Catalogue 2008-09

• The Schools
• USC Thornton School of Music
  • Undergraduate Degrees
  • Minors in Music
  • Graduate Degrees
  • Courses of Instruction

Minors in Music

Minor in Music Recording

A minor in music recording is offered for undergraduate students to provide them with the background necessary to enter the field of recording engineering and to familiarize them with the design needs of recording equipment. The minor is not available to music industry majors.

Prerequisite

Acceptance into the program might require a personal interview by the Thornton School of Music to assure that the student has sufficient musical background and skill.

Students admitted to this minor will be expected to have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and to maintain that average with no grade lower than a "C" for all courses taken in the minor.

Required Courses		Units
MUIN 275ab	Recording Arts Workshop	4-4
MUIN 286	Record Production Management	2
MUIN 287	The Business and Economics of the Recording Industry	2
MUIN 446a	Computer Assisted Recording and Editing	2

Select 10 units from the following courses:
MUIN 389	Digital Equipment and Recording	2
MUIN 392a	Acoustics and Speaker Design	2
MUIN 446b	Computer Assisted Recording and Editing	2
MUIN 477	Remote Recording Techniques	2
MUIN 478	Advanced Multichannel Remix	2
MUIN 479	Audio Mastering	2
MUIN 493	Audio Signal Processing Equipment	2
		24

Minor in Music Industry

A minor in the music industry is offered for undergraduate students to provide them with the background necessary to enter varied fields in the music business and to familiarize them with standard practices and procedures. A minimum of 20 units is required for completion of this minor. The minor is not available to music industry majors.

Prerequisite

Acceptance into the program might require a personal interview by the Thornton School of Music.

Students admitted to this minor will be expected to have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and to maintain that average with no grade lower than a "C" for all courses taken in the minor.

Required Courses		Units
MUIN 277x	Introduction to Music Technology	4
MUIN 372abx	Business and Legal Aspects of the Music Industry	4-4

One course from the following:
MUHL 315x	Music and Culture	4
MUSC 444	American Roots Music: History and Culture	4
MUSC 450	The Music of Black Americans	4
MUSC 460	Film Music: History and Function from 1930 to the Present	4
MUSC 465	Music, Television and American Culture	4

Select 4 units from the following:
MUIN 370	Distribution of Recorded Music and Music Publishing	4
MUIN 385	Radio in the Music Industry	4
MUIN 425	Live Music Production and Promotion	4
MUIN 430	Artist Management and Development	4
MUIN 435	Manufacture and Distribution of Musical Products	4
MUIN 443	The Business of Musicfor Visual Media	4
MUIN 446ab	Computer Assisted Recording and Editing	2-2
MUIN 495	Music Industry, Broadcast and the Internet	4
		20

Minor in Jazz Studies

This 20-unit minor program in jazz studies incorporates course work in individual instruction, the history of jazz masters, techniques of jazz improvisation and jazz theory for improvisers. The minor is not available to B.M. jazz studies majors.

Requirements for admission are: GPA per university regulations and an audition.

Required Courses		Units
MUEN 329	Jazz Ensemble (1, max 8), or
MUEN 332	Jazz Chamber (1, max 8)	4
MUJZ 105a	Jazz Theory	2
MUJZ 150x	Beginning Jazz Improvisation	2
MUJZ 301	Individual Instruction	4
MUJZ 419	The Jazz Experience: Myths and Culture, or
MUSC 450	The Music of Black Americans	4
MUJZ 450	Intermediate Jazz Improvisation	2
Music courses numbered 300-499		2
Total units		20

Minor in Musical Theatre

The minor in musical theatre, interdisciplinary in nature, is a 27-unit program incorporating the study of acting, dance or movement, vocal arts and related musical subjects. Admission to the minor requires an audition for music but not for theatre.

For students majoring in theatre or another non-music discipline:

Required Courses		Units
MUSC 400	The Broadway Musical: Reflection of American Diversity, Issues, and Experiences	4
MPGU 125	Beginning Fingerstyle/Chord Guitar, and
MPGU 126	Easy Fingerstyle Beatles, or
MPKS 150ab	Beginning Piano, or
MUED 330x	Fundamentals of Music	4
MPVA 301	Individual Instruction (6), or
MPVA 141	Class Voice (2), or
MPVA 241	Intermediate Class Voice (2), and
MPVA 301	Individual Instruction (4)	6
MPVA 402*	Musical Theatre Workshop	8

2 units to be selected from:
THTR 181-189, or
THTR 216	Movement for Actors, or
THTR 316	Advanced Movement for Actors	2
THTR 343	Musical Theatre Audition	3
Total units		27

For students majoring in music performance (vocal arts):

Required Courses		Units
MPVA 402*	Musical Theatre Workshop	8
MUSC 400	The Broadway Musical: Reflection of American Diversity, Issues, and Experiences	4
THTR 101	Introduction to Acting	4
THTR 343	Musical Theatre Audition	3

2 units to be selected from:
THTR 181-189, or
THTR 216	Movement for Actors, or
THTR 316	Advanced Movement for Actors	2

6 units to be selected from:
THTR 252ab	Intermediate Acting I, or
THTR 352ab	Intermediate Acting II	6
Total units		27

For students majoring in music (non-vocal arts performance):

Required Courses		Units
MPVA 301	Individual Instruction	4
MPVA 402*	Musical Theatre Workshop	8
MUSC 400	The Broadway Musical: Reflection of American Diversity, Issues, and Experiences	4
THTR 101	Introduction to Acting	4
THTR 343	Musical Theatre Audition	3

2 units to be selected from:
THTR 181-189, or
THTR 216	Movement for Actors, or
THTR 316	Advanced Movement for Actors	2

2 units to be selected from:
THTR 252ab	Intermediate Acting I, or
THTR 352ab	Intermediate Acting II	2
Total units		27

Minor in Musical Studies

This 26-unit program in musical studies, with an emphasis in performance, incorporates the study of music theory, music history, performance, ensembles and electives. Students may enter the program in their freshman year. An audition is required for this minor, which is not available to music majors.

Required Courses		Units
MUEN 300-499		2
MUHL 315x	Music and Culture	4
MPKS 250a	Keyboard Instruction I	2
Individual Instruction at the 301 level		6
MUCO 130abx	Basics of Music Theory	6
Music electives *	6
Total units		26

Minor in Popular Music Studies

This minor consists of four upper division courses, to be chosen from courses that examine different aspects of popular music. The minor focuses on the study of the repertories and their cultural and social context. Students must be in good academic standing to be admitted. No previous musical experience is required.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS		Units
Choose four courses (16 units) from the following:
MUSC 400	The Broadway Musical: Reflection of American Diversity, Issues, and Experiences	4
MUSC 420	Hip-Hop Music and Culture	4
MUSC 422	The Beatles: Their Music and Their Times	4
MUSC 444	American Roots Music: History and Culture	4
MUSC 450	The Music of Black Americans	4
MUSC 465	Music, Television and American Culture	4
MUJZ 419	The Jazz Experience: Myths and Culture	4

Minor in Songwriting

The minor in songwriting incorporates practical instruction in the craft of songwriting and in performance skills, instruction in the technology relevant to songwriting, and critical studies in the relevant repertories.

Requirements for admission: Successful completion of MUSC 255 Songwriting I and an interview with the admission coordinator.

Required Courses		Units
MUCO 130abx	Basics of Music Theory	3-3
MUSC 255	Songwriting I	2
MUSC 355	Songwriting II	2
MUSC 455	Songwriting III: The Performing Songwriter	2
MUSC 310	Computer Recording for the Performing Musician	2
MUSC 311	MIDI Techniques for the Performing Musician	2

Choose one of the following courses:
COMM 306	The Communication Revolution, Entertain-ment and the Arts	4
COMM 307	Sound Clash: Popular Music and American Culture	4
COMM 384	Interpreting Popular Culture	4
COMM 440	Music as Communication	4

Choose one of the following courses:
MUSC 400	The Broadway Musical: Reflection of American Diversity, Issues, and Experiences	4
MUSC 420	Hip-Hop Music and Culture	4
MUSC 422	The Beatles: Their Music and Their Times	4
MUSC 444	American Roots Music: History and Culture	4
MUSC 450	The Music of Black Americans	4
MUSC 460	Film Music: History and Function from 1930 to Present	4
Total units		24

Minor in Performing Arts Studies

The minor in Performing Arts provides an interdisciplinary inquiry into the nature and aesthetics of the performing arts. It combines the disciplines of cinematic arts, dance, music and theatre. The minor is a unique course of study that looks at how the performing arts contribute to a culturally literate society. See the School of Theatre section of this catalogue.

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