University of Southern California

Thornton School of Music

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
MTEC 275ab Recording Arts Workshop 4-4
MUIN 286 Record Production Management 2
MUIN 287 The Business and Economics of the Recording Industry 2
MTEC 446a Computer Assisted Recording and Editing 2
10 units from the following:
MTEC 389 Digital Equipment and Recording 2
MTEC 392a Acoustics and Speaker Design 2
MTEC 446b Computer Assisted Recording and Editing 2
MTEC 477 Remote Recording Techniques 2
MTEC 478 Advanced Multichannel Remix 2
MTEC 479 Audio Mastering 2
MTEC 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 272x Basics of the Music Industry 4
MUIN 372x Business and Legal Aspects of the Music Industry 4
Select 4 units from the following:
MUHL 315x Music and Culture 4
MUSC 410 Electronic Dance Music 4
MUSC 420 Hip-Hop Music and Culture 4
MUSC 422 The Beatles: Their Music and Their Times 4
MUSC 423 Classic Rock: Popular Music of the Sixties and Seventies 2
MUSC 424 Iconic Figures of Popular Music 2
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 8 units from the following:
MTEC 245 Introduction to MIDI Sequencing 1
MTEC 246 Introduction to Audio Recording and Editing 1
MTEC 277x Introduction to Music Technology 4
MTEC 446ab Computer Assisted Recording and Editing 2-2
MUIN 280 Communications in the Music Industry 4
MUIN 370 Music Publishing and Licensing 2
MUIN 410 Marketing, Branding and Strategic Alliances in Music 2
MUIN 420 DIY Music Marketing 2
MUIN 425 Live Music Production and Promotion 4
MUIN 430 Artist Management and Development 4
MUIN 443 The Business of Music for Visual Media 4
MUIN 495 Web Design for the Music Industry 4
MUIN 497 Current Topics, Case Studies and Analysis 2
20

Minor in Jazz Studies

This 21-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
MUCO 130a Basics of Music Theory 3
MUEN 329 Jazz Ensemble (1, max 8), or
MUEN 332 Jazz Chamber (1, max 8) 4
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: 21

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:
DANC 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

*2 units of MPVA 402 may be satisfied by taking THTR 397 Theatre Practicum I.

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:
DANC 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

*2 units of MPVA 402 may be satisfied by taking THTR 397 Theatre Practicum

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:
DANC 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

*2 units of MPVA 402 may be satisfied by taking THTR 397 Theatre Practicum I

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: 26

*Must include 4 upper division units.

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 460 Film Music: History and Function from 1930 to the Present 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
MTEC 310 Computer Recording for the Performing Musician 2
MTEC 311 MIDI Music Production for the Performing Musician 2
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
Choose one of the following courses:
COMM 306 Innovation, Entertainment, 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
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 USC School of Dramatic Arts section of this catalogue.