Music and Music Education

Student Recital is a performance laboratory for all music majors. It is designed to provide student musicians with an outlet for solo and ensemble performance experience and instruction in concert preparation, promotion and etiquette. 

The class “Fundamentals of Music Theory” is an introduction to music theory, designed as a prerequisite to MUS 131, Theory of Music I. Placement is based on a theory entrance examination. Spring.

Secondary Applied Music is designed as weekly half-hour long individual or group lessons in voice, brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments for majors and non-majors. Students studying secondary applied piano are enrolled in piano class. Secondary Applied Music courses should be taken in sequential order. Consent of instructor.

Secondary Applied Music is designed as weekly half-hour long individual or group lessons in voice, brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments for majors and non-majors. Students studying secondary applied piano are enrolled in piano class. Secondary Applied Music courses should be taken in sequential order. Consent of instructor.

Musical Ensembles are large student performing organizations, including Band and Choir, through which students grow in artistry, technical skills, collaborative competencies and repertoire knowledge. Students will learn how to rehearse effectively, and most will have opportunities to both assume leadership roles and perform solo. Students are required to enroll in the ensemble most appropriate to their major instrument for 8 semesters.  

Musical Ensembles are large student performing organizations, including Band and Choir, through which students grow in artistry, technical skills, collaborative competencies and repertoire knowledge. Students will learn how to rehearse effectively, and most will have opportunities to both assume leadership roles and perform solo. Students are required to enroll in the ensemble most appropriate to their major instrument for 8 semesters.

Principal Applied Music is a weekly hour-long individual lesson in piano, organ, voice, brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments required for music majors. Students will learn technical skills requisite for self-expression, the ability to perform a cross-section of major performance repertoire for their instrument, thereby building their general musicianship skills to a level sufficient to work in collaboration with other music professionals in their concentration. In addition to basic music skills, functional performance abilities in voice and keyboard appropriate to the candidate’s specialization is required. Students registered may also be required to attend performance and repertoire classes. Instructors will include opportunities for students to arrange and adapt music and create original music. Students are required to enroll in the applied lesson of their major instrument for 8 semesters. Admission is by audition and consent of instructor. 

Principal Applied Music is a weekly hour-long individual lesson in piano, organ, voice, brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments required for music majors. Students will learn technical skills requisite for self-expression, the ability to perform a cross-section of major performance repertoire for their instrument, thereby building their general musicianship skills to a level sufficient to work in collaboration with other music professionals in their concentration. In addition to basic music skills, functional performance abilities in voice and keyboard appropriate to the candidate’s specialization is required. Students registered may also be required to attend performance and repertoire classes. Instructors will include opportunities for students to arrange and adapt music and create original music. Students are required to enroll in the applied lesson of their major instrument for 8 semesters. Admission is by audition and consent of instructor.

Class Voice is designed for non-music and non-voice music majors who enjoy singing and wish to improve their vocal technique, regardless of ability. The student will develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to perform the range of musical styles and genres written for the solo voice. Posture, breathing, phrasing, diction, intonation and tone quality will be addressed in order to aid the student in the development of a healthy singing technique and a better understanding of how the body and mind function in singing. Candidates will gain functional performance and pedagogical skills in voice, including sight-reading. 

Class Piano is designed to teach fundamental keyboard and musicianship skills, appropriate to the particular music concentration, including five-finger position, scales, and progressions. Also taught are accompanying and basic theory, including note recognition, rhythm, harmony, form, basic harmonization and sight-reading. Students will practice transposition. Candidates will achieve competency for teaching. No prior music experience required. Functional abilities in voice keyboard, and teaching specialization are essential.

Class Piano is designed to teach fundamental keyboard and musicianship skills, appropriate to the particular music concentration, including five-finger position, scales, and progressions. Also taught are accompanying and basic theory, including note recognition, rhythm, harmony, form, basic harmonization and sight-reading. Students will practice transposition. Candidates will achieve competency for teaching. No prior music experience required. Functional abilities in voice keyboard, and teaching specialization are essential. 

Theory of Music I is an introduction to music theory and the study of harmony with emphasis on the rudiments of music. The class includes the study of sight-singing and music dictation in laboratory meetings. Students will develop the ability to apply organizational patterns of music in both aural, verbal, and visual analyses, and capability with musical forms, processes, and structures in order to acquire a rudimentary capacity to create original or derivative music. Over the course of the four-course sequence students will acquire sufficient understanding of and capability with musical forms, processes, and structures to use this knowledge for composing, performing, analyzing music, and producing scholarly work. Class meetings include three lectures and one laboratory per week. 

Theory of Music II is a continued study of harmony with emphasis on the rudiments of music and basic four-part writing. The class includes the study of sight-singing and music dictation in laboratory meetings. Students will develop the ability to apply organizational patterns of music in both aural, verbal, and visual analyses, and capability with musical forms, processes, and structures in order to acquire a rudimentary capacity to create original or derivative music. Over the course of the four-course sequence students will acquire sufficient understanding of and capability with musical forms, processes, and structures to use this knowledge for composing, performing, analyzing music, and producing scholarly work. Class meetings include three lectures and one laboratory per week.

Music Appreciation is designed for non-music majors and requires no previous musical experience. It covers the basics elements of music and active listening and broadly surveys Western Art Music and World Music from the Middle Ages through present day. 

Secondary Applied Music is designed as weekly half-hour long individual or group lessons in voice, brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments for majors and non-majors. Students studying secondary applied piano are enrolled in piano class. Secondary Applied Music courses should be taken in sequential order. Consent of instructor.

Secondary Applied Music is designed as weekly half-hour long individual or group lessons in voice, brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments for majors and non-majors. Students studying secondary applied piano are enrolled in piano class. Secondary Applied Music courses should be taken in sequential order. Consent of instructor.

Musical Ensembles are large student performing organizations, including Band and Choir, through which students grow in artistry, technical skills, collaborative competencies and repertoire knowledge. Students will learn how to rehearse effectively, and most will have opportunities to both assume leadership roles and perform solo. Students are required to enroll in the ensemble most appropriate to their major instrument for 8 semesters. 

Musical Ensembles are large student performing organizations, including Band and Choir, through which students grow in artistry, technical skills, collaborative competencies and repertoire knowledge. Students will learn how to rehearse effectively, and most will have opportunities to both assume leadership roles and perform solo. Students are required to enroll in the ensemble most appropriate to their major instrument for 8 semesters. 

Principal Applied Music is a weekly hour-long individual lesson in piano, organ, voice, brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments required for music majors. Students will learn technical skills requisite for self-expression, the ability to perform a cross-section of major performance repertoire for their instrument, thereby building their general musicianship skills to a level sufficient to work in collaboration with other music professionals in their concentration. In addition to basic music skills, functional performance abilities in voice and keyboard appropriate to the candidate’s specialization is required. Students registered may also be required to attend performance and repertoire classes. Instructors will include opportunities for students to arrange and adapt music and create original music. Students are required to enroll in the applied lesson of their major instrument for 8 semesters. Admission is by audition and consent of instructor. 

Principal Applied Music is a weekly hour-long individual lesson in piano, organ, voice, brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments required for music majors. Students will learn technical skills requisite for self-expression, the ability to perform a cross-section of major performance repertoire for their instrument, thereby building their general musicianship skills to a level sufficient to work in collaboration with other music professionals in their concentration. In addition to basic music skills, functional performance abilities in voice and keyboard appropriate to the candidate’s specialization is required. Students registered may also be required to attend performance and repertoire classes. Instructors will include opportunities for students to arrange and adapt music and create original music. Students are required to enroll in the applied lesson of their major instrument for 8 semesters. Admission is by audition and consent of instructor.

Class Piano is designed to teach fundamental keyboard and musicianship skills, appropriate to the particular music concentration, including five-finger position, scales, and progressions. Also taught are accompanying and basic theory, including note recognition, rhythm, harmony, form, basic harmonization and sight-reading. Students will practice transposition. Candidates will achieve competency for teaching. No prior music experience required. Functional abilities in voice keyboard, and teaching specialization are essential.

Class Piano is designed to teach fundamental keyboard and musicianship skills, appropriate to the particular music concentration, including five-finger position, scales, and progressions. Also taught are accompanying and basic theory, including note recognition, rhythm, harmony, form, basic harmonization and sight-reading. Students will practice transposition. Candidates will achieve competency for teaching. No prior music experience required. Functional abilities in voice keyboard, and teaching specialization are essential.

Diction for Singers I is an introduction to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and its application to the study and practice of English, German, and Latin diction in the solo vocal repertoire.

Diction for Singers II is a study of French and Italian pronunciation as it applies to the solo vocal repertoire. Special emphasis is placed on use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), analysis of texts, and performance of selected works.

Theory of Music III continues the study of music theory, focusing on the study of more complex harmonization with correlated ear training, dictation, sight-singing, and keyboard harmony. The class includes the study of sight-singing and music dictation in laboratory meetings. Students will develop the ability to apply organizational patterns of music in both aural, verbal, and visual analyses, and capability with musical forms, processes, and structures in order to acquire a rudimentary capacity to create original or derivative music. Over the course of the four-course sequence students will acquire sufficient understanding of and capability with musical forms, processes, and structures to use this knowledge for composing, performing, analyzing music, and producing scholarly work. Class meetings include three lectures and one laboratory per week. 

Advanced Theory and Analysis is a continuation of Music Theory III, including harmonic and structural analysis of compositions in the smaller and larger forms and a survey of contemporary music theory systems. The class includes the study of sight-singing and music dictation in laboratory meetings. Students will develop the ability to apply organizational patterns of music in both aural, verbal, and visual analyses, and capability with musical forms, processes, and structures in order to acquire a rudimentary capacity to create original or derivative music. Over the course of the four-course sequence students will acquire sufficient understanding of and capability with musical forms, processes, and structures to use this knowledge for composing, performing, analyzing music, and producing scholarly work. Class meetings include three lectures and one laboratory per week. 

Music for the Classroom Teacher includes the study of fundamental principles, materials and methods of elementary school music teaching for the classroom teacher. The class is required for Elementary Education majors. 

Jazz Appreciation is an overview of the evolution of jazz from its beginnings to the current day. Students will become familiar with the major influential musicians throughout its history and understand the differences between the various styles of jazz. Through lively discussion of assigned readings, recordings, and in-class video presentations, students will consider course material critically and examine its style and performance practice in its historical context. The material is presented with a multi-cultural perspective, and includes all genres specific to the jazz art form.

This course is designed to cover all aspects of Finale Music Notation, the industry standard in notational software. Upon completion, students will be capable of producing editions of their own compositions and arrangements that meet the industry standards of professional music publishers. Composition experience is not required.

The junior recital is required of all third year applied music majors. Students must perform a minimum of twenty-five minutes of repertoire. Students must also present and pass a recital hearing no fewer than two weeks prior to the recital. Students will combine their current skills to work on music problems through aural, verbal, and visual analysis of history and repertoire. Technical skills requisite for artistic self-expression, general musicianship, professional standards, and the synthesis of all learning will be assessed. The applied instructor must approve all recital repertoire. 

Introduction to Marching Band Techniques presents various techniques of marching band drill design. Elements of show designing, beginning with conceptualizing, designing, teaching, and cleaning the show will be covered. The course will also include a discussion of concepts pertaining to planning and developing balanced instrumentation and music selection for the marching band. Proper field placement of instrumentalists and auxiliary units will be covered. Students will be required to design marching band formations by hand and with a computer-based drill design program.

Musical Ensembles are large student performing organizations, including Band and Choir, through which students grow in artistry, technical skills, collaborative competencies and repertoire knowledge. Students will learn how to rehearse effectively, and most will have opportunities to both assume leadership roles and perform solo. Students are required to enroll in the ensemble most appropriate to their major instrument for 8 semesters. 

Musical Ensembles are large student performing organizations, including Band and Choir, through which students grow in artistry, technical skills, collaborative competencies and repertoire knowledge. Students will learn how to rehearse effectively, and most will have opportunities to both assume leadership roles and perform solo. Students are required to enroll in the ensemble most appropriate to their major instrument for 8 semesters. 

Principal Applied Music is a weekly hour-long individual lesson in piano, organ, voice, brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments required for music majors. Students will learn technical skills requisite for self-expression, the ability to perform a cross-section of major performance repertoire for their instrument, thereby building their general musicianship skills to a level sufficient to work in collaboration with other music professionals in their concentration. In addition to basic music skills, functional performance abilities in voice and keyboard appropriate to the candidate’s specialization is required. Students registered may also be required to attend performance and repertoire classes. Instructors will include opportunities for students to arrange and adapt music and create original music. Students are required to enroll in the applied lesson of their major instrument for 8 semesters. Admission is by audition and consent of instructor. 

Principal Applied Music is a weekly hour-long individual lesson in piano, organ, voice, brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments required for music majors. Students will learn technical skills requisite for self-expression, the ability to perform a cross-section of major performance repertoire for their instrument, thereby building their general musicianship skills to a level sufficient to work in collaboration with other music professionals in their concentration. In addition to basic music skills, functional performance abilities in voice and keyboard appropriate to the candidate’s specialization is required. Students registered may also be required to attend performance and repertoire classes. Instructors will include opportunities for students to arrange and adapt music and create original music. Students are required to enroll in the applied lesson of their major instrument for 8 semesters. Admission is by audition and consent of instructor.

The Survey of Instrumental Techniques is designed to be a practical introduction to the basic techniques of playing brass, percussion and woodwind instruments. Emphasis will be placed on teaching skills and techniques sufficient to teach beginning students effectively in groups on each instrument. Performance practices in a variety of instruments will be covered. This course is required for vocal students pursuing Alabama State teaching certification in Music (P-12). 

African-American Music is designed to be an exploration of American music showing characteristics surviving from African traditions and the contributions of Black musicians to Western musical culture. Open to all students. 

Arranging is an introductory course in instrumental and choral arranging. Particular emphasis is placed on the practical considerations involved in writing music for young, inexperienced, or amateur singers and players (for example, beginning applied students, school or church ensembles). Students will develop sufficient abilities to read scores and integrate style, performance practices, and instrumentation, as well as familiarity with music forms, processes, and structures, which they will be able to employ for compositional, performance, analytical, scholarly, pedagogical and ensemble leadership/direction purposes. They will arrange and adapt music in order to create accurate and musically expressive performances to meet the needs and ability levels of school performing groups, and classroom situations. The course is required for the music major with teacher certification. 

Music History and Literature I is a survey of music in the Western Art Music tradition from prehistory to 1750, including composers, styles, forms, and pieces. Emphasis is placed on visual and aural analysis and the relationship of music to the social and cultural background of each era. This basic knowledge of music history and repertoires will facilitate their ability to place music in historical, cultural, stylistic contexts, changing musical language, and musical and extra-musical achievements. Class meetings consist of three lectures per week. 

Music History and Literature II is a continuation of the survey of music in the Western Art Music tradition. This second installment picks up where MUS 335 leaves off, covering from 1750 to the present day, including composers, styles, forms, and pieces. Emphasis is placed on visual and aural analysis and the relationship of music to the social and cultural background of each era.  This basic knowledge of music history and repertoires will facilitate their ability to place music in historical, cultural, stylistic contexts, changing musical language, and musical and extra-musical achievements. Class meetings consist of three lectures per week. Class meetings consist of three lectures per week.

The Senior Recital is the culminating formal performance required of all music majors and must consist of a minimum of forty-five minutes of repertoire (excluding the intermission). Students will learn technical skills requisite for self-expression, the ability to perform a cross-section of major performance repertoire for their instrument, thereby building their general musicianship skills to a level sufficient to work in collaboration with other music professionals in their concentration. Students must also submit extended program notes discussing the content of the recital. Students must present and pass a recital hearing no fewer than two weeks prior to the scheduled recital. Students will combine their current skills to work on music problems through aural, verbal, and visual analysis of history and repertoire. Technical skills requisite for artistic self-expression, general musicianship, professional standards, and the synthesis of all learning will be assessed. The applied instructor must approve all recital repertoire. 

Musical Ensembles are large student performing organizations, including Band and Choir, through which students grow in artistry, technical skills, collaborative competencies and repertoire knowledge. Students will learn how to rehearse effectively, and most will have opportunities to both assume leadership roles and perform solo. Students are required to enroll in the ensemble most appropriate to their major instrument for 8 semesters. 

Musical Ensembles are large student performing organizations, including Band and Choir, through which students grow in artistry, technical skills, collaborative competencies and repertoire knowledge. Students will learn how to rehearse effectively, and most will have opportunities to both assume leadership roles and perform solo. Students are required to enroll in the ensemble most appropriate to their major instrument for 8 semesters. 

Principal Applied Music is a weekly hour-long individual lesson in piano, organ, voice, brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments required for music majors. Students will learn technical skills requisite for self-expression, the ability to perform a cross-section of major performance repertoire for their instrument, thereby building their general musicianship skills to a level sufficient to work in collaboration with other music professionals in their concentration. In addition to basic music skills, functional performance abilities in voice and keyboard appropriate to the candidate’s specialization is required. Students registered may also be required to attend performance and repertoire classes. Instructors will include opportunities for students to arrange and adapt music and create original music. Students are required to enroll in the applied lesson of their major instrument for 8 semesters. Admission is by audition and consent of instructor. 

Principal Applied Music is a weekly hour-long individual lesson in piano, organ, voice, brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments required for music majors. Students will learn technical skills requisite for self-expression, the ability to perform a cross-section of major performance repertoire for their instrument, thereby building their general musicianship skills to a level sufficient to work in collaboration with other music professionals in their concentration. In addition to basic music skills, functional performance abilities in voice and keyboard appropriate to the candidate’s specialization is required. Students registered may also be required to attend performance and repertoire classes. Instructors will include opportunities for students to arrange and adapt music and create original music. Students are required to enroll in the applied lesson of their major instrument for 8 semesters. Admission is by audition and consent of instructor.

Conducting is the study of the patterns, rehearsal techniques, and other skills necessary for a conductor to lead ensembles of different sizes and contexts in the production of effective tone, balance, phrasing, and interpretation. The class will cover the organization of choral and instrumental groups and include experience in choral and instrumental conducting. Students will learn how to read a score and integrate analysis and styles into conducting. They will become comfortable with performance practices, varying instrumentation, and the appropriate conducting techniques. They will develop knowledge and skills essential for leaders / collaborators in the musical profession, as well as sufficient understanding of musical forms, processes, and structures as it relates to compositional, performance, and analytical applications in order to work on musical problems through the combination of those skills. They will learn how to apply an understanding of and capability with musical forms, processes, and structures in performance pedagogy. Attention will be paid to musical problems of which conductors must be aware.

This course will focus on special topics related to music and culture, music history, music theory, music technology, music performance, the music industry/business, or music pedagogy, as determined by the needs of students majoring in Music and the expertise of the Music Faculty.