Courses
MUS 10100 / Discovery Forum / 0 credits
Music Majors are required to attend a number of weekly events of their peers and faculty each semester for six semesters. Students receive a pass no pass grade in Discovery Forum depending upon the required number of Forums needed to pass. Students may substitute 2 semesters of performance in band, orchestra, choir or other approved ensembles for MUS 10100
MUS 11200 / Fundamentals of Music / 3 credits
Fundamentals of music notation, ear training, and music reading. No prerequisite.
MUS 13200 / Music Theory I / 3 credits
Course comprises instruction in melodic and harmonic processes in tonal music; development of analytic, listening and piano techniques with musical equipment. Music reading ability is required, verified through Placement Exam.
MUS 13300 / Music Theory II / 3 credits
A study of processes in diatonic tonal music, including 4-part voice leading, secondary dominants, embellishing tones, period forms, chord progressions and harmonization of melodies.
Prerequisite: MUS 13200 or Music Theory Placement Exam.
MUS 16100 / Class Piano And Musicianship I / 3 credits
A study of essential keyboard skills that include reading beginning level piano pieces, major and minor scales, transposition, sight reading and adding chords to a given melody. The musicianship includes essential aural skills: rhythmic dictation, interval and chord identification, and rhythmic and melodic dictation. No prerequisite.
MUS 16200 / Class Piano And Musicianship II / 3 credits
A continuation of MUS 16100 that include reading intermediate level piano pieces, sight reading, scales, transposition and adding chords to a melody. The musicianship component includes intermediate level aural skills, rhythmic and melodic dictation, intervals, choral and harmonic dictation. Prerequisite: MUS 16100 or consent of instructor.
MUS 17100 / Jazz Improvisation I / 2 credits
This course is an introduction to the development of beginning jazz improvisational and theoretical skills for all instrumentalists and vocalists. Fundamental theoretical and musicianship skills are addressed through practical application, guided listening, dictation, transcription, harmonic and rhythmic analysis, and performance of standard jazz repertoire.
MUS 23200 / Music Theory III / 3 credits
Analytic study of art music and popular music representative of diatonic and chromatic tonal processes. Activities include analytic reading of musical scores, developing musical listening skills, and acquiring functional piano techniques. Creative applications are encouraged.
MUS 23300 / Music Theory IV: Contemporary Music / 3 credits
A study of the music of the 20th century and beyond. Class activities are focused on analysis of music representative of various genres.
MUS 25000 / Music Appreciation / 3 credits
An introduction to classical music. Considerations of musical perception and musical elements are followed by a survey of masterpieces from the major time periods.
No previous musical training or experience is required.
MUS 27000 / Computer Skills in Music / 3 credits
Learn essential music technology skills that include computer-based music notation practices, fundamentals of music synthesis and sequencing and basic recording practices.
No prerequisite.
MUS 29200 / Music, Media, and Technology / 3 credits
This course explores the broad dimensions of technology and media as they impact the lives of music and society. Elements of recorded and live music making and performance will be analyzed. An attempt will be made to become more aware of other technologies that hold promise for performance, entertainment, and distribution. The end goal of this course is to have each student become a reflective music consumer, producer, and curator, curious about technological possibilities of media and music, willing to explore its many dimensions.
MUS 32400 / Teaching Music in the Elementary School / 3 credits
Develops basic musicianship through singing, playing instruments, reading and writing music, listening and moving to music. Surveys music teaching methods and materials. Includes lesson planning, experiences in teaching, and observation of children in music classes.
MUS 34100 / Music Composition I / 3 credits
Learn essential musical composition skills common in the 20th and 21st Centuries through various writing and analytical projects.
MUS 34200 / Music Composition II / 3 credits
A continuation of Music Composition I with emphasis upon musical techniques after WWII through various writing and analytical assignments. Permission of instructor required.
MUS 34500 / History of Rock Music / 3 credits
This course is a survey of the major trends, styles, and genres of rock music from the earliest recordings to the present day. It focuses on the work of the artists and groups who have proven to have the most enduring significance.
MUS 35100 / Studio Piano / 2 credits
Students will study and perform selected piano or digital keyboard literature with the focus on improving their technical and interpretive performance skills. Students will also learn about particular historical, analytical or technical issues related to work(s) studied. Prerequisite: MUS 16200 or consent of instructor.
MUS 35200 / Studio Voice / 2 credits
Students will study and perform selected works for voice from a wide range of styles, and genres within a masterclass setting. The instructor will demonstrate important issues related to voice performance and work with the students in both private and group settings. Students will be required to perform works in class. This course may be repeated.
MUS 37600 / World Music / 3 credits
Exploration of musical traditions around the globe through lectures, readings, recordings, DVDs, and performances. Students will discover how cultural traditions, life rituals, arts, and other traditions influence each region's expression of music.
MUS 37800 / Jazz History / 3 credits
An historical and stylistic study of jazz.
MUS 38100 / Music History I: Antiquity to Mozart / 3 credits
Survey of the development of Western European music history from Antiquity through Mozart. Prerequisite: MUS 13200 or consent of instructor.
MUS 38200 / Music History II: Beethoven to the Present / 3 credits
Survey of the development of Western European music history from Beethoven to the present. Prerequisite: MUS 13200 or consent of instructor.
MUS 38300 / Digital Audio Recording & Production I / 3 credits
This course is an introduction to digital audio recording and production practices. Topics covered will include design and structure of sound studios, musical sequencing and recording, microphones, fundamentals of sound reinforcement, and sound editing. Students will be required to develop music recording projects.
MUS 38400 / Digital Audio Recording & Production II / 3 credits
This course is a continuation of MUS 38300, Digital Audio Recording and Production I. Topics covered will include advanced musical sequencing, multitrack audio recording, audio signal processing, mixing, mastering and advanced audio and digital production. Students will be required to develop music recording and production projects.
MUS 49000 / Guided Reading in Music / 1-6 credits
Intensive individualized study of a particular aspect of music as guided by an instructor. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
MUS 49000 / Studio Cello and Double Bass / 2 credits
For students with specialized needs and interests in the field. Permission of instructor required.
MUS 49000 / Violin and Viola / 2 credits
For students with specialized needs and interests in the field. Permission of instructor required.
Section information text:
Please include your previous violin/viola experience in request.
MUS 49000 / Sound AI / 3 credits
In this course, we will introduce students to the intersection of AI and sound, covering music, acoustics, audio, and sonic signals. The lectures will begin with a quick review of acoustics and digital signal processing, followed by an introduction to deep learning, data preparation and processing, dataset development, model development and training, and neural networks. Relevant topics, including salient feature extraction, spectral and time-domain sound analysis, sound/music visualization, and real-time audio signal processing, will also be covered. The course incorporates the study of non-musical sound, with a specific focus on soundscapes or environmental sound, examining the distinction between sound and noise, and exploring smart sound sensor networks and sound-mapping. Topics covered will include convolutional neural networks (CNN), recurrent neural networks (RNN), clustering, generative AI, Markov Chains, and other relevant machine and AI concepts, as time permits. We will primarily use MATLAB and TensorFlow, along with TensorFlow.js, but will also utilize other tools and libraries as time allows, including Pd and other computer music software such as Supercollider, as well as the music information retrieval (MIR) library.
MUS 49000 / Electronic Music History / 3 credits
Electronic Music History explores how electronics and technological advancements have shaped the creation, performance, listening, sharing, and engagement of music professionals and enthusiasts. Our journey spans from the early 1900s to the present day, revealing connections between seemingly disparate areas. Beginning in the early 1900s, we establish a link between a 'KGB agent' and Led Zeppelin's iconic track 'Whole Lotta Love.' We then delve into how cutting-edge research in telecommunication at Bell Labs laid the groundwork for the ubiquitous auto-tune technology in modern music. In another segment, we draw parallels between Radiohead’s legendary 'Idioteque' and concepts such as sampling, looping, and the academic institutions once home to guitarist Stanley Jordan – exploring its connection to Meyer Lanksy, referenced in the classic movie 'The Godfather.' Through narratives and technological innovations – encompassing groundbreaking tools like the Yamaha DX 7, Synclavier, Digital Audio Workstations, Max/MSP, Supercollider, Ableton, generative AI, and many others – alongside musical experimentation and advancements, students will embark on a journey through 124 years of music history. They will engage with its past and present, spanning popular and lesser-known genres, all viewed through the lens of electronics and technological innovations.
MUS 49000 / Choral Conducting / 1-6
Intensive individualized study of a particular aspect of music as guided by an instructor. Designed for graduate students and upper-division undergraduates. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
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The Department of Music offers credit by exam for MUS 13200 (Music Theory I – 3 credits). Students who are interested in taking the MUS 13200 Proficiency Exam should consult with their academic advisor and then contact the Department of Music (765.494.3708) to schedule and take the exam. For additional information, contact rueffmusic@groups.purdue.ed