Course description
Bachelor of Music (Four-year college program)
The Bachelor of Music program offers students a thorough musical foundation with the added perspective of a liberal arts education. This mixture of arts and academic classes creates a wellrounded musician, as well as one prepared for the demands of living in today’s world. Students who may want to pursue graduate work should complete this course of study.
The School of Music offers the Bachelor of Music in the following areas of study:
brass, composition, guitar, harp, organ, percussion, piano, saxophone,
strings, voice, and woodwinds.
Undergraduate Course Descriptions
MUS 101, 102, 103: Foundations of Music: Aural Skills I (1 credit per term)
Aural and written theory fundamentals (scales, intervals, chords); diatonic sight singing and melodic dictation; performance and notation of basic rhythmic patterns; reading fluency in treble, bass, and grand staff; perception of music in melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic gesture. Coordinates with Theory I and Keyboard Skills I.
MUS 104, 105, 106: Foundations of Music: Theory I (1 credit per term)
Written and aural theory fundamentals (intervals, major and minor scales, triads, seventh chords); twopart species counterpoint; four-part tonal writing and analysis; modulation and phrase structure within binary and ternary form; improvisation and model composition. Coordinates with Aural Skills I and Keyboard Skills I.
MUS 107, 108, 109: Foundations of Music: Keyboard Skills I (1 credit per term)
Develops fundamental musicianship skills including reading fluency, harmonization, keyboard technique,and ensemble work. Coordinates with Theory I and Aural Skills I.
MUS 137, 138, 139: Foundations of Music: Keyboard Skills I for Pianists and Organists (1 credit per term) Develops skills including reading fluency, transposition, harmonization, improvisation, figured bass realization, and score reading. Coordinates with Theory I and Aural Skills I.
MUS 161, 162, 163: Rhythm Section Fundamentals (1 credit per term)
This course is designed for pianists, guitarists, bassists, and drummers who have an interest in performing with the jazz ensemble or in jazz chamber groups, but who need help with chart reading and style differentiation.
MUS 174, 175, 176: Dance/Movement for Singers (1 credit per term)
Basic dance technique to familiarize the student with the fundamentals of body movement and coordination as well as basic dance terms and forms.
MUS 177: Introduction to Vocal Diction (1 credit)
Introduction to International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols and sounds; sounds presented in correlation to English.
MUS 200: Non-Required Secondary Instrument (1 credit per term)
A student may elect to study an instrument other than his or her specialty instrument.
MUS 201, 202, 203: Foundations of Music: Aural Skills II (1 credit per term)
Continued development on more advanced level of skills from Aural Skills I, including: sight singing containing chromaticism, secondary function, and modulation; performance and notation of complex rhythmic patterns; reading in alto, tenor, and soprano clefs; increased perception of music in melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic gesture.
MUS 204, 205, 206: Foundations of Music: Theory II (1 credit per term)
Continued in depth exploration of concepts from Theory I including: four-part chromatic writing; advanced modulation; formal analysis of fugal, sonata and rondo procedures; orchestral score familiarity and analysis; introduction to 20th century compositional and analytic techniques.
MUS 207, 208, 209: Foundations of Music: Keyboard Skills II (1 credit per term)
Continued development on more advanced level of skills from Keyboard Skills I, with special focus on instrumental transpositions and scores. Prerequisite for MUS 207: MUS 103, MUS 106, and MUS 109;
MUS 211, 212: Music Technology: Synthesis and Multimedia (1 credit per term)
An introduction to the techniques, equipment and software used in creating music for the concert stage and multimedia. Topics include acoustics, MIDI sequencing, synthesis techniques, sound design and working with multimedia.
MUS 237, 238, 239: Foundations of Music: Keyboard Skills II for Pianists and Organists (1 credit per term) Continued development on more advanced level of skills from Keyboard Skills I for Pianists and Organists.
MUS 241: History of Musical Styles I: Antiquity to Baroque (2 credits)
The History of Musical Styles course sequence helps students gain knowledge and understanding of the styles, genres, and cultural contexts of Western art music; develop skills in musical and cultural analysis; and acquire aesthetic and historical appreciation for the music studied.
MUS 242: History of Musical Styles II: Classical and Romantic (2 credits)
The History of Musical Styles course sequence helps students gain knowledge and understanding of thestyles, genres, and cultural contexts of Western art music; develop skills in musical and cultural analysis; and acquire aesthetic and historical appreciation for the music studied.
MUS 243: History of Musical Styles III: Modern (2 credits)
The History of Musical Styles course sequence helps students gain knowledge and understanding of the styles, genres, and cultural contexts of Western art music; develop skills in musical and cultural analysis; and acquire aesthetic and historical appreciation for the music studied.
MUS 250: Composition for Non-Composition Majors (1 credit per term)
Private composition lessons for non-composition majors. Limited enrollment. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor and approval of the dean.
MUS 271: Introduction to Stage Makeup for Singers (1 credit) An introduction to stage makeup with an emphasis placed on the needs of the operatic singer.
MUS 274, 275, 276: Acting for Singers (1 credit per term)
Basic acting technique to familiarize the student with stage movement and character development.
MUS 277, 278, 279: Foundations of Music: Keyboard Skills II for Singers
Continued development on more advanced level of skills from Keyboard Skills I, with special focus on skills necessary to play simple vocal accompaniments and choral scores.
MUS 300: Required Secondary Instrument (1 credit per term)
Students specializing on certain instruments and in composition are required to study a second instrument (usually piano) as an indispensable part of the learning process in the study of the specialty subject. Consult the requirements for each concentration.
MUS 311, 312: Music Technology: Digital Audio and Recording (1 credit per term)
An introduction to the techniques, equipment and software used in recording and creating music with digital audio. Topics include acoustics, recording with digital audio, microphones, editing, multi-track mixing, signal processing and mastering.
MUS 314, 315, 316: Orchestration (1 credit per term)
Detailed study of instrumentation, orchestration, history of orchestration, survey and acoustics as applied to orchestral instruments.
MUS 317, 318, 319: Counterpoint (1 credit per term)
Students investigate Renaissance (species) and Baroque contrapuntal procedures, and compose inventions, canons, and fugues. Polyphonic techniques are observed in Mozart, Brahms, Bartok, and American jazz.
MUS 321, 322, 323: Guitar History and Literature (1 credit per term)
Survey of important solo and ensemble literature for the guitar from the Renaissance through Contemporary periods. Social history and physical development of the guitar. Transcription of early tablatures
MUS 331: Piano Literature: Baroque and Classical (1 credit)
Survey of keyboard works from the Baroque Period suitable for performance on the modern piano.
MUS 332: Piano Literature: Romantic Period (1 credit)
Survey of piano works from the Romantic Period.
MUS 333: Piano Literature: Modern/Contemporary (1 credit)
Survey of piano works of the Modern/Contemporary Period.
140
MUS 334, 335, 336: Sacred Music Skills (1 credit per term)
Emphasis on skills necessary to become a successful church musician. Improvisation will be an integral part of the course each term. Units in hymnology, liturgy and worship styles, creative hymn-playing, accompanying, sight-reading, transposition, conducting from the console, rehearsal techniques and church music administration.
MUS 350: Theory Analysis Elective (1 credit)
Focused topics involving various aspects of theoretical analysis. Complements and extends theory work accomplished through the Foundations of Music sequence. Variety of topics offered on a rotating basis.
MUS 351, 352, 353: Choral Conducting (1 credit per term)
Study of basic conducting techniques, with emphasis on those needed for choral singing. MUS 351 explores basic conducting gestures. MUS 352 explores choral singing and choral sound. MUS 353 explores orchestral techniques and choral/orchestral works. Includes laboratory conducting session with School of Music vocal/choral ensembles.
MUS 354, 355, 356: Instrumental Conducting (1 credit per term)
Study of the basic conducting techniques pertinent to instrumental performance: instrumental balance, articulation and phrasing. Laboratory conducting sessions with School of Music instrumental ensembles.
MUS 361, 362: Harp Literature (1 credit per term)
A survey of the literature for the harp (solo and with other instruments, including orchestra) from Renaissance through Contemporary periods.
MUS 363: Harp Pedagogy (1 credit per term)
Study of effective teaching techniques for teaching basic harp studies to students.
MUS 378, 379: Vocal Diction
Using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), study of the rules of “lyric diction” for singing in Italian, rules of diction for singing in German, and rules of Classical “style soutenue” diction for singing in French; for all three languages, application of rules and sound production through singing of repertoire.
MUS 380: Music History/Literature Elective (1 credit)
Focused topics involving various aspects of music history and/or literature. Complements and extends work accomplished through the History of Musical Styles sequence. Variety of topics offered on a rotating basis.
Vocal Literature Courses (1 credit per term)
MUS 381: Vocal Literature: Baroque Period/Classical Period
MUS 382: Vocal Literature: Romantic Period
MUS 383: Vocal Literature: Modern/Contemporary Periods
A survey of vocal literature from the major stylistic periods with emphasis on style, interpretation, poetic content, performance and program building.
MUS 390: Performance Hour (0 credits per term)
A weekly forum for students to perform in public before their peers and the faculty. Graded pass/fail.
MUS 398: Special Topics in Music
The School of Music offers a variety of courses on topics of special interest. The school makes every attempt to respond to both faculty and student interest in the formulation and scheduling of such courses. The number of hours and credits will vary according to the nature and the scope of the project.
MUS 400: Applied Lessons (2 credits per term)
One hour per week of individual performance instruction.
MUS 401: Studio Master Class (1 credit per term)
Weekly performance class for the purpose of refining performance skills. Included are in-class performance and critique, as well as specialized studies related to the particular concentration of study
MUS 410: Senior Recital (1 credit)
Performance project by the student with permission from the area of study. It may include specific requirements as dictated by the studio teacher.
MUS 411, 412: Film Composition
Students are introduced to the creative and technical aspects of composing music for film. Topics include sequencing, synchronization, recording, sound design and sound editing.
MUS 414, 415, 416: Jazz Improvisation (1 credit per term)
Provides students with the aural, technical, and theoretical skills required for jazz improvising. In addition, students learn a minimum of jazz repertoire.
MUS 417, 418, 419: Jazz Arranging (1 credit per term)
Arranging techniques in the jazz/commercial style from rhythm section to full jazz band. Study includes basic instrumentation and transposition, chord voicing, harmonization of melody, jazz counterpoint, and background writing and scoring techniques for big band. Prerequisites: MUS 414, 415, 416 and the permission of the instructor.
MUS 421, 422, 423: Guitar Pedagogy (1 credit per term)
Study of the psychological and physical aspects of teaching the guitar. Survey of important guitar methods and materials. Application to classroom and studio teaching
MUS 431: Piano Literature: Art Song (1 credit)
Survey of major works of the literature for voice and piano, with emphasis on the 19th and early 20th
centuries.
MUS 432: Piano Literature: Chamber Music (1 credit)
Overview and analysis of major works for piano in diverse instrumental ensembles, 18th century to the present.
MUS 433: Piano Pedagogy (1 credit per term)
Seminar style exploration of methods of teaching early piano studies and the available music and exercise books and methods for the student to use.
MUS 434, 435, 436: Organ History and Literature (1 credit per term)
Principles of organ design and construction. History of the development of the organ. Fall term includes a survey of organ literature from the Robertsbridge Codex (1325) to the Contemporary Period. Winter and spring terms include research and performance projects focusing on the performance practices of each period.
MUS 450: Composition Lessons (2 credits per term)
One hour per week of individual composition lessons.
MUS 451: Composition Seminar (1 credit per term)
This seminar will include presentations by guests, faculty and student composers on a variety of topics
MUS 491, 492, 493: Career Development Seminar (1 credit per term)
An introduction to the “business” side of the music profession. Discussions revolve around issues such as résumés, publicity photos, finding management, dealing with contracts, taxes, etc.
MUS 497: Pedagogy and Materials (1 credit per term)
Students will review and evaluate materials and explore teaching techniques with specialist teachers to provide a working knowledge of the instructional literature and teaching of specific individual instruments. Prerequisites: participation is by invitation with the permission of the instructor and the approval of the dean.
MUS 499: Independent Study
Independent study in the form of performance, research or composition under the supervision of a member of the faculty. The number of hours and credits will vary according to the nature and the scope of the project. Prerequisites: permission of the instructor and approval of the dean.
MUS 500: Private Lessons for Non-Matriculated Students (Special Students) (4 credits per term) Private instruction in instruments, voice or composition for special students. This includes a one-hour weekly lesson and participation in the instructor’s studio class. Each specialty performance teacher maintains a weekly class for his/her students. Included are in-class performance and critique in addition to specialized studies related to the particular concentration study, such as reed-making for oboists.
MUS 511: Large Ensemble (1 credit per term)
Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, or Jazz Ensemble, as assigned by the studio teacher in consultation with the ensemble director.
MUS 512: Chamber Ensemble (1 credit per term)
Duets, Trios, Quartets, Quintets and small mixed ensembles as assigned by the studio teacher.
MUS 520: Trombone Choir (1 credit per term)
Performance in trombone choir.
MUS 521: Guitar Ensemble (1 credit per term)
Preparation and public performance of works for more than one guitar or guitar with other instruments.
MUS 527: Brass Symphonic Repertoire (1 credit per term)
Study of major symphonic repertoire, including the development of skills and techniques needed for successful orchestral playing. Prerequisite: Permission of course instructor and major teacher.
MUS 528: Woodwind Repertoire & Pedagogy: Orchestra Winds (1 credit per term)
Study of the major symphonic repertoire, including development of skills and techniques needed in successful orchestral playing. Teaching tools and techniques are discussed and practiced
MUS 529: Woodwind Repertoire & Pedagogy: Saxophone (1 credit per term)
A survey of important solo and chamber works for saxophone, as well as literature about and resources for the saxophone. Teaching tools and techniques are discussed and practiced.
MUS 551, 552, 553: Electronic and Computer Music (1 credit per term)
Topics covered in this course will include: advanced recording, digital sound editing, MIDI sequencing, sound design, and computer music programming environments. The course will also include compositional strategies and analysis of recognized classic works in the genre.
MUS 560: Ensembles for Percussionists (1 credit per term)
Preparation and public performance of representative works for Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and SACE.
MUS 567: Percussion Ensemble (1 credit per term)
Preparation and public performance of a wide variety of contemporary percussion music. Performances on- and off-campus.
MUS 568: Symphonic Repertoire (Strings) (1 credit per term)
Applied study of orchestral works, both excerpted and entire, which commonly appear as required symphony audition repertoire. Weekly in-class performances are critiqued on style, tempi and technical problems. The term exam is a mock audition behind a screen as in the professional world.
MUS 575: Opera Workshop (1 credit per term)
Preparation and public performance of fully staged opera productions in cooperation with the School of Design and Production. Workshop productions of opera scenes from several operas, with students learning a variety of roles. Prerequisite: by permission of instructor.
MUS 576: Cantata Singers (1 credit per term)
Preparation and performance of choral works from the Renaissance through the Modern Period for unaccompanied chorus and chorus with instruments. Singers for the opera chorus of the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute are drawn from Cantata Singers. Performances on- and off-campus. This ensemble is also open to members of the community by audition. Prerequisite: audition/assignment.
MUS 599: Intensive Arts Projects (1 credit)
During the two-week period immediately following Thanksgiving break, students participate in special projects, classes, seminars and performances. Students are encouraged to pursue musical studies; however, interdisciplinary interests may be considered. Students must enroll in the course each fall term
they are in attendance at UNCSA. The course is graded “pass/fail.”
