MUSI 2070 / 4510: Popular Musics: History of Rock (combined sections)

Michael Biship
3.0 credits
Lecture: MTWRF / 10:30am-12:45pm / OCH 113
MUSI 2070 Class Number: 12398
MUSI 4510 Class Number: 12399

This course explores the history of “rock and roll” from its roots in American blues, country, and ballad traditions to more modern genres and styles. Students are introduced to ways of thinking, remembering, and writing about popular music as we investigate rock scholarship from the fields of history, musicology, sociology, ethnomusicology and cultural studies as well as journalistic approaches to rock criticism. The goal of the course is to enhance and deepen the enjoyment and appreciation of rock music and its relationship to American cultural history while teaching students to think critically of received historical and cultural narratives of the music. Students will be expected to develop critical listening skills, read scholarly articles and form and articulate written arguments and opinions of their own in response to listening and readings.

MUSI 2390 / 3390: Introduction to Music and Computers (combined sections)

Ted Coffey
3.0 credits
Lecture: MTWRF / 1:00-3:15 / WIL 235 and 308
MUIS 2390 Class Number: 12402
MUIS 3390 Class Number: 12403

Introduction to Music and Computers is an introductory course in music technology. Students gain theoretical, historical and practical knowledge of electronic and computer music. An emphasis is placed on creative hands-on experience composing computer music. Theoretical and practical topics include acoustics, recording, editing and mixing, MIDI, sound synthesis, and audio DSP. Programs used will include Audacity, Spear, SoundHack, Pro Tools, Logic, and MaxMSP. This is a composition class and most assignments are creative in nature.

MUSI 3390 fulfills the composition requirement of the Music Major.

MUSI 2559: Writing About Music / MUSI 4509: Cultural and Historical Studies of Music (combined sections)

Fred Maus
3.0 credits
Lecture: MTWRF / 10:30am-12:45pm / OCH 113
MUSI 2559 Class Number: 12404
MUSI 4509 Class Number: 12405

This course explores different ways of thinking and writing about music, including autobiography, biography, interview, history, criticism, and fiction. Musical examples come from many different times and styles. Students read and discuss examples of different genres and techniques, and the class will discuss student writing in a workshop format. Frequent writing exercises build students’ flexibility and confidence in articulating and sharing ideas about music. Students choose the musical material and writing style for a final project.

MUSI 4509 satisfies the seminar requirement of the Music Major.

MUSI 2340: Learn to Groove

Robert Jospe
2.0 credits
Lecture: MTWRF / 1:00-3:15 / Hunter Smith Band Building
Class Number: 12397

Study of rhythmic patterns associated with rhythms from West African, the Caribbean, Brazil, and the United States, through theory and performance. Suitable for music majors and non-majors. MUSI 2340 satisfies the performance requirement of the Music Major.

MUSI 2080: American Music

Victor Szabo
3.0 credits
Lecture: MTWRF / 10:30am-12:45pm / OCH 113
Class Number: 12395

A survey of the history of popular music in the U.S. from the 19th-century to the present day. We will study and discuss the development of popular genres from ragtime to rock‘n’roll to rap—and lots in between—in relation to significant historical events, advances in technology, and changes in the music industry. Along the way, we will examine how popular musics critically engage aspects of social identity such as class, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. Background in the study of music is not required.

MUSI 2306: Fretboard Harmony

Mike Rosensky
2.0 credits
Lecture: MTWRF / 1:00-2:30 / OCH 113
Class Number: 12396

In this course a theory-based approach will be taken to understanding how musical materials (scales, arpeggios, chord voicings) "fit" on the guitar. Classes will be split between time spent with guitars in hand "drilling" new material and lectures on music theory and other relevant topics that arise during the term. Practice methods will be explored, with an emphasis on learning how to practice effectively and efficiently. MUSI 2340 satisfies the performance requirement of the Music Major.

The class will be tailored to the level/needs of the enrolled students. Prospective students should contact MikeRosensky (createEmail('mlr5q');) during registration to let him know of their interest in the course.

MUSI 2350: Technosonics: Digital Music and Sound Art Composition / MUSI 4543: Sound Studio: Producer as Composer (combined sections)

Chris Peck
3.0 credits
Lecture: MTWRF / 1:00-3:15 / TBA
MUSI 2350 Class Number: 12400
MUSI 4543 Class Number: 12401

This course explores the history, theory, and practice of producing pop music recordings in light of the now ubiquitous presence of audio software for personal computers, mobile sound recording equipment, and home studios. We will focus on creative projects designed to build skills useful for self-producing musicians in a wide variety of genres. This includes topics such as voice and instrument recording, sequencing and drum programming, mixing and editing, synthesis and sound design, and audio for the web. We will also develop our critical listening skills through analysis of works of recorded music.

MUSI 2350 will be suitable for those with no previous experience.

Assignments and projects in MUSI 4543 will be appropriate for music majors, and the course satisfies the composition or seminar requirement of the Music Major.