University of Southern California

Thornton School of Music

Courses of Instruction

The terms indicated are expected but are not guaranteed. For the courses offered during any given term, consult the Schedule of Classes.

Conducting (MUCD)

MUCD 301 Individual Instruction (1-2, max 16, FaSpSm) Intermediate and advanced instruction secondary emphasis for music majors and minors. (Duplicates credit in former MUCD 401.)

MUCD 340 Choral Conducting I (2) Basic conducting techniques; score analysis; conducting patterns; problems of tempo, dynamics, articulation and text. Laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite: ability to read a music score.

MUCD 343 Instrumental Conducting I (2, FaSp) Communicating musical ideas to instrumental ensembles; reading and conducting from full score of orchestral compositions. Laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite: ability to read a music score.

MUCD 390 Special Problems (1-4) Supervised, individual studies. No more than one registration permitted. Enrollment by petition only.

MUCD 441 Choral Conducting II (2) Refinement of techniques developed in MUCD 340; study of styles and interpretations of choral music from the Renaissance to the present. Laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite: MUCD 340, MUCD 343.

MUCD 443 Instrumental Conducting II (2, FaSpSm) Principal composers and representative instrumental works since the 18th century; studies of styles and interpretations based on scores and the performance of works in class.

MUCD 490x Directed Research (1-8, max 12) Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

MUCD 499 Special Topics (2-4, max 8) Selected topics of current interest.

MUCD 501 Individual Instruction (1 or 2, max 8, FaSpSm) Secondary instruction for graduate music majors or instruction for graduate non-music majors.

MUCD 541 Choral Conducting III (2, max 6) Problems of preparing and conducting contemporary choral music and major choral-orchestral works from full score; special projects according to student’s development and interests. Laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite: MUCD 441.

MUCD 543 Instrumental Conducting III (2, max 4, FaSp) Problems in advanced conducting. Prerequisite: MUCD 443.

MUCD 550 Orchestral Conducting Seminar (2, max 8, FaSp) Advanced instrumental conducting techniques. Literature drawn from music of all periods. Prerequisite: MUCD 441, MUCD 443, and admission as candidate for M.M. degree in conducting.

MUCD 553 Individual Instruction (1 or 2, max 8, FaSpSm)

MUCD 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.

MUCD 599 Special Topics (2-4, max 8) Selected topics of current interest.

MUCD 641 Choral Conducting IV (2, max 8) Continuation of MUCD 541, including choral conducting pedagogy. Prerequisite: MUCD 541.

MUCD 653 Performance (1 or 2, max 12, FaSpSm) Individual or master class instruction for DMA Performance majors. (Duplicates credit in former MUPF 653.)

MUCD 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.