FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC:CM ~ This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of reading musical notation. Topics to be covered in this course include reading pitch and rhythm notation on the treble and bass clefs; identifying whole and half steps; identifying key signatures; major and minor scales; and visually and aurally identifying simple intervals. Simple creative written and keyboard activities will be used to master these concepts. Successful completion of this course will allow entrance into the Theory I course designed for music majors and minors.
Core: Creative Methods
INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC LITERATURE:IM ~ An introduction to the music of the Western world. The course surveys important composers, compositions, and stylistic developments of the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods, and the 20th century. The students are introduced to the elements of music and how they can be used to listen to music more intelligently and appreciatively. Class sessions include lectures and guided listening.
Core: Interpretive Methods
SURVEY OF AMERICAN MUSIC:IM ~ This course presents American music from colonial psalm-singing to the most recent jazz, avant-garde, popular, and rock-and-roll. The course is designed to give the student a chronological and historical understanding of the development of American music. Some background material related to European and African music will be discussed. The format of the class will involve lectures, listening, and class discussion. A strong emphasis will be placed on listening skills for purposes of identifying genre, period, style, and composer.
Core: Interpretive Methods
PERFORMING ARTS IN GLOBAL CULTURES:CM,EW ~ This course surveys performing arts traditions among diverse cultural groups across various global geographic regions from an ethnomusicological perspective. Specific case studies examine the significant role of the arts (music, dance, drama) in non-Western cultures, becoming invaluable for mediating important aspects of social life, including spirituality and healing rituals; relationships with the natural world, cultural memory, and structuring sexuality and gender roles. Guest lectures and live performances are included. This course is also offered in a 4-credit hour format as MUSI 10301. A student may receive credit for only one of these two courses. This course fulfills requirements for the Asian Studies minor.
Core: Creative Methods; Experiencing the World
PERFORMING ARTS IN GLOBAL CULTURES:CM,EW ~ This course surveys performing arts traditions among diverse cultural groups across various global geographic regions from an ethnomusicological perspective. Specific case studies examine the significant role of the arts (music, dance, drama) in non-Western cultures, becoming invaluable for mediating important aspects of social life, including spirituality and healing rituals; relationships with the natural world, cultural memory, and structuring sexuality and gender roles. Guest lectures and live performances are included. This course is also offered in a 3 credit hour format as MUSI 10300. A student may receive credit for only one of these two courses. This course fulfills requirements for the Asian Studies minor.
Core: Creative Methods; Experiencing the World
MUSICAL THEATER:IM~ A study in the development of the three types of musical theater: Opera, Operetta and the Musical. Class meetings will involve lectures, discussions of outside readings, analyses and discussions of video performances.
Core: Interpretive Methods
INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC TECHNOLOGY:CM ~ MIDI and Computer Music.: An interactive study of music technology. A variety of software will be explored which utilize the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) format; a universal language that allows free flow of information between electronic musical instruments and computers. Topics will include sequencing; sampling; importing, exporting, and managing MIDI files; and digital audio recording and editing. Basic music reading skills required. Also, understanding of keyboard instruments is also recommended.
Core: Creative Methods
HISTORY OF ROCK & ROLL: RHYTHM AND REVOLT:IM ~ The history of rock and roll. More than fifty years after its birth, American rock is the most influential music in the world. This class examines the myriad stylistic roots of rock and roll and its growth amid the tumultuous social events of postwar American culture. Emphasis is on the early creative energy: the soloists and groups of the First Wave (1950s) through the Beatles era. Technical aspects of music and listening skills are developed within the framework of popular style.
Core: Interpretive Methods
MUSICIANSHIP I:CM ~ Musicianship I is the first in a series of four courses integrating the theoretical and practical study of the elements of musical works. In this course, we will become fluent in the basic components and vocabulary of music materials, improving both theoretical and practical skills needed for music interpretation and performance. This course includes a combination of reading, listening, writing, singing, and keyboard assignments, as well as written and aural analysis of musical scores and the composition of original melodies. We will also consider the role of expectation and anticipation in creating unity and variety in music. Experience reading music in a choral, band, or private instruction setting is a prerequisite of this course. A diagnostic test will be held on the first day of the course. Students who do not meet the prerequisite literacy required to succeed in this course will be advised to enroll in class piano or private instrument instruction before taking this course.
Core: Creative Methods
MUSIC HISTORY AND LITERATURE I:IM ~ A historical and analytical study of music from Gregorian Chant through 1750, including composers such as Machaut, Josquin, Palestrina, Lassus, Gabrieli, Monteverdi, Purcell, Vivaldi, Bach and Handel. The student is introduced to research methods in musicology. Open to non-majors with note-reading ability. This course fulfills the Interpretive Methods requirement.
Core: Interpretive Methods
OPERA/MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP ~ Opera Workshop is open by audition to experienced singers. This ensemble rehearses and performs scenes and full operas and operettas from the classical repertory.
HISTORY OF JAZZ:UD ~ The purpose of this course is to examine the musical development of jazz in its historical context, as well as the important elements which comprise the individual styles of jazz. The course will study jazz from its inception to the present, focusing on the important musicians and literature of each era, including the New Orleans, swing, bebop, cool, hard bop, free jazz, and jazz-rock fusion styles, in addition to major individual musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker.
Core: Understanding Diversity Home
AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC: IM, UD ~ A study of African American performing arts (music, dance, drama) from a socio-historical, cultural, and ethnomusicological perspective. Course topics may vary, and are explored through a critical analysis of performers, listeners, styles, and performative practices using multi-disciplinary theoretical approaches; Repeatable when topics vary.
Core: Interpretive Methods; Understanding Diversity Home
SYMPHONIC LITERATURE ~ The course is designed to examine important standard works for symphony orchestra of the 18th through 20th centuries. Repertory will include compositions by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Prokofiev, Shostakovitch, and Barber, to name a few. Music will not be limited to symphonies, but will also cover symphonic poems, concertos, and important orchestral excerpts from operas and incidental music to plays. The artistic, historic, and even problematic aspects of each piece will be examined. Open to non-majors with note-reading ability.
MUSIC AND GENDER:CA ~ This course explores relationships between gender, music/sound, and performance from the perspectives of ethnomusicology, musicology, popular music studies, feminine/masculine/queer theory and performance studies. The class will examine the ways music making reflexively structures gender conventions; the role of gender in social life; and gender experience understood across cultures.
Core: Social/Cultural Analysis Meth
ASIAN ARTS CULTURES:EW,IM ~ This course explores the performing arts (music, dance, and drama) among diverse cultural groups across varying geographic regions in Asia. Thematic topics focus on how the arts in Asian contexts socialize notions of gender, race, performative authenticity, cultural/ethnic identity, spirituality, nationalism, and relationships with the natural world. Guest lectures and live performance are included. This course fulfills requirements for the Asian Studies minor.
Core: Experiencing the World; Interpretive Methods
THE MUSICAN AS ENTREPRENEUR:CA ~ "Entrepreneurship" in the field of music is commonly associated only with music marketing, production, and publication. Yet successful performers, composers, or conductors have, throughout the history of music, demonstrated an entrepreneurial mindset. This course will demonstrate how musicians historically have created opportunities that have not only enhanced their professional lives but also have served and educated the communities in which they live. We will examine entrepreneurship in music from both an historical and contemporary, practical perspective, providing the students with role models from both the past and the present. Emphasis will be placed on the role of the musician as community arts advocate and educator. The students will also examine existing local and national arts organizations and apply entrepreneurial concepts to create ideas for new enterprises. Counts toward ENTR minor.
Core: Social/Cultural Analysis Meth
SURVEY OF WIND AND ORCHESTRAL LITERATURE ~ An overview of music written specifically for the wind band and orchestra. The course will incorporate listening and score study to trace the development of standard musical forms and identify significant composers and compositions. Music reading ability is not required though strongly recommended.
CHORAL CONDUCTING AND CHORAL LITERATURE ~ Basic elements of choral conducting techniques. Survey of choral literature. Instructor permission required.
INSTRUMENTAL CONDUCTING ~ The study, development and practice of instrumental conducting and rehearsal techniques utilizing audio/visual taping and the concert band. Also included is a survey of various levels of band literature. Instructor permission required.
SPECIAL TOPICS~
SENIOR SEMINAR~
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH~
INTERNSHIP ~ Developed in consultation with the student’s major faculty interests and needs of the student and can be served in a wide variety of private and public organizations. Hiram College’s internship program permits students to bridge the distance between the theory they learn in the classroom and the application of their knowledge. The academic department establishes prerequisites for the application procedure. Students should check with individual departments for specific requirements and guidelines for the experience as they may vary by discipline. Prospective interns work with the faculty discipline. Prospective interns work with the faculty the academic component of the internship.