Music and Technology, Contemporary (Composition)

A weekly half-hour private instrumental or vocal lesson is provided for all Music Production, Composition, and General Music majors. Instruction is available on keyboard, woodwinds, saxophone, percussion, guitar, electric and acoustic bass, and voice. Lessons are designed to increase students' technical and musical abilities.

Prerequisites:

This course is designed to immerse each student in a professional performing environment where they will receive feedback not only from their instructor, but also from the club owners, managers, and customers. In this class, students will be required to assume a leadership role within their ensemble. Upon successful completion, they will have increased their performance abilities in the areas of versatility, sound, sight-reading, and improvisation. Students will be able to function in a variety of professional engagements common to today's music industry.

Prerequisites:

This course is designed to help students develop instrumental skills. Grouped by instrument, students learn the fundamentals of reading, articulation, balance, dynamics, styles and technique as related to their particular instrument. This course is taught "instrument-in-hand" and also uses audio and visual aids to explore different techniques and styles. A requirement in all majors, students have weekly assignments.

Prerequisites:

MUSC 163.

This course is designed to help you prepare for survival in the competitive world of the songwriters market. Learn about all types of styles while striving to define your own. Special attention is paid to the rudiments of songwriting: creativity, basic theory (usage of basic rhythms, scales, harmony, melodic patterns, lyrics, etc.), basic styles (pop. rock, folk, country, etc.), production patterns, and the legalities of the music business. The class also spends time analyzing the work of other writers (successful and unsuccessful; those who have maintained artistic integrity; those who have not).

Prerequisites:

A "B" or better in MUSC 171 and MUSC 175, and/or permission of the instructor.

This course continues with the principles of contemporary harmony as presented in CH II. Topics are expanded to include advanced minor key concepts, introduction to modal harmony and modal interchange, substitute dominant functions, basic chord scales for melodic considerations, advanced harmonic analysis and basic concepts of re-harmonization. This course provides students with a working knowledge of contemporary minor key and modal harmony and the ability to use them in all styles of popular music.

Prerequisites:

MUSC 175.

This course continues to develop an aural perception of intervals, pitches, seventh chords, chord progressions, melodies and rhythms. The focus of this term is on minor and secondary dominant melodies and chord progressions. The rhythms explore sixteenth note syncopated rhythms as well as 6/8 and 5/4 meters.

Prerequisites:

MUSC 181.

This hands-on course focuses on TV and radio broadcasting. Students are required to score themes and cues for various TV and radio shows using mostly electronic equipment along with one or two live musicians.

Prerequisites:

MUSC 171; and/or permission of instructor.

This course is designed to improve the skills of composers by presenting a wide variety of compositional tools in styles ranging from Classical to Jazz, Folk, Rock and Pop. By studying the recordings and scores of composers throughout history each student gains a musical awareness that strengthens their own compositional process. Particular attention is paid to the “building blocks of a composition;” the musical elements such as melody, harmony and rhythm that are at the core of the creative process. In class performance and analysis of student compositions occurs on a weekly basis and midterm and final assignments are recorded.

Prerequisites:

This course is an applied study of the software and concepts used in the recording home studio environment. The primary focus of the course is in the use of Pro Tools LE for the self-recording musician. Topics include: mixing console application, editing techniques, microphone technique, an introduction to effects processing for final mixing, auxiliary buss in the virtual mixing board, use of patch bay, outboard effects, and file maintenance.

Prerequisites:

MUSC 161 with a "B" or better.

A review of basic English skills with an introduction to general principles in written technical communication and its application to professional music. Classroom sessions focus on grammar, writing skills, oral presentation skills, and job search techniques.

Music Forum is a course designed to provide an opportunity for all music students and faculty to share in a weekly educational experience. Each forum will have a different musical focus. Students will have opportunities to perform, witness performances by faculty and guest artists, as well as gain insights into the industry from guest lecturers and music professionals. Forum will also provide an opportunity for the presentation of collaborative audio-visual projects between departments.

Prerequisites:

None. Attendance is mandatory for all music students.

A weekly half-hour private instrumental or vocal lesson is provided for all Music Production, Composition, and General Music majors. Instruction is available on keyboard, woodwinds, saxophone, percussion, guitar, electric and acoustic bass, and voice. Lessons are designed to increase students' technical and musical abilities.

Prerequisites:

Students continue their immersion in a professional performing environment where they receive feedback not only from their instructor, but also from club owners, managers, and customers. In this class, students will e required to assume a leadership role within their ensemble. Upon successful completion, they will have increased their performance abilities in the areas of versatility, sound, sight-reading, and improvisation. Students will be able to function in a variety of professional engagements common to today’s music industry.

Prerequisites:

An introduction to recording principles and practices, this course is open to students whose major is not music production. Topics include a brief history of the multi-track recording studio, procedures of a recording studio, procedures of a recording session, fundamentals of microphones and audio effects.

This course is designed to help students develop instrumental skills. Grouped by instrument, students learn the fundamentals of reading, articulation, balance, dynamics, styles and technique as related to their particular instrument. This course is taught “instrument-in-hand” and also uses audio and visual aids to explore different techniques and styles. A requirement in all majors, students have weekly assignments.

Prerequisites:

MUSC 264.

This course is designed to strengthen your songwriting skills in every respect. Closer attention is paid to marketing skills, legal procedures, finding one’s personal niche in the music business (whether to focus on one’s own style, concentrate on writing tunes for other acts, or both; whether to go through a publisher or be your own publisher; etc.). Co-writing music will be explored (you put lyrics to someone else’s music; they put music to yours). In class time centers around the analysis of successful songwriters in every genre.

Prerequisites:

MUSC 268.

This course deals with advanced harmonic concepts including deceptive resolutions, special function dominant chords, pedal point and ostinato and advanced modal harmony including compound chord symbols, hybrid chord structures and polymodality. Upon successful completion of this course, students will have a strong working knowledge of current harmonic practices in all styles of contemporary music. Students will also be able to demonstrate this knowledge through written and performance-related venues.

Prerequisites:

MUSC 274.

Upon successful completion of this course you will have mastered basic aural skills for professional musicianship. The emphasis on this level is chromatic and modal melodies. Mixed meters and odd time signatures are explored. Emphasis is given to transcribing prerecorded songs.

Prerequisites:

MUSC 280.

This course provides students with an understanding of the psychological implications of applying music to film. Films will be viewed and discussed in class. Topics also include synchronization techniques such as click track, free timing and stop watch, the use of SMPTE time code and computer applications. Students will compose, conduct and record their own score to a film cue in the College’s recording studio.

Prerequisites:

MUSC 171; MUSC 284 and/or permission of Instructor.

A chronological study of the compositional building blocks of each musical period starting in the Medieval Period and ending in the 20th century. The focus is on integrating these concepts into modern styles. Topics covered in each period include harmonic progressions, counterpoint, form, orchestration and voice leading. Composers of interest include Frank Zappa, John Lennon, Bach, Stravinsky, Steve Reich, and Miles Davis.

Prerequisites:

This course is a continuation of MUSC 288. The primary focus is the advanced use of Pro Tools LE. Topics will include: the musical application of effects plug-ins, computer components and related technology, and other recording formats.

Prerequisites:

MUSC 288.

The purpose of this course is three-fold: to provide the student with an awareness of the career possibilities in the field of music; to introduce students to some of the major aspects of the music profession; and to introduce students to basic general business practices. This course is of particular benefit to students planning a career in the music industry.

Music Forum is a course designed to provide an opportunity for all music students and faculty to share in a weekly educational experience. Each forum will have a different musical focus. Students will have opportunities to perform, witness performances by faculty and guest artists, as well as gain insights into the industry from guest lecturers and music professionals. Forum will also provide an opportunity for the presentation of collaborative audio-visual projects between departments.

Prerequisites:

None. Attendance is mandatory for all music students.