Courses

Academic Courses

Composition

  • MUS K100 Composition Undergraduate Elective/ Secondary (3 cr.) P: Music Fundamentals Online or T109 Rudiments of Music I with grade of C or higher. C: I500 Performance and Composition Masterclass. Individual lessons in composition.
  • MUS K133 Notation and Calligraphy (1 cr.) P: For music majors, Music Fundamentals Online or T109 Rudiments of Music I with grade of C or higher; for non-music majors, permission of instructor. Notation and organization of music manuscripts.
  • MUS K214 Instrumentation I (2 cr.) P: Music Fundamentals Online or T109 Rudiments of Music I with grade of C or higher. Ranges, tonal possibilities, technical limitations, and necessary transpositions for all orchestral and band instruments.
  • MUS K215 Instrumentation II (2 cr.) P: K214 Instrumentation I. Continuation of K214 including writing for combinations of instruments.
  • MUS K231 Free Counterpoint I (2 cr.) P: T132 Musical Skills I. Development of contrapuntal skills and techniques in two-, three-, and four-part textures.
  • MUS K232 Free Counterpoint II (2 cr.) P: K231 Free Counterpoint I. Continuation of K231.
  • MUS K302 Independent Project in Music Scoring for Visual Media (1-3 cr.) P: Permission of instructor and junior standing. Collaborative project combining music and visual media.
  • MUS K361 Introduction to MIDI and Computer Music (3 cr.) P: Modest working knowledge of personal computers. Basics of the Musical Instrument Digital Interface system, its software, and the instruments commonly used with desktop MIDI workstations (synthesizers, digital samplers). MIDI sequencing, digital audio editing, and principles of digital syntheses. The course is intended for those with little prior technical training.
  • MUS K362 Computer Music: Design/Perform (3 cr.) P: K361 Introduction to MIDI and Computer Music or equivalent experience and permission of instructor. Projects in fixed-media computer music composition (with and without video) and live electronic music performance. Field recording, audio editing, sampling, effects processing, mixing, mastering, video synchronization, methods of synthesis, virtual instrument design, real-time hardware control of audio, live video processing.
  • MUS K400 Composition Major (3 cr.) C: I500 Performance and Composition Masterclass. Individual lessons in composition.
  • MUS K403 Electronic Studio Resources I (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. An introduction to the computer music studio, techniques of digital recording and editing, analog and FM synthesis, MIDI sequencing, and a comprehensive study of the literature and styles of the classic tape studios.
  • MUS K404 Electronic Studio Resources II (3 cr.) P: K403 Electronic Studio Resources I. Study of advanced synthesis techniques, digital sampling, video synchronization, and multimedia applications.
  • MUS K406 Projects in Electronic Music (arr. cr.)  P: K403 Electronic Studio Resources I and K404 Electronic Studio Resources II. Compositional projects in electronic music. Course may be repeated.
  • MUS K450 Topics in Music Composition (1-3 cr.) Variable topics in music composition. May be repeated.
  • MUS K451 Advanced Orchestration I (2 cr.) P: K214-K215 Instrumentation I-II. Practical orchestration in all its applications.
  • MUS K452 Advanced Orchestration II (2 cr.) P: K214-K215 Instrumentation I-II. Practical orchestration in all its applications.
  • MUS K455 Topics in Music Scoring for Visual Media (1-3 cr.) P: Permission of instructor and demonstrated background in MIDI and composition. Junior standing. Specialized techniques course developing students’ skills in music scoring for visual media.  May be repeated for different topics.
  • MUS K502 Independent Project in Music Scoring for Visual Media (1-3 cr.) P: Permission of instructor. Collaborative project combining music and visual media.
  • MUS K503 Electronic Studio Resources I (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. An introduction to the computer music studio, techniques of digital recording and editing, analog and FM synthesis, MIDI sequencing, and a comprehensive study of the literature and styles of the classic tape studios.
  • MUS K504 Electronic Studio Resources II (3 cr.) P: K503 Electronic Studio Resources I. Study of advanced synthesis techniques, digital sampling, video synchronization, and multimedia applications.
  • MUS K506 Projects in Electronic Music (2-3 cr.) P: K503-K504 Electronic Studio Resources I-II. Advanced projects in electroacoustic composition. Course may be repeated.
  • MUS K509 Seminar in Computer Music (3 cr.) P: K504 Electronic Studio Resources II or permission of instructor. Study of advanced topics in computer music, including direct digital synthesis, acoustic research, and interactive composition.
  • MUS K550 Topics in Music Composition (1-3 cr.) Variable topics in music composition. May be repeated.
  • MUS K551 Advanced Orchestration (2 cr.) P: K214-K215 Instrumentation I-II or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Practical orchestration in all its applications.
  • MUS K555 Topics in Music Scoring for Visual Media (1-3 cr.) P: Permission of instructor. Specialized techniques course developing students’ skills in music scoring for visual media. May be repeated for different topics.
  • MUS K600 Thesis in Composition (1-5 cr.) This course is eligible for deferred (R) grading.
  • MUS K700 Dissertation in Composition (1-15 cr.) Complete work for major ensemble (score and parts ready for performance). Program annotation addressed to the general public for the student’s dissertation (500 words minimum). This course is eligible for deferred (R) grading.
  • MUS K702 Doctoral Composition Document I (0 cr.) Movement of chamber music written during a week-long examination period. This course is eligible for deferred (R) grading.
  • MUS K703 Doctoral Composition Document II (0 cr.) Setting of a given text during a 24-hour period. This course is eligible for deferred (R) grading.
  • MUS K710 Composition Graduate Elective (2-4 cr.) C: I500 Performance and Composition Masterclass. Individual lessons in composition.
  • MUS K810 Composition Graduate Minor (2-4 cr.) C: I500 Performance and Composition Masterclass. Individual lessons in composition.
  • MUS K910 Composition Graduate Major (2-6 cr.) C: I500 Performance and Composition Masterclass. Individual lessons in composition.

Academic Bulletins

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Students are ordinarily subject to the curricular requirements outlined in the Bulletin in effect at the start of their current degree. See below for links to previous Bulletins.