Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: MUS-1001
Credits: 3

Course Description
Applied Theory Lab 2 continues with the five primary elements of Applied Theory 1. Diatonic harmony, chord construction and progressions as well as chromaticism are introduced. Added requirements for ear training will be chord progression and chord recognition dictation. Students are asked to perform on the piano all ear training material to better comprehend the information. Computer notation is introduced. This course consist of four weekly, one-hour labs.

Prerequisite: Applied Theory Lab 1.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: MUS-162
Credits: 2

Course Description
In this class, students will explore, develop, and expand the voice, gaining a practical understanding of vocal anatomy, function and acoustics, and working one-on-one with the instructor to identify and overcome vocal challenges presented by the songs assigned in other classes. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the root causes of various vocal problems (i.e. faulty intonation, breathiness, poor resonance), and how to rectify them through efficient coordination of the breath, laryngeal muscles and vocal tract. Some of the educational methodology of the Alexander Technique will be incorporated.  Specific topics will include: physical mechanics, the stress response and its effect on function and performance, pre-phonatory vocal work, and audition techniques. This two hour class meets once per week. This course may be taken as an elective.

Prerequisite: Vocology Workshop 1.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: MUS-260
Credits: 1

Course Description
Here, students will more deeply explore the overlapping arenas of vocal improvisation, composition and performance Circle Singing – cultivating the traditional skills requisite for ensemble singing—intonation, dynamics, blend, and sensitivity, and builds the fundamentals of musicianship, including composition, harmony, counterpoint, intonation, improvisation, sight-singing and deep, responsive listening. Using primarily the human voice and body percussion, contrapuntal motifs will be created within the four vocal sections (SATB), and students will learn the basics of participating and building these forms. Class meets once per week for one hour.

Competency: Ensemble
Course Number: MUS-1025V
Credits: 1.5

Course Description
Jazz 1 Ensemble Workshop focuses on the primary repertoire, stylistic characteristics and authenticity of Jazz styles. Artists studied include: Sonny Rollins, Billie Holiday, Joe Henderson and Ella Fitzgerald. Each week a new song is studied and performed. This course has two components: an instrument specific lecture and an ensemble workshop where students play with professional musician accompanists. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture and one-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Ensemble
Course Number: MUS-1025L
Credits: 0.5

Course Description
Jazz 1 Student Ensemble Lab places students from all music performance departments together in directed combos. Repertoire from the Jazz 1 Ensemble Workshop class is rehearsed and performed. Students focus on performing as a band in the authenticity of the style. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lab.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: MUS-108
Credits: 1

Course Description
The History of Jazz 1 will examine jazz from its origins thru the 1940’s. Special attention will be given to such artists as Scott Joplin (the Joplin Rag), Jelly Roll Morton, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey and Louis Armstrong. Class time will be spent listening to and analyzing a wide variety of recordings as well as watching video presentations. This course consists of a hybrid combination of on campus meetings and online coursework. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: MUS-127V
Credits: 2

Course Description
Throughout each level of this course, students meet one hour per week in a one-on-one setting for private instruction. Private lesson instruction is designed to reinforce and complement the variety of subjects and techniques encountered in the program, as well as to allow the student to explore more specific topics in depth with their instructor. Students are given the opportunity to change private instructors every six months, if so desired. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: PROD-306
Credits: 3

Course Description
This class explores the vast creative options of Ableton Live. This DAW is designed for creating musical ideas, turning them into finished songs, and even taking them onto the stage. It is a fast, fun, intuitive way to make music with efficient workflow enhancements to audio improvements and a new technology called Link which works under the hood, allowing you to instantly play in perfect sync with multiple instances of Live as well as a growing number of iOS apps. There are numerous creative projects culminating to creating a fully produced demo of an original song. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture and two-hour lab.

Competency: Ensemble
Credits: 1

Course Description
This course will consist of student ensembles, each being led by one faculty member. The student ensembles are drawn from the performance departments. The faculty member may perform with the ensemble. The focus is on the group dynamic and is repertoire based of both previously recorded works and original compositions. This course consists of one weekly, two-hour rehearsal.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: MUS-1002
Credits: 3

Course Description
Applied Theory 3 continues to build on the five primary elements of Applied Theory 1 and 2. Minor keys/scales, modes, progressions in major and minor tonality, modulation, constitutes some of the new information in Applied Theory 3. Melodies, rhythms, intervals, progressions, chord qualities continue to grow in complexity as we move through these upper levels of Applied Theory 3. This course consist of four weekly, one-hour labs.

Prerequisite: Applied Theory Lab 2. 

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: MUS-157
Credits: 1

Course Description
Applied Vocology Performance aims to improve skills in vocal performance through the practical application of vocal technique while singing with a band. Students perform one song (from their Ensemble Workshops or Songwriting classes) per week and work with the instructor to address technical issues of breath management, intonation, resonance, registration, tone quality, diction, and artistic expression. This course consists of a weekly two-hour Ensemble Workshop.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: MUS-167
Credits: 1

Course Description
In this class, students will learn balancing and core exercises, movement appropriate to the stage, choreographing background vocals, as well as physical communication with other singers and musicians on stage, and the audience. This class meets for two-hours per week.

Competency: Ensemble
Course Number: MUS-1026V
Credits: 1.5

Course Description
Jazz 2 Ensemble Workshop builds on the repertoire studied in Jazz 1. This course focuses on the primary repertoire, stylistic characteristics and authenticity of Jazz styles. Artists studied include: Bill Evans, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker. This course has two components: an instrument specific lecture and an ensemble workshop where students play with professional musician accompanists. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture and one-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Prerequisite: Jazz 1 Ensemble Workshop

Competency: Ensemble
Course Number: MUS-1026L
Credits: 0.5

Course Description
Jazz 2 Student Ensemble Lab places students from all music performance departments together in directed combos. Repertoire from the Jazz 1 Ensemble Workshop class is rehearsed and performed. Students focus on performing as a band in the authenticity of the style. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lab

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: MUS-109
Credits: 1

Course Description
The History of Jazz 2 surveys the development of jazz music from the 1950’s and 1960’s, investigates representative composers, and examines the musical characteristics, compositional practices, and instrumental/vocal techniques associated with Be Bop, Cool and Modal jazz. Students will study such artists as Duke Ellington, Gil Evans, Chet Baker, Stan Getz and Miles Davis. These topics will be explored via lectures, reading and research assignments, listening exercises and YouTube videos. This course consists of a hybrid combination of on campus meetings and online coursework. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: MUS-128V
Credits: 2

Course Description
Throughout each level of this course, students meet one hour per week in a one-on-one setting for private instruction. Private lesson instruction is designed to reinforce and complement the variety of subjects and techniques encountered in the program, as well as to allow the student to explore more specific topics in depth with their instructor. Students are given the opportunity to change private instructors every six months, if so desired. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: MUS-2000
Credits: 3

Course Description
Applied Theory 4 continues to build on the five primary elements of Applied Theory 1, 2 and 3. Tri-tone substitutions, composition, atonal music, modal interchange and secondary dominants are some of the new concepts in Applied Theory 4. Upon completion of Applied Theory 4, the student should arrive at level of musicianship expected of a working professional. This course consist of four weekly, one-hour labs.

Prerequisite: Applied Theory 3. 

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: MUS-2035
Credits: 1

Course Description
Sight Singing is an essential piece of the professional vocalist’s skill set. Sight-Singing 1 drills the material in a group format so all students are engaged and singing together. Students begin by focusing on single line reading and notation theory, and are introduced to actual scores from recording sessions that continue throughout the course and gradually increase in difficulty. This course consists of two one hour labs per week.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: COMP-100
Credits: 1.5

Course Description
Songwriting 1 is designed to improve (or uncover) each student’s songwriting ability through a study of the craft of songwriting, and to inform their careers by focusing on the various business aspects of songwriting. Vocalists will broaden their historical perspective of songwriting through a study of definitive songwriters of popular music, while performing and making recordings their own compositions weekly. Melody, structure, lyrics, collaboration, and the development of a “hook” are all looked at in great detail. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture and one-hour lab.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: COMP-104V
Credits: 1.5

Course Description
This two level course is designed to instruct vocalists in guitar basics, such as chords, technique, strumming and finger picking. Special emphasis is placed on the challenge of singing and playing, in order to gain the skills needed for self-accompaniment. Students emerge better able to play, communicate, demonstrate, and arrange guitar for their own music ensembles. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture and one-hour lab.

Competency: Ensemble
Course Number: MUS-2020V
Credits: 1.5

Course Description
Rock and Pop 1 Ensemble Workshop focuses on the primary repertoire, stylistic characteristics and authenticity of these styles. Artists studied include: Chuck Berry, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. This course has two components: an instrument specific lecture and an ensemble workshop where students play with professional musician accompanists. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture and one-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Ensemble
Course Number: MUS-2020L
Credits: 0.5

Course Description
Rock and Pop 1 Student Ensemble Lab places students from all music performance departments together in directed combos. Repertoire from the Rock and Pop 1 Ensemble Workshop class is rehearsed and performed. Students focus on performing as a band in the authenticity of the style. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lab.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: MUS-110
Credits: 1

Course Description
History of Rock and Pop Music 1 focuses on the beginnings of Rock & Roll music. Students will study Rock Music in the 1950’s with artists such as Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. Rock History 1 then moves to the “Golden Age” of rock music and focus on the 1960’s and the British Invasion, Folk Rock and Psychedelic Rock movements. This course finishes with the 1970’s and Classic Rock, Glam Rock and Prog (progressive) Rock. These topics will be explored via lectures, reading and research assignments, listening exercises and YouTube videos. This course consists of a hybrid combination of on campus meetings and online coursework. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: MUS-225V
Credits: 2

Course Description
Throughout each level of this course, students meet one hour per week in a one-on-one setting for private instruction. Private lesson instruction is designed to reinforce and complement the variety of subjects and techniques encountered in the program, as well as to allow the student to explore more specific topics in depth with their instructor. Students are given the opportunity to change private instructors every six months, if so desired. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: PROD-107
Credits: 2

Course Description
Level 1 of this course serves as an introduction to MIDI and virtual instrument-based composition using a digital audio workstation (Pro Tools). Students are taught both the best practices and the workings of MIDI systems, which subsequently lays the groundwork for their own MIDI-based productions. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture and two-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: MUS-2001
Credits: 3

Course Description
Applied Theory 5 is project based to ensure that all the information disseminated through levels 1-4 have been completely absorbed and understood. Tasks will include piano performance, composition, transcription, orchestration, transposition, analysis and computer notation. This course consist of four weekly, one-hour labs.

Prerequisite: Applied Theory 4. 

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: MUS-2036
Credits: 1

Course Description
This more advanced level of Sight-Singing is designed to continue developing the vocalist’s professional sight-singing abilities. The vocalists will drill the material in a group format so all students are engaged and singing together. Students begin by focusing on single line reading and notation theory, and are introduced to actual scores from recording sessions that continue throughout the course and gradually increase in difficulty. This course consists of two, one hour labs per week.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: COMP-101
Credits: 1.5

Course Description
This course will continue the study of popular song construct, but will be applied directly to varied genres of music and the requisite shift in stylistic approach. Each genre demands varied approaches as applies to lyric, melody, hook construct and delivery, structure and chord progressions. Popular genres to be analyzed will include Pop, Pop/Rock, Modern Rock, Hip Hop, Dance/Electronica, Indie/Folk and Alternative Country. This course consists of a weekly one-hour lecture and one-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Prerequisite: Songwriting 1.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: MUS-282
Credits: 1

Course Description
Intro to Vocal Improvisation serves as an introductory course to learning the skills required for students to be able to improvise over chord changes. This portion of the Vocal Forum builds upon knowledge from harmony, theory, ear training, and sight singing courses to develop the ear and voice so students are able to musically express themselves. The course will cover the blues scale and its permutations, tension availability, writing and singing guide tones, motivic development, and improvisation over many standard chord changes in combination with beginner written and oral jazz transcription. Students will interact, improvise, and perform weekly, in a one hour workshop.

Competency: Ensemble
Course Number: MUS-2021V
Credits: 1.5

Course Description
Rock and Pop 2 Ensemble Workshop focuses on the primary repertoire, stylistic characteristics and authenticity of these styles. Artists studied include: The Police, Van Halen, U2, Nirvana and Incubus. This course has two components: an instrument specific lecture and an ensemble workshop where students play with professional musician accompanists. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture and one-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Ensemble
Course Number: MUS-2021L
Credits: 0.5

Course Description
Rock and Pop 2 Student Ensemble Lab places students from all music performance departments together in directed combos. Repertoire from the Rock and Pop 2 Ensemble Workshop class is rehearsed and performed. Students focus on performing as a band in the authenticity of the style. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lab.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: MUS-111
Credits: 1

Course Description
History of Rock 2 is a survey of Rock music from the 1980’s to present. Students will study music starting with the Hair Bands of the 80’s, New Wave and Pop music. Then the focus will shift to Seattle and the Grunge scene with bands such as Nirvana and Soundgarden. Rock history 2 will conclude by studying modern Alternative Rock with Artists and bands such as Jack White, Radiohead, the Foo Fighters and Muse. These topics will be explored via lectures, reading and research assignments, listening exercises and YouTube videos. This course consists of a hybrid combination of on campus meetings and online coursework. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: MUS-226V
Credits: 2

Course Description
Throughout each level of this course, students meet one hour per week in a one-on-one setting for private instruction. Private lesson instruction is designed to reinforce and complement the variety of subjects and techniques encountered in the program, as well as to allow the student to explore more specific topics in depth with their instructor. Students are given the opportunity to change private instructors every six months, if so desired. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: PROD-113
Credits: 3

Course Description
A successful producer must truly know the tools used in production, and this course introduces students to the primary building blocks used in signal processing. Topics include compression/limiting, reverb, pitch-based effects, and delay/echo. This course consists of a weekly, three-hour lecture. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Entrepreneurship
Course Number: IND-100
Credits: 2

Course Description
This course provides a thorough overview of the evolution of the recorded music industry. It will cover all of the major events and breakthroughs that started the industry and has continued to evolve it for the past 80+ years. Topics covered include: first recordings, beginning of record companies and their evolution, early recording contracts to present day, creation of music industry revenue streams, professional roles in the music industry, music retail then and now, creation and development of the tour industry. This course consists of one two-hour weekly lecture.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: MUS-2045
Credits: 1

Course Description
Under the guidance and critique of an experienced performer and vocal coach, students learn to bring all they have learned to the stage. Students choose each week from a variety of song options, and will learn to re-arrange songs for performance, as well as refine and develop their own performance style. The course culminates in a final concert before a panel of high-profile music-industry guest clinician/judges, who will give feedback to each student. This class consists of a 2 hour Ensemble Workshop.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: COMP-102
Credits: 1.5

Course Description
Building on the concepts presented in Songwriting 1 & 2, this class will address more complex techniques of melodic and harmonic functionality, advanced lyric construction with attention to issues of meter and syllabic accents as applied to lead melodic phrasing, complex lyric imagery and metaphor construct, and more. Analysis of popular songs will be utilized to demonstrate and show marketable examples of how each concept can be practically applied to the student’s original material. Class meets for two hours, once per week.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: MUS-265
Credits: 1

Course Description
This course is designed to prepare vocalists to be effective background singers in today’s music industry, and to understand the differences between live and studio backing vocal performances. Students strengthen their ability to blend, match tones, lock rhythms, implement nuances, use dynamics, and arrange vocal parts on the spot. Each week students are expected to sight-sing four to eight-bar sections of a chart, as well as learn parts by ear. Course material consists of well-known songs in which the background vocal parts have a significant influence on the lead singer’s performance, as well as the song’s overall popularity. This Ensemble Workshop meets once per week for two-hours.

Competency: Ensemble
Course Number: MUS-2022V
Credits: 1.5

Course Description

Gospel, R&B and Soul Ensemble Workshop focuses on the primary repertoire, stylistic characteristics and authenticity of the Gospel, R&B and Soul styles. Artists studied include: Aretha Franklin, Tower of Power, Marvin Gaye and The Temptations. Each week a new song is studied and performed. This course has two components: an instrument specific lecture and an ensemble workshop where students play with professional musician accompanists. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture and one-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Ensemble
Course Number: MUS-2022L
Credits: 0.5

Course Description
Gospel, R&B and Soul Student Ensemble Lab places students from all music performance departments together in directed combos. Repertoire from the Gospel, R&B and Soul Ensemble Workshop class is rehearsed and performed. Students focus on performing as a band in the authenticity of the style. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: MUS-104
Credits: 2

Course Description
This course is designed so that students gain the ability to arrange and orchestrate a coherent vocal/instrumental composition for a rhythm section with three horns (specifically: piano, bass, drums, guitar, trumpet, tenor sax, and trombone). Students learn the musical relationship between the rhythm and horn sections, various techniques used in voicing horns, as well as their appropriate ranges and transpositions. The class will also focus on the melodic and harmonic roles played by the rhythm and horn sections, and the various ways in which to score a horn section. By the conclusion of this course, each student will have arranged and orchestrated a musical composition and have it professionally recorded. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture. This course may be taken as an elective.

Prerequisite: Applied Theory Lab 2. 

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: MUS-106
Credits: 1

Course Description
Gospel, R&B and Soul are widely considered as some of the primary influences in the development of disco, rap, hip hop, fusion, and contemporary urban and modern R&B styles. This course will follow the trajectory of Gospel, R&B and Soul music from their roots in rhythm and blues through their classic formulation in the 1970s and will place them within their cultural and social context. This course will cover artists such as Mahalia Jackson, Big Joe Williams, Ray Charles, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin. This course consists of a hybrid combination of on campus meetings and online coursework. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: MUS-227V
Credits: 2

Course Description
Throughout each level of this course, students meet one hour per week in a one-on-one setting for private instruction. Private lesson instruction is designed to reinforce and complement the variety of subjects and techniques encountered in the program, as well as to allow the student to explore more specific topics in depth with their instructor. Students are given the opportunity to change private instructors every six months, if so desired. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course.