Music (MUS)

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Classes

MUS 121B: Voice 1

Subject
Music (MUS)
Credits 2 Class Hours1 lecture and 2 lecture/lab
Description

This course of beginning voice instruction emphasizes proper breathing and vocal placement. The primary objective of the course is to free the voice.

Semester Offered Fall, Spring
Designation
Diversification: Arts — DA
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs)
  1. Demonstrate proper breathing techniques used in singing.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to memorize the lyrics to at least five songs.
  3. Demonstrate proper vowel formation for singing.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to sing in front of a small group of other students.

MUS 121C: Piano 1

Subject
Music (MUS)
Credits 2 Class Hours1 lecture and 2 lecture/lab
Description

This course provides beginning piano instruction teaching students basic keyboard skills and concepts of melody, rhythm, harmony, and form. The study of popular music and classical music of the 18th through 20th centuries is included.

Semester Offered Fall, Spring
Designation
Diversification: Arts — DA
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs)
  1. Execute elementary technical studies.
  2. Demonstrate organization of the keyboard.
  3. Read rhythm in simple and compound meters.
  4. Read treble and bass clef notation.
  5. Construct and play major scales.
  6. Demonstrate correct hand position.

MUS 121D: Guitar 1

Subject
Music (MUS)
Credits 2 Class Hours1 lecture and 2 lecture/lab
Description

This is an introductory classroom instruction in the art of classic guitar playing. It will deal with solo and ensemble performance, technique, music reading, interpretation, stage etiquette, and music literature.

Semester Offered Fall, Spring
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs)
  1. Perform beginning guitar music before a classroom audience.
  2. Demonstrate single-line and polyphonic music reading in first position.
  3. Incorporate elementary classical guitar techniques of tone production, hand movement, and posture into solo and ensemble literature.

MUS 121F: Slack Key Guitar 1

Subject
Music (MUS)
Credits 2 Class Hours1 lecture and 2 lecture/lab
Description

This course takes up the fundamentals of slack key playing. The emphasis is on slack key techniques using the standard G and double slack key tunings. Reading of tablature and the counting of basic rhythms will also be covered. No prior training in any style of guitar playing is required. Students must provide their own guitars.

Semester Offered Fall, Spring
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs)
  1. Demonstrate the ability to read music at an elementary level.
  2. Explain the history of slack key guitar.
  3. Perform elementary slack key techniques.

MUS 122B: Voice 2

Subject
Music (MUS)
Credits 2 Class Hours1 lecture and 2 lecture/lab
Description

This course is a continuation of MUS 121B and develops principles of voice production, correct voice placement, breath control, vocal range, diction, dynamics, phrasing, interpretation, and stage presence. Students perform songs of various styles.

Prerequisites

"C" or higher in MUS 121B.

Semester Offered Fall, Spring
Designation
Diversification: Arts — DA
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs)
  1. Demonstrate breath control.
  2. Demonstrate ability to interpret a song.
  3. Demonstrate correct vocal placement.
  4. Demonstrate stage presence by performing in front of an audience.

MUS 122C: Piano Class II

Subject
Music (MUS)
Credits 2 Class Hours1 lecture and 2 lecture/lab
Description

This course is a continuation of MUS 121C to develop more complex keyboard skills and concepts of melody, rhythm, harmony, and form. It includes popular music and classical music.

Prerequisites

Approval of instructor.

Semester Offered Fall, Spring
Designation
Diversification: Arts — DA
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs)
  1. Demonstrate sight-reading ability on intermediate pieces.
  2. Demonstrate intermediate-level technical facility.
  3. Demonstrate the ability to play syncopated rhythms.
  4. Demonstrate ability to play minor keys.

MUS 166: Popular Music in America

Subject
Music (MUS)
Credits 3 Class Hours3 lecture
Description

This course is a study of folk, pop, and rock music of the 20th century. Students will look at important composers, styles, and performers in a historical framework. No musical knowledge is required.

Semester Offered Fall, Spring
Designation
Diversification: Arts — DA
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs)
  1. Demonstrate a knowledge of important cultural and historical events that helped shape or were shaped by music.
  2. Discern by ear groundbreaking recordings.
  3. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a particular composer, style or performer.
  4. Demonstrate a knowledge of important composers, styles, and performers of folk, pop, and rock music.

MUS 201: Vocal Ensemble

Subject
Music (MUS)
Credits 2 Class Hours1 lecture and 2 lecture/lab
Description

This course is a study and performance of choral literature from Renaissance to the present. It will include a capella and choral/instrumental repertoire.

Recommended

Ability to sing in tune. Contact instructor before enrolling if in doubt. 

Semester Offered Fall, Spring
Designation
Diversification: Arts — DA
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs)
  1. Demonstrate the ability to sing in a variety of languages.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to blend with members of one's section and the group as a whole.
  3. Demonstrate the ability to sing without tension in the larynx.

MUS 202: College Band

Subject
Music (MUS)
Credits 1 Class Hours2 lecture/lab
Description

This course covers the performance of band literature with emphasis on excellence in musical performance and development of professional musicianship. Class members will participate in rehearsals and concerts.

Comments

May be repeated any number of times for credit.

Prerequisites

Approval of instructor.

Recommended

Experience with instrumental performance.

Semester Offered Fall, Spring
Designation
Diversification: Arts — DA
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs)
  1. Demonstrate having supplemented an understanding of the creative music tradition through performing the music of important composers and arrangers in the Big Band idiom.
  2. Demonstrate having acquired training in musicality, phrasing, ensemble playing, and technical proficiency on his or her instrument.
  3. Demonstrate artistic growth and personal enrichment through the performance of band music.
  4. Demonstrate having gained practical musical experience through performing various genres and styles.

MUS 203S: College Orchestra

Subject
Music (MUS)
Credits 1 Class Hours2 lecture/lab
Description

This course provides an opportunity for orchestral musicians to perform repertoire ranging from Renaissance and Baroque to contemporary popular music.

Comments

May be repeated any number of times for credit.

Prerequisites

Approval of instructor.

Recommended

Minimum of one year's study on an instrument and experience in reading music.

Semester Offered Fall, Spring
Designation
Diversification: Arts — DA
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs)
  1. Demonstrate having acquired training in musicality, phrasing, and ensemble playing.
  2. Demonstrate an ability to sight-read new music with greater fluency.
  3. Demonstrate an ability to blend with members of one's section and the group as a whole.
  4. Participate in a performance situation with a live audience.
  5. Demonstrate having gained practical musical experience through performing various styles and genres.
  6. Demonstrate having supplemented their understanding of the creative musical tradition through performing the music of important composers in the orchestral idiom.

MUS 204: Jazz Ensemble

Subject
Music (MUS)
Credits 1 Class Hours2 lecture/lab
Description

This course is the performance of stage band literature from swing to contemporary periods. Students will study jazz concepts, including improvisation. Public performances are required.

Comments

May be repeated any number of times for credit.

Prerequisites

Approval of instructor.

Recommended

Audition.

Semester Offered Fall, Spring
Designation
Diversification: Arts — DA
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs)
  1. Demonstrate an improvement in one's ability to improvise over a variety of musical styles.
  2. Demonstrate having gained practical musical experience through performing various instrumentals and vocal styles.
  3. Demonstrate recognition of various styles, genres, and rhythms in the jazz idiom, including swing, rock, funk, and Afro-Cuban.
  4. Demonstrate having supplemented their understanding of the creative music tradition through performing the music of important composers and arrangers in the jazz idiom.
  5. Demonstrate having acquired training in jazz musicality, phrasing, and ensemble playing.
  6. Demonstrate artistic growth and personal enrichment through the performance of jazz music.

MUS 220: Musical Theatre

Subject
Music (MUS)
Credits 3 Class Hours3 lecture
Description

This course provides students with the opportunity to study vocal and theatrical technique in a musical theatre context.

Semester Offered Fall, Spring
Designation
Diversification: Arts — DA
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs)
  1. Demonstrate the ability to memorize lyrics to songs from the musical theater literature.
  2. Demonstrate breathing exercises that are used to properly project the voice in singing and acting.
  3. Rehearse with other class members scenes from the musical theater literature.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to recite memorized monologues and dialogues from the musical theater literature.
  5. Perform simple dance step combinations.

MUS 253: Elementary Music in Action

Subject
Music (MUS)
Credits 3 Class Hours3 lecture
Description

This course is an engagement in the practice of the components of music, specifically, time, pitch, media, musical expression, and form, and how these interact with each other to comprise a musical experience. The means through which these components will be explored are singing; using rhythm instruments, playing recorder, ukulele, bells, piano, and other classroom instruments; listening as a primary means of engaging the musical mind; movement as a primary means of engaging the kinesthetic and body senses; performing from notation; notating music; and analyzing music aurally and from score.

Semester Offered Fall, Spring
Designation
Diversification: Arts — DA
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs)
  1. Read Western music notation at a basic level.
  2. Chant basic rhythmic passages using the neutral syllable "Ta."
  3. Perform basic music pieces on keyboard, recorder, and ukulele.

MUS 254: Songwriting and Transcription

Subject
Music (MUS)
Credits 3 Class Hours3 lecture
Description

The course is divided into three parts, and each part constitutes approximately one-third of the semester. Part I focuses on developing aural skills (recognition and notation of intervals, rhythm, and harmony) and the setting of text and music. Part II is a study of standard song structures, harmonic progressions, and notation with the Sibelius music software. Part III will be devoted to song composition. The student will compose at least four songs and notate them with the Sibelius music software.

Prerequisites

“C” or higher in MUS 253.

Semester Offered Fall, Spring
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs)
  1. Demonstrate the ability to transcribe original songs in simple music notation.
  2. Compose original melodies and accompaniments.
  3. Perform original songs in front of the class.