Professors Hepler, Chien, Dearden, Jamison
Music is a creative art form in which sounds are selected and combined to be heard over time. It is also a means of communication and expression. The study of music enables consumers (listeners), re-creators (performers), and creators (composers) to increase their understanding of both the sounded and written aspects of musical language. Departmental courses accommodate a wide variety of musical backgrounds so that students can either begin or continue their musical development in three different areas:
The major program in Music leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree and requires the completion of 48 semester credit hours of coursework. Music majors are required to have a GPA of at least 2.0 in departmental courses required for the Music major at graduation. No courses for the major in Music may be taken Credit/No Credit. Advance placement is given by diagnostic only.
The requirements for a major program in Music are as follows:
Musical Materials
12 semester hours: Music 189, 288, 289 and 400. Students who place into Music 288 on the theory diagnostic must take an additional 2 semester hours of electives in music, excluding Music 088, 101, 188, and 189. Students who place into Music 289 on the theory diagnostic
must take an additional 6 semester hours of electives in music, excluding Music 088, 101, 188, 189, and 288.
Musical Styles
12 semester hours: Music 184, 286, 287, and 384.
Music Performance on the student’s principal instrument
16 semester hours in one of the following combinations:
10 semester hours in 430-479 or 530 and 6 semester hours in 110-118; or
11 semester hours in 430-479 or 530 and 5 semester hours in 110-118; or
12 semester hours in 430-479 or 530 and 4 semester hours in 110-118.
Post-tonal Music
Two semester hours: Music 401
Junior Seminar
Two semester hours: Music 580.
Senior Project
Four semester hours: Music 600, one semester hour; Music 610, three semester hours.
Students who intend to pursue graduate studies in music are strongly advised to take applied lessons and ensembles on their principal instrument during all four years at Allegheny; one or two courses in French (French 110, 120, 215) or in German (German 110, 120, 215); independent studies in special topics in Musical Materials, Musical
Styles, or conducting (Music 590); for students whose principal instrument is not a keyboard instrument, two semesters of applied piano.
The completion of 24 semester hours of coursework is required for the Music minor. Three directions are available: minor in Music with music theory emphasis; minor in Music with music history emphasis; or minor in Music with performance emphasis. Music minors are required to have a GPA of at least 2.0 in courses required for a Music minor at graduation. No courses for the minor in Music may be taken Credit/No Credit. Advance placement is given by diagnostic only.
Minor in Music with music history emphasis:
Musical Materials: 6 semester hours taken from Music 189, 288, 289, 400 and 401 as determined by diagnostic exam. Students who place into Music 288 on the theory diagnostic must take Music 288 and 289. Students who place into Music 289 on the theory diagnostic must take Music 289 and either Music 400 or 401.
Musical Styles: 12 semester hours: Music 184, 286, 287 and 384.
Music Performance on the student’s principal instrument:
6 semester hours. 4 semester hours in Music 430-479 or 530; and 2 semester hours in Music 110-118.
Minor in Music with music performance emphasis:
Musical Materials: 6 semester hours taken from Music 189, 288, 289, 400, and 401 as determined by diagnostic exam. Students who place into Music 288 on the theory diagnostic must take Music 288 and 289. Students who place into Music 289 on the theory diagnostic must take Music 289 and either 400 or 401.
Musical Styles: 6 semester hours including Music 184 and either 286 or 287.
Music Performance on the student’s principal instrument: 12 semester hours. 8 semester hours in Music 430-479 or 530, and 4 semester hours in Music 110-118. A maximum of 2 semester hours in Music 114 will be counted toward the minor in music performance.
Minor in Music with music theory emphasis:
Musical Materials: 12 semester hours taken from Music 189, 288, 289, and 386. Students who place into Music 288 on the theory diagnostic must take Music 401. Students who place into Music 289 on the theory diagnostic must take Music400 and 401 and 2 semester hours of electives, excluding Music 088, 101, 188, 189, and 288.
Musical Styles: 6 semester hours including Music 184 and either 286 or 287.
Music Performance on the student’s principal instrument: 6 semester hours: 4 semester hours in Music 430-479 or 530, and 2 semester hours in Music 110-118.
088 Intro to Musical Materials
A study of the rudiments of musical language, including written symbols and simple descriptions and recognitions of sounds such as clefs, basic keyboard, and conventions of notating pitches and rhythms. No musical background is required. Two days per week. Prerequisite: placement by diagnostic exam. Credit: Two semester hours.
101 Introduction to Musical Styles
An introduction to the basic audible elements of music and how they combine to form recognizable characteristics of individual pieces, particular composers, and historic styles. Students become able to identify by ear specific works, composers and styles, including specific themes, textures and tone colors. No musical background required. Three days per week.
102 Bach to Basics
An introduction to musical materials, processes, idioms, and forms, as found in the works of J.S. Bach. Solo, chamber and ensemble works for instruments as well as sacred and secular vocal and choral pieces will be studied, primarily by listening and also by reference to musical scores. Recognition of a core list of works will be expected.
103 Beethoven Symphonies
A survey of the nine symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven. This course is designed to involve students in attentive and intentional listening by surveying the composer’s effort to resist conformity to the classical style. Students are introduced to these works from the perspective of the performer and from comparative listening to different interpretations. No music background is required.
104 Music of the Renaissance
A survey of the history of music from 1430 to 1600. The course will begin with the English and Burgundian schools, and conclude with the establishing of opera in the early 1600s. Music’s special relationship with the Reformation and Counter-Reformation will be considered, along with the Italian Madrigal, the Florentine Camerata, and the Venetian polychoral school. No musical background required.
105 Applied Music: Class Piano
Class instruction for total beginners learning how to read music at the keyboard. Credit: One semester hour.
106 Applied Music: Class Strings
Class instruction for total beginners learning how to read music on a string instrument. Credit: One semester hour.
107 Applied Music: Class Woodwinds
Class instruction for total beginners learning how to read music on a woodwind instrument. Credit: One semester hour.
108 Applied Music: Class Voice
Class instruction for total beginners learning how to read and sing music. Credit: One semester hour.
120 Chamber Music
An opportunity for performance in small ensembles such as a string quartet, piano trio, and woodwind quintet. Students should register as a group or will be placed in a group. Each group rehearses at least two hours per week and receives a weekly coaching. Attendance at scheduled chamber music seminars is required. Prerequisite: concurrent registration in another ensemble (Music 110-119) and permission of the instructor. Credit: One semester hour.
123 Brahms Chamber Music
A survey of the chamber music of Johannes Brahms. This course is designed to involve students in attentive and intentional listening by surveying this one genre in which the composer’s output represent a large number of romantic epics. Students will also be introduced to these works from the perspective of the performer as well as from comparative listening of different interpretations. Opportunities to experience “live” performances will enrich the listener. No music background is required.
133 Chopin and Liszt
A survey of the works by two romantic giants of the piano repertoire. This course is designed to involve students in attentive and intentional listening by surveying the ballades, concerti, etudes, fantasies, mazurkas, polonaises, preludes, scherzo, and sonatas of Chopin and Liszt. Students are introduced to these works from the perspective of the performer as well as from comparative listening to different interpretations. No music background is required.
143 Classical and Romantic Concerti
A survey of the concerto genre from the classical and romantic styles. This course is designed to teach students to listen to music attentively and intentionally through studying and listening to concerti by Beethoven, Brahms, Bruch, Dvorak, Elgar, Haydn, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Sibelius, and Tchaikowsky. Students are introduced to these works from the perspective of the performer and from listening to different interpretations. No music background is required.
153 Classical and Romantic Sonatas
A survey of the sonata genre from the classical and romantic styles. This course is designed to teach students to listen to music attentively and intentionally through studying and listening to sonatas by Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Franck, Haydn, Liszt, Mozart, Schumann, among others. Students are introduced to these works from the perspective of the performer and from listening to different interpretations. No music background is required.
184 Styles Survey
A survey of works from all of the historical style periods. The course focuses on a refinement of a vocabulary in music and a study of the history underpinning music from these different periods. An emphasis on effective writing prepares the student for more advanced work in music history. Prerequisite: Music 101, equivalent experience, or placement by diagnostic exam. Credit: Two semester hours.
110-118 Ensembles
Most ensembles also require an audition. Specific details are on file in the Music Department office. Ensembles have different numbers of weekly rehearsals. Students receive one semester hour of credit per semester of participation, regardless of the weekly rehearsal schedule. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Credit: One semester hour. More information on ensemble course numbers follows the listing of courses.
187 History of Jazz
Jazz will be presented from its African origins through the progressive jazz era of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Styles and performance practices of the various periods of jazz will be examined. Three days per week.
188 Introduction to Major/Minor Keys
A study of the basic styles of sounded and written music, including clefs, basic keyboard, conventions of notation, pitches, rhythm and meter, and major and minor scales and keys. Students develop recognition and reproduction of these materials by sight and sound. Two days per week, plus one laboratory. Prerequisite: Music 088 or placement by diagnostic exam. Credit: Two semester hours.
189 Combining Musical Tones
A continuation of the study begun in Music 188. Additional materials include intervals, melodic dictation, triads and their harmonic functions within a key, and four-part vocal texture. Students develop recognition and reproduction of these materials by sight and sound. Two days per week, plus one laboratory. Prerequisite: Music 188 or placement by diagnostic exam. Two semester hours of credit.
230-279 Applied Music Lessons
Individual instruction for students at the beginning through the intermediate levels; no minimum level of repertoire required. Expectations of daily practice and improvement will be established by each applied instructor. Students should expect to spend twice as much time in preparation for one-hour lessons as they would for half-hour lessons. Subsequent registrations on the same instrument may be at any level, subject to the approval of the instructor or the applied coordinator. These applied courses may not be taken Credit/No Credit. For specific course numbers designated for different instruments see “Applied Music Course Numbers” at the end of the departmental courses. The fee and refund policy for these applied lessons is listed under “Student Charges and Terms of Payment,” “Explanation of Fees,” and “Studio Instruction in Music.” Credit: Section 1, one semester hour: weekly half-hour lessons; Section 2, two semester hours: weekly one-hour lessons.
283 Jazz Improvisation
Analysis and performance of basic, familiar jazz forms and devices. Materials are chosen to complement and improve the level of each student. Recordings and solos of master players are analyzed, transcribed and performed. The class becomes a small jazz combo in which the students apply the techniques discussed. Three days per week. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
286 Styles: Greece - 1750
An extensive survey of music from the ancient Greeks through the Baroque era, culminating with J.S. Bach. The course explores the historical sequence and the cultural contexts in which the various styles developed. Students undertake intensive audible and visual score study as well as readings from a variety of sources. Special emphasis is placed on the transitions between eras. Three days per week. Prerequisites: Music 184 and Music 188 or placement by diagnostic exam. Credit: Four semester hours.
287 Styles: 1750-1900
An extensive survey of music from the pre-Classic, Classic, and Romantic eras, beginning with the music of Domenico Scarlatti and concluding with the Impressionism of Claude Debussy. The course explores the historical sequence and the cultural contexts in which the various styles developed. Students undertake intensive audible and visual score study as well as readings from a variety of sources. Special emphasis is placed on the transitions between eras. Three days per week. Prerequisites: Music 184 and Music 188 or placement by diagnostic exam. Credit: Four semester hours.
288 Harmonic Materials in One Key
An expansion of material studied in Music 189, using four-part vocal texture. Additional materials include: diatonic harmonic functions in all keys, singing melodies at sight, harmonic dictation, harmonic analysis of musical examples, compositional exercises, non-chordal tones, and seventh chords from within one key. This course introduces additional pitches not available in any one key and methods of changing keys. Students develop recognition and reproduction of these materials by sight and sound. Prerequisite: Music 189 or satisfactory score on diagnostic exam. Three days per week, plus one laboratory.
289 Harmonic Materials Beyond One Key
A continuation of material studied in Music 288. Additional materials include using tones from outside a key, mixing materials from major and minor keys, more complex ways of changing keys, methods of obscuring a clear key identity, scales other than major and minor, and more complex chords. The focus is on those deviations for the Major-Minor key system that led to the musical environment at the beginning of the 20th century. The course includes an introduction to 20th-century materials, including exotic scales, complex chord structures, and parallelism. Students develop recognition and reproduction of these materials by sight and sound. Prerequisite: Music 288 or satisfactory score on diagnostic exam. Three days per week, plus one laboratory.
290 Advanced Aural Skills in Tonal Musical Materials
A survey of advanced skills in ear training, sight singing, keyboard harmony, and rhythm; continues studies begun in Music 188, 189, 288, and 289. Two days per week. Prerequisite: Music 289. Credit: Two semester hours. Offered only on a Credit/No Credit basis.
330-379 Applied Music Lessons
Individual instruction for students at the advanced level. A minimum level of repertoire difficulty is required as is attendance at weekly performance seminars. Specific details on the repertoire requirement for each instrument are on file in the Music Department office. Expectations of daily practice and improvement will be established by each applied instructor. Students should expect to spend twice as much time in preparation for one-hour lessons as they would for half-hour lessons. Normal progress in repertoire and technique is expected in subsequent registration at this level. Attending performance seminars is required. The fee and refund policy for these applied lessons is listed under “Student Charges and Terms of Payment,” “Explanation of Fees,” and “Studio Instruction in Music.” These applied courses may not be taken Credit/No Credit. For specific course numbers designated for different instruments see “Applied Music Course Numbers” at the end of the departmental courses. Credit: Section 1, two semester hours: weekly half-hour lessons; Section 2, three semester hours: weekly one-hour lessons.
384 Music Literature through Listening and Analysis
A listening-based survey of the major works of the Western canon. Building upon skills acquired in Music 286 and 287, students experience a large body of major works from the Middle Ages to the present. Prerequisites: Music 286 and Music 287. Credit: Two semester hours.
388 Special Topics in Theory
Not offered every year.
389 Special Topics in History
Not offered every year.
400 Form and Analysis
An application of functional harmony to the analysis of larger-scale works drawn from piano, symphonic, chamber and choral-orchestral repertoire. Prerequisite: Music 289. Credit: Two semester hours.
401 Styles: Post-Tonal Music
An extensive survey of post-tonal music from early Stravinsky to the present time. The course concerns successors to the Major-minor key system, including atonality, polytonality, Viennese serialism, mid-century developments such as minimalism, event-based music, chance music, and the belief that all sound, including silence, is music. Two days per week. Credit: Two semester hours. Prerequisites: Music 287 and Music 400.
430-479 Applied Music Lessons
Individual instruction for students at the advanced level. A minimum level of repertoire difficulty; attendance and performance at weekly performance seminars; and a final juried exam are required at this level. Specific details on the repertoire requirement for each instrument are on file in the Music Department office. Expectations of daily practice and improvement will be established by each applied instructor. Students should expect to spend twice as much time in preparation for one-hour weekly lessons as they would for half-hour lessons. During the initial enrollment at the 400-level, the student must demonstrate skills that will accommodate repertoire. Normal progress in repertoire and technique is expected in subsequent registrations at this level. Attendance at and performance in performance seminars are required. A performance before a jury of at least three full-time Music faculty will constitute the final examination. The fee and refund policy for these applied lessons is listed under “Student Charges and Terms of Payment,” “Explanation of Fees,” and “Studio Instruction in Music.” These applied courses may not be taken Credit/No Credit. For specific course numbers designated for different instruments see “Applied Music Course Numbers” at the end of the departmental courses. Prerequisite: Permission of applied area coordinator. Credit: Section 1, two semester hours: weekly half-hour lessons; Section 2, three semester hours: weekly one-hour lessons.
530 Recital
Individual instruction with weekly one-hour lessons. Students must give a public recital to receive credit. The repertoire and length of the recital are to be determined by instructor and area coordinator. Prerequisite: Permission of coordinator of applied program. The fee and refund policy for these applied lessons are listed under “Student Charges and Terms of Payment,” “Explanation of Fees,” and “Studio Instruction in Music.” Credit: Four semester hours, one-hour weekly lessons. This course may not be taken Credit/No Credit.
580 Junior Seminar
The Junior Seminar is a bibliography/research seminar which moves from the study of general bibliographical resources to specific tools for research in music. Students research and deliver papers and class presentations on assigned topics. The evolution of Senior Project topics and early research on these topics are two important goals of this course. However, students are not obligated to continue their seminar topics into their Senior Projects. Prerequisites: Music 289 and either Music 286 or Music 287. Credit: Two semester hours.
590 Independent Study
Credit: One to four semester hours.
600 Senior Project I
Design and approval of the Senior Project proposal; completion of the bibliography and at least one chapter; a formal meeting with the Senior Project Committee for evaluation of the completed chapter(s) and of the current status of the Project. Prerequisites: Music 289, 580, and either 286 or 287. Credit: One semester hour.
610 Senior Project II
Completion of Senior Project. Prerequisite or corequisite: Music 600. Credit: Three semester hours.
Most ensembles also require an audition. Specific details are on file in the Music Department office. Ensembles have different numbers of weekly rehearsals. Students receive one semester hour of credit per semester of participation, regardless of the weekly rehearsal schedule. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Credit: One semester hour.
110 Civic Symphony
111 Allegheny Chamber Ensemble
112 Wind Symphony
113 Wind Ensemble
114 Jazz Band
115 College Choir
116 Women's Ensemble
117 Chamber Choir
118 College Chorus
For content descriptions of these courses, see Applied Music Lessons 230-279, 330-379 or 430-479 on previous pages.
Brass - see Professor Hepler
Trumpet 230 330 430
French Horn 231 331 431
Trombone 232 332 432
Baritone/Euphonium 233 333 433
Tuba 234 334 434
Brass, other 235 335 435
Percussion - see Mr. Roth
Percussion 240 340 440
Snare Drum 241 341 441
Timpani 242 342 442
Mallets 243 343 443
Keyboard - see Professor Chien
Piano 250 350 450
Organ 251 351 451
Harpsichord 252 352 452
Voice - see Professor Jamison
Voice 255 355 455
Strings - see Mr. Rudolph
Violin 260 360 460
Viola 261 361 461
Violoncello 262 362 462
String Bass 263 363 463
Harp 264 364 464
Guitar 265 365 465
Strings, other 266 366 466
Woodwinds - see Mrs. Hepler
Flute/Piccolo 270 370 470
Oboe 271 371 471
Clarinet 272 372 472
Bassoon 273 373 473
Saxophone 274 374 474
Woodwinds, other 275 375 475
Studio Instruction Fees
For all individual music-instruction studio courses (Music 230-279, 330-379, 430-479 and 530), the fee is $260 per semester for a weekly half-hour lesson and $520 per semester for a weekly one-hour lesson. The fee for Music 225, Conducting, is $260 per semester for a weekly half-hour lesson.
A 90 percent refund of the fee paid for studio instruction in music will be made if the student withdraws from the course after the first full week of classes. A 50 percent refund is made for withdrawal after the second full week of classes. No refunds will be made for withdrawal after the third full week of classes.
