Courses

The study and analysis of 19th and early 20th century works in various genres associated with the "Romantic Era," issues relating to racial and gender diversity during that period, and connections to late 20th and 21st century musical culture.

The study and analysis of 19th and early 20th century works in various genres associated with the "Romantic Era," issues relating to racial and gender diversity during that period, and connections to late 20th and 21st century musical culture. This course does not count towards graduate degree requirements.

Evolution of contemporary compositional techniques traced from impressionism to the latest avant-garde experiments. This course does not count towards graduate degree requirements.

Evolution of contemporary compositional techniques traced from impressionism to the latest avant-garde experiences.

This course explores the history of music as a space for signaling, performing and imagining gender and sexuality. We consider expressions of gender and sexuality in western classical music (medieval era to the present) as well as in popular music (disco, glam rock, hip hop, synthpop), and in film. While course readings include essays from a variety of research areas, emphasis will be placed on a critical reading of current discourse against what we hear and see in the musical works. This course does not count towards graduate degree requirements.

This course explores the history of music as a space for signaling, performing and
imagining gender and sexuality. We consider expressions of gender and sexuality in western classical music (medieval era to the present) as well as in popular music (disco, glam rock, hip hop, synthpop), and in film. While course readings include essays from a variety of research areas, emphasis will be placed on a critical reading of current discourse against what we hear and see in the musical works.

Throughout history, individuals and communities have used music as a powerful
means of expressing dissent and challenging injustices. This course explores how music has served as a vehicle for protest from antiquity to the present day. Through case studies, we examine music from various genres and periods, from medieval chant and spirituals to heavy metal. By analyzing these works, students gain insight into how music has been used to confront deities, systems, and authorities. This course does not count toward graduate degree requirements.

Throughout history, individuals and communities have used music as a powerful
means of expressing dissent and challenging injustices. This course explores how music has served as a vehicle for protest from antiquity to the present day. Through case studies, we examine music from various genres and periods, from medieval chant and spirituals to heavy metal. By analyzing these works, students gain insight into how music has been used to confront deities, systems, and authorities

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

This course focuses on the wide range of indigenous music found today in countries such as Bulgaria, Greece, Bosnia, Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Albania and Turkey. The course will examine the historical factors that contributed to the development of Balkan music in these different regions and students will analyze and understand the commonalities and differences in traits in music throughout the Balkans.

This course looks at the changing, converging and sometimes disruptive relationship between music and media — both traditional and digital. Students explore voice activated listening, media consolidation, the new music industry, streaming services, video, music discovery across multimedia platforms, sync marketing, and future technologies.

This course focuses on music developed in the Arab-Muslim world and students will gain skills to analyze and understand its musical and historical significance. Additionally, this course will address technological, social, and economic developments seminal to Arabic Music. Students will study the development of Arabic music and learn to identify harmonic, rhythmic and textural elements. Sociologically, students will gain a heightened awareness of music and culture associated with the region.

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.

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 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.

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.

A survey of traditional and recent music making from areas of East Asia (China, Tibet,
Japan, Korea, Mongolia), Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Myanmar) and the Indian subcontinent. In addition to examining the musical systems and techniques that define specific practices, readings and discussions cover issues from Asian American cultural studies. Open to
undergraduate and graduate students familiar with music terminology and notation.

A survey of traditional and recent music making from areas of East Asia (China, Tibet, Japan, Korea, Mongolia), Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Myanmar) and the Indian subcontinent. In addition to examining the musical systems and techniques that define specific practices, readings and discussions cover issues from Asian American cultural studies. Open to
undergraduate and graduate students familiar with music terminology and notation.

Overview of the business of songwriting and music publishing in the 21st
century music marketplace. Topics include the legal foundations of
copyright, performing and mechanical rights, A&R, contracts between
songwriters and publishers, synchronization licensing, royalties, streaming
and sub-publishing.

The music industry is made up of two primary rights holders: record companies and music publishers. This seminar focuses on the latter, the poorly understood stepsister to the front and center record companies, and dissects the business of songwriting in the digital era. Areas covered include the origins of copyright and copyright legislation, performing rights/PROs, mechanical Licensing/CMOs, publishing deals and agreements, synchronization, digital media, song catalog evaluation, and the role of the creative songwriter and music publisher.