Music Courses

Music 101 - Introduction to Music
Fall, spring
A one-semester introduction to art music in the Western tradition, its forms and history, with an emphasis on the major composers of the common practice period. Assignments focus on developing critical listening skills and an appreciation and understanding of Western art music. One unit.

Music 103 - Fundamentals of Music
Fall, spring
Introduction to the rudiments of music theory (notation, scales, intervals, chords, rhythm and meter) and basic musicianship (keyboard skills, score reading and ear training). For students with no previous musical knowledge. One unit.

Music 140 - Song through the Ages
Alternate years
Song through the Ages is a survey of song repertoire from the Western Art Tradition, including chant, madrigal, opera, oratorio, German Lieder, choral symphony, as well as folk and popular song.

Music 142 - American Popular Song
Alternate years
Historical survey of American popular song-Stephen Foster, blackface minstrels, sentimental parlor songs, songs of the Civil War, gospel hymns, vaudeville, Tin Pan Alley, Broadway musicals, Jerome Kern, George and Ira Gershwin, jazz-band songs and singers, country music, rhythm and blues, rock’n’roll, rock, popular “folk” songs, and more. One unit.

Music 143 - History of Rock
Alternate years
Survey of rock music from its beginnings in earlier forms of popular music to 1990. Attention is given to the relationship of rock music to its cultural, political, and economic contexts. One unit.

Music 150 - American Music
Alternate years
Surveys three main repertoires of music in the United States: folk and traditional music of urban, rural, and ethnic origin; jazz; and art music from Charles Ives to the present, with particular attention to the influence of science and technology on recent developments. One unit.

Music 151 - World Music
Alternate years
Introduction to music of selected African, Asian, and American cultures. Each culture is approached through its social and cultural context, its theoretical systems and musical instruments, as well as its major musical and theatrical genres. One unit.

Music 153 - Music of Bali-Gamelan 1
Fall, spring
Introduces students to Balinese music through the performance of selected pieces from the Gong Kebyar repertory. Instruction provided in the technique of playing the instruments that make up the Gamelan. One unit.

Music 160 - Introduction to Electronic Music
Annually
Surveys musical and scientific theories related to developments in electronic music. Topics include: physical parameters of audio waveforms and specific means of processing sound using digital synthesizers and computers. Students are introduced to techniques of electronic music composition through the analysis of selected works as well as studio assignments. No prerequisite. One unit.

Music 161 - Digital Media for Musicians
Alternate years
Explores the role of digital media in the world of music and teaches how digital tools are utilized by the contemporary composer. Students get “hands-on” experience with digital audio, MIDI, the internet, and a host of computer applications (PowerPoint, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, ProTools, Audacity, Adobe Premier), that are essential for the aspiring musician.

Music 199 - Special Topics
Annually
Jazz: A Historical Survey, and others. One unit.

Music 201 - Theory of Music 1
Fall
The first semester of a two-semester intermediate theory sequence devoted to the materials of modal and tonal music: elementary counterpoint, harmony, and analysis. This course is designed to develop the skills and theoretical concepts (voice-leading, harmonization of melodies, figured bass, etc.) that underlie the performance, analysis, and composition of music. Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Music or equivalent background. One unit.

Music 202 - Theory of Music 2
Spring
The second semester of the two-semester intermediate theory sequence. Prerequisite: Theory 1 or permission of the instructor. One unit.

Music 211 - History of Western Music 1
Fall
Survey of the history of music, its notation, forms, and styles, in Western Europe from the development of music notation in the middle ages to the death of Bach in 1750. Topics include genres and composers of the medieval, renaissance, and baroque periods as well as the study of representative works from scores and recordings. Prerequisite: the ability to read music. One unit.

Music 212 - History of Western Music 2
Spring
Traces the history and development of Western music from 1750 to the present, with emphasis on the major composers and genres of the classical, romantic, and modern periods. Prerequisite: History 1 or permission of instructor. One unit.

Music 213 - The Organ: History and Music
Every third year
Introduction to the history of the construction and design of the pipe organ and its music from the Middle Ages through the present time. One unit.

Music 214 - Music of the 20th Century
Alternate years
Study of representative works of this century, illustrating their compositional techniques and relationship to the past (i.e., the music of Bartok, the different styles of Stravinsky, the atonal and serial music of Schoenberg and his followers). This course also includes selected readings on contemporary music theory and practice. Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Music or equivalent knowledge. One unit.

Music 215 - Music of the Classical Era
Alternate years
The rise and development of the Viennese classical style with an emphasis on the music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Prerequisite: ability to read music, or permission of the instructor. One unit.

Music 216 - Music of the Baroque Era
Alternate years
Study of the most important developments in French, German, and Italian Baroque national styles, from the beginning of the 17th century to the middle of the 18th century. Prerequisite: ability to read music, or permission of instructor. One unit.

Music 218 - Jazz/Improvisation 1
Fall
Introduces students to the fundamentals of jazz harmony and improvisation. Topics include chord and scale construction, harmonic progression, symbols used in improvisation, jazz scales and modes. These theoretical concepts are applied to the analysis and performance of standard jazz tunes. A portion of the class is devoted to performance and improvisation. One unit.

Music 219 - Jazz/Improvisation 2
Spring
Examination and analysis of contemporary jazz improvisation techniques. Students are required to play their own instruments in class. Recorded jazz solos by jazz artists will be analyzed and discussed. One unit.

Music 220 - Music of the Romantic Era
Alternate years
An exploration of the repertoire, forms, aesthetics, and social contexts of 19th-century European art music, as well as its relationships with poetry, drama, philosophy, and the visual arts. One unit.

Music 225 - Tutorial
Annually
Tutorials in Computer Music, Conducting, Music History, Great Composers, Jazz, and other topics. By arrangement. One unit.

Music 230-240 - Great Composers
Annually
Study of the life and works of a major composer (e.g., Beethoven, Mozart, Wagner, Stravinsky, J.S. Bach), with an emphasis on the development of musical style, the immediate socio-cultural context, the contemporary reception of his or her music, and the evaluation of the composer’s achievement by posterity. One unit.

Music 241 - Music and Theatre
Annually
Introduction to opera, musical comedy, and related genres such as dance and film music, with attention to the relationship between drama and music. A brief historical survey of each category with study of representative scenes and complete works. One unit.

Music 251 - Concerto
Alternate years
Study of representative works written for soloists and orchestra from the late 17th-century Concerto Grosso to the Solo Concerto of the 20th century. Repertoire includes the Brandenburg Concertos of J.S. Bach, the solo piano and violin concertos of Mozart and Beethoven, and selected works of Brahms, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Bartok, and others. One unit.

Music 252 - Symphony
Alternate years
Introduction to the orchestra, its instruments, and repertory from the inception of public concerts in the 18th century to the present day. One unit.

Music 253 - Music of Bali-Gamelan 2
Fall, spring
Introduces students to more advanced techniques of playing the instruments in the Gamelan. One unit.

Music 254 - Music for Keyboard
Alternate years
Survey of representative works for keyboard instruments (organ, harpsichord, clavichord, fortepiano and the modern piano) from the 17th century to the present. One unit.

Music 255 - Music of Latin America
Alternate years
The discovery and exploration of the different cultures of Latin America through their music. The course focuses on five regions that are musically rich and representative of the variety of roots from which Latin American people have emerged—Brazil, Argentina, Andes, Mexico and Caribbean Islands. One unit.

Music 256 - Masterpieces for Small Ensembles
Alternate years
Explores vocal and instrumental repertoire from the 17th century to the present that was intended for performance in an intimate setting and is therefore referred to as “chamber music.” Works for String Quartet, Piano Trio, Wind Quintet and Baroque Trio Sonata as well as music for voice with instruments (madrigals, art songs, cantatas) are studied. One unit.

Music 261 - Advanced Digital Media for Musicians
Annually
Second part of a two course sequence focusing on music creation using the latest digital technology, including hard disk recording, editing, mixing, and digital signal processing. Listening and analysis of historical music compositions and recordings from the Twentieth Century which utilize both analog and digital technology. One unit.

Music 299 - Special Topics
Annually
Topics vary and include Survey of African American Music, and India: Religion/Music/Visual Art. One unit.

Music 301 - Theory of Music 3
Fall
Focuses on the analysis and composition of tonal music through the study of representative works of such composers as Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms. Students are required to produce original compositions. Prerequisite: Theory 2. One unit.

Music 302 - Theory of Music 4
Spring
Focuses on 20th-century musical systems with an emphasis on the study of compositional theory and the analysis of selected works of 20th-century European and American composers. Original composition is required. One unit.

Music 303 - Theory of Music 5
Every third year
Offers advanced theoretical studies for students who have completed the Theory 1-4 sequence. This course is especially valuable for those students who plan to pursue graduate studies in musicology or theory/composition. One unit.

Music 325 - Tutorial
Annually
Tutorials in Orchestration, Theory: Composition-Form-Analysis, Music History, Vocal Performance and Jazz Performance. By arrangement. One unit.

Music 331, 332 - Performance
Fall, spring
Instrumental or vocal lessons for students of intermediate competency. Interested students must consult with the Chair of the Department. One unit.

Music 399 - Special Topics
Annually
Topics include. Advanced Composition and Analysis. One unit.

Music 400 - Fourth-Year Seminar
Spring
Designed to integrate the three areas of music: History, Theory and Performance. Required for music majors. Topics vary and may be selected from the important repertoires of both Western and non-Western music. Prerequisite (or co-requisite): Music 212 and Music 302. One unit.

Music 401 - Musicology
Alternate years
An advanced topics course for students with a serious interest in music history and theory, especially majors planning to continue their studies in graduate school. Readings center on historical and analytical methods, recent trends in scholarship, and historiography. Prerequisites: Music 202. One unit.

Music 431, 432 - Performance
Fall, spring
Instrumental or vocal lessons for students of intermediate to advanced competency. Interested students must consult with the Chair of the Department. One unit.

Music 433, 434 - Advanced Performance
Fall, spring
Instrumental or vocal lessons for students of advanced competency. Interested students must consult with the Chair of the Department. One unit.

*The courses and descriptions listed above are taken directly from the official College Catalog.