Undergraduate Music Course Offerings
 

PERF-110/110G
Understanding Music (3)
An introduction to musical language through listening and comprehension. The fundamentals of acoustics, melody, harmony, form, texture, and color in a wide range of music from ancient and global music to European concert music. Includes listening and concert attendance requirements. Usually offered every term.

  PERF-120
Music Fundamentals (3)
Introductory study of musical notation and theory including rhythm, intervals, scales, keys, chords, and musical forms. Usually offered every fall.
  PERF-124
Harmony I (3)
The principles of part-writing and harmonic progression through compositional and analytical work in which students harmonize given melodies or basses. Materials are limited to tonal music, triads and seventh chords with their inversions, cadences, harmonic progression, and simple modulations. Usually offered alternate falls. Prerequisite: PERF-120 or equivalent experience in music.
  PERF-125
Harmony II (3)
A continuation of part-writing and harmonic progression through compositional and analytical work. Materials include more complex structures, chromatically altered chords, and modulation to distant keys. Usually offered alternate springs. Prerequisite: PERF-124.
  PERF-142
University Chorus (1)
May be repeated for credit; different repertoire is assumed. Prepares and presents major works of choral literature. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: audition.
  PERF-143
Chamber Singers (2)
May be repeated for credit; different repertoire is assumed. Small, highly select, traveling choral ensemble which presents both sacred and secular programs. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: audition.
  PERF-144
University Orchestra (1)
May be repeated for credit; different repertoire is assumed. Concerts, sight-reading, and study of selected compositions. Open to all students, faculty, and staff. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: audition.
  PERF-145
Instrumental Ensembles (1)
May be repeated for credit; different repertoire is assumed. String, mixed, and wind ensembles, pep band, and jazz ensemble. Open to students, faculty, and staff. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: audition.
 

PERF-205/205G
Masterpieces of Music (3)
Listening to and analyzing masterpieces of Western music from the Middle Ages to the present day. The course includes a variety of genres and styles with background study into the historical era and particular composers. Usually offered every spring.

  PERF-210/210G
Greatness in Music (3)
Study of the concept and meaning of greatness in music through the Western classical canon, world music, vernacular and popular music, and performance. Readings and lectures examine the aesthetic criteria for greatness in each area and offer students an opportunity to evaluate and critique diverse genres of music. Course readings are drawn not only from music but also other arts. Usually offered every fall.
  PERF-215/215G
Opera on Stage and Film (3)
Classics of operatic repertoire. Through readings, viewing videotapes, and attending live productions, students confront the literary sources, dramatic and musical structures, cultural forces, and the social, political, and historical environments that shaped the works and gave them life. Usually offered every spring.
  PERF-227
Musicianship I (3)
The practical techniques of reading, hearing, sight singing, playing, and conducting simple (diatonic) musical materials and the methods by which those tasks are accomplished. Includes lab work in keyboard skills, conducting, score reading, and improvisation. Usually offered every fall. Prerequisite: PERF-120 or equivalent musical experience.
 

PERF-228
Musicianship II (3)
The continuation of reading, sight singing, playing, and conducting scores into chromatic and modal materials. Includes lab work in keyboard skills, conducting, score reading, and improvisation. Usually offered every spring. Prerequisite: PERF-227 or equivalent musical experience.

  PERF-322
History of Music I: From Antiquity to 1700 (3)
Music in Western civilization from ancient times to the eighteenth century, including a brief survey of primitive and oriental music. Illustrated with slides and recordings. Usually offered alternate falls. Prerequisite: ability to read music notation.
  PERF-323
History of Music II: From 1700 to the Present (3)
Music in Western civilization from the eighteenth century to the present. Illustrated with slides and recordings. Usually offered alternate springs. Prerequisite: ability to follow a musical score.
  PERF-324
Form and Analysis (3)
Exploration of the structural principles of tonal music from the Baroque to the early twentieth century. Examines the interaction of harmony and melody in form. Includes sonata, rondo, song form, and binaries. Usually offered alternate falls. Prerequisite: PERF-125.
  PERF-325
Counterpoint (3)
The study of contrapuntal writing from tonal sources including the invention, chorale-prelude, and fugue through analysis and composition of examples. Also includes invertible counterpoint and canon. Usually offered alternate springs. Prerequisite: PERF-324.
  PERF-331
Music Technology I (3)
Familiarizes students with the creative use of new sound technology (synthesizers, computers, etc.). The course covers, with hands-on experience, the techniques applied in music composition and/or performance on an elementary level. Usually offered alternate falls.
  PERF-332
Music Technology II (3)
A continuation of PERF-331. Covers the principles of electronic music composition and analysis of performance styles. The course focuses on actual composition and performance of works created by students. Usually offered alternate springs. Prerequisite: PERF-331.
  PERF-415
Psychology of Music (3)
This interdisciplinary course focuses on the cognitive processing of music--how it is sensed, perceived, remembered, and interpreted at both micro and macro levels. Includes music therapy, performance anxiety, developmental and cross-cultural perspectives, and neurological aspects. Meets with PSYC-415. Prerequisite: PERF-120 or equivalent music experience and two psychology courses.
  PERF-526
Orchestration (3)
Scoring for various chamber ensembles and full orchestra. Analysis of the orchestration of composers from the classical era to the present. Usually offered alternate falls. Prerequisite: PERF-324, which may be taken concurrently.
  PERF-535
Studies in Music History (3)
Topics vary by section, may be repeated for credit with different topic. Concentration in an area such as opera, non-Western music, or performance practices.
 

MUS-021
Private Instrument (0)
Students may enroll in noncredit private study for voice, piano, organ, guitar, or other orchestral instruments, for 1/2 hour per week. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: permission of department chair.

  MUS-022
Private Instrument (0)
Students may enroll in noncredit private study for voice, piano, organ, guitar, or other orchestral instruments, for one hour per week. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: permission of department chair.
  MUS-100
Class Instrumental Study (1)
May be repeated for credit for a second semester at a more advanced level. Beginning study in piano or guitar. Prepares the beginning student for private study. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: permission of department.
  MUS-101
Class Vocal Study (1)
May be repeated for a second semester at a more advanced level. Basic principles of singing. Prepares the beginning student for private study, for more effective choral singing, etc. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: permission of department.
  MUS-121
Private Instrumental or Vocal Study (1)
May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor; different repertoire is assumed. Students may enroll in private study for voice, piano, organ, guitar, or other orchestral instruments. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: MUS-100 (piano), MUS-101 (voice), or permission of instructor.
  MUS-122
Private Instrumental or Vocal Study (2)
May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor; different repertoire assumed. Students may enroll in private study for voice, piano, organ, guitar, other orchestral instruments, conducting, or composition. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: permission of department.
  MUS-334
Junior Recital (4)
Junior performance honors. Full recital required. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: audition and permission of department chair.
  MUS-434
Senior Recital (4)
Senior performance honors. Full recital required. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: audition and permission of department chair.
  MUS-791
Private Instrumental or Vocal Study (1)
May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor; different repertoire is assumed. Students may enroll in private study for voice, piano, organ, guitar, or other orchestral instruments. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
  MUS-792
Private Instrumental or Vocal Study (2)
May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor; different repertoire assumed. Students may enroll in private study for voice, piano, organ, guitar, other orchestral instruments, conducting, or composition. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: permission of department.
   
   

 

Department of Performing Arts, College of Arts and Sciences, American University
4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016-8053
[phone] 202-885-3420 [fax] 202-885-1092

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