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.
Music Ensemble (MUEN)
Large ensemble requirements in undergraduate curricula must be fulfilled by the following ensembles: University Chorus (MUEN 307); Men’s Chorus (MUEN 308); Oriana Choir (MUEN 311); University Concert Choir (MUEN 310); Chamber Choir (MUEN 312); USC Symphony (MUEN 320); USC Concert Orchestra (MUEN 321); University Wind Ensemble (MUEN 323); or University Band (MUEN 324).
Exceptions to the above policies include: Contemporary Music Ensemble and Early Music Ensemble may fulfill the large ensemble requirement for instrumental majors, with the approval of the conductor of University Symphony or Wind Ensemble and the chair of the student’s major department.
Music Education majors with an instrumental emphasis must take one semester of a choral ensemble.
Composition majors must register for at least 2 units in a choral ensemble.
Students majoring in Strings, Vocal Arts, or Wind and Percussion may not count USC Concert Orchestra toward their large ensemble requirement.
Vocal Arts majors must register for University Concert Choir, USC Chamber Choir, or USC Oriana Choir to fulfill their large ensemble requirement.
Further exceptions may be made subject to departmental approval and approval of the conductor of the appropriate large ensemble.
MUEN 222 Trojan Marching Band (1, max 4) Rehearsal and participation in performances for athletic and other university functions. Graded CR/NC. Open to all students by audition.
MUEN 305 Vocal Jazz Ensemble (1, max 8, FaSp) Study and performance of vocal ensemble literature from the Jazz idiom, with emphasis on improvisational techniques. Open to all students by audition. Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 307 University Chorus (1, max 8, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of choral literature from all periods of music history. Open to all students. Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 308 USC Men’s Chorus (1, max 8, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of choral repertoire from all periods written for male voices. Open to all students. Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 310 University Concert Choir (1, max 8, FaSp) Performance of choral works of all styles and periods. Open to all students by audition. Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 311 USC Oriana Choir (1, max 8, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of advanced chamber music written for women’s voices. Open to all students by audition. Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 312 USC Chamber Choir (1, max 8, FaSp) Performance of vocal chamber music and choral masterworks from the 16th century to the present. Open to all students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 212 and MUEN 412.) Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 314 Opera Chorus (1, max 8, FaSp) Study and performance of operatic choruses and extended ensembles of all styles and periods. Open to all students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 214 and MUEN 414.) Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 320 USC Symphony (1, max 8, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of orchestra repertoire. Open to all students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 220 and MUEN 420.) Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 321 USC Concert Orchestra (1, max 8, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of orchestra repertoire. Open to all students, faculty, staff, and members of the community. Audition not required. Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 322 Trojan Marching Band (1, max 4) Continuation of MUEN 222. Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 323 University Wind Ensemble (1, max 8, FaSp) Rehearsal and participation in concert programs. Open to all students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 223 and MUEN 423). Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 324 University Band (1, max 8, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of standard repertoire. Open to all students by audition. Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 325 Wind and Percussion Chamber Music (1, max 8, FaSp) Performance of chamber music for wind and percussion instruments. Open to all students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 225 and MUEN 425.) Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 326 Guitar Ensemble (1, max 8, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of literature composed, transcribed and arranged for small ensembles, including literature for small ensembles of guitar and other instruments, as well as voice. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 226 and MUEN 426.) Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 327 String Chamber Music (1, max 8, FaSp) Preparation and performance of small ensemble literature for strings. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 227 and MUEN 427.) Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 328 Keyboard Collaboration (1, max 4, FaSp) Preparation and performance of literature for piano with voice and string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 428.) Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 329 Jazz Ensemble (1, max 8, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of literature written for large jazz ensemble. Open to all students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 229 and MUEN 429.) Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 330 Contemporary Music Ensemble (1, max 8, FaSp) Performance of 20th-century music; readings of student and faculty compositions; experimental music; guest conductors, composers, performers; annual concert series. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 230 and MUEN 430.) Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 331 Guitar Big Band (1, max 8, FaSp) Rehearsal and preparation of big band literature adapted for large guitar ensemble. Guitarists perform in place of the traditional trumpet, trombone and sax sections. Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 332 Jazz Chamber Music (1, max 8, FaSp) Preparation and performance of literature for jazz chamber groups. Open to all students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 232 and MUEN 432.) Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 335 University Brass Band (1, max 8, FaSp) The study, rehearsal and performance of standard brass choir and brass band literature. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 235 and MUEN 435.) Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 344 Vocal Chamber Music (1, max 8, Fa) Study of solo ensemble vocal literature such as duets, trios, quartets, madrigals, etc. Open to all students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 244 and MUEN 444.) Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 350 Early Music Ensemble (1, max 8, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of vocal and instrumental ensemble music of the Renaissance and Baroque, with emphasis on chamber music for solo voices and bowed and plucked strings. Instrumentalists are required to perform on either their own or the school’s historical instruments. Open to all students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 250 and MUEN 450.) Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 505 Vocal Jazz Ensemble (1, max 4, FaSp) Study and performance of vocal ensemble literature from the Jazz idiom, with emphasis on improvisational techniques. Open to graduate students by audition.
MUEN 507 University Chorus (1, max 8, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of choral literature from all periods of music history. Open to all graduate students.
MUEN 508 USC Men’s Chorus (1, max 4, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of choral repertoire from all periods written for male voices.
MUEN 510 University Concert Choir (1, max 4, FaSp) Performance of choral works of all styles and periods. Open to all graduate students by audition.
MUEN 511 USC Oriana Choir (1, max 4, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of advanced chamber music written for women’s voices. Open to all graduate students by audition.
MUEN 512 USC Chamber Choir (1, max 4, FaSp) Performance of vocal chamber music and choral masterworks from the 16th century to the present. Open to all graduate students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 412.)
MUEN 514 Opera Chorus (1, max 4, FaSp) Study and performance of operatic choruses and extended ensembles of all styles and periods. Open to all graduate students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 414.)
MUEN 520 USC Symphony (1, max 4, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of orchestra repertoire Open to all graduate students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 420.)
MUEN 521 USC Concert Orchestra (1, max 4, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of orchestra repertoire. Open to all graduate students. Audition not required.
MUEN 523 University Wind Ensemble (1, max 4, FaSp) Rehearsal and participation in concert programs. Open to all graduate students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 423.)
MUEN 525 Wind and Percussion Chamber Music (1, max 4, FaSp) Performance of chamber music for wind and percussion instruments. Open to all students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 425.)
MUEN 526 Guitar Ensemble (1, max 4, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of literature composed, transcribed and arranged for small ensembles, including literature for small ensembles of guitar and other instruments, as well as voice. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 426.)
MUEN 527 String Chamber Music (1, max 4, FaSp) Preparation and performance of small ensemble literature for strings. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 427.)
MUEN 528 Keyboard Collaboration (1, max 4, FaSp) Continuation of MUEN 328.
MUEN 529 Jazz Ensemble (1, max 4, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of literature written for large jazz ensemble. Open to all graduate students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 429.)
MUEN 530 Contemporary Music Ensemble (1, max 4, FaSp) Performance of 20th-century music; readings of student and faculty compositions; experimental music; guest conductors, composers, performers; annual concert series. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 430).
MUEN 531 Guitar Big Band (1, max 4, FaSp) Rehearsal and preparation of big band literature adapted for large guitar ensemble. Guitarists perform in place of the traditional trumpet, trombone and sax sections.
MUEN 532 Jazz Chamber Music (1, max 4, FaSp) Preparation and performance of advanced literature for jazz chamber groups. Open to graduate students, by audition.
MUEN 535 University Brass Band (1, max 4) The study, rehearsal and performance of standard brass choir and brass band literature. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 435).
MUEN 544 Vocal Chamber Music (1, max 4, Fa) Study of solo ensemble vocal literature such as duets, trios, quartets, madrigals, etc. Open to all graduate students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 444.)
MUEN 550 Early Music Ensemble (1, max 4, FaSp) Rehearsal and performance of vocal and instrumental ensemble music of the Renaissance and Baroque, with emphasis on chamber music for solo voices and bowed or plucked strings. Instrumentalists are required to perform on either their own or the school’s historical instruments. Open to all graduate students by audition. (Duplicates credit in former MUEN 450.) Graded CR/NC.
MUEN 628 Keyboard Collaboration (1, max 4, FaSp) Continuation of MUEN 328.
MUEN 650 Early Music Ensemble (1, max 8, FaSp) Rehearsal and public performance of vocal and instrumental music of the Renaissance and Baroque era; emphasis is on large- and small-scale chamber works. Instrumentalists are required to perform on historical instruments.