Any entering student may be granted exemption from any semester's work upon the successful completion of a departmental theory examination covering the material in that semester. Exempted credit is normally made up by taking additional music electives.
551-13100 - - - Music Theory I - - - FA LA
Basic study of clefs, intervals, scales and modes, tonality, key signatures, rhythm and meter, and notation. Introductory study of melody writing and analysis. Introduction to two-voice writing and analysis and non-chord tones. Aural analysis of all written concepts. Prerequisites for nonmajors: 555-25300 Involvement with Music or permission of instructor. 2 credits. (F-S)
551-13200 - - - Music Theory II - - - FA LA
Study of primary triads, secondary triads and inversions, and non-chord tones. Four-voice harmonization and the realization of figured bass, demonstrating the principles of good voice-leading. Harmonic and structural analysis of selected works. Aural recognition of chord sonorities, harmonic progressions, cadences, textures, and form. Prerequisites: 551-13100. 2 credits. (F-S)
551-13300 - - - Sight-Singing I - - - FA LA
Basic musical skills are developed through singing prepared and unprepared material, melodic and rhythmic dictation, and vocal/keyboard exercises. Sight-singing is based on moveable "do" solfeggio syllables using exercises in the major mode only, in the treble, alto, and bass clefs. Rhythmic material is comprised of simple, compound, and changing meters, including first division of the beat, fundamental rhythm patterns, and complementary rhythm. 1.5 credits. (F-S)
551-13400 - - - Sight-Singing II - - - FA LA
Skills learned in 551-13300 are developed further. Minor mode and tenor clef are introduced. Syncopation, anacrusic phrasing, second division of the beat, and changing meter are presented. Prerequisites: 551-13300. 1.5 credits. (F-S)
551-13500 - - - Music Theory I --- Honors - - - FA LA
A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-13100. Registration is based on placement testing. 2 credits (F)
551-13600 - - - Music Theory II --- Honors - - - FA LA
A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-13200. Prerequisites: Grade of A- or better in 551-13100 or 551-13500. 2 credits (S)
551-13700 - - - Sight-Singing I --- Honors - - - FA LA
A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-13300. Registration is based on placement testing. 1.5 credits (F)
551-13800 - - - Sight-Singing II --- Honors - - - FA LA
A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-13400. Registration is based on excellent achievement in 551-13300. 1.5 credit. (S)
551-23100 - - - Music Theory III - - - LA
Study of harmonic materials including diatonic seventh chords, secondary dominant and diminished seventh chords, modulations, and tonal regions. Melody harmonization, realization of figured and unfigured bass lines, and creative work. Harmonic and structural analysis of pieces in binary form. Aural recognition of sonority types, harmonic progressions, textures, and form. Prerequisites: 551-13200. 2 credits. (F-S)
551-23200 - - - Music Theory IV - - - LA
Study of advanced harmonic materials including the Neapolitan chord, augmented sixth chords, chromatic modulations, linear harmony, extended tertian chords, and planing. Melody harmonization, realization of figured and unfigured bass lines, and creative work. Harmonic and structural analysis of pieces in ternary form. Aural recognition of sonority types, harmonic progressions, textures, and form. Prerequisites: 551-23100. 2 credits. (F-S)
551-23300 - - - Advanced Sight-Singing III - - - LA
Advanced musical skills are developed through singing prepared and unprepared material and one- and two-part dictation. Vocal/keyboard exercises leading to the skill level necessary to perform a simple art song are assigned. Introduction of chromaticism through nonchord tones, secondary dominant chords, and modulation to near-related keys. Rhythmic materials include irregular division of the beat, advanced syncopation, and asymmetrical and changing meters. Prerequisites: 551-13400. 1 credit. (F-S)
551-23400 - - - Advanced Sight-Singing IV - - - LA
Advanced musical skills are developed further through study of modulations to distant-related keys, transient modulations, and modal melodies. Introduction to twentieth-century music through Impressionist, post-tonal and atonal melodies, trichord patterns, and complex rhythmic and metric combinations. Prerequisites: 551-23300. 1 credit. (F-S)
551-23500 - - - Music Theory III --- Honors - - - LA
A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-23100. Registration is based on excellent achievement in 551-13200 or 551-13600. 2 credits. (F)
551-23600 - - - Music Theory IV --- Honors - - - LA
A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-23200. Registration is based on excellent achievement in 551-23100 or 551-23500. 2 credits. (S)
551-23700 - - - Advanced Sight-Singing III --- Honors - - - LA
A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-23300. Registration is based on excellent achievement in 551-13400 or 551-13500. 1 credit. (F)
551-23800 - - - Advanced Sight-Singing IV --- Honors - - - LA
A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-23400. Registration is based on excellent achievement in 551-23300 or 551-23700. 1 credit. (S)
551-33100 - - - Analysis of Twentieth-Century Music - - - LA
Study of the harmonic, rhythmic, melodic, and formal techniques of 20th-century music. Introduction of various analytical systems. Prerequisites: 551-23200 or 551-23600. 2 credits. (S)
551-33200 - - - Form and Analysis - - - LA
Examination of the traditional techniques of musical form and structure and their application to compositions primarily from the 18th and 19th centuries. Prerequisites: 551-23200 or 551-23600. 2 credits. (F)
551-33300 - - - Analysis of Twentieth-Century Music --- Honors - - - LA
A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-33100. Registration is based on excellent achievement in 551-23200 or 551-23600. 2 credits. (S)
551-33400 - - - Form and Analysis --- Honors - - - LA
A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-33200. Registration is based on excellent achievement in 551-23200 or 551-23600. 2 credits. (F)
551-34300-551-34400 Aural Perception - - - LA
Advanced course in dictation and aural analysis with an emphasis on 20th-century music. Prerequisites: 551-23400 or 551-23800. 1 credit. (F-S)
551-36000 - - - Figured Bass and Score Reading - - - LA
A practical course in the realization of figured bass and Roman numeral progressions at the keyboard. Open score reading of string quartet and other instrumental and vocal literature. Prerequisites: 551-23200 or 551-23600. 1 credit. (F)
551-43100 - - - Sixteenth-Century Counterpoint - - - LA
Study of polyphonic techniques based on the stylistic principles of the 16th-century sacred literature. Composition of canons, motets, and movements from the mass. Prerequisites: 551-33200 or 551-33400. 2 credits. (F-Y)
551-43200 - - - Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint - - - LA
Study of polyphonic techniques based on the stylistic principles of the 18th-century keyboard literature. Invention (two- and three-voice), chorale prelude, canon, and fugue are studied. Analysis and written projects. Prerequisites: 551-33200 or 551-33400. 2 credits. (F-IRR)
551-43500 - - - Choral Arranging - - - LA
Arranging for elementary through high school choruses and special choirs. Analysis and study of choral part-writing, encompassing unison, simple two-, three- and four-part, and multi-voice units. Prerequisites: 551-23200 or 551-23600. 2 credits. (F-S)
551-43700 - - - Orchestration - - - LA
Study of orchestral and band instruments in terms of range, transposition, and individual characteristics. Scoring of works for both standardized and less common ensembles of various sizes. Performance of works in class whenever possible. Prerequisites: 551-33100 or 551-33300. 2 credits. (F-S)
551-14100-551-14200 through 551-44100-551-44200 Composition - - - NLA
Practical study of the techniques necessary for coherent expression in creative work. Students are assigned original compositions and are asked to solve various formal and stylistic problems, based on previous written work and the permission of the instructor. Private tutorial instruction and one class meeting per week. 3 credits. (F-S)
551-44300 - - - Pedagogy of Music Theory - - - NLA
A survey of the pedagogical aspects of teaching music theory and solfeggio on the high school and college level. Focus on current techniques of approach, presentation, and implementation of suitable materials, including programmed courses of study for theory, harmony, and aural perception. Prerequisites: 551-33200 or 551-33400. 3 credits. (F-S)
551-44900-551-45000 Theory Project - - - LA
Candidates for the bachelor of music degree in music theory are required to write two papers in the field. Topics are chosen in consultation with the adviser and the chair of theory. 3 credits. (F-S)
551-46400 - - - Introduction to Composition I - - - LA
Development of techniques of monodic writing with emphasis on styles from the 16th through 20th centuries. Detailed study of pitch and rhythmic procedures. Continuation with two-part writing, culminating in pieces in small forms. Prerequisites: A working knowledge of music notation and performance ability in some vocal or instrumental area and permission of the instructor. 2 credits. (F)
551-46500 - - - Introduction to Composition II - - - LA
Continuation of previous semester's work with expansion into large forms --- binary, ternary, rondo, and free forms. Prerequisites: 551-46400 or works in lieu of. 2 credits. (S)
551-49800 - - - Composition Recital - - - NLA
Performance of representative compositions. The program should include approximately 45 minutes of music. 2 credits. (F-S)
The following are level 5 courses (see p. 336)
551-57300 - - - Stylistic Analysis I (Medieval and Renaissance) - - - LA
Study of musical style and the development of important compositional techniques of music from Gregorian chant to the 16th century. 2 credits. (F)
551-57400 - - - Stylistic Analysis II (Classical and Romantic) - - - LA
Detailed analysis of stylistic characteristics and important compositional techniques of composers of the classical and romantic eras, including works of composers such as C. P. E. Bach, Stamitz, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Berlioz, Liszt, Wagner, Brahms, Dvořák, Mahler, Wolf, and Strauss. 2 credits. (S)
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