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Music Course Offerings

MUS 101 Survey of Music

3 credits

This course provides an introductory study of standard concert music. By means of analyses of Western art music works, attendance and response to live performances, and classroom discussions, students will become familiar with a representative repertoire of what is commonly called “classical music.” Students will develop practical and critical techniques for analyzing musical works from the ancient world to the twentieth century.

MUS 106 Survey of World Music

3 credits

This course provides an introductory study of traditional music from around the globe which is outside the scope of the European art tradition. It is an approach to the study of any music, not only in terms of the music itself but also in its relation to its cultural context; in other words, all music being used by the people of a given area. Spring

MUS 107 Survey of American Popular Music

3 credits

This course provides an introductory study of music that has shaped mainstream American culture, including folk, blues, jazz, gospel, tejano, salsa, cajun, zydeco, and other popular music genres. This course adopts the American cultures perspective by providing students with the intellectual tools to better understand and appreciate the multicultural complexity of American music. Spring

MUS 108 Survey of Music in Worship

3 credits

This course examines the history of music in worship from Biblical times to the present. Sacred music is the specific focus of this course, including an in-depth study of sacred art music, and survey information concerning hymnology and spiritual songs. Fall

MUS 111 Applied Music: Group Beginner Instruction

1 credit

This is an instructional course designed for students with little to no musical experience. Students will meet in small groups and be introduced to vocal/instrumental exercises and techniques, and basic notational reading skills. This course may include sections for beginning voice, guitar, piano, basic musicianship, and jazz improvisation. Students who pass MUS 111 should proceed to MUS 112.

MUS 112-212-312-412 Applied Music: Individual Instruction †

1 credit

This is individual instrumental instruction and includes lecture, exercises, sight reading, and repertoire. Students choose from specific instruments such as guitar, piano, voice, percussion, brass, woodwinds, double reeds and upright/electric bass. Course level is determined by student skill. Students with little to no experience in music are encouraged to begin with MUS 111. May be repeated for credit. Students are not permitted to take these courses as an audit.

MUS 115 Applied Music: Class Piano

1-1 credit

This course is offered for Music Ministry majors, Arts Administration (Music Concentration) majors, and Music minors who are beginning their keyboard skills studies. Students will learn and refine the basics of piano technique, as they master basic skills chosen to maximize keyboard proficiencies. Students will be coached on practice strategies, sight reading, technique, style, accuracy, fluency, and musicianship. This course provides study of keyboard skills that are necessary to lead to further individual study in applied piano. Students who have declared piano as their major instrument are given the opportunity to test out of this course and proceed to individual applied piano instruction. Arts Administration (Music concentration) majors, Music Ministry majors, and music minor students are required to complete 2 semesters of this course.

MUS 119 Music in the Elementary School

3 credits

Exploring music education methods and media for teaching in the elementary grades, including preschool. Involves lectures, demonstrations, discussion and practical application of techniques in creativity, rhythm, singing, and instruments. (This course will be replaced by ECE 106: Creative Arts in Early Childhood Education) Spring

MUS 121-221-321-421 Applied Music: Group Instrumental Instruction

1 credit

This course covers Symphonic Band and Chamber Works instrumental ensembles, including quartets, quintets and other combinations. Specific instrumentation of ensembles may vary based upon student demand. Interested students should consult the Music Program Director before signing up for Chamber Work ensembles.

MUS 122-222-322-422 Applied Music: Group Vocal Instruction

1 credit

This course includes the Lamplighters and Chamber Works vocal ensembles, including quartets, quintets and other combinations. Specific combinations of vocalists may vary based upon student demand. Interested students should consult the Music Program Director before signing up for Chamber Work ensembles.

MUS 131 Music Theory I

3 credits

The intent of this course is to evaluate each student’s entry level of competency in basic music theory and to provide ample opportunities for each student’s growth in the areas of musical reading and composition. This first semester covers music fundamentals including elements of pitch and rhythm, and an introduction to diatonic chords and basic part writing. Fall

MUS 132 Music Theory II

3 credits

This second semester study of music theory continues with part writing using non-chord tones and diatonic seventh chords. This detailed study of the written forms of music, including the notational and compositional techniques of tonal harmony, will increase each student’s aural proficiency and understanding of music as a language. Prerequisite: MUS 131. Spring

MUS 231 Music Theory III

3 credits

This course is a continued study of the written forms of music in the tonal harmony tradition. This course begins with the use of chromaticism and further elements of harmonic vocabulary. It also introduces the techniques used in the tonal harmony of the late nineteenth century and modern compositional techniques of the twentieth century. Prerequisite: MUS 132. (Offered when interest is expressed and departmental resources permit.)

MUS 241 Aural Techniques I

3 credits

The principle objective of this course is to acquire the skill of sight singing (the ability to sing a given melody accurately at first sight). Class meetings will cover the following skill areas: interval recognition and intervallic relationships, solmization, use of Kodaly hand signals, sight singing, and beginning tonal dictation. Students will demonstrate proficiency at the end of the semester by sight singing unfamiliar musical excerpts, identifying melodic and harmonic intervals, mastering Kodaly hand signals, and taking beginning tonal dictations. (Fall of odd numbered years)

MUS 242 Aural Techniques II

3 credits

The principle objective of this course is to continue to improve the skill of sight singing, interval recognition and dictation abilities Class meetings will cover the following skill areas: intervals recognition, use of Kodaly hand signals, sight singing, and tonal and rhythmic dictation. Pre-requisite: MUS 241. (Spring of even numbered years)

MUS 245 Introduction to Conducting

3 credits

This course provides an overview of basic conducting techniques. Emphasis is placed on fundamental beat patterns and non-verbal communication. Basics of score preparation and rehearsal techniques will also be included. Repertoire for a variety of instrumental and vocal ensembles will be addressed. Prerequisite: MUS 131-132, or 241-242. (Spring of odd numbered years)

MUS 301 Music History I: Ancient through Baroque

3 credits

This is an in-depth study of music from the European art tradition. The intent is to bring the student in contact with an understanding of western musical styles from Antiquity through 1750, to present tools of analysis and possibilities for student use of those tools in their consideration of musical styles, to create powerful listening skills for the music major or minor. (Fall of even numbered years)

MUS 302 Music History II: Classical through 20th Century

3 credits

This is an in-depth study of music from the European art tradition. The intent is to bring the student in contact with an understanding of western musical styles from 1750 to present day, to present tools of analysis and possibilities for student use of those tools in their consideration of musical styles, to create powerful listening skills for the music major or minor. (Spring of odd numbered years)

MUS 195, 295, 395, 495 Special Topics

3 credits

MUS 499 Senior Recital

1 credit

A capstone experience in which the senior student majoring in either Music Ministry or Arts Administration (Music Concentration) will prepare a recital of his or her best work completed while a student at Waynesburg University. The completion of four semesters in the lower division applied individual studio instruction classes is required for enrollment in Senior Recital. In addition, each applicant must be approved by the faculty hearing his/her performance examination at the end of the fourth semester, and also by his/her private instructor before being allowed to register for study at the junior or senior level. Bachelor of Arts majors must earn a grade of B or better to pass. Prerequisite: Consent of applied studio instructor and department chair. Co-requisite: Enrollment in upper level private instruction in pertinent studio.

† Indicates a special fee is charged