Graduate Courses

Explores the role of critics in the development of individual careers and in more general tendencies in music and the arts. The approach is largely practical, with discussions of the 'real world' of music and journalism, analysis of published and unpublished reviews, examination of the criteria that go into critical thinking, and the writing of several reviews. Reading assignments provide historical and theoretical contexts.

Musical, aesthetic, and technical processes of assembling and shaping a film's soundtrack in collaboration with the filmmaker and composer. Collaborative projects encompassing film score recording sessions, an understanding of the music editor's position, responsibilities, and techniques in the post-production process of a film.

Study of philosophical, psychological, and sociological concepts that form a foundation for the teaching of music.

Chorus, Recorder Pedagogy, and Ensembles are custom-designed for students' needs. Course work includes Modally methodology 3 (fifth and sixth grade school levels, middle school, continuing work with the older beginners, and curriculum planning) and Choral Conducting 3 (all beat patterns, expressive gestures, rehearsal planning). Students continue advanced Modally based musicianship in Solfeggi 3 (modal, diatonic, and chromatic solfeggi, complex chord progressions). Students complete their traditional song collections

Kodaly's philosophy through seven subject areas: Voice Pedagogy, Modally Methodology 1 (preschool through second grade level, and older beginners); Solfege 1 (pentatonic, major, minor solfeggi); Chorus; Traditional Materials and Research (world music); Choral Conducting 1 (arm, hand, and body choreography, beat patterns, basic expression); and Recorder Pedagogy; and Ensembles (beginning and advanced

Chorus conducting, Recorder Pedagogy and Ensembles are designed to best utilize students' skills. Course work also includes Modally Methodology 2 (third and fourth grade levels, continuing work with the competent and proficient school students, and daily and long-range lesson planning). Students develop traditional song collections and prepare to videotape a Kodaly-based lesson. Students follow Kodaly-based musicianship in Solfeggi 2 (addition of modal solfege and chord work), and Choral Conducting 2 (complex beat patterns, expressive gestures for dynamics and articulation, phrasing).

This teacher education course provides training to meet the needs of a wide spectrum of exceptional learners, all grade levels, in inclusive and special education school music settings. Course covers a study of laws, due process, trends, and events in special education, current co-teaching and collaborative practices, field work observations, assessment and evaluation techniques, research advances, and design of standards-based adaptive lessons for differentiating instruction to meet grade level expectations for all learners.

This course provides an overview of music therapy theories and methods that use music improvisation for personal and artistic growth. The course is highly experiential and students participate in improvisational musical exercises in each class session. Students will enhance their musicianship and develop a stronger connection to their musical identity. Class experiences translate into skills relevant for all musical situations such as instruction, performing, and band leading and/or conducting.

Comprehensive overview of research in the multi-disciplinary field of Music Information Retrieval (MIR) which uses knowledge from diverse areas such as signal processing, machine learning and information and music theory. Exploration of how this knowledge can be used to develop novel methodologies for browsing and retrieval of large music collections. Emphasis would be given to audio signal processing techniques.

This course tells the stories of composers, inventors, & entrepreneurs who opened music up to electronic instruments, new sounds, & new ideas of composition between 1900 & the beginning of the 21st century. Specific instruments will be examined, including the Theremin, RCA Synthesizer, Moog synthesizer, Buchla synthesizer, Synclavier, & Kyma. Specific compositions will be discussed. This course will define a starting point for ongoing innovation in sound design, composition, & the creation of new musical instruments.

An in-depth analysis of how music artists, songs, & concerts create contemporary media narratives about health, equality, & social change through public service announcements & advocacy campaigns in the public & non-profit sectors. We investigate the impact of the work of music celebrities’ promotion of social change to the general public, & use interdisciplinary approaches in music, informal education, & entertainment to evaluate innovation & social enterprise in the music industry.

This course provides the advanced knowledge in music notation and music preparation required for the professional world. Students learn the best practices to present and produce scores using industry standard notation software programs. Students also learn how to be efficient in creating, revising, and preparing their scores. In addition, students learn how to incorporate advanced or non-standard notation in their scores.

An in-depth exploration of the vocabulary, legal foundation, and business of music publishing as it relates to music creators,songs and songwriters, music users, record companies, digital music services, broadcasters, film & television studios and game developers in the modern marketplace. Topics include background study in copyright law, artist & repertoire, contracts, licensing, royalties and sub-publishing.

In this course students study and gain experience in music and music education research methodologies and music reference procedures. Emphasis is placed on using qualitative research methodologies and resources toward conducting small, real-world research projects, reporting them in class, and creating research papers and/or topic proposals for MA theses and PhD dissertations.

Applications of new technologies for teaching and learning, including video, digital
audio, MIDI, computer notation and score preparation,interactive CAI, internet, web
publishing, and portfolio development.

Musical Theatre Dance is designed to bridge the gap between all dance styles used on Broadway, and to enrich and improve students’ vocabulary and movement skill set. Focuses on expression through movement, accuracy of movement execution, and the stamina building required of musical theatre performers when dancing, acting, and singing at the same time. Daily dance warm-up, including stretching, center-work, and cardio, followed by across-the-floor progressions, and a different style dance combination at center each week.

A study of the history & repertoire of contemporary music theatre, from its origins in the mid-19th century, through its first masterwork, Show Boat, to its current state. Trends & styles are discussed & illustrated.

A study of the history & repertoire of contemporary music theatre, from its origins in the mid-19th century, through its first masterwork, Show Boat, to its current state. Trends & styles are discussed & illustrated.

This course introduces students to the specialized discipline of teaching music theory. Through extensive study of recent debates, current scholarship, and online resources, students develop a broader understanding of the pedagogical context for undergraduate theory and aural skills training, and best practices for presenting these materials in a 21st-century classroom. With a defined focus on professional development, this course prepares students for college-level classroom teaching.