Music

Majors and Minors in Music

The world of commercial music has undergone a seismic shift in identity and purpose as young, entrepreneurial artists have taken control of both the content and delivery of their artistic material to the mass market — thanks to advances in digital technology and user-friendly online distribution systems. This is not a trend but the new face of doing music business in a digital world, assuming one has the harnessed skill sets and problem solving abilities necessary to thrive in both the worlds of artistry and industry. To prepare students for this exciting and multi-faceted profession, Albright’s Department of Music offers numerous academic degree programs. 

Note that a formal audition is not required for admission into the Music Department.

The Music Industry Studies Major

In the Fall of 2014, the Department of Music introduced our bachelor of arts degree in Music Industry Studies — an interdisciplinary major that integrates three academic areas of focus:  Artistry, Industry, and Technology.

The first focus, Artistry, includes courses in music history, theory, harmony, songwriting, commercial arranging, and private instruction (voice, piano, guitar, etc.). The second focus, Industry, harnesses our department’s existing Music Business curriculum to examine topics as diverse as: artist management; music distribution; licensing; copywriting; marketing and promotion; and, music law. The degree program culminates with two capstone experiences: an academic seminar in entrepreneurship and a pre-professional internship. Our Technology strand includes contact time within the arenas of audio technology (live sound), recording technology, and music production.

Requirements for the Music Industry Studies Major:

Artistry (5 courses)

– MUS 209 Applied Lessons (four semesters required)
– MUS 211 Commercial Music Theory I
– MUS 212 Commercial Music Theory II
– MUS 311 Commercial Arranging
– MUS 312 Songwriting

Industry (5 courses)

– MUS 243 The Business of Music: An Introduction
– MUS 244 Entertainment Marketing
– MUS 344 Artist Management
– MUS 345 Music Law
– MUS 391 Event Promotion

Technology (4 courses)

– MUS 250 Introduction to Music Technology
– MUS 251 Recording Technology
– MUS 350 Mixing & Mastering
– MUS 351 Music Production

Capstone Experiences (2 courses)

– MUS 482 Internship
– MUS 495 Senior Seminar

The Music Industry Co-Major

As one of our country’s “Top 25 Schools for Artistic Students” (Newsweek, 2011), it goes without saying that for Albrightians, music is art.  But, since Albright also houses one of the country’s leading programs in Music Industry (Billboard, 2013), at Albright — music is also commerce.  Our interdisciplinary and experiential approach to learning is the perfect environment for aspiring artists and budding entrepreneurs to collaborate and envision the creative path of professional music in the near and distant future. The seven courses that comprise our Music Industry co-major — which you can combine with any other department’s co-major (Accounting, Spanish, or Arts Administration, for example) is designed to prepare you for an exciting career inside the business of the music industry.  As you can see, there is lot of flexibility within the combined major to offer you the ability to create the program that best suits your abilities and career goals.

Requirements for the Music Industry Co-Major

Four (4) Required Courses:

– MUS 243 The Business of Music: An Introduction
– MUS 244 Entertainment Marketing
– MUS 250 Introduction to Music Technology
– MUS 482 Internship

Two (2) 300-level courses in Music Industry from the following:

– MUS 391 Event Promotion
– MUS 344 Artist Management
– MUS 345 Music Law

One (1) course in Applied Music/Music Appreciation from the following:

– MUS 103 Symphonic Band (requires four semesters of study for credit)
– MUS 104 String Chamber Orchestra (requires four semesters of study for credit)
– MUS 105 Concert Choir (requires four semesters of study for credit)
– MUS 109 Applied Music Lessons (requires four semesters of study for credit)
– MUS 111 Introduction to Commercial Music Theory
– MUS 113 Popular Music and American Culture
– MUS 120 Music Appreciation: Introduction to Western Music
– MUS 125 All That Jazz
– MUS 126 Music and the Cinema
– MUS 211 Commercial Music Theory I

One (1) course to satisfy General Studies: Foundations: Fine Arts recommended from the following:

– MUS 113 Popular Music and American Culture
– MUS 120 Music Appreciation: Introduction to Western Music
– MUS 125 All That Jazz
– MUS 126 Music and the Cinema

The Music Production Co-Major
Learn the nuts of bolts of music technology and music production from introductory to advanced techniques in audio mixing and mastering through an Albright College co-major in Music Production. Then apply this knowledge through experiential learning labs and commercial music ensembles.
– Applied Music Requirement
Four semesters in one of the following ensembles or applied lesson sections (each semester
counts as ¼ credit)

• MUS103B – Commercial Music Workshop
• MUS103D – Rap Collective
• MUS209K – Applied Lessons in Music Production

– MUS243 – The Business of Music
– MUS250 – Introduction to Music Technology
– MUS251 – Recording Technology (prerequisite: MUS250)
– DIG250 – Sound Design for Visual Media
– MUS350 – Mixing & Mastering (prerequisites: MUS250 and MUS251)
– MUS351 – Music Production (prerequisites: MUS250 and MUS251)
– MUS495 – Senior Seminar

The Vocal Performance Co-Major
The Albright College Music Department announces an exciting new co-major in Vocal Performance. Aspiring vocal artists who envision careers in the worlds of Musical Theatre, Opera, Jazz, and Popular Music will train together through a series of vocal skills courses and performing opportunities designed to prepare them to meet the needs of various arenas within the contemporary music and performing arts industries.

Four semesters of active participation in one of the following Vocal Ensembles:

– MUS103B Commercial Music Ensemble
– MUS103C Jazz Combos
– MUS105A Albright Chorale
– MUS105C Spiritual Ensemble

Six semesters of active participation in Private Lessons:

– MUS309 Applied Lessons for Vocal Performance Co-Majors

Eight half-credit Vocal Skills courses:

– MUS170 Music Theory and Aural Skills I
– MUS171 Music Theory and Aural Skills II
– MUS270 Vocal Anatomy and Physiology
– MUS271 Diction and Phonetics
– MUS370 Vocal Styles and Repertoire I
– MUS371 Vocal Styles and Repertoire II
– MUS470 Vocal Pedagogy
– MUS471 Capstone Performance Project

One full-credit course in Music History from the following list:

– MUS 113: Rags, Rock and Rap: Popular Music and American Culture
– MUS 120: Listen to Musical Worlds
– MUS 121: Black Popular Music
– MUS 125: All That Jazz
– MUS 284: Popular Music and Digital Culture
– MUS 287: History of the American Musical

The Music Industry Minor

One of the finest aspects to Albright’s interdisciplinary approach to learning is that our students are actively encouraged to expand their intellectual horizons by combining disparate areas of concentration to tailor-make an undergraduate experience as academically unique and satisfying as they can imagine. For those students who wish to augment their academic experience with an added focus in Music Industry, we offer a five-course minor.

Two (2) Required Courses:

– MUS 243 The Business of Music: An Introduction
– MUS 244 Entertainment Marketing

Two (2) courses at the 200 or 300 level from the following:

– MUS 211 Commercial Music Theory I
– MUS 212 Commercial Music Theory II
– MUS 344 Artist Management
– MUS 345 Music Law

One (1) additional Music Department course at any level

Recommended: one (1) course from the following to satisfy General Studies: Foundations: Fine Arts

– MUS 113 Popular Music in American Culture
– MUS 125 All That Jazz
– MUS 126 Music and the Cinema

The Music Production Minor

The Music Production Minor allows students to develop the foundational technical skills and hands-on experience necessary to thrive in the world of audio recording, music production, and sound design. Through the five courses in the minor, students will design, record, mix, and master original music and sound projects, as well as collaborate with artists on the campus record label, Lion Records, to produce and distribute music on the global marketplace. Upon completion of the core Music Technology courses, students will gain industry-standard certifications in music recording and sound design software. Contact Dr. Mike D’Errico—Director of Music Technology & Composition—at (610) 921-7268, mderrico@albright.edu for more information.

Required Courses:

– MUS 250 Introduction to Music Technology
– DIG 250 Sound Design for Visual Media
– MUS 251 Recording Technology
– MUS 350 Mixing & Mastering
– MUS 351 Music Production

The African American Music Minor

The African American music minor provides students the opportunity to explore interdisciplinary connections between music and Black culture through histories and repertoires that define U.S. culture and have wide-ranging implications around the world. Since the arrival of enslaved Africans in the United States, African American music has served as oral history, social commentary, political protest, expressions of communal belonging and hope for better futures. In addition to elements of musicianship and characteristics of musical style, studying African American music requires explorations of the music’s value and meaning within African American communities, in the United States, and around the world. Course offerings in applied music, music history, and pop music studies—as well as relevant courses in the Humanities—afford students many potential, individualized programs of study to engage their interests and augment their other coursework. For more information contact Dr. Mark Lomanno at (610) 921-7876 or mlomanno@albright.edu.

Required Courses:

• Three of the following
  • MUS 103C – Jazz Combos (4 semesters)
  • MUS 103D – Rap Collective (4 semesters)
  • MUS 105C – Gospel Ensemble (4 semesters)
  • MUS 113 – American Popular Music
  • MUS 121 – Black Popular Music
  • MUS 125 – Jazz Past, Present, and Futures
  • MUS 221 – Afrofuturism
  • MUS 284 – Popular Music and Digital Culture
  • MUS/SYN 387 – Improvisation
• Two of the following interdisciplinary courses
  • ENG 210 – African American Literature
  • ENG 235 – African American Autobiography
  • ENG 390 – Harlem Renaissance
  • HIS 212 – African American History
  • HIS 324 – African Americans and the Great Migration
  • HIS 352 – African Diaspora
  • REL 267 – African and African-American Religious Traditions
  • SYN306 – Hip Hop

Additional offerings with the approval of the program advisor

The Music Minor

For those students who wish to augment their academic experience with an added focus in the rudiments of Applied Music, we offer a five-course minor.

Two (2) Required Courses

– MUS 120 Music Appreciation: Introduction to Western Music
– MUS 211 Commercial Music Theory I

Two (2) courses from the following (chosen with consultation of Department Chair):

– MUS 113 Rags, Rock and Rap: Popular Music and American Culture
– MUS 212 Commercial Music Theory II
– MUS 250 Introduction to Music Technology
– MUS 251 Recording Technology
– MUS 312 Songwriting

Four (4) Semesters of Study in Applied Music

– MUS 103 Symphonic Band (requires four semesters of study for credit)
– MUS 104 String Chamber Orchestra (requires four semesters of study for credit)
– MUS 105 Concert Choir (requires four semesters of study for credit)
– MUS 109 Applied Music Lessons (requires four semesters of study for credit)

MUS 103A: Symphonic Band

The Symphonic Band rehearses at least twice weekly and performs at least one concert per semester. The band experience includes classic and contemporary band literature and often features guest artists. Numerous ensembles are formed from among band members, providing additional instruction and performance opportunities. Students wishing to participate in Symphonic Band as a non-credited course must fulfill credited class requirements and have permission of the director.

MUS 103B: Commercial Music Ensemble

The Commercial Music Ensemble rehearses weekly and performs at least one concert per semester. This group focuses on a variety of commercial and popular music styles, performing music representative of many eras, with emphasis on small combos. Students will have opportunities to rehearse and perform their original material, as well as arrangements and covers of contemporary and classic repertoire. Membership and placement are determined by audition; and all instruments and voices are welcome to participate.

MUS 103C: Jazz Combos

The Jazz Combos rehearse weekly and performs at least one concert per semester. These groups focus on a variety of jazz styles, performing music representative of many eras of jazz history, with emphasis on small ensemble performance and improvisation. The bands perform contemporary as well as classic tunes from the jazz repertoire, with attention to proper performance techniques. Membership and placement are determined by audition. Students wishing to participate in a Jazz Combo as a non-credited course must fulfill credited class requirements and have permission of the director.

MUS 103D: Rap Collective

The Albright Rap Collective (ARC) is a multidisciplinary workshop consisting of rappers, producers (beatmakers), visual artists, and dancers. Members of the group meet three times a week, developing skills in their respective areas of practice through creative workshops, peer review sessions, critical listening sessions, and performance preparation. ARC performs original compositions, as well as repertoire from the history of hip-hop from the late 1970s and early 80s to the present. Each semester, the group will perform at two to three on- and off-campus events.

MUS 104: String Chamber Orchestra

The String Chamber Orchestra consists of string players from the College and surrounding community. This group rehearses twice a week and performs at least once each semester. Music ranges from the Baroque era to popular contemporary. Smaller string ensembles are formed from the larger group, providing experience in chamber music performance. Students wishing to participate in String Chamber Orchestra as a non-credited course must fulfill credited class requirements and have permission of the director.

Students receive one course unit of credit upon completion of four semesters of MUS 104 with a grade of C or better. For non-majors, this fulfills the General Education: Foundations: Fine Arts requirement. An additional four semesters may be taken for elective credit.

MUS 105A: Concert Choir

The Concert Choir rehearses twice weekly in preparation for various on-campus programs. The choir experience includes choral literature from chant through the present, giving all members opportunity for personal vocal development through a variety of choral traditions. Membership is determined by audition. Students wishing to participate in Concert Choir as a non-credited course must fulfill credited class requirements and have permission of the director.

MUS 105B: Women’s Chorale

The Women’s Chorale rehearses twice weekly in preparation for various on-campus programs. The chorale experience includes literature from chant through the present written specifically for women’s voices, giving all members opportunity for personal vocal development through a variety of choral traditions. Membership is determined by audition. Students wishing to participate in Women’s Chorale as a non-credited course must fulfill credited class requirements and have permission of the director.

Students receive one course unit of credit upon completion of four semesters of MUS 105 with a grade of C or better. For non-majors, this fulfills the General Education: Foundations: Fine Arts requirement. An additional four semesters may be taken for elective credit.

MUS 109: Applied Music Lessons

This repeatable course is equivalent to one-quarter unit for a one-half hour private lesson per week per semester. A student will receive one course unit of credit (elective only) after successfully completing (with a grade of C or better) four semesters of MUS 109. The grade for each semester is determined by a jury performance evaluation. This course cannot be used to satisfy the General Education: Foundations: Fine Arts requirement. Students are expected to spend three hours per week in outside preparation and to advance according to the level of their ability. Students registering for any section of MUS 109 are automatically placed with a teacher who will contact them to arrange a lesson time. Students wishing to take Applied Music Lessons without academic credit must fulfill credited lesson requirements. See the department chair for details. NOTE: An additional music lab fee accompanies this course.

MUS 113: Rags, Rock and Rap: Popular Music and American Culture

This course explores the genesis of popular music in English-speaking North America from the colonial period to the present, with emphasis on the period beginning in the 1890s just before the breakout of jazz, to the present-day multi-billion dollar industry of rock, pop, R&B, rap/hip-hop, country, dance/electronica and the emergent world styles that also form part of the evolving contemporary American musical scene. Lectures place equal emphasis on the musical styles themselves and their social context, including the role of composers, audiences, promoters, money, and music industry organizations. Lectures and discussion are enlivened by diverse music listening experiences. Satisfies General Studies: Foundations (Fine Arts) requirement.

MUS 120: Listen to Musical Worlds

Through an inclusive overview of global music history, this course focuses on how musicians shape and are shaped by the social, political, and artistic worlds around them. Students will practice fundamental musical concepts and critical listening skills via a diverse range of eras, genres, and traditions; and class discussions and projects will provide students with opportunities to apply interdisciplinary and liberal arts approaches to the study of music and culture. In addition to exploring musicality, major historical developments, and music’s importance in cultures around the world, students will also discuss how music performance and the academic study of music can relate to a liberal arts education and everyday life more broadly. Concert attendance and listening assignments are also part of the course experience. Satisfies General Studies: Foundations (Fine Arts) requirement.

MUS 121: Black Popular Music

This course surveys, investigates, & analyzes black popular music from the 19th century to the present. Through critical listening habits & analytical thinking skills, students will explore black popular culture as means of expression, communication, & collective identity, attending to issues of representation, identity, values, & aesthetics through a wide range of interdisciplinary sources & methodologies. This course material will emphasize intersections of creativity, technology, & performance, along with the impact of music industry, audience reception, & cultural politics. In addition to daily exercises, students will complete discussion forums in which they will apply critical thinking to synthesize material, complete comparative analyses, relate individual lessons to key course themes, & connect the curriculum to their own experiences & musical listening practices. Satisfies General Studies: Foundations (Humanities) requirement.

MUS 122: Music in World Cultures: An Introduction

A grand tour of the musical styles of the world’s large culture regions: sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and the Islamic world, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific, East Asia, Amerindia, and the Western world. Students are introduced to basic musical concepts with emphasis on understanding musical instrument types and their characteristic sounds. Satisfies General Studies: Foundations (Fine Arts) requirement.

MUS 125: All That Jazz

This course covers jazz history from its obscure origins in the post-Civil War period to the present. The focus is on important instrumentalists and vocalists of the 20th century, and how they helped to create the different jazz and jazz-related styles, including: ragtime, blues, hot jazz, Dixieland, swing, bebop, cool jazz, free jazz and jazz fusion. Among the key performers and composers to be discussed are Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett. Basic concepts of jazz performance and various jazz styles are explored through independent research, listening and discussion. When possible, field trips to live jazz performances are incorporated. Satisfies General Studies: Foundations (Fine Arts) requirement

MUS 126: Music and the Cinema

This is an introduction to the role of music in cinema, with emphasis on North American films between the 1930s and the present. Students learn how music aids in the creation of mood, atmosphere and characterization in films. Special topics include music in the silent film era, musicals, science fiction and horror films, the role of women as subjects and creators in modern cinema, music in the avant-garde and experimental cinema, popular music, rock and rap in film soundtracks, and music in selected non-Western film industries. Films to be discussed include classics such as Star Wars, The Godfather and Casablanca, as well as popular recent releases. Satisfies General Studies: Foundations (Fine Arts) requirement.

MUS 135: Introduction to Music Theory

This course is an introduction to the basic concepts and applications of music theory. Topics include pitch notation, scales, key signatures, intervals, chords and simple harmonization, and rhythmic notation. This course is designed for students with little or no musical background. Satisfies General Studies: Foundations (Fine Arts) requirement.

MUS170: Music Theory and Aural Skills I 

This half-course launches the first part of a yearlong study into the theoretical and applied skills in music that offers students the opportunity to integrate aural, performance, analytical, and composition skills involving diatonic melody and harmony. Both MUS170 and its companion course, MUS171: Music Theory and Aural Skills II, integrate lecture/discussions on topics of music theory with a weekly aural skills lab. The first semester begins with a focus on the basic concepts of music notation (including scales, intervals, key signatures, triads and rhythmic notation) along with the practical skills of sight singing, rhythmic reading, and dictation.  

MUS171: Music Theory and Aural Skills II 

This half-course serves as the continuing part of a yearlong study into the theoretical and applied skills in music that offers students the opportunity to integrate aural, performance, analytical, and composition skills involving diatonic melody and harmony. Like MUS160, MUS161: Music Theory and Aural Skills integrate lecture/discussions on topics of music theory with a weekly aural skills lab. This course develops skills introduced in the first half moving forward onto concepts of form, seventh chords, chromaticism, advanced aural skills, keyboard harmony, and harmonic dictation again with a weekly applied lab component to test the skills being introduced. Note: MUS170 is a pre-requisite course for MU 171. Students must pass MUS 170 with a grade of C or better in order move on to MUS171.  

MUS 205: A Cappella Ensemble

The A Cappella Ensemble is Albright’s premiere choral group. This ensemble is designed to provide the highest level of musical experience and achievement to a select number of students, chosen by audition. Repertoire for this ensemble includes all styles, eras, and genres, including repertoire written for traditional chamber choir, pop, renaissance ensemble, Americana, folk, non-western traditions, new works, and beyond. The ensemble rehearses weekly after MUS 105A Concert Choir and 105B Women’s Chorale and performs on and off campus in regular concerts, high school outreach events, and during an annual spring tour. This is a Q/NQ non-credited course. Note: Participation in MUS 205 necessitates active participation in either MUS 105A Concert Choir or MUS 105B Women’s Chorale.

MUS 209: Applied Lessons for MUS Majors

This repeatable course — designed for full Music Industry Studies majors only — is comprised of (12) one-half hour private lessons offered once a week during a given semester. MUS 209 students will receive one course unit of credit toward completion of their degree program after successfully completing four semesters of MUS 209 and their respective ensemble. Similar to MUS 109, there is an expectation of 3 hours of practice per week in order to advance skill sets. For students participating in MUS 209, that weekly “practice” includes active participation in one of the various departmental music ensembles (MUS 103A, 103B, 103C, 103D, 104A, 105A, or 105B). Entrance into a specific ensemble is at the discretion of the instructor leading each ensemble. The grade for each semester is determined by a jury performance evaluation.
NOTE: Enrollment in MUS 209 is by the approval of the Director of Music Industry Studies Only.

MUS 211: Commercial Music Theory I

This course focuses on the application of musical theory, tonal harmony, ear training, sight-singing, and dictation to the study of commercial popular music. Students increase their ability to read, write, and understand commercial popular music according to prescribed guidelines of musical structure through skills obtained by examining and practicing the musical elements of intervals, scales, chord construction, songwriting, and melodic and rhythmic sight-singing and dictation.
Prerequisite: MUS 111 (may be exempted by placement exam)

MUS 212: Commercial Music Theory II

A continuation of MUS211, this course expands upon the musical elements previously studied and includes the use of modulation, syncopation, seventh and ninth chords, orchestration, and harmonic analysis. Individual student projects are oriented towards analysis, songwriting, and arranging. The course also includes further development of aural skills introduced in the previous semester.
Prerequisite: MUS 211 (may be exempted by placement exam)

MUS 231: Music and Sound Design for Games and Video

This class will examine the creation and application of music and sound design as used in contemporary games, video, and other digital media. A focus will be placed on the relationship of audio to user experience and as a method of feedback in traditional and non-traditional gaming systems. The student will learn how to mix and synchronize soundtrack elements to video. Both the development process and consideration of final product will be explored. Prerequisite: ART 265

MUS 243 The Business of Music: An Introduction

This course will introduce students to the business aspects of the music industry, including marketing and promotion, copyright law, publishing, contracts, licensing, management, concert promotion and production. Today’s musicians must be equally versed as businesspeople to find or create careers in music. This course will provide a detailed introduction to diverse topics in the music business field. Students will learn skills and attain knowledge to help them succeed as a musician beyond performing.

MUS 244 Entertainment Marketing

This course introduces key marketing principles, terms, and practices in relation to the broad entertainment industry. Students will develop an integrated approach to entertainment marketing in the focus areas of licensing, press, retail, distribution (online and traditional), radio, advertising, merchandising, and touring. The information of this course will be used to engage in experiential learning opportunities with on campus artists (producers, actors, musicians, etc…) that will culminate in the distribution of content such as one-sheets, electronic press kits, style guides, and complete marketing strategies.

$75 Course Fee

MUS 250 Introduction to Music Technology

This course offers students an introduction to the principles of music technology. Topics include basic recording techniques, live sound reinforcement, MIDI sequencing, microphone types, signal flow, equalization methods, and other types of signal processing. Students will gain an introductory knowledge of the Avid Pro Tools and Ableton Live digital audio workstation software.

MUS 251 Recording Technology

This course develops many of the foundational skills introduced in MUS 250 with a focus on intermediate and advanced recording studio techniques. The course covers the history, tools, and techniques of music recording technology. Class lectures will be paired with hands-on use of professional technology as the student learns recording systems, signal flow, and advanced mixing techniques. The emphasis of this course is on creative musical projects using professional recording and mixing tools in a production environment.
Prerequisite: MUS 250

MUS270 Vocal Anatomy and Physiology  

This half-course offers an introduction to the anatomic, physiologic, and acoustic elements of the human voice while speaking and singing (breathing, phonating, and articulating). Listening exercises, written analysis, and discussions are augmented with computer-based singing technology that incorporates acoustical analysis of sound. Note: Active participation in the weekly Vocal Performance Studio serves as the lab component for this course. 

MUS271 Diction and Phonetics  

This half-course offers an introduction into the articulatory functions of the human voice while singing and speaking in English. This study will be framed through use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), a system identifying each individual sound in speech which serves as the standard tool for proper pronunciation in all languages.  Students will gain the essential knowledge of pronunciation necessary for enhancing their appreciation of vocal art, their own performance practice, and their ongoing music and/or language studies. Note: Active participation in the weekly Vocal Performance Studio serves as the lab component for this course. 

MUS 275: Healing Effects of Music: An Introduction to Music Therapy

This course examines the beneficial effects of music on the human mind and body. Students who have an interest in the relationship between music and health will explore the varied uses of music therapy, both within and without mainstream medical practices, educational institutions, correctional facilities, senior centers and private practice. This is accomplished through a combination of course materials, guest speakers, research, and field observations.

MUS 284: Popular Music and Digital Culture

This course explores the interrelationships between commercial popular music and digital culture in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Students will explore issues such as gender and identity in popular music, the remix as cultural practice, the politics of digital sampling, hip-hop and dance music in Post-Ferguson America, the relationship between music and interactive media such as video games, and globalization in the age of cloud computing. By combining critical listening skills with original research and writing, students will engage core debates within popular music and digital media studies. General Studies: Connections-Global-Humanities

MUS 287: History of the American Musical

This course engages in a panoramic view of the American Century through the lens of one of its most inimitable creations — the Broadway Musical. From this vantage point we examine compelling connections between the historic and artistic development of this quintessentially American of all art forms with the socio-economic, cultural, political, and technological advances that fueled its’ inception, zenith, decline, and contemporary rebirth. Throughout our journey, students will develop a strong, interdisciplinary arts vocabulary of elements, theories, and practices that will enable us to hone a keen appreciation for the collaborative process involved of “putting together” a musical theatre work for the live commercial stage. With our skills finely tuned, we will then focus our learned attention toward a capstone project aimed at helping us predict Broadway’s future marketplace and cultural impact. Satisfies General Studies: Connections Requirement.

MUS309A Applied Lessons for Vocal Performance Co-Majors 

This repeatable course — designed for Vocal Performance co-majors — is comprised of (12) one-half hour private lessons offered once a week during a given semester. MUS 309 students will receive one course unit of credit toward completion of their degree program after successfully completing six semesters of MUS 309. Similar to MUS 109 and MUS 209, there is an expectation of 3 hours of practice per week in order to advance skill sets. For students participating in MUS 309, that weekly “practice” includes active participation in our weekly Vocal Performance Studio. The grade for each semester of MUS309 is determined by a jury performance evaluation. NOTE: Enrollment in MUS 309 is by the approval of the Director of the Vocal Performance Program only. 

MUS 311 Commercial Arranging

This course teaches and develops skills necessary to arrange vocal and instrumental ensembles for a variety of popular genres from a technical, theoretical, and historical perspective. Through the examination of popular songs for their use instrumentation and arrangement, students will learn to compose idiomatically for a variety of instruments and to effectively arrange these instruments together in an ensemble. Prerequisite: MUS 212

MUS 312: Songwriting

This course introduces students to the craft of songwriting.  Students will study specifics of song structure and analyze different musical styles.  The course will also combine the study of lyrics, melody, harmony, and rhythm used to create songs.  Students will collaborate with their classmates creating joint works and will create individual works as well.  In addition, in-class songwriting workshops will give the students a chance to gain feedback on their pre-existing works from the instructor and classmates.  Music Business concepts in regard to copyrights, licensing and trade organizations and basic music theory terminology will also be discussed.

MUS 342 From Demo to Distribution

This course traces the steps of the music production process from the creation of a demo to national distribution. Students take part in simulating the day-to-day operations of a recording company, from selection of the artist through distribution of product. Students work with current artists to help create, manage, and market a professionally recorded demo or album. Throughout the development of each project, students will gain an understanding of releasing a musical product to physical and online retailers. Prerequisite: MUS 244

MUS 344 Artist Management

In the current marketplace, many of the biggest stars in music have large management teams assisting their success. This course examines the need for artist management and explains the various aspects of the artist management field. The course begins with an overview of key artist management principles, terms, and practices. The students will then create a mock management strategy to assess their ability to plan. By midterm, students will be assigned to a current artist and help manage different aspects of their career, including, but not limited to touring, concert promotion, fiscal planning, and marketing.
Prerequisite: MUS 244 or instructor approval

MUS 345 Music Law

This course provides a historic overview of various legal benchmarks in the areas of copyright law and general entertainment law. Students will investigate the foundations for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Stop Online Privacy Act and explore new developments in the Fair Play/Fair Pay Act, the Allocation for Music Producers Act, the Classics Act, and the Music Modernization Act. In addition, the course suggests ways in which artists can protect themselves by arming themselves with knowledge and proper representation.
Prerequisite: MUS 344 or instructor approval

MUS 350 Mixing & Mastering

This course provides advanced instruction in mixing and mastering techniques for music producers of all sorts, including songwriters, digital music producers, recording musicians, and sound designers. Students will develop their critical listening capacities through hands-on instruction and musical analyses of commercial recordings, giving them the skills to craft nuanced and polished mixes and master recordings for release on the global digital music market. Using a variety of industry-standard digital audio workstations and software plugins, students will serve as mixing and mastering engineers for artists on the campus record label, Lion Records.

MUS 351 Music Production

Music Production is designed to harness the skill sets introduced in MUS 251 Recording Technology toward the Production of Music in the digital domain. Beginning with the history and artistry of music composition within the digital domain, students will then learn how to compose diverse styles of music (hip-hop, EDM, pop and others) for a variety of purposes. The pedagogic emphasis of this course is on creative musical projects using professional mixing and electronic composition tools such as MIDI, synthesis, and sampling.

MUS370 Vocal Styles and Repertoire I 

This half-course is the first of two courses designed to survey the development of western solo vocal literature from the Baroque period to the modern day. In Vocal Styles and Repertoire I, emphasis will be placed on the worlds of Opera and Musical Theatre.  Students will learn about important styles and composers of vocal literature and study representative selections of the standard vocal literature through listening assignments, song performances, and other projects.  Students will be exposed to the histories of great singers / interpreters and continue to develop their interpretive understanding of each genre through discussion, analysis, and listening. Note: Active participation in the weekly Vocal Performance Studio serves as the lab component for this course. 

MUS371 Vocal Styles and Repertoire II 

This half-course is the second of two courses designed to survey the development of western solo vocal literature from the Baroque period to the modern day. In Vocal Styles and Repertoire II, emphasis will be placed on the worlds of Jazz and Contemporary Music.  Students will learn about important styles and composers of vocal literature and study representative selections of the standard vocal literature through listening assignments, song performances, and other projects.  Students will be exposed to the histories of great singers / interpreters and continue to develop their interpretive understanding of each genre through discussion, analysis, and listening. Note: Active participation in the weekly Vocal Performance Studio serves as the lab component for this course. 

MUS 391 Event Promotion

Event Promotion expounds upon key concepts from Entertainment Marketing, and Artist Management in order to address specific entertainment industry subjects including marketing and promotion, copyright law, publishing, contracts, licensing, and management in relation to event promotion and production. Students will be responsible for planning, promoting, scheduling, and selling a fictional domestic events/tours of their choice. Through relevant projects, each student will experience multiple careers surrounding the greater subject of event promotion.
Prerequisite: MUS 344 or instructor approval

$75 Course Fee

MUS470 Vocal Pedagogy 

In this senior-level half-course, vocal students will study and develop teaching methodologies in one-on-one teaching (singing lessons, vocal coaching) and group situations (vocal performance studio, choral ensembles). Through discussions, readings, direct applications, and observations, students will be part of a supportive learning community to develop proper teaching techniques for their singing or as an instructor. Note: Active participation in the weekly Vocal Performance Studio serves as the lab component for this course. 

MUS471 Capstone Senior Project 

This senior-level half-course offers faculty guidance and preparatory instruction toward the creation of a senior-level capstone performance project in the form of a public recital/concert or a stage performance. Participating students must submit preliminary research about their intended repertoire and approach for faculty approval prior to registration. Beyond the public performance, participants must submit a post-performance reflection paper. Note: Active participation in the weekly Vocal Performance Studio serves as the lab component for this course.  

MUS 495 Senior Seminar

This course assists students in the creation of their own business. Students will attain historic knowledge of industry specific entrepreneurs and develop their own enterprise based upon their knowledge. Through industry relevant projects, students must research various businesses related to their area of interest, propose a prospective business, create a business plan, develop a corporate structure, market their enterprise, and seek out prospective employees. Prerequisite: Senior Standing MIS Major/Co-Major and completion at one (1) MUS 300 level course.