Music (MUS)
MUS 100 Concert Attendance 0 Units
Students majoring in music must attend 40 concerts/recitals (5 per semester) during their time at Concordia University Irvine (transfers must accrue 5 times the number of semesters the attend). An updated list will be published at the end of each semester detailing concert attendance. In the semester when students expect to pass 40, they should enroll in MUS 100 for pass/fail certification. Students who fail to complete this requirement will not be approved for graduation with a major in music. Attendance credit is not allowed for concerts/recitals in which the student is a performer for the majority of the repertoire.
MUS 102 Music Fundamentals 3 Units
This entry-level course is intended for music majors and general education students who wish to develop skills in sight reading, music theory, and other basic musical skills.
MUS 111 Experiences in Music 3 Units
Through integrated reading, listening, discussion, musical participation, and concert attendance students will identify, experience, and understand the elements of music and basic notation and will apply active listening skills to the study of global and Western music from the Middle Ages to the present day in this course. Concert attendance fee: $40.
MUS 112 Music in the Liberal Arts 3 Units
Through integrated reading, multimedia presentations, listening, writing, and concert attendance, students will engage with music in this online course in the context of history, style, literature, science, faith, sociology, and philosophy. Concert attendance fee: $40.
MUS 176 Opera Workshop I 2 Units
In this course students will learn basic concepts of communication and character development through reading, research, writing, and develop performance skills by singing in the opera chorus.
MUS 201 Music Theory I 3 Units
As a beginning study of the craft of music for music majors and minors or general students with considerable musical experience, this course will include the study and application of scales, intervals, triads, rhythms, and elementary chord progression through analysis and writing. Co-requisites: Normally taken concurrently with MUS 211. Recommended MUS 102 or other training in the fundamentals of musical notation. Concert attendance fee: $40.
MUS 202 Music Theory II 3 Units
Continuation of MUS 201, this course will study seventh chords, modulation and basic musical forms through analysis and composition of four-part textures. Class fee: $35. Prerequisite: Should be taken concurrently with MUS 212.
MUS 204 Songwriting and Analysis 2 Units
The practical application and technique of songwriting, including lyrics, melody, harmony, form and stylistic content.
MUS 211 Aural Skills I 1 Unit
This course will provide students with the training and tools that will aid in the development of sight-singing, dictation, and basic keyboard skills that support basic concepts as they learn to hear and identify basic harmonic (intervals, triads, and chord progressions) and rhythmic and melodic materials using the moveable-do solfege system.
MUS 212 Aural Skills II 1 Unit
A continuation of MUS 211. Prerequisite: Should be taken concurrently with MUS 202.
MUS 216 Music Technology I 2 Units
An introduction to music technology hardware and software, focusing on the tools and methods used to create, prepare and perform music. Specific attention is given to score preparation, layout and formatting. Additional topics include: introduction to MIDI, digital, and live performance systems. Students will participate in hands-on projects in which they will apply their understanding of basic music technology principles. Knowledge of basic music notation recommended.
MUS 217 Contemporary Music Styles 2 Units
An examination of the history of popular music styles, from the late 1950’s to present day from a musical, technological and cultural perspective. Students study the structure and function of modern ensembles through listening and analysis and apply their knowledge through arranging, composition and performance.
MUS 218 Music Business 2 Units
An overview of the recorded music business including market structure, distribution, publishing, income streams, marketing, copyright, licensing and contracts.
MUS 221 Beginning Conducting 2 Units
As a beginning study in the craft of conducting, this course will include the basic beat patterns, preparatory and release gestures, and simple non-verbal stylistic cues. Students will conduct a musical ensemble composed of class members.
MUS 222 Intermediate Conducting 2 Units
As a continuation of MUS 221, students will build upon their conducting skills with more advanced study in expressive gestures, left-hand independence, cueing, psychological conducting, and score preparation. Prerequisite: MUS 221.
MUS 240 Introduction to Accompanying 2 Units
Keyboard accompanying is a course designed to give keyboard players an introduction to accompanying and topics related to collaborative playing. It is an interactive course that will include class meetings to discuss topics related to the field of accompanying, individual coaching sessions, and a final project or performance. The keyboardist will have readings and assignments to complete outside of class and will be assigned musical partners (singers and instrumentalists) to work with throughout the semester. Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in MUKP 201 or MUKP 301 or MUKP 401.
MUS 261 Introduction to Music Teaching 1 Unit
This course will explore career opportunities in music education including elementary, middle, and high school as well as studio pedagogy through readings, seminar discussions, and field experience in area schools and studios. Prerequisites: At least sophomore standing, MUS 102 or MUS 111 or MUS 112 or MUS 201 (concurrent enrollment allowed for all), or permission of instructor.
MUS 271 Diction for Singers I: English/Italian 2 Units
Study of basic phonetics in English and Italian as applied to singer's diction with an introduction to International Phonetic Alphabet.
MUS 272 Diction for Singers II: German/French 2 Units
Study of basic phonetics in German and French as applied to singer's diction. Continued study of the International Phonetic Alphabet. Prerequisite: MUS 271.
MUS 276 Opera Workshop II 2 Units
In this course students will learn basic concepts of communication and character development through reading, research, and writing as they develop performing skills through singing in the opera chorus and learning small solo roles.
MUS 290 Music Major Review 0 Units
Students must register for the Music Major Review for the semester in which the review will take place. See Music Major Review policy. Offered as a Pass/No Pass course. Prerequisite: MUKP 211 (concurrent enrollment allowed).
MUS 303 Music Theory III: Classic 3 Units
As a continuation of MUS 202, this course examines figured bass, modal and Baroque counterpoint, and basic jazz and contemporary harmony. Concert attendance fee: $40. Prerequisite: MUS 202; concurrent enrollment in MUS 323 is strongly recommended.
MUS 304 Music Theory IV 3 Units
As a continuation of MUS 303, this course examines sonata form, nineteenth-century chromaticism, and 20th and 21st-century developments such as atonality, serialism, set analysis, and minimalism. Compositional skills will be cultivated in guided projects. Concert attendance fee: $35. Prerequisites: MUS 303 or MUS 306; concurrent enrollment in MUS 324 is strongly recommended.
MUS 305 Arranging 2 Units
This course introduces students to the basic principles of arranging pre-existing musical material for the small ensembles commonly encountered in church, educational, and commercial settings. Aspects of reharmonization, voicing, scoring, part generation, and idiomatic instrumental and choral writing will be studied. Prerequisite: MUS 202.
MUS 306 Music Theory III: Commercial 3 Units
An introduction to modern harmonic relationships found in jazz, contemporary pop and worship music, focusing on chord structure and function, plural interior chords, scalar relationships, and jazz and pop notation. Students will apply these concepts through improvisation, arranging and composition. Prerequisite: MUS 202; concurrent enrollment in MUS 323 is strongly recommended.
MUS 307 Improvisation 2 Units
Students will study musical improvisation in jazz and popular music through analysis of the work of great soloists and the application of genre-specific melodic, harmonic and rhythmic concepts. Prerequisites: MUS 303 or MUS 306.
MUS 312 Brass Techniques 1 Unit
Basic techniques for playing, teaching, and maintaining brass instruments along with curricular concepts and materials for teaching beginning instrumentalists will be covered in this course. Prerequisites: Considerable musical experience, preferably instrumental, and consent of instructor. Offered alternate years.
MUS 313 Percussion Techniques 1 Unit
Basic techniques for playing, teaching, and maintaining percussion instruments will be covered in this course. Prerequisites: Considerable musical experience, preferably instrumental, and consent of instructor. Offered alternate years.
MUS 314 Woodwind Techniques 1 Unit
Basic techniques for playing, teaching, and maintaining woodwind instruments will be covered in this course. Prerequisites: Considerable musical experience, preferably instrumental, and consent of instructor. Offered alternate years.
MUS 315 String Techniques 1 Unit
Basic techniques for playing, teaching, and maintaining string instruments will be covered in this course. Prerequisites: Considerable musical experience, preferably instrumental, and consent of instructor. Offered alternate years.
MUS 316 Music Technology II 2 Units
A continuation of MUS 216, this course explores the process of creating music on a Digital Audio Workstation from initial set-up through final mixdown. Students will build sessions that include multi-track recordings of live audio, MIDI sequences and virtual instruments, and begin to apply basic editing techniques and commonly used effects such as EQ, compression, delay and reverb. Prerequisite: MUS 216 or consent of instructor.
MUS 323 Aural Skills III 1 Unit
Students will build upon sight singing and aural dictation skills learned in Aural Skills II. Rhythmic exercises include compound meter, duplets, and triplets. Melodic exercises continue work in the major mode and focus increasingly on the minor mode. Harmonic dictation moves through all diatonic triads and leading-tone seventh chords are introduced. Prerequisite: MUS 212.
MUS 324 Aural Skills IV 1 Unit
Students will build upon sight singing and aural dictation skills learned in Aural Skills III. Rhythmic exercises include mixed meter, hemiola, popular drum beat patterns and jazz rhythmic motives. Melodic exercises continue work in the church modes and focus increasingly on jazz scales. Harmonic dictation explores all diatonic triads, secondary dominant chords, popular chord progressions, and additional exploration of jazz harmonies. Prerequisite: MUS 323.
MUS 331 Music History I: Antiquity through Bach 3 Units
Survey the development of art music in Western history from antiquity through the baroque period, including the social functions of music and the relationship between secular and ecclesiastical, and vocal and instrumental music. Prerequisite: MUS 202 or consent of instructor.
MUS 332 Music History II: Classical Period through Early-Twentieth Century 3 Units
This survey course will examine the development of Western art music from the early classical period through the beginning of the twentieth century, including the social functions of music, the relationship between secular and ecclesiastical music, and vocal and instrumental music. Prerequisite: MUS 202 or consent of instructor.
MUS 352 Music of World Cultures 3 Units
This course will introduce students to the study of music as a universal cultural phenomenon and the discipline of ethnomusicology with exposure to the musical and social aspects of folk, traditional, and art music of regions from Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and North America. Experience in music is encouraged but not required.
MUS 376 Opera Workshop III 2 Units
In this course students will learn concepts of communication and character development through reading, research, and writing as they develop performance skills by participating in the opera chorus and singing solo roles.
MUS 382 Contemporary Worship Ensemble Leadership 3 Units
This course will study and apply worship band ensemble leadership principles including the development of an intentional leadership team; the audition process; rehearsal techniques for band and vocal teams; arranging and writing lead sheets and rhythm charts; and the role and direction of a praise choir, organization, and spiritual leadership. Prerequisites: THL 281 and THL 381 or consent of instructor. Offered alternate years.
MUS 390 Practicum: Music Leadership 1-2 Units
As a closely supervised introductory experience in directing musical ensembles, this course will assist students in classroom teaching or other approved music leadership activity. Prerequisites: Junior standing, completion of at least fifteen (15) units in music, an appropriate methods course, demonstrated music leadership ability, and consent of instructor.
MUS 391 Practicum: Church Music 0.5-2 Units
This is a supervised experience in leadership of campus worship music or preliminary field work in a Christian congregation. Taken in .5 unit increments.
MUS 392 Practicum: Composition 0.5-2 Units
This course fosters contextualized learning and practical skills through private composition study, mentoring, and ensemble performance. This course may be repeated for additional credit.
MUS 393 Practicum: Contemporary Ensemble Leadership 1 Unit
Contemporary Ensemble Leadership is a practicum designed to prepare the student for the effective leadership of jazz, pop, rock and worship ensembles. The class includes ensemble lab experience and individual coaching and instruction between the instructor and the student. The student may function as a member of the ensemble or as a non-playing ensemble leader. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
MUS 394 Practicum: Music Production 1-2 Units
Practical recording projects consisting of CUI ensembles and outside artists in the BMC Recording Studio and other venues on campus. Prerequisites: MUS 413 and MUS 416.
MUS 401 Advanced Studies in Music 3 Units
This course will be scheduled when there is adequate student interest in particular topics such as jazz, counterpoint, arranging for instrumental, choral or handbell groups, electronic music, music in particular cultures, a period of music history, or topics in music education. Prerequisites: Depends on the topic selected, but normally MUS 202 and one (1) music history course.
MUS 403 Instrumentation and Orchestration 3 Units
The course focuses on the practical and artistic aspects of scoring for large instrumental and choral ensembles. A significant portion of the class will be devoted to a study of the tonal and technical characteristics of band and orchestral instruments. Through class readings, score study, and composition-oriented projects, students will build competence in arranging and composing for large ensembles. Prerequisite: MUS 303.
MUS 404 Contemporary Music Theory 2 Units
An introduction to modern harmonic relationships found in jazz, contemporary pop and worship music, focusing on chord structure, spelling, inversions, plural interior chords, scalar relationships, and jazz and pop notation. Students will learn to create genre-specific improvised melodic and harmonic accompaniment from a lead sheet or rhythm section chart. Prerequisite: MUS 304.
MUS 405 Arranging in Popular Music 2 Units
The advanced application of arranging concepts in a popular music setting with an emphasis on the utilization of commonly used instrumental and vocal groupings and curating the arranging process through various stages including concept development, score preparation, rehearsal, programming, recording and performance. Prerequisites: MUS 305 and MUS 306.
MUS 412 Instrumental Methods and Repertoire 2 Units
This advanced instrumental music methods course will focus on repertoire, rehearsal management, advanced conducting issues and techniques, pedagogy, planning, and administration. Prerequisites: MUS 202 and MUS 222 or consent of the instructor. Offered alternate years.
MUS 413 Music Production 3 Units
Explores the leadership, collaborative and technical aspects of studio recording sessions. Prerequisite: MUS 316 or consent of instructor.
MUS 415 Advanced Recording Techniques 2 Units
The study and application of advanced recording techniques. Students will collaborate on a variety of recording and mixing projects with an emphasis on advanced microphone configurations and techniques, channel strip structure and application, gain staging and session management. Prerequisite: MUS 413.
MUS 416 Music Technology III 2 Units
A continuation of MUS 316, this course explores intermediate and advanced recording, programming, editing and production techniques in a project-based setting. Prerequisite: MUS 316 or consent of instructor.
MUS 417 MIDI and Synthesis 2 Units
This course explores the history and application of synthesizers in modern music. Students study the various types of synthesizers including subtractive synthesis, FM, sample-based synthesis and acoustic modeling. Prerequisite: MUS 316.
MUS 418 Audio Mastering and Post-Production 2 Units
This course explores the history and application of audio mastering and other commonly employed post production processes with emphasis on mastering components, proper monitoring, stereo imaging, phase correlation, corrective audio tools and delivery. Prerequisite: MUS 416.
MUS 430 History and Analysis of Modern Music 2 Units
Through reading, and discussion, students will understand the historical development of music in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and will apply theoretical and historical analysis to notated and improvised music in the popular, classical and sacred traditions. Prerequisites: MUS 304 and MUS 331 and MUS 332.
MUS 441 Handbell Methods and Repertoire 1-3 Units
This course will study the organization and directing of handbell programs. The one (1)-unit course includes a philosophy of handbell ringing, methods for beginning ringers, materials and equipment, recruitment, and handbell literature for school and church. The two (2)-unit course adds literature, curriculum, and methods for more advanced ringers, small ensembles, and solos. The three (3)-unit course adds work in composition and arranging for handbells as well as advanced conducting. Prerequisites for one (1) or two (2) units: Experience with handbell ringing and familiarity with musical notation; for the three (3)-unit course: MUS 202 and MUS 222.
MUS 442 Piano Pedagogy 2 Units
This course explores aspects of piano pedagogy, teaching techniques, and instructional materials appropriate for beginning and intermediate students through research, discussion, observation of private teaching studio, and reading. The course will also provide opportunities to apply these principles in practical piano teaching. Prerequisite: MUKP 201 or MUKP 301 or MUKP 401 or permission of instructor.
MUS 443 Piano Literature 2 Units
This course will inform students about the range and scope of piano repertoire. The course will study the pianist's standard repertoire from the Baroque to the present day, including elements of style, form, historical context, and stylistic characteristics of major composers. Prerequisite: MUKP 201 or MUKP 301 or MUKP 401.
MUS 461 Music for Children 2,3 Units
This course will enable students to identify, understand, and work with the music capabilities of children. This course is required for music education and liberal studies majors and others interested in developing school music curricula and/or other special skills and projects. Basic music reading ability and musical experience recommended.
MUS 462 Music in Secondary Schools 2 Units
This course will study the principles and practices for teaching music in secondary (middle and high) schools including philosophy, organization, curriculum development, and lesson-planning for general music. Prerequisite: MUS 461 (concurrent enrollment allowed); MUS 261 recommended.
MUS 471 Choral Methods and Repertoire 3 Units
This advanced choral music methods course will focus on repertoire, rehearsal management, advanced conducting techniques, vocal pedagogy, planning, and administration. Prerequisites: MUS 202 and MUS 222 or consent of instructor. Offered alternate years.
MUS 472 Vocal Pedagogy and Literature 3 Units
A survey of voice anatomy, acoustics, physiology, hygiene and vocal development. The course will explore teaching singers of various ages and selection of age-appropriate repertoire. Prerequisite: MUVO 201 or MUVO 301 or MUVO 401.
MUS 476 Opera Workshop IV 2 Units
In this course students will learn concepts of communication and character development through reading, research, and writing as they develop performance skills by participating in the opera chorus and singing solo roles and writing program notes related to their role.
MUS 482 Music Cultures: Musical Expression in Christianity 3 Units
This course will survey of the role, development, and function of music in the Christian church from its roots in the Old Testament to the present day, with attention given to biblical, theological, social, and cultural considerations. Offered alternate years.
MUS 483 A Survey of Christian Hymnody 3 Units
This is an historical survey course of Christian hymnody which will develop an awareness of the poetic, musical, theological, and spiritual aspects of hymnody for both congregational and devotional use. Offered alternate years.
MUS 484 Planning Music in Christian Worship 2 Units
A practical study of planning music within the worship service will be presented in this course as students draw upon their experiences in theology, worship, history, arranging, performance, and repertoire courses to create and evaluate worship forms in today's church. Prerequisite: THL 382.
MUS 485 Contemporary Christian Song 2 Units
This survey course that will look at the development and function of contemporary Christian music appropriate for use within both liturgical and non-liturgical worship services as students draw upon their experiences in theology, music, and worship courses and learn to select and evaluate contemporary music appropriate for a Lutheran-Christian worship context. Suggested Prerequisites: MUS 482 and MUS 483. Prerequisite: THL 382.
MUS 490 Internship: Music 1-6 Units
This is a culminating field experience course for students preparing for a professional career in music. Prerequisites: Music major with senior standing and all core courses completed.
MUS 493 Senior Thesis 1 Unit
The senior thesis is an opportunity for music students to engage in close reading, research, and writing on a musical topic of their choosing. This is an independent study, offered by arrangement with any full-time music faculty member. The senior thesis consists of a structured process leading to a finished academic paper of at least 10 pages.
MUS 498 Senior Project in Music 1 Unit
This course is recommended for students pursuing a music major with concentrations in church music, commercial music, and pre-teacher certification (see Mu_ 498). See also Senior Project Guidelines available in the Music Office. Prerequisites: MUS 290 and approval of senior project application.