Music (MUSC)

This course provides an introduction to the art of music listening and musical principles. A wide variety of musical literature is introduced, ranging from classical music, theater and film, to jazz and popular music. The main focus of this course is to provide students with broad-based musical knowledge to form the foundation for musical listening skills and music theory. This course functions as the introductory course for the music performance minor as well as a general education elective for all students.

This course is designed for all students pursuing careers in which music plays a vital role. The course focuses on the fundamentals of music: notation, rhythm, scales, tonality, keys and modes, intervals, transposition, and chords. Rhythmic, harmonic and melodic principles are investigated through a variety of individual and group activities including written and aural exercises.

This course directly applies fundamental music theory skills towards musical composition. The course includes a variety of assignments and exercises to further develop written and aural musical skills, including aural ear training exercises, analysis of previously composed work and completion of short written composition exercises. Singing and/or instrumental experience is assumed as well as a strong interest in composition.

Arranging and Transcriptions is a course that directly applies music theory and general composition skills towards arranging music for a variety of aesthetics and mediums including scoring for film. The course of study further develops ear training skills through music software exercises that give the student the ability to transcribe recorded music into music notation and into live performance.

This course focuses on the technical requirements of creating songs in a variety of forms. Students encounter and analyze established songs by composers from different genres and styles. They apply that knowledge to the creation and discovery of their own voice through song.