Music (MUSC)

MUSC 1101 The History of Jazz 3 Credits

Attributes: ASGW American Studies: Gateway, ASVP American Studies: Visual and Performing Arts, BSAH Black Studies: Arts and Humanities, BSFC Black Studies Focus Course, DEIE Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Elective, EDCG Educational Studies Cognate

This course traces the development of American jazz from its origins in African-American musical traditions. Students examine the roots of jazz in ragtime, blues, work songs, and march music and study the development of different jazz styles such as Dixieland in the '20s, swing in the '30s, bop in the '40s, and continuing to the present. The course emphasizes the connection between historical periods and the music of jazz: America's original art music. Previously MU 0101.

MUSC 1102 History and Development of Rock 3 Credits

Attributes: ASGW American Studies: Gateway, ASVP American Studies: Visual and Performing Arts, DEIE Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Elective

This course surveys the musical and social trends that resulted in the emergence of rock and roll as an important musical and cultural force in America. The course traces the roots of rock, blues, and country styles, showing how they merged with popular music. Students examine periods from the 1950s to the present, along with Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, the Beatles, the British invasion, folk music, Bob Dylan, jazz and art rock, Jimi Hendrix, the west coast movement, and the music industry. Students learn to understand, discuss, and differentiate between stylistic periods and their historical relevance to American culture. Previously MU 0102.

MUSC 1103 History of Music: 400-1700 3 Credits

From the humble beginnings of prayer set to chant, through the golden age of polyphony, to the masters of the baroque, this course surveys the origin of western art music. Students learn the basic elements of music and chart the evolution of these elements through the centuries. Students also learn about the cultural and intellectual environment that gave birth to different music genres and styles. Previously MU 0103.

MUSC 1104 History of Music: 1700-1964 3 Credits

Attributes: MUEM European Music

This course explores the ways in which composers manipulated musical language to meet the growing demands of the middle class. After learning the basic elements of music, students explore the world of the Enlightenment and Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. In the romantic period, the course explores the interaction of all the arts and the influence of politics and economics on compositional style. With the dawn of the 20th century, the course explores what "modern" means, learns about attempts to expand and replace musical language, and studies the impact of American culture on music. Previously MU 0104.

MUSC 1112 Music of Black Americans 3 Credits

This musical and historical survey of African-American music and its important contributions to American culture examines African heritage, slave songs, and the colonial era, followed by the role of African-Americans in the music and culture of the Revolutionary and Civil War periods. Students examine the evolution of spirituals, minstrel songs, and ragtime as they relate to dance forms; the role of African-Americans as performers and composers in classical music and music of the theatre; and the blues as it evolves into jazz, soul, reggae, funk, disco, and rap. This course takes a look at racism and issues of gender in America, and how musicians of diverse backgrounds have collaborated and contributed to the evolution of American music despite prejudice and adversity. Previously MU 0112.

MUSC 1120 History of American Song 3 Credits

Attributes: ASGW American Studies: Gateway, ASVP American Studies: Visual and Performing Arts

This course examines the history of our most popular form of American music: the song. It explores the origins of song, the impact of immigrants, war, women, and political agendas on the development of this genre, as well as popular American songwriters, singers, and styles. Through critical analysis, we will see the patterns that shaped the music of today. Previously MU 0120.

MUSC 1122 World Music History and Ensemble 3 Credits

Attributes: BSAH Black Studies: Arts and Humanities, BSCC Black Studies Component Course, EDCG Educational Studies Cognate, INEL International Studies Elective, LCEL LACS Minor: Elective

The course includes a survey and hands-on instrumental experimentation with world music including African, Brazilian, African-American, Native American, Latin American, Indian, and South Asian styles. Students attend a formal lecture and a practice or performance session each week. During the latter session, students learn to play (primarily African) percussion instruments, coming to view them as the first building blocks of much larger units of ethnic, folk, traditional, or popular ensembles. The course raises student awareness of corresponding songs and traditions; links history, tradition, music, and culture; and introduces students to the contribution of a wide range of cultures to the music world and to the widespread belief that music is a universal language. Students perform as a class or an ensemble on set show-and-tell occasions that may be open to invited guests and/or the University community. No previous musical experience is required. Previously MU 0122.

MUSC 1124 Bach and Beethoven 3 Credits

Attributes: GMEL German Major or Minor Course, GMEN German Course Taught in English

This course examines the lives and music of two masters. The first half of the course explores the great secular and religious music of Johann Sebastian Bach, the last great exponent of baroque style. The second half of the course investigates the life and works of Ludwig van Beethoven, the composer who, more than any other, represents the struggle for artistic truth. Previously MU 0124.

MUSC 1126 History of Choral Music 3 Credits

From Palestrina's masses to Verdi's Requiem, this course explores the history of music through choral music. The composers themselves often considered these masterpieces to be the culmination of their compositional development and work. A basic ability to read music is helpful. Previously MU 0126.

MUSC 1132 Critical Issues in American Popular Music: Blues to Hip Hop 3 Credits

Attributes: ASVP American Studies: Visual and Performing Arts, BSAH Black Studies: Arts and Humanities, BSCC Black Studies Component Course, DEIE Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Elective

This course provides an in-depth look at the important musical, social, and racial issues in American popular music, from the media exploitation of the blues in the 1920s through current issues in hip hop. Subject areas will include blues and its origins, jazz and modernism, the obstacles of race in music, the death of rhythm and blues, rock's evolution in the 1950s, rap and hip hop culture, and issues in both postmodernism and perverse as seen by many music and art critics. Previously MU 0132.

MUSC 1150 Music Theory and Composition I 3 Credits

This course introduces students to the basic concepts of music theory and beginning compositional skills. Starting with the notation of pitch and rhythm, the course investigates the major/minor key system, intervals, chord construction, melody writing, and rudimentary harmonization. No background in music is expected. Previously MU 0150.

MUSC 1155 Popular Music Theory and Composition 3 Credits

This course gives students a working knowledge of jazz and pop harmony. Students will attain keyboard proficiency through an emphasis on ear-training, voicings, tritone substitutions, and improvisation theory; this proficiency can be used on other instruments. Students learn all upper-structure chords in all keys as well as ways to improvise on various chord structures. Students should be able to play through lead sheet material with reasonable proficiency using jazz voicings and voice-leading techniques. Basic knowledge of the keyboard is recommended, but the course is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists. Previously MU 0155.

MUSC 1156 Introduction to Music Technology: History and Practice 3 Credits

This course provides students with an introduction to the use of musical instrument digital interface and its various formats. Participants study principles of MIDI, the use of computers in music, and music software as it applies to composition, arranging, sequencing, and music notation, examining how these formats enhance the performance of music and music production. Students learn the technology used in pop music, soundtracks, and commercial music. This course requires a basic knowledge of music and is open to students with some musical background. Previously MU 0156.

MUSC 1157 Introduction to the Music Industry 3 Credits

This course introduces students to the various aspects of the music industry. Students discuss the history and process behind the creation, manufacture, and distribution of prerecorded music. The course covers the earliest record companies, changes in the technology, and the growing awareness and sophistication of the consumer and the artists, as well as the function of managers, attorneys, musicians, and agents in the music industry. Previously MU 0157.

MUSC 1243 19th Century Romanticism in Music 3 Credits

Attributes: ISIF Italian Studies: Italy-Focused, ITEN Italian Course Taught in English

This comprehensive survey of 19th-century romanticism in music considers the music of Beethoven, Chopin, Verdi, and Wagner, among others. The music of the romantic era contains some of the richest masterpieces in music history. The course considers the relationship between music and the other arts. Previously MU 0243, MUSC 2243.

MUSC 1953 Jazz Ensemble 1 Credit

Prerequisites: Instrumental or vocal performance experience; selection through audition.

Jazz Ensemble is open to musicians who wish to develop their skills in jazz performance. Students rehearse and receive instruction in performing and improvising in different styles of jazz, from swing to fusion. This course may be taken repeatedly. Previously MU 0256.

MUSC 2201 Hip Hop Evolution: From the South Bronx to the World 3 Credits

Attributes: BSFC Black Studies Focus Course, DEIE Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Elective, MUAM American Music, MUHI Music History

This class explores the musical, cultural, political, and aesthetic foundations of hip-hop. We will trace the corporeal, visual, spoken word, literary, and musical antecedents to and manifestations of hip-hop in American cultural. Students will investigate specific black cultural practices that have given rise to its various idioms. Students create material culture related to each thematic section of the course. Scheduled work in performance studio helps students understand how hip-hop is created and assessed. We will analyze the effects of corporate America and examine the images and ideas presented by an industry driven by profit. Are we really in a post-racial society? How does hop-hop help us understand race, class, gender, power, and oppression? Artists studied will not be those with the highest number of albums sold, but those with significant musical or lyrical content and impact on hip-hop as a whole. Previously MU 0201.

MUSC 2215 American Musical Theatre: History and Practice 3 Credits

Prerequisite: One music or theatre course.

Musical theatre is a complex genre that has developed in tandem with the developing American nation. It is a serious art form that, in its finest iterations, represents total works of art unique in and of themselves. This course expands students' knowledge of the range and diversity of the genre as codified in the middle 20th century by Rodgers and Hammerstein and their imitators. Embedded in great musical theatre pieces is the essence of what it means to be an American living in the United States at a particular time in history. Crosslisted with THTR 2215. Previously MU 0215.

MUSC 2236 Digital Audio Workstation 3 Credits

This course will provide the student with an in-depth knowledge of the practical application of the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). This course is primarily designed for students interested in audio editing as it applies to producing recordings, creating sound effects, and soundtrack design for film/TV/radio. Creating samples, recording techniques, waveform manipulation, mixing, and the role of the Digital Audio Workstation in the overall process of sound design will be explored. Students will be proficient at using Logic Pro audio software to manipulate MIDI and audio. Students will learn how to record live sound effects from the environment and manipulate the recordings to create Foley sound effects, and apply them to a film segment. Students will learn to mix and master a segment of multi-track audio. Crosslisted with FTMA 2236. Previously MU 0202.

MUSC 2242 Music of the Classical Era 3 Credits

During the classical era (about 1750 to 1830), music shifted from an aristocratic concern to the favorite popular art of the middle class. The course examines the lives and music of the three most important composers of this period: Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Previously MU 0242.

MUSC 2244 Music of the 20th Century 3 Credits

This introduction to the mainstreams of music of our time begins with Debussy, Ravel, and the French moderns. After investigating the music of Stravinsky, Bartók, and other European composers, the course concludes with such modern trends as electronic music, film music, jazz, and popular music. Previously MU 0244.

MUSC 2245 Survey of Film Music: Hearing the Movies 3 Credits

This course provides an overview of film music from 1900 to today. Students investigate the defining characteristics of the major historical periods of film music, explore the social and historical events that shaped the industry, learn to actively listen to a score, and discuss salient features of a given score. The object in this course is to develop skills in analyzing the sound track, music's role in the sound track, and the relation of sound track and image track on small-scale and large-scale (narrative) levels. The course develops critical listening and viewing skills as well as a film-music historical survey. Crosslisted with FTMA 2245. Previously MU 0245.

MUSC 2250 Music Theory and Composition II 3 Credits

Prerequisite: MUSC 1150.

In this course, students build a theoretical and compositional foundation by studying 7th chords, part-writing, harmonic progressions, and chromatic harmony. In addition, students compose original melodies and learn how to harmonize them, and undertake simple analysis projects to further understand how music is put together. Previously MU 0250.

MUSC 2900 Special Topics in Music: Group voice, Technique and practice 3 Credits

Attributes: MEVP Magis Core Exploration: VPA

Prerequisite: One 1000-level music course.

Students will undertake an in-depth study of a specific problem, period, composer, performer, or style of performing, creating, or responding to music. The course will be conducted by a leading scholar/practitioner in the field. The course may be repeated with permission of the program director. Previously MU 0200.

MUSC 3911 Private Lessons: Bass 2 Credits