Program of Study
Performing Ensembles
| MUS-140 | Concert Chorale | 1.0 |
| Serves students with the ability and desire to sing in a mixed-voice group. May be repeated for credit. | ||
| MUS-157 | Vocal Jazz Ensemble (RSVP/Jazz Transit) | 1.0 |
| Provides auditioned members an opportunity to sing a variety of jazz styles from traditional to contemporary arrangements. May be repeated for credit. | ||
Music Theory
| MUS-102 | Music Fundamentals | 3.0 |
| Introduces music majors and nonmajors to the principal elements of music theory including notation, melody, choral harmony and musical form. Intended for students with strong interest but limited background in music theory. | ||
| MUS-120 | Music Theory I | 3.0 |
| Studies notation, scales, modes, intervals, tonality, harmony, melody, instruments, voices, four-part writing, harmonic progression and style periods. (Coreq: MUS-135) | ||
| MUS-135 | Music Theory Lab I | 1.0 |
| Concentration on development skills in the aural recognition of triads, intervals, scales, simple rhythms, definition of chord progression, sight singing and simple dictation. (Coreq: MUS-120) | ||
| MUS-121 | Music Theory II | 3.0 |
| Studies the major-minor dominant seventh chord; the diminished chords; modulation; nondominant seventh chords; secondary dominant chords; binary and temary form; American popular song; and blues, boogie and jazz. (Prereq: MUS-120) (Coreq: MUS-136) | ||
| MUS-136 | Music Theory Lab II | 1.0 |
| Continuation of Music Theory Lab I. (Prereq: MUS-135) (Coreq: MUS-121) | ||
| MUS-220 | Music Theory III | 3.0 |
| Studies 16th century polyphony; 18th century counterpoint (including the fugue); variation technique; 19th century Romanticism; borrowed chords; 9th, 11th and 13th chords, the neapolitian 6th chord; augmented 6th chords; altered dominants; and chromatic mediants. (Prereq: MUS-121) (Coreq: MUS-235) | ||
| MUS-235 | Music Theory Lab III | 1.0 |
| Aural dictation and transcribing more complex melodies, rhythms, chords, four-part writing, recognition of various 7th chords, compound intervals and sight singing, including duets. (Prereq: MUS-136) (Coreq: MUS-220) | ||
| MUS-221 | Music Theory IV | 3.0 |
| Studies form with emphasis on sonata-allegro and rondo, devices of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the contemporary period and particular analysis of significant works by 20th century composers, serialism, and new trends since 1970. (Prereq: MUS-220) (Coreq: MUS-236) | ||
| MUS-236 | Music Theory Lab IV | 1.0 |
| Continuation of Music Theory Lab III. (Prereq: MUS-235) (Coreq: MUS-221) | ||
| MUS-284 | Songwriting | 2.0 |
| Develops skills in melody, harmony and arranging, as well as creative approaches to musical composition, lyric writing and an individual writing style. Students focus on both songwriting and performance, culminating in a portfolio of their original songs. Emphasis is on computer music technology. Students complete a portfolio of several songs that typify various current practices of contemporary songwriters. (Prereq: Basic music fundamentals, basic computer skills, and permission of instructor.) | ||
Music History
| MUS-100 | Music Appreciation | 3.0 |
| Includes the study of elements and forms of music with attention to major historical periods and composers of historical significence and survey of indigenous music. | ||
| MUS-209 | Topics in Western Music History | 3.0 |
| Examines style periods, composers and works of Western art music from c. AD 600 to the present, and explores the issues that influenced their composition. Through reading, listening and discussion, the course builds a basic musical vocabulary, improves aural perceptions of form and genre, and encourages a deeper appreciation for music as cultural expression and personal enrichment. Music reading is helpful, but not necessary. Intended for students with strong interest in music. | ||
| MUS-208 | Rock, Jazz and Blues Music | 3.0 |
| Explores American rock, jazz and blues music in the 20th century. Emphasis on major composers, bands and performers 1900-present. Examines American popular music trends and styles through lecture, discussion and listening. | ||
Music Engineering
| MUS-261 | Introduction to MIDI | 2.0 |
| Provides an overview of, and practical experience with, a number of commercially available music-related hardware and software products. A basic understanding of the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) and its application to composition, orchestration, film scoring, recording, performance and education is required. Other technology includes electronic keyboards, tone generators, digital recording systems, CD-ROM, multimedia and videodisc. Software categories include sequencers, notation packages, interactive software and educational programs. (Prereq: Knowledge of basic music fundamentals.) | ||
| MUS-268 | Audio Recording I | 3.0 |
| Studies the techniques of audio recording. Students learn about the fundamentals of sound; how to capture it and use the editing software ProTools LE and the many processing plug-ins as well as soft synths. Students learn the specifics of all components involved in the chain of signal flow and the recording process. | ||
| MUS-269 | Audio Recording II | 3.0 |
| Continues the study of techniques in audio recording. Students expand upon their knowledge of the fundamentals of sound and work with diverse musical ensembles such as a classical piano trio, a jazz band and a rock group, among others. Students use micing techniques and ProTools skills developed in Audio Recording I on large-scale recording projects. Students work on achieving the proper balance and blend between instruments of different families while bringing out the musical strengths of each unique ensemble. (Prereq: MUS-268) | ||
Performance Preparation
| MUS-298 | Performance Seminar for Musicians | 0.5 |
| Provides the opportunity to develop and improve performing techniques required of all musicians. Emphasizes student performances, development of repertoire and discussion of performance style. Required of all music majors and open to all students enrolled in applied lessons. May be repeated up to four times for credit. (Coreq: Applied Music Lessons MUA-300 thru MUA-319) | ||
| MUS-191 | Jazz Improvisation | 2.0 |
| Studies theoretical principles and techniques used in the jazz idiom. Provides opportunity for application of music theory at the performance level to include scales, chord progressions, melodic patterns and rhythmic elements. Recommended for both instrumentalists and vocalists. | ||
| MUS-193 | Jazz Improvisation II | 2.0 |
| Continues the study as outlined in Jazz Improvisation. (Prereq: MUS-191) | ||
| MUS-168 | Opera Production I | 1.0 |
| Addresses all aspects of opera production with a focus on music preparation, character preparation and performance. Student must also enroll in private voice lessons. (Coreq: MUA-319) | ||
| MUS-169 | Opera Production II | 1.0 |
| Addresses all aspects of opera production with a focus on music preparation, character preparation and performance. Students must also enroll in private voice lessons. (Prereq: MUS-168) (Coreq: MUA-319) | ||
Applied Music
| MUA-319 | Applied Voice | 1.0-2.0 |
| Coursework in Applied Music requires 14 lessons during the semester. Students may enroll in one or two credit hours, and may be repeated for credit. One half-hour lesson per week for one credit; one hour per week for two credits. Additional outside practice/preparation is required. | ||
| MUA-310 | Applied Piano | 1.0-2.0 |
| Coursework in Applied Music requires 14 lessons during the semester. Students may enroll in one or two credit hours, and may be repeated for credit. One half-hour lesson per week for one credit; one hour per week for two credits. Additional outside practice/preparation is required. | ||
Other Music Opportunities
| MUS-924 | Honors Project | 1.0 |
| Allows a qualified honors student to pursue a special concentration of study under the guidance of a faculty member. Requires completion of an honors project contract. May be repeated for credit. (Prereq: Requires approval of supervising professor and dean.) | ||
| MUS-928 | Independent Study | 1.0-2.0 |
| Allows a student to pursue a special concentration of music study under the guidance of a faculty member. Requires an independent study contract. (Prereq: Requires approval of faculty member and dean.) | ||
Kirkwood Course Catalog
If you would like a copy of the Kirkwood course catalog, which is affective from 2007-2009, click here.If you would like a copy of the Kirkwood Fall 2007 course catalog, including the courses being offered this coming semester, click here.