Music (MUS)

This course provides an introduction to the acoustical and mechanical design and history of the piano. Students will learn the theory of tuning and temperaments and will be introduced to the procedures and techniques used in regulating and voicing pianos. The course includes a research project and class presentation on a related topic of interest.

This course is a piano tuning Lab. Students will practice tuning pianos under the supervision of the instructor. This will allow for practical application of the skills learned in MUS 520. The course includes a research project and class presentation on tuning, temperaments or a related topic of interest.

In-depth practicum on idiomatic writing for orchestral instruments both individually and in an ensemble setting. Students are introduced to the characteristics and limitations of each instrument with written exercises, listening and score study examples from significant orchestral works, demonstrations by representative instrumentalists and small-scale scoring projects.

Presents intermediate to advanced improvisation skills in the jazz idiom alone for graduate music majors. Emphasis is on the theoretical analysis of chord progression as well as creative musical application. A research paper dealing with advanced musical improvisation concepts is required.

Students explore the art of arranging songs for solo and choral groups with or without accompaniment. Multiple styles and choral ensemble types are included. Those enrolled in 541 are responsible for rehearsing and leading performances sung by the class and university ensembles.

Arranging for various instrumental ensembles, including techniques of orchestration. Class projects include orchestrating excerpts for brass, woodwind and string ensembles, and a complete arrangement for full wind ensemble or symphony orchestra.

Modal and tonal counterpoint. Two, three and four voice forms, florid counterpoint. Study of imitative techniques and form analysis.

Survey of modern orchestration techniques building on the foundations established in MUS 435. Students will gain familiarity with current practice and nuances of scoring for large instrumental ensembles through examples from traditional and contemporary literature and small-scale scoring assignments. Students will focus on the preparation and production of a professional-quality score and orchestral parts leading to a reading session with the JMU Symphony Orchestra at the end of the term.

A survey of the history of literature for wind and percussion ensembles from pre-Renaissance to the present. Emphasis on 20th-century literature including works of Husa, Holst, Vaughan Williams, Grainger, Hindemith and Schwantner.

This course studies composition in 20th/21st-century styles and techniques. It offers individualized instruction and weekly seminar for graduate students approved to study composition as an elective or secondary lessons.

An advanced survey of choral literature from the pre-Renaissance through the Classical period including a cappella and accompanied works. A thorough examination will be undertaken of the parallel trends in keyboard and instrumental music through the mature works of Beethoven.

An advanced survey of choral literature from the pre-Renaissance through the Classical period including a cappella and accompanied works. A thorough examination will be undertaken of the parallel trends in keyboard and instrumental music through the mature works of Beethoven.

Common-practice music theory with an introduction to 20th-century analysis. Current theory texts are examined.

Taught through a combined lecture and laboratory approach, this one-semester course is a review of written and sung diction. Students will perform songs in each of the primary sung languages (Italian, German, French and English). Topics covered include: International Phonetic Alphabet review, singing of foreign language songs, review of diction texts. This course is the prerequisite for MUPED 677. Advanced Lyric Diction and is appropriate as an elective for graduate vocal students, collaborative pianists and conducting students who have not yet studied lyric diction.

Courses in music which are of a topical nature. May be repeated

Research as a discipline; current trends and types of research in music. Overview of bibliographical and other resources for music study. Research in bibliography and techniques culminating in a research paper in area of concentration. Normally taken in the first year of graduate study.

Advanced analysis of tonal music and an introduction to post-tonal analytical techniques.

An in-depth study of solo percussion literature. The course will cover history, style, performance traditions and other pertinent issues related to the music and composers.

An in-depth study of percussion ensemble literature. Class participants will study history, style, development, performance traditions and other pertinent issues related to the music and composers.

This course covers advanced original composition utilizing various 20th-century styles and techniques.

Opportunity for supervised independent study in areas of special interest to the student. May be repeated for credit.

Project shall be a work for large ensemble. Instrumentation and scope to be determined in consultation with the composition instructor. In addition, students will present a recital of their original works, the majority of which must have been composed during the student's graduate course of study in the School of Music.

Continued preparation in anticipation of the comprehensive examination. Course may be repeated as needed.

Continued study, research and writing in the area of thesis concentration. Course may be repeated as needed.

This course is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) basis.

An advanced graduate topical seminar in music theory. May be repeated for credit when the topic changes.

An in-depth study of percussion ensemble literature. Class participants will study history, style, development, performance traditions and other pertinent issues related to the music and composers.

A laboratory study of percussion ensemble literature. The course will be taken the same semester as MUS 704 and will focus on the study of scores, the historical importance of the music and conducting the music studied.

An in-depth study of percussion chamber music literature. The course will include composers, history, style, performance traditions and other pertinent issues related to the music written for percussion and other instruments.

An in-depth study of selected topics related to the standard solo vocal literature. Requires research papers, bibliographies and class presentations. Topics presented on a rotating basis per semester will include German lied, French mélodie, Anglo-American song and other national schools of singing. May be repeated for credit when the topic changes. Doctoral students are required to take two semesters.

Opera History and Literature is a study of Western European operatic genres from the seventeenth century to the present. It will include such genres as masque, opera seria, opera buffa, singspiel, French vaudeville, ballad opera, grand opera, zarzuela and operetta.

This seminar will be dedicated to the intensive study of a single topic related to the literature written for the piano. The topics would change each semester, and could focus on the piano literature associated with a particular country, composer or period, or could trace the development of a specific genre, such as the sonata, concerto, suite or variation set. The seminar could also focus on a detailed study of selected masterworks of piano repertoire. May be repeated for credit when course content changes.

A one-hour per week seminar designed for in-depth score study of selected major works. The course instructor, in consultation with the student, will determine three to five compositions to be studied. Students will do an in-depth analysis of selected works, with the goal of creating an informed musical interpretation.

A one-hour per week seminar designed for in-depth score study of selected major works. The course instructor, in consultation with the student, will determine three to five compositions to be studied. Students will do an in-depth analysis of selected works, with the goal of creating an informed musical interpretation.

A one-hour per week seminar designed for in-depth score study of selected major works. The course instructor, in consultation with the student, will determine three to five compositions to be studied. Students will do an in-depth analysis of selected works, with the goal of creating an informed musical interpretation.

An in-depth study of solo percussion literature. The course will cover history, style, performance traditions and other pertinent issues related to the music and composers.

Study of brass solo literature. Emphasis upon historical perspectives, aspects of performance practice techniques, performances of representative works, and score analysis.

This course has been designed to give an overview of choral literature both from an historical perspective (musical period, genre, composers, performance practice, style) and more practical review of pieces suggested for performance at the senior high school, college and adult levels. While standard composers and works will be studied, the instructors may include lesser-known works and contemporary literature of interest. The literature will be studied by reading through scores and listening to recordings of significant works. The instructor and guest lectures will present ideas about the pieces, successful programming and appropriate selection of literature for specific levels.

This course functions as the continuation of MUS 721. It is designed to give and overview of choral literature both from a historical perspective (musical period, genre, composers, performance practice, style) and a more practical review of pieces suggested for performance at the senior high school, college and adult levels. While standard composers and works will be studied, the instructors may include lesser-known works and contemporary literature of interest. The literature will be studied by reading through scores and listening to recordings of significant works. The instructor and guest lecturers will present ideas about the pieces, successful programming and appropriate selection of literature for specific levels.

This course has been designed to give an overview of orchestral literature both from a historical perspective (musical period, genre, composers, performance practice, style) and more practical review of pieces suggested for performance at the senior high school, college and adult levels. While standard composers and works will be studied, the instructors may include lesser-known works and contemporary literature of interest. The literature will be studied by reading through scores and listening to recordings of significant works. The instructor and guest lectures will present ideas about the pieces, successful programming and appropriate selection of literature for specific levels.

This course functions as the continuation of MUS 723. It is designed to give and overview of orchestral literature both from a historical perspective (musical period, genre, composers, performance practice, style) and a more practical review of pieces suggested for performance at the senior high school, college and adult levels. While standard composers and works will be studied, the instructors may include lesser-known works and contemporary literature of interest. The literature will be studied by reading through scores and listening to recordings of significant works. The instructor and guest lecturers will present ideas about the pieces, successful programming and appropriate selection of literature for specific levels.

This course has been designed to give an overview of wind literature both from a historical perspective (musical period, genre, composers, performance practice, style) and more practical review of pieces suggested for performance at the senior high school, college and adult levels. While standard composers and works will be studied, the instructors may include lesser-known works and contemporary literature of interest. The literature will be studied by reading through scores and listening to recordings of significant works. The instructor and guest lectures will present ideas about the pieces, successful programming and appropriate selection of literature for specific levels.

This course functions as the continuation of MUS 725. It is designed to give and overview of wind literature both from a historical perspective (musical period, genre, composers, performance practice, style) and a more practical review of pieces suggested for performance at the senior high school, college and adult levels. While standard composers and works will be studied, the instructors may include lesser-known works and contemporary literature of interest. The literature will be studied by reading through scores and listening to recordings of significant works. The instructor and guest lecturers will present ideas about the pieces, successful programming and appropriate selection of literature for specific levels.

A seminar devoted to the study and performance of the German lied. Topics will change each time the course is offered. Enrollment limited to graduate pianists and vocalists.

An advanced graduate topical seminar in musicology or ethnomusicology. May be repeated for credit when the topic changes.

Study of brass ensemble literature. Emphasis upon works for brass quintet and large brass ensemble, historical perspectives, aspects of performance practice techniques, performances of representative works and score analysis.

A public performance of doctoral level repertoire. Will be repeated for credit.

A public lecture recital in which the candidate reports the results of graduate-level research in lecture format and performs music from the topic of research. Topics might be analytical, historical or pedagogical in nature. One semester prior to the lecture recital semester, the student must submit a proposal stating the nature of the research to be approved by the student's advisory committee.

May be repeated until 3 credits are completed. A thesis that is an expansion of the lecture-recital research (MUS 762). Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) basis.