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Department of Music College of Arts and Sciences

Alternative Track: Music (Instrumental)

Students may complete no more than five approved program courses prior to unconditional admission to the Alternative Master's Program.

Core Courses

All students are required to take 11 core courses.

  • MU 502: Methods of Teaching Music

    Teaching music in the elementary school environment. Investigation of critical elements in the teaching and learning process as related to music in grades N-6. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor. 3 hours.

  • MU 521: Foundations of Graduate Study in Music

    Examines the history and contemporary philosophy of music education in the public schools. Curriculum development, conceptual teaching, basic bibliographic and research techniques, and evaluation of the music program, with an emphasis on psychology of music as applied to contemporary music instruction in public schools will be examined in detail. 3 hours

  • MU 530: Instrumental Methods and Materials

    A study of the instrumental music environment, with an emphasis on administrative topics, materials and literature. 3 hours.

  • ECY 600: Introduction to Exceptional Learners

    An overview of exceptionality as it pertains to children and adults. Both high and low incidence populations will be examined. Each area of exceptionality will be reviewed in terms of etiology, diagnosis, prevalence, remediation, and educational strategies. 3 hours.

  • EDU 500: Education as Profession

    Formal introduction to the Teacher Education Program (TEP). Using writing and discussion, the class provides a clear and realistic understanding of issues involved in choosing education as a career. Writing is a significant component of this course (QEP). 3 hours.

  • EDR 551: Reading in the Content Area

    Application of principles of reading process to content-area materials and instruction. Designed for elementary, middle, and high school pre-service teachers. Extensive field experience required. Admission to TEP required.3 hours.

  • EHS 597: Special Problems in Education: Diversity

    Topics of current interest. May be repeated for total of 6 hours.

  • EHS 600: Secondary Education Curriculum

    Aims, principles, and philosophies of music; various methods of teaching in secondary schools for both non-performance music classes and instrumental and vocal activities. Laboratory includes direct method application in secondary music classrooms. 3 hours.

  • EHS 690: Internship Seminar in Secondary Education

    Capstone course. Students will demonstrate the skills expected of a professional music educator. This course is a supervised teaching course where the student is expected solve problems in all issues related to classroom management, assessment, and music making. Included in the assessment will be the creation of professional documents, appropriate budgets, and supervised teaching experiences. 3 hours.

  • EMU 691: Internship in Music Education

    Supervised capstone teaching experience in grades N-12 as appropriate to student's teaching field (general music, instrumental music, or vocal/choral music). 3 hours.

  • EPR 510: Measurement and Evaluation

    Basic concepts and principles of measurement and evaluation of personal and academic progress in classroom. Elementary descriptive statistics and measurement techniques used in student evaluation. Quantitative literacy is a significant component of this course (QEP). 3 hours

Teaching Field

At least 1/3 of the program shall be in teaching field courses. Coursework in the teaching field requires 500 level or above courses as approved by the advisor. 

Students must take:

  • MU 629: Music Research - A study of music research, including both qualitative and quantitative techniques. An introduction to research journals, traditional and electronic sources of information, and study development. 3 hours.
  • MU 615: Technology for Music Instruction - Explores ongoing innovations in technology as applied to music instruction. Application of computer based technology as applied to contemporary music instruction in public schools will be examined in detail. 3 hours.

Choose 3 hours from the following Music Theory:

  • MU 545: Modal Counterpoint - Characteristics of vocal polyphonic writing based on modal scales with emphasis on the style of Palestrina and other Renaissance composers. 3 hours.
  • MU 548: Orchestration - Subjects covered include instrument construction and acoustics, range notation, and terminology. Basic principles and techniques of writing for orchestral and wind instruments. Guidelines are provided regarding writing for instruments for special effects. It is appropriate for students who have completed a thorough study of music theory desiring more advanced work in arranging, composing, conducting, and analyzing instrumental music. 3 hours.
  • MU 555: Form and Analysis - Principles and techniques of organization in tonal music and introduction to analytical methods. For students who have completed a thorough study of music theory desiring more advanced work in analyzing representative musical literature. 3 hours.
  • MU 558: Contemporary Techniques - Techniques and materials employed in contemporary music, including nonfunctional and nontertian harmony, polyharmony, atonal and serial music, contemporary notation. 3 hours.

Choose 3 hours from the following Music History:

  • MU 561: Seminar in Music Literature - Selected topics concerning specific periods, genres, and forms. May be repeated for credit. 3 hours.
  • MU 564: American Music - Explores sacred music in the colonies, Anglo-American music in oral tradition, the African slave and his music in America, Stephen Foster, Shape-note hymnody, the rise of classical music in America, jazz, and the American avant-garde. 3 hours.
  • MU 566: Music in World Cultures - Characteristics of musical styles found in various cultures throughout the world. 3-hour option requires semester project directed by the instructor. 3 hours.

Choose 2 hours in student's chosen field from Applied Music:

  • Voice
  • Piano
  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • Clarinet
  • Saxophone
  • Bassoon
  • Trumpet
  • French Horn
  • Trombone
  • Euphonium
  • Tuba
  • Percussion
  • Violin
  • Viola
  • Cello
  • Bass

Choose 2 hours in student's chose field from Music Ensembles:

  • MUP 520: Concert Choir - Performs choral music representing a variety of periods and styles. Some sight-reading ability necessary. May be repeated for credit. 1 hour.
  • MUP 535: Wind Symphony - Performs finest concert band literature. Open to students of all majors. May be repeated for credit. 1 hour.
  • MUP 536: Jazz Ensemble - Performs classic and contemporary jazz, swing, and rhythm and blues. May be repeated for credit. 1 hour.

Questions?

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