Theory Courses
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Spring 2020 courses
Muel 1081 – Basic Music Theory (for non-majors)
001 Instructor: Ryan Spencer
Tues/Thurs | 8:00 a.m. – 9:15 p.m. | ATLS 102
002 Instructor: Devin Guerrero
Mon/Wed/Fri | 8:00 a.m. – 8:50 p.m. | ATLS 102
Description: Introduction to music notation, meter and rhythm, scales, intervals, triads, seventh chords, fundamentals of harmonic expression, voice leading, aural skills and composition. For non-music majors who have little or no previous background on the subject.
Muel 2031 Making Electronic Music
Instructor: Sean Winters
Mon/Wed/Fri | 1:00 a.m. – 1:50 p.m. | C125
Muel 2051 Introduction to Songwriting
Instructor: Michael Barnett
Mon/Wed/Fri | 10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. | N1B59D
Muel 2061 – Introduction to Music Technology
001 Instructor: David Landon
Tues/Thurs | 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | N1B46
002 Instructor: Charles McClung
Mon/Wed/Fri | 12:00-12:50 p.m. | N1B46
Description: Surveys the various tools and techniques in the field of music technology. Topics include an introduction to basic synthesis, musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) sequencing, audio sequencing, digital signal processing, music notation, and a historical perspective on electronic music. For non-music majors only.
Muel 4121 – Topics in Music Technology/Supercollider
Instructor: John Drumheller Tues/Thurs | 12:30-1:45 p.m. | N1B46
Description: Exploration of issues, techniques and tools of music technology. Topics vary from term to term and may include: interactive system for performance, teaching and learning; computer music instrument design; digital synthesis and signal processing; music in intermedia; sound design and analysis. Lectures and work sessions will support student projects. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours. For non-music majors only.
Musc 1111 – Semester 2 Theory
001 Instructor: Yonatan Malin
Mon/Wed | 11:00-11:50 a.m. | Macky 102
002 Instructor: Yonatan Malin
Mon/Wed | 8:00-8:50 a.m. | C125
801 Instructor: Karin Buer
Mon /Wed | 8:00-8:50a.m. | N1B59
Description: Continuation of MUSC 1101. Covers principles of harmony and voice leading, using all common diatonic triads and seventh chords. Introduces secondary dominants, modulation, contrapuntal chord functions, and elementary structural analysis of excerpts from music literature. Offered spring only.
Musc 1131 – Aural Skills Lab, Semester 2
001 Instructor: Philip Chang
Mon/Wed | 10:00 - 10:50 a.m. | N180D
002 Instructor: Jacob Eichhorn
Tues/Thurs | 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. | N1B85
003 Instructor: Devin Guerrero
Tues/Thurs | 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. | N180D
004 Instructor: Benjamin Morris
Tues/Thurs | 9:00 - 9:50 a.m. | N1B85
005 Instructor: Devin Guerrero
Tues/Thurs | 9:00 - 9:50 a.m. | N180D
006 Instructor: Benjamin Morris
Mon/Wed | 9:00 - 9:50 a.m. | C-125
801 Instructor: Karin Buer
Tues/Thurs | 10:00 - 20:50 a.m. | N180D
Description: Acquaints students with sight singing in major and minor keys (treble, alto, tenor, and bass clefs). Includes dictation of one- and two-voice examples. Studies harmonic dictation using vocabulary from MUSC 1111. Considers detection of pitch and rhythm errors in performed
Musc 2041 – Applications in Music Technology
Instructor: Staff
Tues/Thurs | 2:00 - 3:15 p.m. | N1B49
Musc 2061 – Introduction to Music Technology
001 Instructor: Charles McClung
Mon/Wed/Fri | 1:00-1:50 p.m. | N1B46
002 Instructor: David Landon
Tues/Thurs | 2:00 - 3:15 p.m. | N1B46
Description: Surveys the various tools and techniques in the field of music technology. Topics include an introduction to basic synthesis, musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) sequencing, audio sequencing, digital signal processing, music notation, and a historical perspective on electronic music. For non-music majors only.
Musc 2091 – Recording Techniques
Instructor: Kevin Harbison
Mon/Wed | 10:00-10:50 a.m. | N1B46
Description: Provides hands-on training in various audio recording techniques, acoustics, and sound reinforcement, studio maintenance, and troubleshooting. Real-world experience is gained through individual recording projects and College of Music events. Same as CMDP 2870.
Musc 2111 – Semester 4 Theory
001 Instructor: Mark Arnett
Mon/Wed | 10:00-10:50 a.m. | ATLS 102
002 Instructor: Mark Arnett
Tues/Thurs | 10:00-10:50 a.m. | ATLS 102
Description: Continuation of MUSC 2101. Focuses on advanced chromaticism including modal mixture, altered dominants, voice leading, and chromatic harmony in larger contexts. Examines impressionism and jazz. Also involves composition projects. Offered spring only.
Musc 2131 – Aural Skills Lab, Semester 4
001 Instructor: Max Wolpert
Mon/Wed | 10:00-10:50 a.m. | C-125
002 Instructor: Mark Arnett
Mon/Wed | 11:00-11:50 a.m. | C-125
003 Instructor: Rebecca Hamel
Tues/Thurs | 8:00-8:50 a.m. | C-125
004 Instructor: Max Wolpert
Mon/Wed | 9:00-9:50 a.m. | N1B59
005 Instructor: Rebecca Hamel
Mon/Wed | 9:00-9:50 a.m. | N180D
006 Instructor: Max Wolpert
Tues/Thurs | 8:00-8:50 a.m. | N1B59
Description: Continuation of MUSC 2121. Studies sight singing of chromatic and atonal melodies. Includes dictation of one- through three- voice examples. Identifies sonorities studied in MUSC 2111. Considers detection of pitch and rhythm performance errors. Offered spring only.
Musc 3041 – Instrumentation and Arranging
Instructor: Mark Arnett
Tues/Thurs | 9:00-9:50 a.m. | Macky 213
Learn to create professional arrangements for a diverse combination of instruments and/or voices. The course will work through instrumentation, score and part preparation, and issues of orchestration to prepare music student to create successful arrangements for a wide range of concert music settings. Final arranging projects will be geared towards individual interests.
Musc 3051 – Beginning Composition
Instructor: Robert Alexander
Tues/Thurs | 11:00-11:50 a.m. | N1B85
Covers issues relating to the craft of musical composition with analysis and writing in various styles. This introductory course is designed for music majors who are not composition majors. Some of the assignments will be read in class. Offered spring term of even-numbered years.
Musc 4061 – Tonal Analysis
Instructor: Philip Chang
Tues/Thurs | 10:00-10:50 a.m. | N180D
Description: Surveys tonal analytical techniques and forms of tonal music, including binary forms, ternary forms, rondo (and others) through study of selected works. Offered spring only. Requires prerequisite courses of MUSC 2111 and 2131.
Musc 4101 – Theory and Aural Skills Review
Instructor: John Drumheller
001 Theory: Mon/Wed | 10:00-10:50 a.m. | N1B59
002 Aural Skills: Mon/Wed | 11:00-11:50 a.m. | N1B59
Description: Reviews tonal harmony, voice leading, and essential aural skills. Includes diatonic triads and seventh chords, modulation, chromaticism, and structural analysis of representative compositions. Prepares graduate students for more advanced work in music theory. Students may register for aural skills only (1 credit), theory only (2 credits), or both theory and aural skills (3 credits). May not be taken pass/fail. For graduate students only. Offered summer and fall.
Musc 4121 – Topics in Music Technology/Supercollider
Instructor: John Drumheller
Tues/Thurs | 12:30-1:45 p.m. | N1B46
Description: Exploration of issues, techniques, and tools of music technology. Topics vary from term to term and may include: interactive systems for performance; teaching and learning; computer music instrument design; digital synthesis and signal processing; music in intermedia; sound design and analysis. Lectures on work sessions will support student projects. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours.
Musc 4191 Advanced Recording
Instructor: Kevin Harbison
TBA
Study of advanced recording techniques and concepts beyond those covered in MUSC 2091 involving multiple microphones for ensemble concerts and recording sessions within and outside of the College of Music. Offered spring of even-numbered years.
Musc 5041/6041 – Advanced Orchestration
Instructor: Carter Pann
Tues/Thurs | 2:00-3:15 p.m. | C121
Provides an advanced study of orchestration techniques through score analysis and student projects. Offered spring of even-numbered years.
Musc 5061 – Advanced Tonal Analysis
Instructor: Steve Bruns
Tues/Thurs | 9:30-10:45 a.m. | C-125
Description: Surveys tonal analytical techniques. Department enforced prereq., passed general written theory and aural skills prelim exam or completed remediation.
Musc 5071 – Post-Tonal Theory and Analysis
Instructor: Daphne Leong
Tues/Thurs | 9:30-10:45 a.m. | N1B59
Description: Focuses on theory and analysis of post-tonal literature pre-1945. Department enforced prereq., passed general written theory and aural skills prelim exam or completed remediation.
Musc 5121 – Topics in Music Technology/Supercollider
Instructor: John Drumheller
Tues/Thurs | 12:30-1:45 p.m. | N1B46
Description: Exploration of issues, techniques, and tools of music technology. Topics vary from term to term and may include: interactive systems for performance; teaching and learning; computer music instrument design; digital synthesis and signal processing; music in intermedia; sound design and analysis. Lectures on work sessions will support student projects. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours.
Musc 5151 –Topics in Music Theory: The Music of George Crumb
Instructor: Steve Bruns
Tues/Thurs | 2:00-3:15 p.m. | Macky 117
The course focuses on analysis and criticism of George Crumb’s music from 1955 to the present. In addition to studying the published scores and recordings, students will also consider relevant documents from the composer’s archive: preliminary sketches and drafts, letters, reviews, and interviews.
Musc 5151/6801 –Topics in Music Theory: Trends in Music Theory
Instructor: Daphne Leong
Tues/Thurs | 2:00-3:15 p.m. | N1B59
This course explores notable literature and central developments in the field of music theory. It covers a broad cross-section of the field, organized by topics such as form, rhythm, analysis & performance, schema theory, music cognition, musical meaning, and history and philsophy of theory, and addressing diverse repertoires. Students will engage with the literature, with analysis, and with theorists in various ways, going deeper in areas of particular interest to them.
Musc 6801 – Advanced Topics in Music Theory: Postbop Jazz
Instructor: Keith Waters
Tues/Thurs | 9:30-10:45 a.m. | C121
Considers the music of jazz composers Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, as well as Joe Henderson, Booker Little, and Woody Shaw, and the ways in which their music drew upon, as well as departed from, tonal jazz precedents.
Musc 6801 – Advanced Topics in Music Theory: American “Popular” Music, 1880-1920
Instructor: Philip Chang
Tues/Thurs | 9:00-11:50 a.m. | C121
We will analyze form and tonality in “popular” music after the Civil War but prior to the eventual centering on Tin Pan Alley. We’ll work with materials in the archives at Norlin Library and the American Music Research Center, both physically and digitally. Tonal language, form, influences, performers, performance practice, and distribution are all aspects to investigate. These aspects might be uncovered only with original bibliographic work and engagement with little-known and obscure documents and individuals. Students’ explorations will culminate in a substantial project (paper and presentation), and possibly a public performance of this music.
Pmus 1526/2526/3526/4526/5526 – Composition
Instructors: John Drumheller, Daniel Kellogg, Michael Theodore, Carter Pann, Jeffrey Nytch, Betsey Biggs
Wed | 2:00-3:50 p.m. | Location TBA