MUSA Course Descriptions
Table of Contents
- MUSA 105BR Applied Brass
- MUSA 105GT Applied Guitar
- MUSA 105I Elective or Secondary Instrumental Lesson
- MUSA 105JZ Applied Jazz
- MUSA 105OR Applied Organ
- MUSA 105PN Applied Piano
- MUSA 105PR Applied Percussion
- MUSA 105ST Applied Strings
- MUSA 105V Elective or Secondary Vocal Lesson
- MUSA 105WW Applied Woodwinds
- MUSA 115 Master Chorus
- MUSA 125C Concert Choir
- MUSA 125O Opera Workshop
- MUSA 125T Music Theater
- MUSA 135A Chamber Singers
- MUSA 135B Chorale
- MUSA 135H Handbell Ringers
- MUSA 135J Vocal Jazz Ensemble
- MUSA 145B Symphonic Band
- MUSA 145D Drumline & Percussion Ensemble
- MUSA 145J Jazz Ensemble
- MUSA 145K Keyboard Ensemble
- MUSA 155 Symphony Orchestra
- MUSA 165 Chamber Music
- MUSA 165W Worship Ensemble
- MUSA 205I Applied Instrumental Lesson & Studio
- MUSA 205V Applied Vocal Lesson & Studio
- MUSA 285 Selected Topics
- MUSA 295 Individualized Study
- MUSA 305BR Applied Brass
- MUSA 305C Applied Composition Lesson
- MUSA 305D Applied Conducting Lesson
- MUSA 305GT Applied Guitar
- MUSA 305I Elective or Secondary Instrumental Lesson
- MUSA 305JZ Applied Jazz
- MUSA 305OR Applied Organ
- MUSA 305PN Applied Piano
- MUSA 305PR Applied Percussion
- MUSA 305ST Applied Strings
- MUSA 305V Elective or Secondary Vocal Lesson
- MUSA 305WW Applied Woodwinds
- MUSA 315 Master Chorus
- MUSA 325C Concert Choir
- MUSA 325O Opera Workshop
- MUSA 325T Music Theatre
- MUSA 335A Chamber Singers
- MUSA 335B Chorale
- MUSA 335H Handbell Ringers
- MUSA 335J Vocal Jazz Ensemble
- MUSA 345B Symphonic Band
- MUSA 345D Drumline & Percussion Ensemble
- MUSA 345J Jazz Ensemble
- MUSA 345K Keyboard Ensemble
- MUSA 355 Symphony Orchestra
- MUSA 365 Chamber Music
- MUSA 365W Worship Ensemble
- MUSA 405I Applied Instrumental Lesson & Studio
- MUSA 405V Applied Vocal Lesson & Studio
- MUSA 485 Selected Topics
- MUSA 495 Individualized Study
MUSA 105BR Applied Brass
.5-1 hours
Instruction on trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone, and tuba. Technical studies include tone production, scales, and arpeggios with various articulation. Works from the standard solo and orchestral repertoire are studied. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 105GT Applied Guitar
.5-1 hours
Study of playing techniques, with emphasis on chordal knowledge and basic strums. Solos and ensemble pieces will be included for each student at his or her performance level. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 105I Elective or Secondary Instrumental Lesson
.5-1 hours
Private study on any instrument, including piano, brass, strings, woodwinds, percussion, and guitar. Classical, jazz, pop, and other genres can be studied, at the discretion of the teacher and student. May count towards degree requirements for some music majors and minor, if taken on a secondary instrument. Additional fee applies.
MUSA 105JZ Applied Jazz
.5-1 hours
A study of improvisational methods through task-oriented performance of selected jazz repertoire. The goal of this class is to introduce concepts and practice methods used by jazz artists to gain provisation skills and to apply them to your own practice and performance over selected jazz repertoire. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 105OR Applied Organ
.5-1 hours
Basic study of pedal and manual techniques. Standard works from the Baroque, Classic, Romantic, and Modern periods. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 105PN Applied Piano
.5-1 hours
Technical exercises, scales, and arpeggios in various rhythms; études of varying difficulty, such as those by Duvernoy, Burgmuller, Heller, Czerny, and Clementi. Repertoire from the historical periods are studied, including selected contemporary composers. A select group of concerti are also studied. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 105PR Applied Percussion
.5-1 hours
Instruction on snare drum, tympani, the mallet instruments, and drum set. An in-depth study of all the percussion instruments used in the wind ensemble and orchestra. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 105ST Applied Strings
.5-1 hours
Instruction on violin, viola, cello, and string bass. Basic fundamentals, posture, bow, and arm techniques, shifting, and vibrato. Included are scale and arpeggio studies and works from the standard solo and orchestral repertoire. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 105V Elective or Secondary Vocal Lesson
.5-1 hours
Applied study of voice in a one-on-one private lesson format. Classical, jazz, pop, and other genres can be studied, at the discretion of the teacher and student. May count towards degree requirements for some music majors and minor, if taken as a secondary area. Additional fee applies.
MUSA 105WW Applied Woodwinds
.5-1 hours
Instruction on flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, and bassoon. Tone production, scales, and arpeggios in various articulations. Includes technical studies and works from the standard solo and orchestral repertoire. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 115 Master Chorus
0-1 hours
Master chorus is composed of members of the community and open to all university students, faculty, staff, and alumni singers. This chorus performs a choral masterwork each spring in collaboration with the Symphony Orchestra.
MUSA 125C Concert Choir
0-2 hours
Concert Choir performs music from the Baroque to the Contemporary that is both sacred and secular. Classical music, folk songs, and music of living composers is included in the ensemble’s diverse repertoire. Additional course fee required. Prerequisite: audition.
MUSA 125O Opera Workshop
1 hour
The purpose of this course is to provide intensive training in the musical, linguistic and theatrical aspects of opera production. A workshop-based ensemble in which students prepare and present scenes from complete works of traditional and contemporary operatic literature culminates in a semi-staged public performance.
MUSA 125T Music Theater
.5-1 hours
Membership is open to all students interested in the production aspects of theatre. This organization offers one major presentation each spring. Works performed include Broadway musicals, light opera, music reviews, and an occasional opera. Orchestra accompaniment generally is used, and productions are completely staged, choreographed, costumed, and lighted.
Prerequisite: chorus members and leading roles are selected by audition.
MUSA 135A Chamber Singers
0-1 hours
This small ensemble sings flexible repertoire ranging from Renaissance madrigals and motets through contemporary a cappella and vocal jazz settings. Prerequisite: audition and concurrent enrollment in Concert Choir or Chorale.
MUSA 135B Chorale
0-2 hours
A chorus of men's and/or women's voices using a variety of sacred and secular literature that is appropriate to members' skill level. Students learn proper tone production and sight-reading skills and experience rehearsal techniques that will prepare them for Concert Choir and/or singing beyond graduation.
Prerequisite: instructor's permission at the beginning of each semester.
MUSA 135H Handbell Ringers
0-1 hours
This musical ensemble shares its music with community agencies, churches, and university audiences. Limited to 11 ringers.
Prerequisite: audition/interview.
MUSA 135J Vocal Jazz Ensemble
0-1 hours
A vocal ensemble and rhythm section specializing in the preparation, study, and performance of vocal jazz. Performances are usually for university events and some off-campus concerts. Vocalists will learn to improvise and sing with style and tone appropriate to the idiom. Rhythm section players will learn how to effectively accompany, improvise, and play as a trio.
Prerequisite: audition, instructor's permission, and concurrently enrolled in major ensembles.
MUSA 145B Symphonic Band
0-2 hours
The Symphonic Band is open to students of all majors, and presents multiple concerts a semester. Traditional band pieces, chamber wind music, modern wind ensemble music, and pops are all included in the ensemble’s diverse repertoire.
MUSA 145D Drumline & Percussion Ensemble
0-1 hours
This ensemble will rehearse in a variety of formats, including drumline, mallet ensemble, and percussion ensemble, depending on the interest and needs of students. Student leaders will assist in running the Drumline and supporting Football games and other campus events. Open to students of all majors.
MUSA 145J Jazz Ensemble
0-1 hours
The Jazz Ensemble is open to students of all majors and performs a variety of jazz and contemporary styles. Performances are usually for school events and some off-campus concerts. Corequisite: members who are music majors must also be enrolled in the Symphonic Band.
MUSA 145K Keyboard Ensemble
0-1 hours
Open to any piano student, regardless of major. The repertoire includes all styles, with emphasis on pieces composed for multiple keyboards. Participants share in performance opportunities. For music majors who are not vocal students or do not play band or orchestral instruments, the course will satisfy the "major ensemble" requirement.
Prerequisite: audition or instructor's permission.
MUSA 155 Symphony Orchestra
0-2 hours
The symphony orchestra performs music by the master composers of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern eras. Concertos featuring student soloists are part of the annual repertoire. Community and faculty musicians combine with university students to form this ensemble. Performances include fall and spring concerts, and include collaborative concerts with university choirs. Strings have an additional rehearsal, indicated as the “orchestra lab”.
MUSA 165 Chamber Music
0-1 hours
A variety of small chamber groups organized to meet the interests of instrumental and vocal music students who desire to perform literature for the chamber ensemble. Small chamber groups will be organized by experience and performance ability. Combinations can include, but are not limited to: string quartet, brass quartet, woodwind quintet, percussion ensemble, and piano trio.
MUSA 165W Worship Ensemble
0-2 hours
An ensemble to give students practical experience in how to prepare and lead worship in various settings. Students will practice different styles of worship music and other components used in Christian worship services, and will actively lead worship in Chapel and other services. A diverse approach to worship music will be presented.
MUSA 205I Applied Instrumental Lesson & Studio
.5-1 hours
Applied lessons for music majors and minors. Private study on any instruments, including piano, brass, woodwinds, percussion and guitar. Classical, jazz, pop, and other genres are studied, at the discretion of the teacher and student. Studio Class participation, individual lessons, Students in Recital performances and attendance, juries, and concert attendance are all required as a part of this course. Additional fee applies.
MUSA 205V Applied Vocal Lesson & Studio
.5-1 hours
Applied lessons for music majors and minors. Study of proper voice production, with emphasis on posture, breathing, and resonance. Repertoires of classical, contemporary, and musical theater traditions are encountered, at the discretion of the teacher and student. Studio Class participation, individual lessons, Students in Recital performances and attendance, juries, and concert attendance are all required as a part of this course. Additional fee applies.
MUSA 285 Selected Topics
1-3 hours
A variety of topics may be offered that reflect the interests of faculty, visiting professors, and students.
MUSA 295 Individualized Study
1-3 hours
Individualized study or supervised research in an area of special interest to the student which is outside the regular offerings of the major. Additional course fee (per credit) is required.
MUSA 305BR Applied Brass
.5-1 hours
Instruction on trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone, and tuba. Technical studies include tone production, scales, and arpeggios with various articulation. Works from the standard solo and orchestral repertoire are studied. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 305C Applied Composition Lesson
.5-1 hours
Private study in composition, as part of any degree program or elective study. By permission of the instructor. Additional fee applies.
MUSA 305D Applied Conducting Lesson
.5-1 hours
Private study in conducting, as part of any degree program or elective study. By permission of the instructor. Additional fee applies.
MUSA 305GT Applied Guitar
.5-1 hours
Study of playing techniques, with emphasis on chordal knowledge and basic strums. Solos and ensemble pieces will be included for each student at his or her performance level. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 305I Elective or Secondary Instrumental Lesson
.5-1 hours
Private study on any instrument, including piano, brass, strings, woodwinds, percussion, and guitar. Classical, jazz, pop, and other genres can be studied, at the discretion of the teacher and student. May count towards degree requirements for some music majors and minor, if taken on a secondary instrument. Additional fee applies.
MUSA 305JZ Applied Jazz
.5-1 hours
A study of improvisational methods through task-oriented performance of selected jazz repertoire. The goal of this class is to introduce concepts and practice methods used by jazz artists to gain provisation skills and to apply them to your own practice and performance over selected jazz repertoire. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 305OR Applied Organ
.5-1 hours
Basic study of pedal and manual techniques. Standard works from the Baroque, Classic, Romantic, and Modern periods. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 305PN Applied Piano
.5-1 hours
Technical exercises, scales, and arpeggios in various rhythms; études of varying difficulty, such as those by Duvernoy, Burgmuller, Heller, Czerny, and Clementi. Repertoire from the historical periods are studied, including selected contemporary composers. A select group of concerti are also studied. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 305PR Applied Percussion
.5-1 hours
Instruction on snare drum, tympani, the mallet instruments, and drum set. An in-depth study of all the percussion instruments used in the wind ensemble and orchestra. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 305ST Applied Strings
.5-1 hours
Instruction on violin, viola, cello, and string bass. Basic fundamentals, posture, bow, and arm techniques, shifting, and vibrato. Included are scale and arpeggio studies and works from the standard solo and orchestral repertoire. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 305V Elective or Secondary Vocal Lesson
.5-1 hours
Applied study of voice in a one-on-one private lesson format. Classical, jazz, pop, and other genres can be studied, at the discretion of the teacher and student. May count towards degree requirements for some music majors and minor, if taken as a secondary area. Additional fee applies.
MUSA 305WW Applied Woodwinds
.5-1 hours
Instruction on flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, and bassoon. Tone production, scales, and arpeggios in various articulations. Includes technical studies and works from the standard solo and orchestral repertoire. Additional course fee is required.
MUSA 315 Master Chorus
0-1 hours
Master chorus is composed of members of the community and open to all university students, faculty, staff, and alumni singers. This chorus performs a choral masterwork each spring in collaboration with the Symphony Orchestra.
MUSA 325C Concert Choir
0-2 hours
Concert Choir performs music from the Baroque to the Contemporary that is both sacred and secular. Classical music, folk songs, and music of living composers is included in the ensemble’s diverse repertoire. Additional course fee required. Prerequisite: audition.
MUSA 325O Opera Workshop
1 hour
The purpose of this course is to provide intensive training in the musical, linguistic and theatrical aspects of opera production. A workshop-based ensemble in which students prepare and present scenes from complete works of traditional and contemporary operatic literature culminates in a semi-staged public performance.
MUSA 325T Music Theatre
.5-1 hours
Membership is open to all students interested in the production aspects of theatre. This organization offers one major presentation each spring. Works performed include Broadway musicals, light opera, music reviews, and an occasional opera. Orchestra accompaniment generally is used, and productions are completely staged, choreographed, costumed, and lighted.
Prerequisite: chorus members and leading roles are selected by audition.
MUSA 335A Chamber Singers
0-1 hours
This small ensemble sings flexible repertoire ranging from Renaissance madrigals and motets through contemporary a cappella and vocal jazz settings. Prerequisite: audition and concurrent enrollment in Concert Choir or Chorale.
MUSA 335B Chorale
0-2 hours
A chorus of men's and/or women's voices using a variety of sacred and secular literature that is appropriate to members' skill level. Students learn proper tone production and sight-reading skills and experience rehearsal techniques that will prepare them for Concert Choir and/or singing beyond graduation. This class meets twice a week. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisite: instructor's permission at the beginning of each semester.
MUSA 335H Handbell Ringers
0-1 hours
This musical ensemble shares its music with community agencies, churches, and university audiences. Limited to 11 ringers.
Prerequisite: audition/interview.
MUSA 335J Vocal Jazz Ensemble
0-1 hours
A vocal ensemble and rhythm section specializing in the preparation, study, and performance of vocal jazz. Performances are usually for university events and some off-campus concerts. Vocalists will learn to improvise and sing with style and tone appropriate to the idiom. Rhythm section players will learn how to effectively accompany, improvise, and play as a trio.
Prerequisite: audition, instructor's permission, and concurrently enrolled in major ensembles.
MUSA 345B Symphonic Band
0-2 hours
The Symphonic Band is open to students of all majors, and presents multiple concerts a semester. Traditional band pieces, chamber wind music, modern wind ensemble music, and pops are all included in the ensemble’s diverse repertoire.
MUSA 345D Drumline & Percussion Ensemble
0-1 hours
This ensemble will rehearse in a variety of formats, including drumline, mallet ensemble, and percussion ensemble, depending on the interest and needs of students. Student leaders will assist in running the Drumline and supporting Football games and other campus events. Open to students of all majors.
MUSA 345J Jazz Ensemble
0-1 hours
The Jazz Ensemble is open to students of all majors and performs a variety of jazz and contemporary styles. Performances are usually for school events and some off-campus concerts. Corequisite: members who are music majors must also be enrolled in the Symphonic Band.
MUSA 345K Keyboard Ensemble
0-1 hours
Open to any piano student, regardless of major. The repertoire includes all styles, with emphasis on pieces composed for multiple keyboards. Participants share in performance opportunities. For music majors who are not vocal students or do not play band or orchestral instruments, the course will satisfy the "major ensemble" requirement.
Prerequisite: audition or instructor's permission.
MUSA 355 Symphony Orchestra
0-2 hours
The symphony orchestra performs music by the master composers of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern eras. Concertos featuring student soloists are part of the annual repertoire. Community and faculty musicians combine with university students to form this ensemble. Performances include fall and spring concerts, and include collaborative concerts with university choirs. Strings have an additional rehearsal, indicated as the “orchestra lab”.
MUSA 365 Chamber Music
0-1 hours
A variety of small chamber groups organized to meet the interests of instrumental and vocal music students who desire to perform literature for the chamber ensemble. Small chamber groups will be organized by experience and performance ability. Combinations can include, but are not limited to: string quartet, brass quartet, woodwind quintet, percussion ensemble, and piano trio.
MUSA 365W Worship Ensemble
0-2 hours
An ensemble to give students practical experience in how to prepare and lead worship in various settings. Students will practice different styles of worship music and other components used in Christian worship services, and will actively lead worship in Chapel and other services. A diverse approach to worship music will be presented.
MUSA 405I Applied Instrumental Lesson & Studio
.5-1 hours
Applied lessons for music majors and minors. Private study on any instruments, including piano, brass, woodwinds, percussion and guitar. Classical, jazz, pop, and other genres are studied, at the discretion of the teacher and student. Studio Class participation, individual lessons, Students in Recital performances and attendance, juries, and concert attendance are all required as a part of this course. Additional fee applies.
MUSA 405V Applied Vocal Lesson & Studio
.5-1 hours
Applied lessons for music majors and minors. Study of proper voice production, with emphasis on posture, breathing, and resonance. Repertoires of classical, contemporary, and musical theater traditions are encountered, at the discretion of the teacher and student. Studio Class participation, individual lessons, Students in Recital performances and attendance, juries, and concert attendance are all required as a part of this course. Additional fee applies.
MUSA 485 Selected Topics
1-3 hours
A variety of topics may be offered that reflect the interests of faculty, visiting professors, and students.
MUSA 495 Individualized Study
1-3 hours
Individualized study or supervised research in an area of special interest to the student which is outside the regular offerings of the major. Additional course fee (per credit) is required.