PDF version of this chapterCourses of Instruction
Composition (MUCO)
101x Fundamentals of Music Theory (2, FaSp) An introductory course in music theory required for those majors in need of remedial training, and available to the general student who wishes to develop music writing skills. Not available for credit to B.M. and B.A. music majors. Recommended preparation: ability to read music.
130abx Basics of Music Theory (a: 3, Fa; b: 3, Sp) Introduction to music theory for music minors; scales, intervals, principles of common practice harmony; melodic, harmonic, and structural analysis; 20th century developments. Not available for credit to B.M. majors.
132ab Aural Skills I (a: 2, Fa; b: 2, Sp) Sight-singing, dictation, related keyboard application.
133ab Theory I (a: 3, Fa; b: 3, Sp) a: Notation, scales, intervals; introduction to counterpoint; harmonic principles of the common practice period; analysis, written work. b: Continuation of MUCO 133a; elements of form; application of analysis to performance. Concurrent registration in Aural Skills required.
135 Counterpoint I (2, Sp) The study of the techniques of modal counterpoint; exercises in two-, three- and four-part writing in 16th century style. Prerequisite: MUCO 137a.
137ab Introduction to Composition (2-2, FaSp) Beginning exercises in composition, study and class discussion of assigned scores and recordings.
221abx Composition for Non-Majors (2-2, FaSp) Introduction to the composition of concert music. Includes set exercises, free composition, study of selected compositions. Intended for interested, qualified students not majoring in composition. Not available for degree credit to composition majors. Recommended preparation: MUCO 130bx, MUCO 133b.
232ab Aural Skills II (a: 2, Fa; b: 2, Sp) Continuation of MUCO 132ab.
233ab Theory II (a: 3, Fa; b: 3, Sp) a: Analysis of representative pieces from the classic and romantic periods; exercises in composition. b: Survey of 20th century developments; composition utilizing 20th century techniques. Prerequisite: MUCO 133b.
235 Counterpoint II (2, Sp) Studies in tonal counterpoint; two-, three- and four-part counterpoint in 18th century style; polyphonic variations; inventions. Prerequisite: MUCO 137b.
236 Orchestration I (2, Fa) Introduction to the principles of instrumentation; ranges techniques, timbres; transpositions of orchestral instruments; beginning exercises in orchestration. Prerequisite: MUCO 137b.
237ab Composition I (4-4, FaSp) Composition in shorter forms, continuation of score analysis and listening assignments. Prerequisite: MUCO 137b.
250 Songwriting I (2, FaSp) Development of musical and lyrical skills, composing, listening, analysis, and critiques of popular original music.
252 Songwriting II: Arranging and Performing (2, FaSp) Continuation of Songwriting I with emphasis on development of arrangements and performance of original popular music in preparation for songwriting showcases. Prerequisite: MUCO 250.
254 Songwriting III: Demo Production (2, FaSp) Music arranging and recording of original songs for demonstration purposes including mixing, editing, functions of midi and production techniques. Prerequisite: MUCO 252.
300 Theory Review (1, FaSpSm) Review of materials covered in Theory I and II. For students whose entrance examination in music theory indicates the need for further study.
333 Aural Skills Review (1, FaSp) Review of the materials covered in Aural Skills I, II, and III. For students whose entrance examination in aural skills indicates the need for further study.
336ab Orchestration II (a: 2, Fa; b: 2, Sp) Intermediate exercises in orchestration, including scoring for chamber ensembles and orchestra; study of the history of orchestration. Prerequisite: MUCO 236.
337ab Composition II (4, Fa; 4, Sp) Continuation of MUCO 237; composition in larger forms. Prerequisite: MUCO 237b.
338x Elementary Orchestration (2, Fa) Range, techniques, timbre, transposition of orchestral instruments; exercises in orchestration. Not available for credit to Composition majors. Recommended preparation: MUCO 233b.
339 Orchestration Review (1, FaSm) Review of materials covered in elementary orchestration; for students whose entrance examination in orchestration indicates a need for further study.
341 Counterpoint Review (1, SpSm) Review of materials covered in tonal counterpoint. For students whose entrance examination in counterpoint indicates the need for further study. For graduate students only.
360 Music Notation and Copying (1) Development of skills in music calligraphy.
370ab Arranging for the Recording Media (2-2) Arranging and composing for studio recording ensembles.
390 Special Problems (1-4) Supervised, individual studies. No more than one registration permitted. Enrollment by petition only.
406ab Contemporary Notation (2-2) Notating new music; study and comparison of representative scores.
421abx Composition for Non-Majors II (2-2, FaSp) Continuation of MUCO 221abx . Not available for credit to theory and composition majors. Prerequisite: MUCO 221bx.
425 Instrumental Music of Debussy and Ravel (2) Critical examination of the piano, chamber, and orchestral scores; comparison of styles, techniques and aesthetics of these "Impressionist" composers. Prerequisite: MUCO 336a or MUCO 338x; MUHL 331; MUHL 332.
432ab Advanced Theory (1 or 2; 1 or 2) Special problems in music theory.
434 Analytical Techniques (2) Selected analytical topics. Prerequisite: MUCO 232b, MUCO 233b.
435 Counterpoint III (2, Fa) Canon and fugue; 19th and 20th century developments. Prerequisite: MUCO 235.
436 Orchestration III (2, Sp) Continuation of Orchestration II. Prerequisite: MUCO 336ab.
437ab Composition III (2-2, FaSp) Individual instruction in composition; preparation for senior recital. Not intended for SMPTV students. Prerequisite: MUCO 337b.
438 Arranging for Marching Band (2) Fundamental concepts; instrumental capabilities; notation; color and scoring; modulation; percussion writing. Prerequisite: MUCO 336b or MUCO 338x.
439 Band Arranging (2, max 4) Characteristics and use of individual instruments; writing for separate choirs; chamber and solo writing; scoring piano, organ, and orchestral music for band. Prerequisite: MUCO 237b , MUCO 336b or MUCO 338x.
440ab Composition for Films and Television (2-2) Planning, timing, composing, and orchestrating music for dramatic and documentary films and television programs. Prerequisite: MUCO 336b or MUCO 338x , MUCO 337b.
441 Choral Arranging (1 or 2, max 4) Practice in arranging and composing for chorus. Prerequisite: MUCO 237b.
442ab History of Film Music Scoring (a: 2, Fa; b: 2, Sp) A comprehensive survey of the craft of composing music for motion pictures and television, combining film music history and score analysis, geared specifically to composers. Open only to students in the Advanced Studies Certificate Program in Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television and the B.M. in Composition (Film Scoring).
443ab Film Score Analysis and Preparation (2-2, FaSp) Applied techniques in film music analysis and preparation for scoring.
470 Electroacoustic Composition (2) Electronic music for the composer: history of means and styles, aesthetic issues and practical problems, computer usages, bibliography and repertoire. Recommended preparation: MUEA 474a.
490x Directed Research (2-8, max 8) Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.
499 Special Topics (2-4, max 8) Selected topics of current interest.
501 Introduction to the Analysis of Tonal Music (2, FaSp) Survey of common practice period (1650-1900) approaches to phrase design, tonal organization and type-forms (binary, ternary, rondo, sonata).
502 Introduction to the Analysis of Post-Tonal Music (2, FaSp) Introductory survey of 20th/21st century approaches to the organization of pitch (serial, modal, extended tonal, etc.), rhythm, texture and form.
520 Composition Forum (1, max 2, FaSp) Graded CR/NC.
522ab Sketching and Scoring for Film and TV (2-2, FaSp) Applying techniques of music composition, orchestration and conducting towards creating original dramatic scores for film and TV.
523ab Advanced Application of Film Music Technology (2-2, FaSp) Applying advanced state of the art technologies to the art of film music, including synthesizers, samplers, digital audio workstations and hard disk recording.
533ab Analytical Approaches to Tonal Music (2-2, FaSp) a : Introducing to essential structural and prolongational aspects of Schenkerian theory. b : Application of the Schenkerian methods to individual movements and short pieces. Prerequisite: MUCO 501.
536 Advanced Orchestration I (1 or 2, max 4, FaSp) Continuation of Orchestration III with emphasis on contemporary techniques. Prerequisite: MUCO 436b.
537 Advanced Composition I (1 or 2, max 8) For graduates with evidence of preparation for advanced work. Prerequisite: MUCO 437b.
538ab Analytical Approaches to Post-Tonal Music from 1908-1950 (2-2, FaSp) a: The breakdown of tonality, rise of atonal/pantonal pitch organization, new and extended approaches to tonality, modality. b: Continuation of 538a; twelve-tone methods, just tuning systems, new approaches to rhythm, texture, timbre. Prerequisite: MUCO 502.
539ab Theoretical and Aesthetic Issues in Music from 1950 to the Present (2-2, FaSp) a: Anti-rationality and indeterminancy, ultra-rationality and integral serialism, new performance procedures, electronic music and new technologies, minimalism. b: Post-modernism of reaction, post-modernism of resistance, mannerist minimalism, anti-modernism. Prerequisite: MUCO 502.
545 Individual Instruction in Advanced Film Music Composition (2, max 4, FaSp) Private instruction in composition and conducting for film and television.
548 Writer and Composer (3, Sp) Structured collaboration among composers and poets. Activities include fundamentals of poetry, comparative analysis, creative projects. Open to Literature and Creative Writing and Composition majors only; students with other majors require departmental approval.
550 Teaching Music Theory (2) Comparative study of curricula, text materials, and teaching strategies in music theory.
560ab Music Editing for Film (2-2, FaSp) Develop and implement state of the art techniques in joining music and film.
571 Comparative Analytical Studies: Traditional Forms (2, Irregular) Analytical survey of the development of a specific form or genre. Specific emphasis to be determined by the department. Prerequisite: MUCO 501.
572 Comparative Analytical Studies: 20th/21st Century and Non-Traditional Forms (2, Irregular) In-depth analysis of characteristic forms and genres of 20th century music or of other forms and genres that do not figure largely in the "common practice" tradition. Specific emphasis to be determined by the department. Prerequisite: MUCO 501.
573 Special Studies in Contrapuntal Music (2, Irregular) In-depth analytical and historical study of contrapuntal techniques and styles. Emphasis to be determined by the department. Prerequisite: MUCO 501.
574 Special Studies in Tonal Analysis (2, Irregular) Analytical study of major composers and/or problems in tonal music. Emphasis to be determined by the department. Prerequisite: MUCO 501.
575 Special Studies in Post-Tonal Analysis (2, Irregular) Analytical study of major composers and/or problems in post-tonal music. Emphasis to be determined by the department. Prerequisite: MUCO 502.
576 Special Studies in Musical Aesthetics (2, Irregular) An investigation of aesthetics in general and the application of aesthetic theories to music; readings will be selected from pre-modern, modern, and post-modern texts. Prerequisite: MUCO 501, MUCO 502.
590 Directed Research (1-12) Research leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.
592 Selected Topics in Graduate Composition (2, max 8, Irregular) Seminar for graduate students in composition that addresses aesthetic, technical and analytical issues from a composer's perspective. Open only to Composition majors.
594abz Master's Thesis (2-2-0) Credit on acceptance of thesis. Graded IP/CR/NC.
599 Special Topics (2-4, max 8) Seminars in selected areas of study.
633ab Advanced Analysis of Tonal Music (2-2) a: Application of Schenkerian techniques to large works. b: Criticisms and extensions of Schenker, semiotic approaches, theories of rhythmic structure. Prerequisite: MUCO 533b.
636 Advanced Orchestration II (1 or 2, max 4, FaSp) Continuation of Advanced Orchestration I with emphasis on historical survey of orchestral compositions and advanced orchestration projects. Prerequisite: MUCO 536.
637 Advanced Composition II (1 or 2, max 4) Continuation of MUCO 537. For students holding the M.M. degree in composition. Prerequisite: MUCO 537.
737 Advanced Composition III (1 or 2, max 8) Continuation of MUCO 637. Prerequisite: MUCO 536, MUCO 637.
790 Research (1-12) Research leading to the doctorate. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.
794abcdz Doctoral Dissertation (2-2-2-2-0) Credit on acceptance of dissertation. Graded IP/CR/NC.