Music History, Literature, Composition and Music Theory Courses*
MUSC 101 • Basic Musicianship I (3 units)
Designed for non-majors, music minors and prospective major with no prior experience reading music. This course explores the basic elements of reading, writing and hearing music. Students must receive a grade of "C" or higher to advance to MUSC 106. This course is an elective. Does not count toward the music major/minor requirements.
MUSC 106 • Basic Musicianship II (3 units)
Prerequisite: MUSC 101 or placement exam. Designed for music majors and minors as a preparatory course for the music theory sequence. This course explores the basic elements of historical musical style including major minor scale construction, keys, intervals, notation, terms, time signatures, chord and melody construction, harmonic analysis, melody harmonization, including sight singing and ear-training. Students must receive a grade of "C" or higher to advance in MUSC 131.
MUSC 131, 136 • Music Theory I and II (3, 3 units)
This course is a study of music theory including scales, modes, melody, primary and secondary chords and inversions, simple keyboard harmony, and four-part writing. MUSC 131 is the prerequisite for MUSC 136. Students in MUSC 131 and 136 must be concurrently enrolled in Aural Theory I, MUSC 132, and II, MUSC 137.
MUSC 132, 137 • Aural Theory I, II (1 unit each)
This course is a study of sight singing, rhythm performance, melodic, rhythmic and harmonic dictation in a continuing sequence. Students must receive a grade of “C” or higher to continue on to the next level. Class meets two hours per week. Lab fee for each semester of Aural Theory.
MUSC 202C • Introduction to Music (3 units)
A liberal arts course designed to develop a knowledge of music from the listener’s point of view. Introduction to the materials and forms of music and the periods of music history. Music majors may not take this course to fulfill the Fine Arts core curriculum requirement. Lab fee.
MUSC 220 • Introduction to MIDI (1 unit)
Prerequisite: MUSC 131 or permission of instructor. This course is an introduction to Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI). The course is designed for music majors and non-majors with little or no experience in music technology. Students will receive hands-on training in the basics of MIDI, MIDI sequencing and computer music notation. Lab fee.
MUSC 236 • Music Theory III (3 units)
Prerequisite: MUSC 136 or placement by examination. Continued study of music theory through analysis, four-part writing and simple keyboard harmony including mode mixture, chromatic non-harmonic tones, chromatically altered chords, dominant ninth, eleventh and thirteenth chords, distant modulations, chromatic linear harmony, and an introduction to post tonal harmony. Students must receive a grade "C' or higher to continue to the next level. Students in MUSC 231 must be concurrently enrolled in Aural Theory III, MUSC 232.
MUSC 236 • Music Theory IV (3 units)
Prerequisite: MUSC 231 or placement by examination. A study of musical forms and procedure composers have favored from the baroque through the 19th century. Detailed aural and visual analysis or representative scores. Students must receive a grade of "C" or higher to continue on to upper-level music theory courses. Students in MUSC 236 must be concurrently enrolled in Aural Theory IV, MUSC 237.
MUSC 232, 237 • Aural Theory III, IV (1 unit each)
This course is a study of sight-singing, rhythm performance, melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic dictation in a continuing sequence. Students must receive a grade of "C" or higher or continue on to the next level. Class meets two hours per week. Lab fee for each semester of Aural Theory.
MUSC 291, 292, 293 • Special Topics (1, 2, 3 units)
Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor. Study of a special topic in music. May be repeated for credit.
MUSC 301 • Counterpoint (3 units)
Prerequisite: MUSC 236. Study and writing of traditional contrapuntal forms including two-part inventions and canons, three-voice counterpoint.
MUSC 320 • Advanced MIDI (2 units)
Advanced sequencing techniques, orchestral and commercial music simulation, advanced editing and automated mixing, synthesizer program editing, program editor/librarian software, and advanced music notation and arranging. Also includes an introduction to synchronization using SMPTE timecodes and QuickTime video for film scoring projects. Top industry standard MIDI sequencing and notation software are used. Lab fee.
MUSC 325 • Music History and Literature I (3 units)
Prerequisite: FINA 215C or consent of instructor. Non music majors require permission of the instructor. A survey of music history from ancient times through the Baroque era (1750). Lab Fee
MUSC 326 • Music History and Literature II (3 units)
Prerequisite: FINA 215C or consent of instructor. Non music majors require permission of the instructor. A survey of music history from the Classical and Romantic eras (1750-1900). Lab Fee.
MUSC 330 • Twentieth-Century and World Music (3 units)
Prerequisites: FINA 215C or consent of instructor. A survey of music history primarily focusing on the music of the twentieth century and a survey of world music; cultural contexts and indigenous music are studied. Lab Fee.
MUSC 401 • Twentieth Century Music Theory (3 units)
Prerequisite: MUSC 236 or placement by examination. Study of harmony and form in the music of the 20th century, with an emphasis on post-tonal harmonic and motivic analysis, set theoretical and 12-tone analysis, and texture and timbre studies. In addition to detailed aural and visual analysis of representative scores, this course will examine how various styles and trends, such as Impressionism, Nationalism, new-Classicism, neo-Romanticism, Expressionism, Modernism, and Postmodernism influenced the music of this era. This course will conclude with an introduction to contemporary popular music and jazz music theory.
MUSC 402 • Orchestration (3 units)
Prerequisite: MUSC 236 or consent of the instructor. A study of the instruments of the orchestra, scoring for various combinations and for full orchestra.
MUSC 410 • Choral Arranging (3 units)
Prerequisite: MUSC 236. Arranging for choral ensembles with and without instrumental accompaniment in a variety of styles, including traditional, popular and jazz.
MUSC 470, 471, 472, 473 • Special Topic (1-3 units)
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. Study of a special topic in music. May be repeated for credit.
* This information is provided for ease of use, however it is not the official record. See the academic catalog for official course descriptions and requirements, or contact the Department of Music. Information shown here reflects the 2009-2010 academic course catalog.descriptions and requirements.