Music
October 17, 2023 2024-03-27 22:54Music
The music program at Rocky Mountain College offers degrees in music education and music performance with concentrations in vocal, instrumental, and piano studies, all fully integrated in the liberal arts tradition. Students receive comprehensive training in music theory, history, ear training, pedagogy, and piano study along with instruction in solo and ensemble performance. The music program strives to develop disciplined musicians, teachers, and performers through coaching in private lessons and in the classroom. The music education degree, taken in conjunction with the fulfillment of state education requirements, qualifies graduates to teach choral and instrumental music in P-12 grades. The performance curriculum prepares students for graduate study or entrepreneurial activity in performance or private teaching.
Rocky Mountain College offers all students the opportunity to participate in musical activities available within the department. Students in all majors are encouraged to participate in ensembles and private voice or instrumental instruction. The music minor is available to students in other disciplines looking to continue their previous musical instruction or expand their musical knowledge.
Major Learning Outcomes
Music Performance
Students who graduate with a major in music performance will be able to:
- Perform solo repertoire at a high artistic level;
- Perform ensemble literature at a high artistic level;
- Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of musical notation and language;
- Demonstrate aural perception skills to distinguish tonal and temporal relationships;
- Demonstrate proficiency on piano in technique and musicality including scales, chord progressions, transposition, harmonization, and solo and accompanying repertoire;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the elements of music including melody, harmony, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, form, and style;
- Analyze music aurally and visually in terms of musical elements;
- Identify music stylistically and place it in a historical context.
Instrumental Concentration
A minimum of 59 semester hours is required, including:
MUS 020: Recital Attendance (6 semesters)
MUS 030: Junior Recital
MUS 040: Senior Recital
MUS 111: Theory I
MUS 112: Theory II
MUS 141: Musicianship I
MUS 142: Musicianship II
MUS 201: Music Through the Centuries I
MUS 202: Music Through the Centuries II
MUS 211: Theory III
MUS 212: Theory IV
MUS 241: Musicianship III
MUS 242: Musicianship IV
MUS 311: Counterpoint
MUS 325: Instrumental Methods I
MUS 326: Instrumental Methods II
MUS 361: Form and Analysis
MUS 402: Conducting
Twelve semester hours of applied study on a primary instrument (four semester hours of MUS 251/MUS 252 and eight semester hours of MUS 351/MUS 352), two semester hours of either MUS 396 (in an instrumental chamber group) or MUS 376 (in a professional or community group as approved by the music faculty), and eight semester hours of ensemble participation with at least six semester hours in concert band.
Piano Concentration
A minimum of 57 semester hours is required, including:
MUS 020: Recital Attendance (6 semesters)
MUS 030: Junior Recital
MUS 040: Senior Recital
MUS 111: Theory I
MUS 112: Theory II
MUS 141: Musicianship I
MUS 142: Musicianship II
MUS 201: Music Through the Centuries I
MUS 202: Music Through the Centuries II
MUS 211: Theory III
MUS 212: Theory IV
MUS 241: Musicianship III
MUS 242: Musicianship IV
MUS 311: Counterpoint
MUS 320: Pedagogy and Literature of Piano
MUS 321: Accompanying I
MUS 322: Accompanying II
MUS 361: Form and Analysis
MUS 402: Conducting
Twelve semester hours of applied study in piano (four semester hours of MUS 251/MUS 252 and eight semester hours of MUS 351/MUS 352) and eight semester hours of ensemble participation in either concert choir or concert band.
Vocal Concentration
A minimum of 59 semester hours is required including:
MUS 020: Recital Attendance (6 semesters)
MUS 030: Junior Recital
MUS 040: Senior Recital
MUS 111: Theory I
MUS 112: Theory II
MUS 141: Musicianship I
MUS 142: Musicianship II
MUS 201: Music Through the Centuries I
MUS 202: Music Through the Centuries II
MUS 211: Theory III
MUS 212: Theory IV
MUS 241: Musicianship III
MUS 242: Musicianship IV
MUS 311: Counterpoint
MUS 319: Pedagogy of Voice
MUS 361: Form and Analysis
MUS 364: Diction I
MUS 365: Diction II
MUS 402: Conducting
Twelve semester hours of applied study in voice (four semester hours of MUS 251/MUS 252 and eight semester hours of MUS 351/MUS 352), one semester hour of either MUS 395 (in a vocal chamber group) or MUS 375 (in a professional or community group as approved by the music faculty), and eight semester hours of ensemble participation with at least six semester hours in concert choir.
Major in P-12 Vocal and Instrumental Music Education
A minimum of 59 semester hours is required, including:
MUS 020: Recital Attendance (6 semesters)
MUS 030: Junior Recital
MUS 040: Senior Recital
MUS 111: Theory I
MUS 112: Theory II
MUS 140: Introduction to Music of the World’s Peoples
MUS 141: Musicianship I
MUS 142: Musicianship II
MUS 153: Beginning Group Guitar
MUS 201: Music Through the Centuries I
MUS 202: Music Through the Centuries II
MUS 211: Theory III
MUS 212: Theory IV
MUS 241: Musicianship III
MUS 242: Musicianship IV
MUS 402: Conducting
Eight semesters in applied study, six of which must be on voice or a single instrument, and eight semester hours in ensemble participation.
Courses in Music Education:
MUS 319: Pedagogy of Voice
MUS 325: Instrumental Methods I
MUS 326: Instrumental Methods II
MUS 344: Methods and Materials: Teaching General Music in the Elementary School
MUS 415: Methods and Materials: Teaching Music in the Secondary School
Music education majors must complete the professional education program for P-12 teaching as described in the “Education” section of the catalog.
Minor Learning Outcomes
Students who graduate with a minor in music will be able to:
- Perform ensemble literature at a high artistic level;
- Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of common practice musical notation and language;
- Demonstrate aural perception skills in sight singing, dictation, and identification or intervals and chord qualities;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the elements of music, including melody, harmony, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, form, and style;
- Identify music stylistically and place it in the proper historical context.
Minor in Music
A minimum of 25 semester hours is required (with six semester hours in upper-division courses), including:
MUS 020: Recital Attendance (3 semesters)
MUS 111: Theory I
MUS 112: Theory II
MUS 141: Musicianship I
MUS 142: Musicianship II
MUS 201: Music Through the Centuries I
MUS 202: Music Through the Centuries II
Four semester hours of applied study in voice or a principal instrument, four semester hours of participation in concert band or concert choir (or a combination of the two), and an upper-division music elective.
Piano Proficiency Requirement
Music education and performance majors must pass a piano proficiency exam as a graduation requirement. Elements of the exam include, but are not limited to, major and minor scales, chord progressions, score reading, transposition, harmonization, accompanying voice and instrumental repertoire, accompanying choral literature, and playing solo repertoire. A piano placement exam will be given to each music major to determine placement within either the class piano sequence or private instruction as appropriate to the student and at the instructor’s discretion. The proficiency exam is given after the four-semester class piano sequence or as appropriate for students in private lessons.
Primary Instrument or Voice Study
All music majors are required be enrolled in private lessons during each semester of study. A minimum of eight semester hours of MUS 251, MUS 252, MUS 351, or MUS 352 are required, of which, six semester hours must be completed on a primary instrument or voice and registered for under the same section number, regardless of course number. Music minors are required to complete four semester hours of private lessons and are not required to have a primary instrument or voice.
Performance Requirements
All music majors must participate in at least one performing ensemble in each semester of enrollment. No more than eight semester hours of ensemble credit may be applied to the major. Music education majors must complete a minimum of two semester hours in the concert choir and a minimum of two semester hours in the concert band. Music performance majors must perform a junior and senior recital on their primary instruments or voice after passing a recital hearing for the music faculty. This recital hearing should be done no less than four weeks before the intended recital date. Half recitals will be comprised of 30 minutes of music (actual playing time, not the length of the event) and full recitals will be comprised of 50 minutes of music. Music education majors will complete a half junior and a half senior recital. Music performance majors with a vocal, instrumental, or piano concentration will complete a half junior recital and a full senior recital.
Juries
Music majors and minors will be required to perform an end-of-semester jury in each semester of enrollment in either MUS 251, MUS 252, MUS 351, or MUS 352, unless a junior or senior recital is given in that semester.
Upper-Division Qualification
Admission to upper-division applied lessons and courses requires the passing of an upper-division qualification on the music major’s respective instrument or voice at the end of the sophomore year. This is done during the week of final exams. Each degree and concentration has its own requirements for achieving upper-division standing.
Recital Attendance
Music majors and minors are required to attend all music department recitals in each semester of enrollment. Included are student junior and senior recitals, faculty recitals, departmental recitals, and guest recitals and lectures. Attendance is monitored through MUS 020, which must be passed successfully a total of six semesters/times by all music majors.
MUS 020 – Recital Attendance
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 0
Music majors and minors are required to attend all departmental recitals throughout their program of study. Music majors and minors enrolled in MUS 111, MUS 112, MUS 201, and MUS 202 co-enroll in MUS 020. Written reviews are required.
MUS 030 – Junior Recital
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 0
Junior recital.
MUS 040 – Senior Recital
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 0
Senior recital.
MUS 101 – Introduction to Music
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3
This course provides a historical overview of the way music has developed in Western culture. It is designed for non-music majors and begins with the elements and principles of music, including notation, rhythm, melody, harmony, color, texture, and form. Students will develop listening skills and study selected pieces of music from a variety of periods in history to learn how they relate to the culture in which they were created. This course is not applicable to music major requirements, but it may be used to satisfy core curriculum requirements.
MUS 111 – Theory I
Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
This course examines the fundamental elements of music – melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic – through hearing, playing, and writing of theoretical material. Music majors and minors must concurrently enroll in MUS 141. Music majors must concurrently enroll in the appropriate piano course as outlined in the “Piano Study” section.
MUS 112 – Theory II
Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
This course examines the fundamental elements of music – melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic – through hearing, playing, and writing of theoretical material. Aural perception of scales, intervals, and rhythmic patterns is developed further.
Prerequisite: MUS 111
Corequisite: MUS 142, if the prerequisites for that course have been met
MUS 131 – Class Piano I
Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 1
This course is designed for the student with little to no previous piano experience. It introduces the keyboard, music reading in treble and bass clef, and basic rhythm, theory, and technique. Students play easy repertoire pieces, harmonization, transposition, scales, and chord progressions. This course is designed for music majors to facilitate the piano proficiency exam and is open to non-majors, space permitting.
MUS 132 – Class Piano II
Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 1
This course is a continuation of MUS 131.
Prerequisite: MUS 131 or consent of the instructor
MUS 140 – Introduction to Music of the World’s Peoples
Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
This course is an introduction to music from non-Western civilizations, including music from Montana, and is designed for both the non-music major and music education major. Students study how people make music in other cultures and how the product often becomes a basis of culture. In addition, students will develop listening skills and study selected pieces of music from a variety of geographic areas. This course is a requirement for music education majors, music minors, and can be used to satisfy core curriculum requirements.
MUS 141 – Musicianship I
Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 1
Students develop skills in comprehensive musicianship through a variety of exercises in listening, dictation, sight-singing, and keyboard. Music majors and minors must concurrently enroll in MUS 111.
MUS 142 – Musicianship II
Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 1
Students develop skills in comprehensive musicianship through a variety of exercises in listening, dictation, sight-singing, and keyboard.
Prerequisite: MUS 111 and MUS 141
MUS 153 – Beginning Group Guitar
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 1
Group guitar is designed to acquaint the student with the basic knowledge of fretted guitar performance. Emphasis is placed on learning to tune and care for the instrument and acquiring the basic skills necessary to accompany folk songs and children’s songs.
MUS 201 – Music Through the Centuries I
Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
This course provides a study of Western music history and literature from the medieval world through the cultural milieu of the Renaissance and Baroque eras.
MUS 202 – Music Through the Centuries II
Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
This course provides a study of Western music history and literature from the Rococo through contemporary compositional trends.
MUS 204 – History of Jazz
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3
Students examine the evolution of jazz from its roots to contemporary trends. This course may be taken either at the lower-division or the upper-division level, but not both.
MUS 205 – History of Rock
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3
Students study rock and roll from its roots in blues through its social and musical evolution to the present day. Period context, performer personality, and extensive recorded examples constitute the course content. This course may be taken either at the lower-division or the upper-division level, but not both.
MUS 211 – Theory III
Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
Students are trained in more advanced melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic aspects of music through hearing, playing, and writing. Further ear training and sight-singing of scales, harmonies, and intricacies are developed.
Prerequisite: MUS 112
MUS 212 – Theory IV
Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
Students are trained in more advanced melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic aspects of music through hearing, playing, and writing. Further ear training and sight-singing of scales, harmonies, and intricacies are developed.
Prerequisite: MUS 211
MUS 215 – Creativity
Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
This course approaches creativity as a skill to develop, not as a magical gift bestowed on a few select people. The last three weeks of the course will be devoted to a large-scale project in an area chosen by the student at the time of registration. Two important elements of the course involve a specific style of journaling and a weekly artist’s date. Through the activities in this course, students will bring a higher degree of creativity to their daily lives. This course may be taken either at the lower-division level or at the upper-division level, but not both. This course is cross-listed with ART 215.
MUS 218 – Jazz Theory and Improvisation
Semester: Fall; Odd years
Semester hours: 2
A performance-oriented course providing a basic understanding of jazz harmony, improvisation, and performance practice. Work in the course includes transcription and small ensemble playing. Open to all instrumentalists with prior experience on keyboard, woodwind, brass, strings, guitar, or pitched percussion (xylophone and vibraphone).
MUS 231 – Class Piano III
Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 1
This course is a continuation of MUS 132.
Prerequisite: MUS 132 or consent of the instructor
MUS 232 – Class Piano IV
Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 1
This course is a continuation of MUS 231. The piano proficiency exam is administered at the end of this course.
Prerequisite: MUS 232 or consent of the instructor
MUS 241 – Musicianship III
Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 1
Students develop skills in comprehensive musicianship through a variety of exercises in listening, dictation, sight-singing, and keyboard.
MUS 242 – Musicianship IV
Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 1
Students develop skills in comprehensive musicianship through a variety of exercises in listening, dictation, sight-singing, and keyboard.
MUS 251 – Applied Music
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 1
Private vocal and instrumental lessons are offered for music majors, music minors, and non-music majors. In the area of instrumental music, instruction is offered on wind instruments, strings, percussion, and keyboards. Majors and minors register for 200-level lessons prior to completion of upper-division qualification. Non-music majors register at the 200-level. Students who enroll in MUS 251 receive 13 half-hour lessons. Specific lesson requirements for each major are listed in the descriptions of the major.
MUS 252 – Applied Music
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 2
Private vocal and instrumental lessons are offered for music majors, music minors, and non-music majors. In the area of instrumental music, instruction is offered on wind instruments, strings, percussion, and keyboards. Majors and minors register for 200-level lessons prior to completion of upper-division qualification. Non-music majors register at the 200-level. Students who enroll in MUS 252 receive 13 one-hour lessons or 26 half-hour lessons. Specific lesson requirements for each major are listed in the descriptions of the major.
MUS 271 – Concert Choir
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 1
The Rocky Mountain College Concert Choir is dedicated to the study and performance of choral literature. Repertoire will be selected from the history of Western choral music as well as contemporary literature and music from a global perspective. Although there is no prerequisite, students are expected to have had prior high school or collegiate experience in performing ensembles. Three semesters of concert band or concert choir will fulfill one three-credit fine arts core curriculum requirement.
MUS 283 – Concert Band
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 1
The Rocky Mountain College Concert Band is dedicated to the study and performance of wind ensemble literature. Repertoire will be selected from the traditions of Western instrumental music and include music composed from a global perspective. In addition, the ensemble will perform at a limited number of athletic events as a pep band. Students should have prior performing experience at the high school- or college-level on their instrument. Those who have not played in a high school or collegiate ensemble will need to complete an audition to enroll in the course. Three semesters of concert band or concert choir will fulfill one three-credit fine arts core curriculum requirement.
Prerequisite: prior performing experience on the student’s instrument
MUS 286 – Jazz Ensemble
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 1
The jazz ensemble is dedicated to the study and performance of jazz literature and jazz improvisation. Repertoire will be selected from the global history of jazz. Although there is no prerequisite, students are expected to have had prior high school or collegiate experience in performing ensembles. Membership is by permission of professor.
MUS 293 – Symphony Orchestra
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 1
Students participate in the Billings Symphony Orchestra under College supervision. Admission is only by audition and by contract with the Symphony. Auditions are typically held in the early spring before the concert season begins in the autumn.
MUS 295 – Chamber Ensemble
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 1
Selected groups such as brass, woodwind, string, vocal, instrumental, piano, percussion, or other mixed combinations form with the intention of performing a specific musical genre.
MUS 299 – Directed Reading
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 1-3
This course allows a student to devise and pursue independent study in an area agreed upon in consultation with, and supervised by, a faculty member. Students should be either a major or minor and have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or greater.
MUS 304 – History of Jazz
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3
For music majors. Students examine the evolution of jazz from its roots to contemporary trends. This course may be taken either at the lower-division or the upper-division level, but not both.
MUS 305 – History of Rock
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3
For music majors. Students study rock and roll from its roots in blues through its social and musical evolution to the present day. Period context, performer personality, and extensive recorded examples constitute the course content. This course may be taken either at the lower-division or the upper-division level, but not both.
MUS 311 – Counterpoint
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3
This course emphasizes the reading and writing of polyphony, based on 16th-century contrapuntal techniques.
Prerequisite: MUS 212
MUS 315 – Creativity
Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
This course approaches creativity as a skill to develop, not as a magical gift bestowed on a few select people. The last three weeks of the course will be devoted to a large-scale project in an area chosen by the student at the time of registration. Two important elements of the course involve a specific style of journaling and a weekly artist’s date. Through the activities in this course, students will bring a higher degree of creativity to their daily lives. This course may be taken either at the lower-division or the upper-division level, but not both. This course is cross-listed with ART 315.
MUS 319 – Pedagogy of Voice
Semester: Spring; Odd years
Semester hours: 3
This course covers the use of the singing voice, basic principles of singing, physiology of breathing, tone production, resonance, diction, application of basic principles to the singing voice, pronunciation, articulation, intonation, attack of tone, legato and sostenuto, flexibility, and dynamics.
MUS 320 – Pedagogy and Literature of Piano
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 2
This course examines methods and materials for beginning to intermediate piano students and studies the practical aspects of teaching private lessons. Surveys of keyboard literature repertoire at the intermediate and advanced level and examinations of style, genre, and performance practice is included.
MUS 321 – Accompanying I
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 2
This course offers study techniques for improving sight-reading skills at the keyboard with practical work in solo, duet, instrumental, ensemble, and choral literature. Students will learn score reading and transposition techniques as well as how to work with instrumentalists, vocalists, and ensembles. This course requires instructor consent and may be taken multiple times.
MUS 322 – Accompanying II
Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 2
This course is an overall study of the art of accompanying with an emphasis on working with vocalists, instrumentalists, ensembles, and repertoire. Requires weekly rehearsals and lessons with student vocalists and/or instrumentalists to be critiqued and coached by instructor.
Prerequisite: MUS 321
MUS 325 – Instrumental Methods I
Semester: Fall; Even years
Semester hours: 3
This course provides a comprehensive approach to the performance and pedagogy of brass and percussion instruments for music education majors in preparation for teaching elementary and secondary instrumental music. Trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone, euphonium, tuba, bass drum, snare drum, xylophone, marimba, cymbals, and drum set are some instruments covered in this course. Emphasis is on tone production, development of technical proficiency, understanding pedagogical principals, and basic instrument care and maintenance.
Prerequisite: MUS 112, permission of instructor
MUS 326 – Instrumental Methods II
Semester: Spring; Odd years
Semester hours: 3
This course provides a comprehensive approach to the performance and pedagogy of string and woodwind instruments for music education majors in preparation for teaching elementary and secondary instrumental music. Flute, piccolo, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophone, violin, viola, cello, and string bass are some of the instruments covered in this course. Emphasis is placed on tone production, development of technical proficiency, the understanding of pedagogical principals, and basic instrument care and maintenance.
Prerequisite: MUS 112, permission of instructor
MUS 344 – Methods and Materials: Teaching General Music in the Elementary School
Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 2
This course provides a study of trends in philosophy, curriculum and program development, traditional instructional materials, Orff/Kodaly, and other innovative teaching techniques for elementary school and early childhood general music. This course is cross-listed with EDC 344.
Prerequisite: P-12 music education major status and admission to the teacher education program
MUS 351 – Applied Music
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 1
Private vocal and instrumental lessons are offered for music majors, music minors, and non-music majors. In the area of instrumental music, instruction is offered on wind instruments, strings, percussion, and keyboards. Majors and minors register for 200-level lessons prior to completion of upper-division qualification. Non-music majors register at the 200-level. Students who enroll in MUS 351 receive 13 half-hour lessons. Specific lesson requirements for each major are listed in the descriptions of the major.
Prerequisite: upper-division standing in music
MUS 352 – Applied Music
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 2
Private vocal and instrumental lessons are offered for music majors, music minors, and non-music majors. In the area of instrumental music, instruction is offered on wind instruments, strings, percussion, and keyboards. Majors and minors register for 200-level lessons prior to completion of upper-division qualification. Non-music majors register at the 200-level. Students who enroll in MUS 352 receive 13 one-hour lessons or 26 half-hour lessons. Specific lesson requirements for each major are listed in the descriptions of the major.
Prerequisite: upper-division standing in music
MUS 361 – Form and Analysis
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3
This course is an analysis of melodic structures and homophonic forms of the common practice period including binary, ternary, rondo, and sonata-allegro forms; analysis of contrapuntal forms of canon, motet, and fugue; and study of musical forms in the 20th century.
Prerequisite: MUS 212
MUS 362 – Orchestration and Arranging
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3
This course examines orchestration, transcription, and arranging for a variety of ensembles including full band and orchestra. The entire process is explored, including preparation of parts for performance.
MUS 364 – Diction I
Semester: Fall; Odd years
Semester hours: 2
This course is the study of fundamental principles of pronunciation and basic phonetic and structural understanding of the Italian and English languages. It is accompanied by an introduction to IPA, the International Phonetic Alphabet. Participants will be expected to sing and perform relevant classical repertoire in these languages.
MUS 365 – Diction II
Semester: Spring; Even years
Semester hours: 2
This course is the study of fundamental principles of pronunciation and basic phonetic and structural understanding of the French and German languages. Participants will be expected to sing and perform relevant classical repertoire in these languages.
Prerequisite: MUS 364
MUS 371 – Concert Choir
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 1
The Rocky Mountain College Concert Choir is dedicated to the study and performance of choral literature. Repertoire will be selected from the history of Western choral music as well as contemporary literature and music from a global perspective. Although there is no prerequisite, students are expected to have had prior high school or collegiate experience in performing ensembles. Three semesters of concert band or concert choir will fulfill one three-credit fine arts core curriculum requirement.
Prerequisite: upper-division standing in music
MUS 375 – Opera Workshop
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 1
Students are involved with the production of chamber opera and opera scenes or participate in a professional production of an opera as approved by the music faculty.
MUS 383 – Concert Band
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 1
The Rocky Mountain College Concert Band is dedicated to the study and performance of wind ensemble literature. Repertoire will be selected from the traditions of Western instrumental music and include music composed from a global perspective. In addition, the ensemble will perform at a limited number of athletic events as a pep band. Students should have prior performing experience at the high school- or college-level on their instrument. Those who have not played in a high school or collegiate ensemble will need to complete an audition to enroll in the course. Three semesters of concert band or concert choir will fulfill one three-credit fine arts core curriculum requirement.
Prerequisite: prior performing experience on the student’s instrument, upper-division standing in music
MUS 386 – Jazz Ensemble
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 1
The jazz ensemble is dedicated to the study and performance of jazz literature and jazz improvisation. Repertoire will be selected from the global history of jazz. Although there is no prerequisite, students are expected to have had prior high school or collegiate experience in performing ensembles. Membership is by permission of professor.
Prerequisite: upper-division standing in music
MUS 393 – Symphony Orchestra
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 1
Students participate in the Billings Symphony Orchestra under College supervision. Admission is only by audition and by contract with the Symphony. Auditions are typically held in the early spring before the concert season begins in the autumn.
MUS 395 – Chamber Ensemble
Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester hours: 1
Selected groups such as brass, woodwind, string, vocal, instrumental, piano, percussion, or other mixed combinations form with the intention of performing a specific musical genre.
Prerequisite: upper-division standing in music
MUS 402 – Conducting
Semester: Fall; Odd years
Semester hours: 3
This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of baton technique; choral, orchestral, and symphonic score reading; and choral and instrumental rehearsal and conducting techniques.
Prerequisite: MUS 212
MUS 406 – Choral Literature
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3
This course examines selected sacred and secular works of the choral repertoires. Emphasis is placed upon the practical realization of the works studied.
Prerequisite: MUS 212
MUS 415 – Methods and Materials: Teaching Music in the Secondary School
Semester: Spring; Even years
Semester hours: 3
This course is designed to prepare teachers to develop innovative secondary music programs and explores the philosophy, methodology, and materials for teaching band, orchestra, choir, and general music at the secondary level. This is a seminar-style course that covers a variety of topics, including conducting, classroom management, professionalism, rehearsal preparation, budgets, literature, marching band, jazz ensemble, concert choir, show choir, general music, and other aspects of running a music program. This class is designed to be one of the final classes taken in the music education curriculum.
Prerequisite: MUS 212, MUS 325, MUS 326, MUS 402, and EDC/MUS 291E or EDC/MUS 291S
MUS 450 – Internship
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 1-12
This course is a guided work experience in an already established place of business. The student must arrange the internship in agreement with the instructor and the Office of Career Services. The internship should relate to the student’s major or minor area of study. A contract is required. Pass/no pass grading.
Prerequisite: junior or senior standing
MUS 499 – Directed Reading
Semester: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 1-3
This course allows a student to devise and pursue independent study in an area agreed upon in consultation with, and supervised by, a faculty member. Students should be either a major or minor and have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or greater.
Prerequisite: junior or senior standing
- Cara Schreffler, Assistant Professor
- Jeremiah Van Skike, Instructor
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