Music course offerings

MUSI 051, MUSI 061 Voice (2 Credits)
The study of vocal production, literature and performance techniques consisting of one lesson per week and participation in a voice studio class. MUSI 061 culminates in a recital performance. Ensemble participation required. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Fall and Spring semesters.

MUSI 052, MUSI 062 Piano (2 Credits)
Lower-division lessons emphasize the development of technical facility and knowledge of various styles of keyboard literature. Upper-division lessons will concentrate on the preparation of specific selections for performance. For keyboard and piano pedagogy majors, MUSI 062 will culminate in a recital performance.  Ensemble participation required. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Fall and Spring semesters.

MUSI 053, MUSI 063 Brass (2 Credits)
One lesson per week on a brass instrument and participation in an instrumental studio class. Lesson material is designed to give students a solid foundation in the areas of performance, literature and pedagogy. MUSI 063 culminates in a recital. Ensemble participation required. Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent. Fall and Spring semesters.

MUSI 054, MUSI 064 Woodwinds (2 Credits)
One lesson per week on a woodwind instrument and participation in an instrumental studio class. Lesson material is designed to give students a solid foundation in the areas of performance, literature and pedagogy. MUSI 064 culminates in a recital. Ensemble participation required. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Fall and Spring semesters.

MUSI 055, MUSI 065 Organ (2 Credits)
One lesson per week on the organ. Lesson material is designed to give students a solid foundation in the areas of performance, literature and pedagogy. MUSI 065 culminates in a recital performance.  Ensemble participation required. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Fall and Spring semesters.

MUSI 058, MUSI 068 Percussion (2 Credits)
One lesson per week on percussion instruments and participation in an instrumental studio class. Lesson material is designed to give students a solid foundation in the areas of performance, literature and pedagogy. MUSI 068 culminates in a recital performance. Ensemble participation required. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Fall and Spring semesters.

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Methods/theory/history

MUSI 150 Survey of World Musics – GS 5
This course provides a basic introduction of world music methods and problems and surveys several non-Western musical cultures including the cultures of Africa, the Middle East, Japan, Southeastern Europe, Latin America, India and Native America. Students will listen to, analyze representative works and do independent research on a pertinent topic. Fulfills General Education Area 5 – Creative Expression.

MUSI 167 Comprehensive Musicianship 1
This is the first of a sequence of courses in which students will learn the elements of music and standard notation, aural and score analysis of compositions and style characteristics within their musical and historical contexts and the development of composition, appreciation and interpretive skills. Basic music theory skills emphasized. Ear training, sight singing, computer skills and keyboard labs are included. Fall semester.

MUSI 168 Comprehensive Musicianship 2
This course emphasizes part writing and harmonic and formal analysis of Western music from ancient times through the Renaissance. Ear training, sight singing, computer skills and keyboard labs are included. Prerequisite: MUSI 167 or Instructor’s consent. Spring semester.

MUSI 176 Music Appreciation – GS 5
Designed for minors and non-majors, this course is concerned with the art of intelligent and perceptive music listening for those interested in increasing their knowledge and enjoyment of music. The course traces the development of music up to the present day. Various media are employed. Note: Course does not satisfy requirements for Music majors. Fulfills General Education Area 5 – Creative Expression.

MUSI 267 Comprehensive Musicianship 3
The study of Western music of the Baroque era, including theoretical and formal analysis, stylistic development of compositional genres and significant works examined in historical context. Ear training, sight singing, computer skills and keyboard labs are included. Prerequisite: MUSI 168 or Instructor’s consent. Fall semester.

MUSI 268 Comprehensive Musicianship 4
The study of Western music of the Classical Era, including theoretical and formal analysis, stylistic characteristics and significant works examined in their historical context. Ear training, sight singing, computer skills and keyboard skills are included. Prerequisite: MUSI 267 or Instructor’s consent. Spring semester.

MUSI 289 Special Topics (2 Credits)
A course that is offered whenever a mutual interest in a more specialized topic in music exists for a member of the faculty and a sufficient number of students. Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent.

MUSI 290 Independent Study (2 Credits)
Individual study of an approved topic in music under the supervision of a music faculty member. This course permits faculty and students to explore together a subject of special or personal interest. Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent.

MUSI 315 Introduction to Opera
( See Infrequently Offered Courses section of the college catalog)

MUSI 317 Evolution of Jazz – GS 10
The study of jazz from its origins in New Orleans to the present day. The course will focus on important performers and songwriters, types of literature, an appreciation of jazz improvisation, as well as the interaction of social, political and economic elements that strongly influenced the genre. Audio and video presentations will be used extensively. Fulfills General Education Area 10 – Western Tradition.

MUSI 321 Piano Pedagogy 1 (2 Credits)
Piano pedagogy explores the various theories of teaching the piano and technical analysis of the playing mechanism. Teaching methods and procedures are developed for establishing efficient practice and working with individual learning styles. Students will survey and evaluate teaching materials and learn to analyze the technical requirements of keyboard music. Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent. Fall semester.

MUSI 322 Piano Pedagogy 2 (2 Credits)
This course is designed to give students experience in the practical application of piano teaching skills and concepts of the mechanism. Prerequisite: MUSI 321 and Instructor’s consent. Spring semester.

MUSI 328 Piano Practicum (2 Credits)
This course is designed to give the elementary, middle and high school teacher practical application of the skills studied in the music theory piano lab. Material to be covered includes warm-up exercises, part reading and a comprehensive survey of the WSMA festival solo and ensemble list.  Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent. Fall semester.

MUSI 329 Piano Literature (2 Credits)
This class is designed to provide the piano major with an understanding of significant forms in the history of piano music, the important compositions within these genres and a functional and practical literature library of compositions for use in a variety of settings.

MUSI 345 Vocal Literature (2 Credits)
This class is designed to provide the vocal major with an understanding of significant forms in the history of vocal music, the important compositions within these genres and a functional and practical literature library of compositions for use in a variety of settings.

MUSI 346 Vocal Diction & Pedagogy (2 Credits)
Vocal diction study will include the Vocal diction study and will include the International Phonetic Alphabet for learning pronunciation of English, Italian, German and French. Students will recite song texts and sing songs in foreign languages with attention to translation, pronunciation, accent and inflection; the differences between the spoken and sung language; and will combine performance with song study and preparation. In pedagogy, singers will be trained in the anatomy, physiology and physics of singing and song production and involve students in teaching voice under the supervision of the instructor. Prerequisites: Music majors and minors and others with Instructor’s consent.

MUSI 347 Choral Repertoire (2 Credits)
This class is designed to provide the emerging choral conductor with an understanding of significant forms in the history of choral music, the compositions that hold pre-eminence within those genres and a functional and practical repertoire library of compositions for use in a variety of settings. Prerequisite: junior standing.

MUSI 362 Woodwind Methods (2 Credits)
Basic principles of teaching and performing on the woodwind instruments. Required of all instrumental majors. Fall semester, alternate years.

MUSI 363 String Methods (2 Credits)
Basic principles of teaching and performing on the string instruments. Required of all instrumental majors. Fall semester, alternate years.

MUSI 365 Brass Methods (2 Credits)
Basic principles of teaching and performing on the brass instruments. Required of all instrumental majors. Spring semester, alternate years.

MUSI 366 Percussion Methods (2 Credits)
Basic principles of teaching and performing on the percussion instruments. Required of all instrumental majors. Spring semester, alternate years.

MUSI 367 Comprehensive Musicianship 5
The Romantic and Impressionistic eras and compositions of the 20th century are explored, with concentration on chromaticism, advanced harmonic analysis, extended forms and the experimental contributions of contemporary composers.  Ear training, sight singing, computer skills and keyboard labs are included.  Prerequisite: MUSI 268 or Instructor’s consent. Fall semester.

MUSI 368 Comprehensive Musicianship 6
The concluding course of the sequence, MUSI 368 examines significant works and musical experiments of the 20th and 21st centuries from 12-tone works to aleatoric and Web-based compositions Students will compose, write about music and learn contemporary analysis techniques. Prerequisite: MUSI 367 or Instructor’s consent. Spring semester.

MUSI 381 Introduction to Conducting (2 Credits)
Baton techniques and conducting problems utilizing a cross section of instrumental and choral music from all periods. Students practice with live performers and are videotaped. Required of all music majors and minors. Prerequisite: junior standing or consent. Spring semester.

MUSI 382 Advanced Choral Conducting (2 Credits)
Development of the ability to interpret the varied forms of choral literature. Conducting projects with choral ensembles are required. Prerequisite: MUSI 381. Fall semester.

MUSI 383 Advanced Instrumental Conducting (2 Credits)
Development of the ability to interpret the varied forms of instrumental literature and to read from the full score. Conducting projects with the wind ensemble are required. Prerequisite: MUSI 381. Fall semester.

MUSI 384 Orchestration (2 Credits)
A study of the instruments of the concert band and orchestra, their tonal characteristics and transpositions. Assignments involve scoring for orchestra, concert band and various small ensembles. Class work includes score analysis, listening and computer generation of assignments. Prerequisite: junior standing or Instructor’s consent. Spring semester, alternate years.

MUSI 389 Special Topics (2 Credits)
A course that is offered whenever a mutual interest in a more specialized topic in music exists for a member of the faculty and a sufficient number of students.  Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent.

MUSI 420 Merit Recital
A full recital with research paper for exceptional students in performance.  Contingent upon completion of junior and senior recitals and an audition before the entire music faculty. Results in an automatic waiver of the eighth applied half-course during that semester. Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent.

MUSI 489 Special Topics
A course that is offered whenever a mutual interest in a more specialized topic in music exists for a member of the faculty and a sufficient number of students. Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent.

MUSI 490 Independent Study
Individual study of an approved topic in music under the supervision of a music faculty member. This course permits faculty and students to explore together a subject of special or personal interest. Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent and approval of the Associate Dean for Humanities and Fine Arts.