanities (3 credits)
MUS 103 - Introduction to Music Enhances the student's knowledge and enjoyment of a variety of music styles and historical contexts through listening and discussion. Requires attendance at live concerts. No prior musical training necessary.
3 lecture hours
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Humanities / Diversity and Global Perspective (3 credits)
MUS 155 - History of Jazz and Blues Study of the evolution of jazz and blues from their origins in West African music and dance to their development as major 20th century art forms. Examines the significant stylistic phases of jazz from early blues and ragtime through swing and be-bop to avant garde and fusion. Also explores the impact of the African American tradition on contemporary rock and pop music.
3 lecture hours
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Humanities / Diversity and Global Perspective (3 credits)
MUS 156 - History of American Pop Music Analytical and historical survey of American popular music with an emphasis on the period from 1950 to the present. Students develop an understanding of the cultural, social, technological, and musical forces shaping each decade covered. Students apply critical analysis to musical styles, instrumentation, and song structure in addition to issues of race, ethnicity, social class, and gender as formative factors influencing its evolution.
3 lecture hours
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Humanities (3 credits)
MUS 224 - Music History and Literature I -- Antiquity Through Baroque Prerequisites: MUS 103 and MUS 105 or equivalent experience
Study of the evolution of Western European music from its ideological and practical origins in ancient Greece and Rome through the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, in the context of sociohistorical forces and events affecting its development. Basic music theory background desirable.
3 lecture hours
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Humanities (3 credits)
MUS 225 - Music History and Literature II -- Baroque Through Modern Prerequisite: MUS 224
Continued study of the evolution of Western European music from the classical period, with its roots in the Enlightenment and culmination in Romanticism, through its variegated manifestations in the 20th century. Basic music theory background desirable.
3 lecture hours
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MUSIC THEORY
(3 credits)
MUS 105 - Fundamentals of Music Theory Offers the student with no prior musical training an introduction to the basics of music theory. Topics include notation of pitch and rhythm, scale structure, key signatures in major and minor keys, plus chord construction and voice leading. [Fall offering]
2 lecture / 2 laboratory hours
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(3 credits)
MUS 127 - Music Theory I Prerequisite: MUS 105 or permission of department
Corequisite: MUS 167
Topics include more advanced chord construction, figured bass, harmonic analysis, the principles and procedures of four-part writing emphasizing the primary triads and their inversions, as well as non-harmonic tones. Reinforced through ear training and sight singing. [Spring offering]
2 lecture / 2 laboratory hours
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(3 credits)
MUS 128 - Music Theory II Prerequisite: MUS 127
Corequisite: MUS 168
Completion of the diatonic system. Harmonic principles and procedures introduced in MUS 127 are expanded to include application to the supertonic, leading tone, mediant and submediant harmonies in both triad and seventh chord form. Introduces more advanced part-writing, as well as harmonic and structural analysis of 18th and 19th century repertoire. Reinforced through aural skills training and keyboard harmony. [Fall offering]
2 lecture / 2 laboratory hours
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(1 credit)
MUS 167 - Musicianship I Corequisite: MUS 127
Progressive exercises in sight singing, ear training in the form of melodic, rhythmic and harmonic dictation, as well as the practice of keyboard harmony. Emphasis on diatonic materials and the primary triads. Coordinated with conceptual materials presented in MUS 127.
2 laboratory hours
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(1 credit)
MUS 168 - Musicianship II Prerequisites: MUS 127, MUS 167
Corequisite: MUS 128
Continuation of studies begun in MUS 167 with more advanced exercises in sight singing, ear training and keyboard harmony as well as expanded use of the diatonic system including all diatonic triads. Coordinated with conceptual materials presented in MUS 128.
2 laboratory hours
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(3 credits)
MUS 227 - Music Theory III Prerequisite: MUS 128
Corequisite: MUS 267
Study of chromatic harmony especially as used in modulation. Students recognize and compose harmonic progressions involving secondary dominants, diminished seventh chords, as well as altered and borrowed chords, correlated with exercises in ear training, sight-singing, and keyboard harmony. Also includes harmonic and formal analysis of 18th and 19th century repertoire. [Spring offering]
2 lecture / 2 laboratory hours
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(1 credit)
MUS 267 - Musicianship III Prerequisites: MUS 128, MUS 168
Corequisite: MUS 227
Further studies in sight singing, ear training, and keyboard harmony building upon skills acquired in MUS 167 and MUS 168. Introduces chromatic materials including modulation to the dominant and to the relative major and minor. Coordinated with conceptual materials presented in MUS 227.
2 laboratory hours
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PIANO CLASS
(1 credit)
MUS 121 - Piano Class I Fundamentals of piano playing, covers music reading, chords, various accompaniment styles, coordination of both hands, and sight-reading skills. Group instruction is given via an electro-piano lab. College pianos are available for practice. No prior piano instruction necessary.
2 laboratory hours
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(1 credit)
MUS 122 - Piano Class II Prerequisite: MUS 121
Continuation of playing skills and activities initiated in MUS 121.
2 laboratory hours
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(1 credit)
MUS 221 - Piano Class III Prerequisite: MUS 122
Continuation of MUS 122. Explores various periods of keyboard literature as well as increasingly difficult technical skills, sight reading, and transposing.
2 laboratory hours
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GUITAR CLASS
(1 credit)
MUS 142 - Guitar Class I Opportunity to learn to play the guitar; no previous experience necessary. Covers basic chords, song accompaniment, music reading, and pertinent music forms. Some acoustic guitars are available for student use in class.
1 lecture / 1 laboratory hour
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COLLEGE CHORUS
CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
(1 credit)
MUS 170 - Chamber Ensemble I
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(1 credit)
MUS 171 - Chamber Ensemble II
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(1 credit)
MUS 270 - Chamber Ensemble III
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(1 credit)
MUS 271 - Chamber Ensemble IV
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Opportunity to explore, through rehearsal and performance, traditional chamber music repertoire drawn from a variety of historical periods. The student is trained in the proper phrasing, articulation, and dynamics specific to each style. Open to players of all appropriate instruments. 3 class hours
ORCHESTRA
(1 credit)
MUS 182 - Orchestra I
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(1 credit)
MUS 183 - Orchestra II
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(1 credit)
MUS 282 - Orchestra III
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(1 credit)
MUS 283 - Orchestra IV
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Prerequisite: prior orchestral instrument playing experience
Opportunity to explore, through rehearsal and performance, orchestral repertoire from a variety of historical periods. The student is trained in proper phrasing, articulation, and dynamics as well as learning how to play within a large group. Course culminates in a final public concert performance. 3 class hours
INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION
JAZZ STUDIES
(1 credit)
MUS 178 - Jazz Band I Prerequisites: ability to play a jazz band instrument and to read music notation
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(1 credit)
MUS 179 - Jazz Band II
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(1 credit)
MUS 278 - Jazz Band III Prerequisite: MUS 120 with a minimum C grade
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(1 credit)
MUS 279 - Jazz Band IV Prerequisite: MUS 219 with a minimum C grade
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Opportunity to explore classic jazz literature through rehearsal and performance. Repertoire is selected from standards of the swing era, to be-bop, to contemporary funk and fusion with an emphasis on proper articulation, groove, and dynamics specific to each style. 3 class hours
(2 credits)
MUS 151 - Jazz Improvisation I Prerequisites: ability to play an instrument and to read musical notation
(MUS 151 and MUS 152 need not be taken in sequence.)
Introductory-level course emphasizing use of the Mixolydian mode and the blues scale as applied to the dominant 7th family chords. Explores the twelve-bar blues and related forms as vehicles for improvisation with an emphasis on swing and funk rhythms.
1 lecture / 2 laboratory hours
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(2 credits)
MUS 152 - Jazz Improvisation II - Modal Prerequisites: ability to play an instrument and to read musical notation
(MUS 152 may be taken before MUS 151.)
Introductory-level course presenting the conceptual and practical rudiments of the jazz language by focusing on two modes, Ionian and Dorian, as they apply to the major and minor families of chords, respectively. Emphasizes Latino idioms and rhythms.
1 lecture / 2 laboratory hours
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(1 credit)
MUS 223 - Jazz Keyboard Harmony and Improvisation Prerequisite: MUS 221
Introductory course presenting the fundamentals of jazz harmony, chord progressions, scales, and tools for improvisation at the keyboard.
2 laboratory hours
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MUSIC PRODUCTION AND BUSINESS
(3 credits)
MUS 123 - Music Business Overview of the music industry including copyright law, publishing, contracts, management, licensing, and merchandising. Students gain an overall understanding of the people, technologies, and laws that affect all aspects of the music business, culminating in a discussion of career opportunities.
3 lecture hours
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(3 credits)
MUS 235 - Music Composition in the Virtual Studio Prerequisites: CMN 253, MUS 127
Strategies for writing, recording, and producing music in the context of an integrated MIDI/digital audio production environment. Topics include MIDI data entry, recording live sound sources, editing, plug-ins, mixing, mastering, digital music production, and generating .wav and .mp3 files. Assignments include creative projects and listening/discussion of relevant "popular" and "art" music.
2 lecture / 2 laboratory hours
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ADVANCED STUDIES
(3 credits)
MUS 285 - Special Studies in Instrumental Music
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(3 credits)
MUS 286 - Special Studies in Choral/Vocal Music Prerequisites: MUS 128 and MUS 204 and/or permission of music faculty
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Opportunity for students who have completed regular course offerings to continue their studies at advanced levels. Individual students and faculty develop a project contract that sets forth objectives, standards of quality, evaluation guidelines, and deadlines. [occasional offering] 3 lecture hours
