Academic Music Courses
MS-101 Music Fundamentals (Variable; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; F) Designed to teach students the basic tools and elements of music and its notation. Students learn to become literate in the fundamentals of music (reading and writing music notes, intervals, scales, chords, rhythms, structure...) and apply that knowledge to composition (e.g. a group project composing a brief " percussion " ensemble piece) and basic piano skills. Discussions of the importance of music in society and in education. Listening skills are developed over the course of the semester.
MS-110 Survey of Western Music (Fall; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; F) Uses the historical development of " Western " music literature as the basis for forming a better understanding of the art of music. Listening skills are developed over the course of the semester.
MS-112 Introduction to Aesthetic Experience (Spring; Odd Years; 3.00 Credits; F) Introduces the aesthetic experience as a phenomenon of the human condition. Emphasizes an understanding of what the aesthetic experience is and learning to maximize the experience through perception of how the elements of an art work interact. Students learn to take from art what it uniquely offers.
MS-125 Musical Acoustics (Variable; Variable; 4.00 Credits; F,N) This course and its lab covers concepts of physics as applied to music. Topics include sound and resonance, pitch and tuning systems, psychoacoustics, anatomy of the ear, workings of musical instruments, electronic music fundamentals and literature, a review of musical notation, and aural recognition of intervals and pitches. Students will design and build a musical instrument, and participate in a performance.
MS-199 Special Topics (Variable; Variable; 1.00-4.00 Credits) Allows the departments to offer special topics not normally offered. Departments may offer more than one special topic. Prerequisites vary by title.
MS-216 Civil Rights & Song (Fall; Odd Years; 3.00 Credits; F,H,CS) Students examine the civil rights era in the United States (1950's-1960's) to better understand the social, political, economic, and cultural context of the time. In particular, this course focuses on the role of music and song in the civil rights movement. Class participation, including singing. is essential (although no prior music training is required).
MS-230 History of American Popular Music (Variable; Variable; 3.00 Credits; F) This course covers popular music in America, from Revolutionary War era through modern practices. Units on mainstream pop, jazz and its ancestors, early town bands, musical theatre, country, the fragmentation of the market in the 1960's, and other topics are included. Students complete various presentations and readings on auxiliary topics affecting the development of mainstream pop music. Prerequisites: MS110.
MS-299 Special Topics (Variable; Variable; 1.00-4.00 Credits) Allows the departments to offer special topics not normally offered. Departments may offer more than one special topic. Prerequisites vary by title.
MS-341 Music/Classroom Teaching (Fall; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; F) Develops skills needed to incorporate music in the elementary classroom. These skills include being able to sing in tune and perform songs with consistent tempo and accurate meter; learn a new song on his/her own and play the melody on piano; lead music activities and teach a song to others; select music materials appropriate for children.
MS-399 Special Topics (Variable; Variable; 1.00-4.00 Credits) Provides supplements to the regular departmental program, exploring topics and areas not regularly scheduled. Note: abbreviated ST: (title). Students may take each ST course for credit.
