UG Course Descriptions

Diving into the fundamentals of teaching and planning, students learn how to write objectives based on music standards, plan and write a lesson that include assessment, teach a song by wrote and note, set long term planning goals, create higher level questions, and reach a variety of learners through music instruction.

Course includes a thorough but concise review of music fundamentals: elements of pitch and rhythm, scale patterns, intervals and inversions. Primary course work includes: structure of triads and sevenths chords, diatonic triads in major and minor keys, principles of voice-leading, examining the melodic line, part-writing with root position chords, principles of harmonic progression, use of sequential devices, and introduction to musical form. (Co-requisite: MUSC 131). (Offered every fall.)

Classroom and computer-assisted ear-training will include basic melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic dictation. Sight-singing will focus on diatonic major melodies based on scalar patterns and on tonic, subdominant, dominant, supertonic, and leading-tone triads. The three forms of the minor scales will be introduced (Co-requisite: MUSC 130). (Offered every fall.)

Content includes: use of harmonic progressions with attention to root movement and sequential patterns; part-writing with inversions of triads and 7th chords; the study and identification of basic musical forms through analysis and composition; identification and use of non-chord tones as found in the harmonic /melodic texture of music; use of extended 7th chords in introduction to chromaticism, tonicization and secondary harmonic functions. (Co-requisite: MUSC 133) (Offered every spring)

Classroom and computer-assisted ear-training will include increased melody length, varied meters, beat subdivisions, and patterns derived from secondary harmony. Sight-singing will emphasize both major and minor melodies and occasional chromaticism. Students will sing short chorale passages in four parts (Co-requisite: MUSC 132) (Offered every spring)

Designed for the non-music major with emphasis on how to read music, coordinating two hands in playing the keyboard, understanding melodies, playing chords for popular music and learning how rhythm is contained within the piano as a percussion instrument. No Prerequisites. Course may be repeated.
(Offered fall and spring semesters)

Sequential development of functional piano skills with emphasis on keyboard and mechanics, technique, accompaniment styles, and style of Popular music. (Offered every fall)

Sequential development of functional piano skills with emphasis on scales and chords of the major mode and an understanding of the cyclical relationship between melody and harmony. Popular music and fake books are utilized (Prerequisite: MUSC 135 or permission of the instructor). (Offered every spring)

Students will be introduced to the department’s Music Lab, its computers, keyboard access, technology and extensive software. First-year students will use Auralia and Practica Musica software for ear-training, sight-singing, theory drill, and keyboard development. Use of Sibelius musical notation software will facilitate creative and practical writing, and Garage Band will provide for a variety of musical usage.

Develop an understanding of the definitions of creative thinking in music and understand its place in society, education, and individual achievement for creative work. Experimenting with the fundamentals of musicmaking, students discover common creative characteristics that can be put into practice to achieve unique ways of self-expression. In this highly experiential course, students practice art, as well as examine music from the four fundamental music experiences (composition, improvisation, music listening, and performance). This course is concerned with improving access to musical creativity and developing musical ideas and notation methods that effectively transmit them to performers. All musical backgrounds are welcome, including students without prior musical training.