Music

Courses

MU 100: Intro to Music Studies

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
This course is designed as a recitation section for all freshman music majors during their first semester on campus. Topics covered include proper rehearsal and concert etiquette, practice expectations, time management for the practicing musician, scheduling issues, and practical tips about how to function as a professional musician or music educator. Select students will be required to perform their studio repertoire each week in front of their peers. Students’ grades and performance in all of their music classes will be monitored weekly and deficiencies will be addressed individually during this class time.
Semester Offered
Fall

MU 101: Music Appreciation

Class Program
Music
Credits 3
Survey course of music from the Medieval era to the present day. The goal of this course is to create students who are informed consumers of music. Focus will be placed on how to listen and understand music academically, as well as how to communicate musical concepts effectively. Music covered will include all eras of fine arts music. Popular and contemporary music may be covered if time permits.
Semester Offered
Fall
Spring
Online - Fall odd

MU 105: Introduction to Music Theory

Class Program
Music
Credits 3
Study of basic music theory concepts including pitch, rhythm, clef, and staff identification and notation, simple and compound meters, major and minor scales and key signature, intervals, triads, seventh chords, and musical forms. Development of related musicianship skills through sight singing and aural dictation of rhythms and melodies. Recommended for students interested in developing basic music skills. Required for music majors with an option to test out.
Semester Offered
Fall

MU 110: Class Piano I

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
This is the first of a two-part beginning level course in piano. Topics may include, but are not limited to: major and minor scales/key signatures, harmonization of diatonic melodies, transposition, simple open score reading and elementary piano/vocal music.
Semester Offered
Fall

MU 111: Class Piano II

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
This is the second of a two-part beginning level course in piano. Topics may include, but are not limited to: major and minor scales/key signatures, harmonization of diatonic melodies, transposition, simple open score reading, and elementary piano/vocal music.

Prerequisites

MU 110.

Semester Offered
Spring

MU 125: Jazz, Pop, and Rock

Class Program
Music
Credits 3

Students will explore the development of rock ‘n roll, jazz, and American popular music and their subgenres through historical and theoretical analysis.

Semester Offered
Spring
Online - Fall
Online - Spring

MU 140: Applied Voice

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee.
An individual approach to vocal production and performance. Students are required to sing standard vocal literature. Emphasis on posture, breath control, vocal placement, and healthy vocal technique.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 144: Applied percussion - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 145: Applied brass - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 146: Applied strings - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 147: Applied piano - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 148: Applied woodwind

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 149: Special Topics in Music.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1 3
A study of a selected topic for which there is no regular course offering. Special Topics courses will appear in the published term schedule, and may be repeated as long as the topic is different.

MU 170: MVC Concert Choir

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$20 garment fee.
A traditional choral ensemble open to all interested singers. The group performs numerous times each year on campus, in the MVC area, and on tour. While auditions are not required, you are encouraged to sing individually for the director prior to the course begins as a means of placement into the proper section. Selected members are strongly encouraged to make a commitment for the school year.
Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 178: MVC Concert Band

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
An instrumental ensemble open to anyone with performing ability on a band instrument. The group performs numerous times each year on campus, in the MVC area, and on tour.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor is required. Members are strongly encouraged to make a commitment for the school year.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 181: MVC Drumline

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 garment fee.
An instrumental ensemble open to anyone with performing ability on a percussion instrument. The drumline appears at all home football games and at select home basketball games. The group also performs numerous times each year on campus. Students are strongly encouraged to commit to playing both semesters.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor is required.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 182: MVC Jazz Band

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
A jazz ensemble open to anyone with performing ability on a traditional jazz instrument: trumpet, trombone, saxophone, drum set, guitar, bass guitar, keyboard. The jazz band performs numerous times on campus and in the MVC area each year. Selected members are strongly encouraged to make a commitment for the school year.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor required.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 201: Woodwind Techniques

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
A laboratory course that covers the fundamentals of playing and teaching all instruments of the woodwind family.
Semester Offered
Fall

MU 202: Brass Techniques

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
A laboratory course that covers the fundamentals of playing and teaching all instruments of the brass family.
Semester Offered
Spring

MU 210: String Techniques

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
A laboratory course that covers the fundamentals of playing and teaching all instruments of the brass family.
Semester Offered
Spring

MU 215: Percussion Techniques

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$60 course fee.
A laboratory course that covers the fundamentals of playing and teaching all instruments of the percussion family.
Semester Offered
Fall

MU 230: Music Theory & Musicianship I

Class Program
Music
Credits 4
Triads, seventh chords, inversions, four-part harmony, voice leading, part-writing, species counterpoint, and Roman numeral analysis. Development of related musicianship skills through sight singing and aural dictation of rhythms, melodies, and harmonies.

Prerequisites

MU 105 or passed placement exam.

Semester Offered
Spring

MU 240: Applied Voice

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee.
An individual approach to vocal production and performance. Students are required to sing standard vocal literature. Emphasis on posture, breath control, vocal placement, and healthy vocal technique.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 244: Applied percussion - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 245: Applied brass - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 246: Applied strings - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 247: Applied piano - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 248: Applied woodwind

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 249: Special Topics in Music.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1 3
A study of a selected topic for which there is no regular course offering. Special Topics courses will appear in the published term schedule, and may be repeated as long as the topic is different.

MU 330: Music Theory and Musicianship II

Class Program
Music
Credits 4
Phrases, periods, sentences, sequences, diatonic harmony, use of the V7, viio, and their inversions, predominant chords, embellishing the V, and introduction into secondary function chords. Further part-writing, analysis, and harmonization applying these new concepts. Development of related musicianship skills through sight singing and aural dictation of rhythms, melodies, and harmonies.

Prerequisites

MU 230.

Semester Offered
Fall

MU 335: Music Theory and Musicianship III

Class Program
Music
Credits 4
Secondary function chords, the Neapolitan sixth, augmented sixth chords, other chromatic chords, chromatic sequences, modulations, binary form, ternary form, rondo form, and sonata form. Further part-writing, analysis, and harmonization applying these new concepts. Development of related musicianship skills through sight singing and aural dictation of rhythms, melodies, and harmonies.

Prerequisites

MU 330.

Semester Offered
Spring

MU 340: Applied Voice

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee.
An individual approach to vocal production and performance. Students are required to sing standard vocal literature. Emphasis on posture, breath control, vocal placement, and healthy vocal technique.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 344: Applied percussion - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 345: Applied brass - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 346: Applied strings - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 347: Applied piano - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 348: Applied woodwind

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 349: Special Topics in Music.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1 3
A study of a selected topic for which there is no regular course offering. Special Topics courses will appear in the published term schedule, and may be repeated as long as the topic is different.

MU 350: Conducting I

Class Program
Music
Credits 2
This course is designed to develop the basic psychomotor and score reading skills prerequisite to the art of instrumental and vocal conducting. Includes baton technique and basic score preparation.

Prerequisites

MU 330.

Semester Offered
Fall even

MU 352: Conducting II

Class Program
Music
Credits 2
This course is designed to develop musical and interpersonal skills requisite for successful rehearsal leadership, emphasizing strategies effective for rehearsal of wind, percussion, and vocal ensemble.

Prerequisites

MU 350.

Semester Offered
Spring even

MU 360: Choral Techniques

Class Program
Music
Credits 2
This focus of this course is on the pedagogy and techniques appropriate to the instruction of K-12 students in choral ensembles. Score preparation and rehearsal technique will be emphasized. Standard choral repertoire will be explored.
Semester Offered
Fall even

MU 362: Choral Literature

Class Program
Music
Credits 2
This course is designed for students to examine literature appropriate to the instruction of 7-12 choral music. An emphasis will be placed on programming concepts for middle school and high school chorus.
Semester Offered
Spring even

MU 370: Music History I

Class Program
Music
Credits 3
In this course, students will study representative pieces of music from ancient times to c. 1820. Focus will be placed on historical musical developments and important composers of the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical eras.
Semester Offered
Fall odd

MU 371: Music History II

Class Program
Music
Credits 3
In this course, students will study representative pieces of music from c. 1820 to the present day. Focus will be placed on historical musical developments and important composers of the Romantic and Contemporary eras.
Semester Offered
Spring odd

MU 376: Independent Study.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1 3
Reading or research at a greater depth than in a normal class.

Prerequisites

Permission of the instructor, division chair and the VPAA required.

MU 380: Instrumental Arranging

Class Program
Music
Credits 2
This course is designed to develop advanced transcription, scoring of solo and ensemble literature for band, orchestra, and jazz bands of varying sizes up to and including full concert band.

Prerequisites

MU 335.

Semester Offered
As needed

MU 385: Choral Arranging

Class Program
Music
Credits 2
A study of the necessary skills for arranging music for choral ensembles in various styles of accompanied and unaccompanied music.

Prerequisites

MU 335.

Semester Offered
As needed

MU 420: Intro to Music Composition

Class Program
Music
Credits 3
A beginning composition class designed for students to explore compositional techniques. Topics include approaches to tonality, melody, accompaniment, harmony, instrumentation, and form.

Prerequisites

MU 335.

Semester Offered
As needed

MU 430: Post-Tonal Music Theory

Class Program
Music
Credits 3
Analysis of musical trends after 1900. Topics include modes, synthetic scales, nontraditional uses of major and minor triads, polytonality, anomaly, pitch class sets, serialism, and form.

Prerequisites

MU 335.

Semester Offered
As needed

MU 440: Applied Voice

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee.
An individual approach to vocal production and performance. Students are required to sing standard vocal literature. Emphasis on posture, breath control, vocal placement, and healthy vocal technique.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 444: Applied percussion - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 445: Applied brass - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 446: Applied strings - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 447: Applied piano - 1 hour.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 448: Applied woodwind

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 lab fee
An individual approach to instrumental performance. Emphasis on technique, tone, phrasing, and overall musicality. Students are required to learn scales, etudes, and standard repertoire for their instrument.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 449: Special Topics in Music.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1 3
A study of a selected topic for which there is no regular course offering. Special Topics courses will appear in the published term schedule, and may be repeated as long as the topic is different.

MU 450: Senior Assessment

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Required course for all senior music majors during their final semester on campus. Preparation for senior interview and employment interviews or auditions. Topics will include professional resume and cover letter writing, self-evaluative narrations of performances, and senior recital preparation.

Prerequisites

Senior music major.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 460: Methods for Teaching Elementary School Music

Class Program
Music
Credits 2
This course is designed to study the skills, knowledge, and philosophical foundations necessary to teach general music to children in grades Pre-K - 5, including methods, philosophies, and teacher and learner behaviors.
Semester Offered
Fall

MU 470: MVC Concert Choir

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$20 garment fee.
A traditional choral ensemble open to all interested singers. The group performs numerous times each year on campus, in the MVC area, and on tour. While auditions are not required, you are encouraged to sing individually for the director prior to the course begins as a means of placement into the proper section. Selected members are strongly encouraged to make a commitment for the school year.
Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 476: Independent Study.

Class Program
Music
Credits 1 3
Reading or research at a greater depth than in a normal class.

Prerequisites

Permission of the instructor, division chair and the VPAA required.

MU 478: MVC Concert Band

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
An instrumental ensemble open to anyone with performing ability on a band instrument. The group performs numerous times each year on campus, in the MVC area, and on tour.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor is required. Members are strongly encouraged to make a commitment for the school year.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 481: MVC Drumline

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
Fees
$50 garment fee.
An instrumental ensemble open to anyone with performing ability on a percussion instrument. The drumline appears at all home football games and at select home basketball games. The group also performs numerous times each year on campus. Students are strongly encouraged to commit to playing both semesters.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor is required.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring

MU 482: MVC Jazz Band

Class Program
Music
Credits 1
A jazz ensemble open to anyone with performing ability on a traditional jazz instrument: trumpet, trombone, saxophone, drum set, guitar, bass guitar, keyboard. The jazz band performs numerous times on campus and in the MVC area each year. Selected members are strongly encouraged to make a commitment for the school year.

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor required.

Semester Offered
Fall
Spring