MUTC 1520 Materials of Music 3 s.h.
Musical styles, listening concepts, and harmonic techniques as they relate to the literature of music. For students who do not qualify for MUTC 1531 or MUTC 1531N.
MUTC 1531 Integrated Musicianship 1 3 s.h.
This course introduces foundational musicianship through the integration of harmony, rhythm, form, analysis, and literacy/ear training skills. Students study intervals, scales, triads, cadences, and phrase structure while developing an aural fluency through singing, dictation, and transcription. The keyboard serves as a primary tool for realizing harmonic progressions and reinforcing literacy, though students may also apply concepts using their primary instruments. Creative projects emphasize short compositions and arrangements that demonstrate tonal harmony and melodic design across classical, popular, and global repertoires.
MUTC 1531N Music Theory 1 Intensive 3 s.h.
Intensive section of Music Theory 1. Music fundamentals, including pitch notation in treble and bass clefs, major and minor scales and key signatures, rhythm and meter, intervals and triads. Principles of harmonic progression with diatonic chords in common-practice and popular styles. Introduction to analysis and phrase structure.
Prereq.: Music major, having achieved a successful audition for the Dana School of Music.
MUTC 1532 Integrated Musicianship 2 3 s.h.
A continuation of Integrated Musicianship I, this course expands into chromatic harmony and modulation. Students strengthen their aural and literacy skills through melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic dictation, as well as transcription of diverse repertoires. Creative assignments include composition and arranging projects that integrate chromaticism and stylistic variety. The course emphasizes how chromatic devices shape expression and listener perception.
Prereq.: Grade of "C" or better in MUTC 1531.
MUTC 1532N Music Theory 2 Intensive 3 s.h.
Intensive section of Music Theory 2. Introduction to two-part counterpoint and four-voice writing with diatonic, root-position triads. Non-harmonic tones, expanding harmonic functions with diatonic triads and seventh chords, six-four chord techniques.
Prereq.: Grade of "C" or better in MUTC 1531N and MUTC 1541.
MUTC 1541 Aural Theory 1 2 s.h.
Dictation exercises including solfege patterns, bass line recognition, melody with simple rhythm, and 2-part counterpoint examples. Sight-singing including simple diatonic melodies, duets, chord-singing, and improvisation. Keyboard exercises including solfege patterns, play-and-sing, and transposition exercises. Solfege drills to build and maintain fluency with the solfege system.
Prereq.: Music majors who have completed a successful audition for the Dana School of Music.
MUTC 1542 Aural Theory 2 2 s.h.
Sight-sing diatonic and chromatic melodies. Aurally recognize and sing all diatonic triads and seventh chords. Diatonic and chromatic melodic dictation. Dictation and singing of diatonic chord progressions. Dictation of diatonic two-voice counterpoint in both strict species and free styles Mastery of cadential patterns and voice-leading at the keyboard.
Prereq.: Grade of "C" or better in both MUTC 1531 (or MUTC 1531N) and MUTC 1541.
MUTC 2631 Integrated Musiciansgip 3 3 s.h.
The final course in the sequence explores advanced chromaticism and 20th/21st-century harmonic and post-tonal practices. Aural training emphasizes transcription and recognition of complex harmonic and rhythmic structures. Creative projects encourage students to apply advanced tools in original compositions, improvisations, or DAW-based productions. Students may also reflect on the psychological and sociological dimensions of musical perception, connecting structural analysis to emotional and cultural impact.
Prereq.: Grade of "C" or better in MUTC 1532.
MUTC 2633 Composition and Songwriting 2 s.h.
Students study the music of leading songwriters in the process of developing their craft and forming their own style. Assignments will include the creation of a portfolio of original compositions, as well as analysis of compositions by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington, Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Lennon/McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Donald Fagan, Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ivan Lins, Sara Bareilles, Kendrick Lamar, John Mayer, and many others.
Prereq.: MUTC 2631 with grade of a "C" or better.
MUTC 2641 Aural Theory 3 2 s.h.
Practice and mastery of advanced sight singing, aural recognition, and piano/instrumental skills. Dictation exercises including chromatic solfege patterns, chord progressions, contextual listening, and chromatic melodies. Sight-singing exercises including chromatic patterns, melodies, duets, chord-singing, and improvisation.
Prereq.: MUTC 1532 or MUTC 1532N and MUTC 1542 with grade of "C "or better.
MUTC 3710 Orchestration and Arranging 3 s.h.
A hands-on course in which students develop and demonstrate fundamental skills in orchestration/arranging for wind band, orchestra, and choir. Topics include standard ranges, transpositions, clefs, timbres, playability/singability, tessituras, and common techniques and devices for scoring instruments and voices. Particular focus on arranging for school ensembles.
Prereq.: MUTC 2631 or permission of instructor.
MUTC 3712 Jazz Arranging 1 3 s.h.
Scoring in the jazz idiom with emphasis on harmonic concepts, voicing procedures, form, and stylistic trends developed by major jazz composer-arrangers. Detailed study of instrumental techniques with projects scored for various size ensembles. Student arrangements are performed in reading sessions and concerts. Classes must be taken in sequence.
Prereq.: MUTC 1532 and MUAC 2668 or permission of instructor.
MUTC 3713 Jazz Arranging 2 3 s.h.
Scoring in the jazz idiom with emphasis on harmonic concepts, voicing procedures, form, and stylistic trends developed by major jazz composer-arrangers. Detailed study of instrumental techniques with projects scored for various size ensembles. Student arrangements are performed in reading sessions and concerts. Classes must be taken in sequence.
Prereq.: MUTC 1532 and MUAC 2668 or permission of instructor.
MUTC 3733 Composition and Songwriting 2 s.h.
Students study the music of leading songwriters in the process of developing their craft and forming their own style. Assignments will include the creation of a portfolio of original compositions, as well as analysis of compositions by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington, Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Lennon/McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Donald Fagan, Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ivan Lins, Sara Bareilles, Kendrick Lamar, John Mayer, and many others.
Prereq.: MUTC 2631: Music Theory with a grade of 'C' or better.
MUTC 3750 Analytical Techniques 3 s.h.
Analysis of representative repertoire from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary periods.
Prereq.: MUTC 2632 and MUTC 2642 with grades of "C" or better.
MUTC 5821 Composition for Minors 2 s.h.
Composition in two- and three-part forms, and other compositions of small scope, such as variation and sonatina. Works are composed both for piano alone, and in combination with other instruments or voice. May be repeated by composition majors to meet requirements for freshman and sophomore composition for majors.
Prereq.: MUTC 2632 with a grade of "C" or better, or permission of instructor for composition majors.
MUTC 5822 Composition for Minors 2 s.h.
Composition in two- and three-part forms, and other compositions of small scope, such as variation and sonatina. Works are composed both for piano alone, and in combination with other instruments or voice. May be repeated by composition majors to meet requirements for freshman and sophomore composition for majors.
Prereq.: MUTC 2632 with a grade of "C" or better, or permission of instructor for composition majors.
MUTC 5828 Music Technology 3 s.h.
An exploration of the use of computers and technology in music. Applications related to composition, performance, analysis, teaching, and research.
Prereq.: MUTC 2632 with grade of "C" or better or permission of instructor.
MUTC 5830 Materials of 20th Century Music 3 s.h.
Study of the various elements of 20th century compositions, including melody, harmony, rhythm, texture, and form.
Prereq.: MUTC 2632 with a grade of "C" or better.
MUTC 5831 Modal Counterpoint 3 s.h.
Sixteenth century contrapuntal style including introduction of species technique; analysis of liturgical and secular repertoire; writing of imitative counterpoint with stylistic rhythms and cadences.
Prereq.: MUTC 2632 with a grade of "C" or better.
MUTC 5832 Tonal Counterpoint 3 s.h.
Contrapuntal style of baroque music including an analysis of examples in imitative and invertible counterpoint; writing two- and three-part inventions and three- and four-part fugal expositions.
Prereq.: MUTC 2632 with a grade of "C" or better.
MUTC 5833 Theory Seminar 3 s.h.
Topics in music theory not covered in regular upper-division offerings. May be repeated once with different topic.
Prereq.: MUTC 2632 with a grade of "C" or better.
MUTC 5834 Electronic Music 3 s.h.
Techniques of analog and digital synthesis including tape composition, musique concrete; advanced MIDI applications such as sequencing and sampling; and digital audio editing. Composition in electronic and mixed media.
Prereq.: For composition majors, COMP 1502 or equivalent; for non-composition majors, MUTC 2632 with a grade of "C" or better; for non-majors, permission of instructor.
MUTC 5840 Instrumentation 3 s.h.
Ranges, transposition, technical characteristics, and tonal features of the instruments. Scoring for large and small ensembles which are available as laboratory reading groups.
Prereq.: MUTC 2632 with a grade of "C" or better.
MUTC 6903 Advanced Composition 3 s.h.
Individual instruction in the composition of larger forms for chorus, orchestra, or chamber ensembles.
Prereq.: Permission of Instructor.
MUTC 6904 Advanced Composition 3 s.h.
Individual instruction in the composition of larger forms for chorus, orchestra, or chamber ensembles.
Prereq.: Permission of instructor.
MUTC 6913 Pedagogy of Theory 3 s.h.
The study and critical analysis of methods for teaching harmony, sightsinging, and ear training.
MUTC 6916 Fugue 3 s.h.
Analysis of the fugal style used in 17th-century trio sonatas and in both volumes of The Well-Tempered Clavier by J. S. Bach; writing three to four voice fugues employing imitative and invertible counterpoint.
MUTC 6921 Graduate Analysis 1 3 s.h.
Foundational graduate study of musical analysis. Includes basic techniques of harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic analysis applied to a selection of music literature from the seventeenth century through the present time.
MUTC 6922 Graduate Analysis 3 s.h.
A graduate study of musical analysis of various styles and genres.
MUTC 6930 Baroque Music Styles 3 s.h.
Stylistic and structural analysis of compositions from the Baroque Era.
MUTC 6931 Classic Music Styles 3 s.h.
Stylistic and structural analysis of compositions from the Classic Era.
MUTC 6932 Romantic Music Styles 3 s.h.
Stylistic and structural analysis of compositions from the Romantic Era.
MUTC 6933 Twentieth-Century Music Styles 3 s.h.
Stylistic and structural analysis of compositions from the 20th century.
MUTC 6935 Jazz Theory 3 s.h.
This course examines the process of jazz improvisation and undertakes a critical evaluation of the existing modes of analyzing improvisation. Students will learn to differentiate between pedagogical, speculative, and analytical theory and to apply appropriate analytical techniques according to the musical context. Emphasis will be placed on the development of critical listening and reading skills.
MUTC 6936 Jazz Composition 3 s.h.
Students will study the styles of leading jazz composers and arrangers in the process of developing their craft and their own style. Assignments will include a portfolio of compositions and analysis of compositions by Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, and others.