Skip Navigation

University Bulletin: Undergraduate Programs 2003-2004 The George Washington University  

 
   
 

MUSIC



Professors R.J. Guenther, L. Youens
Associate Professors K. Ahlquist (Chair), B. Fritz, D. Boyce
Assistant Professor R. Baker
Adjunct Professor K. Lornell
Adjunct Associate Professors M. Peris (Piano), C.J. Pickar, J.D. Levy (Jazz), L. Barnet (Cello), J. Krash (Literature)
Adjunct Assistant Professors J. Albertson (Guitar), F.B. Conlon (Piano), T. Konstantinov (Piano), R. Birch (Trumpet), M. Findley (Violin), P. Edgar (Percussion) Adjunct Instructors E. Guenther (Pipe Organ), B.R. Seidman (Harp), S. Wellman (Voice), S.M. Fearing (French Horn), M. Von Villas (Opera), J.C. Connell (Percussion), L. Gilliam (Recorder), P. Fraize (Jazz Performance/Saxophone), B. Dahlman (Piano), S. Brown (Piano), A. Reiff (Voice), S. Stang-McCusker (Flute), R. Anstine Smith (Harp), L. Ferguson (Clarinet), A. Mikolajewski (Piano Accompanist), M. Scarlett (Voice), G. Corella (Tuba), D. Jones (Clarinet), R. Ocampo (Voice), D. Sciannella (Trombone), E. Drennen (Jazz Violin), D. Lonkevich (Flute), D. Langan (Voice), C. Stabile-Libelo (Oboe), A. Lucini (Latin Percussion), J. Koczela (Bass), A. Rojas (Guitar), E. Field (Violin)
Assistant Professorial Lecturers S. Hilmy (Electronic Studio), N. D'Alimonte (Orchestra)
Lecturers J. Potter (Mallet Percussion), J. Gascho (Harpsichord), G. Becker (Choral), E. Dircksen (Bassoon), U. Wassertzug (Viola)

Bachelor of Arts with a major in music—The following requirements must be fulfilled:
1. The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.
2. Prerequisite courses—Mus 1, 2, 61 (or equivalent). Students must achieve grades of C or better in Mus 1, 61 to declare the music major.
3. The language option listed under the General Curriculum Requirements of Columbian College.
4. Required courses in the major—Mus 101, 102, 105, 106, 126, 127, 139, 198; 4 credits of private performance study courses; 2 credits of music ensemble courses. In addition, 12 credits of music electives are required, at least 3 of which must be from a course numbered 162 and above. The distribution of these electives is as follows: history and literature (Mus 109, 110, 121, 122, 125, 175), 3 credits; theory and composition (Mus 70, 134, 135, 137, 161, 162, 174, 184), 3 credits; free electives in music, 6 credits. Because of the various options available in the B.A. program in music, students should consult with music faculty advisors at the earliest opportunity. All majors are expected to attend departmental lectures, master classes, and concerts, as appropriate.
5. Music majors are required to complete an approved independent project in their senior year, concurrently with registration in Mus 198. This project consists of a total of 2 to 6 credits, accumulated through registration for Mus 199 and/or any 100-level private performance study course.
Special Honors in Music—To receive Special Honors in music, a student must meet the requirements stated under University Regulations and maintain a 3.5 grade-point average in music courses and at least a 3.0 average overall. The student must complete the required senior independent project for at least 3 credits with a minimum grade of A–.

Minor in music—21 credit hours of music courses, consisting of Mus 1, 2, 61; 3 credits chosen from Mus 106, 126, 127; 3 credits chosen from Mus 105, 106, 109, 110, 121, 122, 125, 126, 127, 175; 3 credits of private performance study or ensemble; and 6 credits of music electives, two of which must be at the 100 level. All minors are expected to attend departmental lectures, master classes, and concerts, as appropriate.

Minor in jazz studies—23 credit hours of music courses, consisting of Mus 1, 2, 8, 10, 61, 70, 161; 4 hours of jazz performance techniques (Mus 5960, 15960); and 2 hours of ensemble participation (Mus 52, 55). All minors are expected to attend departmental lectures, master classes, and concerts, as appropriate.


MUSIC THEORY, COMPOSITION, HISTORY, AND LITERATURE

1 Elements of Music Theory (3) Boyce and Staff
  Notation, scales, keys, intervals, terms, rhythms, and chord structure and progression. Introduction to music literature, with emphasis on rudimentary aural analysis. (Fall and spring)
2 Comprehensive Musicianship I (2) Guenther
  Aural and keyboard skills development through dictation, sight singing, and performance and improvisation at the keyboard. Prerequisite: Mus 1, 61. (Fall and spring)
3 Music in the Western World (3) Krash and Staff
  Introductory history of musical styles, related to listening; study of music materials and media. Not open to music majors. (Fall and spring)
4 Topics in Music (3) Staff
  A rotating set of classes; topics may include: American music, a composer, the opera, and musical life in Washington, D.C. (Fall and spring)
7 Music of the World (3) Ahlquist
  Introduction to music in culture through comparative study of music from a variety of cultures worldwide.
8 History of Jazz (3) Lornell
  Introduction to the styles, composers, and performers of jazz music from its origins to the present. (Spring)
10 Comprehensive Musicianship for Jazz (2) Levy
  Aural and keyboard skills development through dictation, sight singing, and performance and improvisation at the keyboard, with emphasis given to skills associated with jazz performance. Prerequisite: Mus 2. (Fall)
70 Introduction to Jazz Harmony (3) Fraize
  Analysis and composition of tunes in jazz/pop styles. Study of rhythmic characteristics, voice-leading, and chord/scale relationships within a jazz context. Prerequisite: Mus 2. (Spring)
101 Harmony (3) Boyce
  Study of tonal harmonic practice from Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th-century repertoires. Concurrent registration in the weekly keyboard lab is required. Prerequisite: Mus 2. (Spring)
102 Comprehensive Musicianship II (2) Boyce
  Aural and keyboard skills development through dictation, sight singing, and performance and improvisation at the keyboard. Prerequisite: Mus 101. (Fall and spring)
105 Introduction to Ethnomusicology (3) Ahlquist, Lornell
  Models of understanding music as a cultural endeavor. Application and critique of models in the design and execution of student independent field research. Prerequisite: Mus 1 or Anth 2, 4 or permission of instructor. Same as Anth 105. (Spring)
106 Music History III: 20th-Century Art Traditions (3) Ahlquist
  Western musical traditions and styles since Romanticism and approaches to music as art in contemporary society. Prerequisite: Mus 1. (Fall)
109 Orchestra Literature (3) Guenther
  History and styles of orchestra literature, analysis of representative works. Prerequisite: Mus 101 or permission of instructor.
110 Chamber Music Literature (3) Youens
  History and styles of chamber music literature, analysis of representative works. Prerequisite: Mus 101 or permission of instructor.
121 Opera (3) Youens
  History and styles of opera, analysis of representative works. Prerequisite: Mus 101 or equivalent. (Fall)
122 Music in the United States (3) Ahlquist
  History of music and musical life in the United States, emphasizing relationships among traditions of diverse origin. Prerequisite: Mus 1 or permission of instructor.
125 Keyboard Music Literature (3) Staff
  History and styles of keyboard literature from the 16th century to the present. Prerequisite: Mus 101 or equivalent.
126 Music History I: Antiquity through Early Baroque (3) Youens
  The development of Western European music from its earliest traceable roots to the end of the early, experimental Baroque period. Prerequisite: Mus 2 and sophomore standing. (Spring)
127 Music History II: The Tonal Era (3) Youens
  Styles, structures, social foundations and aesthetic change in European music of the late 17th through the late 19th centuries. Prerequisite: Mus 101.
134 Composition (3) Boyce
  Introduction to 21st-century compositional practice; concepts of post-tonal analysis; emphasis on style studies and original student works. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Mus 101.
135 Counterpoint (3) Staff
  Study and practice of 16th-century contrapuntal techniques. Prerequisite: Mus 2.
137 Orchestration (3) Staff
  Instrumental scoring. Prerequisite: Mus 101.
139 Form and Analysis (3) Guenther
  Analysis of musical forms in representative musical literature. Prerequisite: Mus 101 or equivalent. (Fall)
16162 Electronic and Computer Music (3–3) Hilmy
  Fundamental electronic and computer music concepts. Analog and digital sound synthesis techniques and theory, MIDI, studio recording techniques, signal processing, properties of sound, acoustics and psycho-acoustics, history and aesthetics. Laboratory fee: $100 per semester. Mus 161 is prerequisite to Mus 162.
173 Pedagogy (3) Staff
  Principles, materials, and methods of teaching in selected areas. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
174 Topics in Music Theory and Composition (3) Staff
  A seminar on variable topics in the discipline of music theory, analysis, and composition. Topics may include analysis of post-tonal music, advanced jazz arranging, analysis of 14th-century vocal music, developments in extended instrumental techniques since 1950. Prerequisites depend on the topic; consult the department.
175 Topics in Music History and Literature (3) Staff
  A seminar on variable topics in music history and literature in all traditions and styles. Topics may include German musical Romanticism, introduction to critical musicology, the music of Josquin des Prez, and vernacular music in Washington, D.C. Prerequisites depend on the topic; consult the department.
184 Advanced Composition (3) Boyce
  Private instruction in composition in tutorial format. Prerequisite: Mus 134.
198 Senior Seminar (1) Staff
  Restricted to music majors in their final spring semester. Presentations of required senior projects in process; readings and discussion to place the projects in a broader musical and intellectual context. Corequisite: Mus 199 or any 100-level private performance study course.
199 Independent Research Staff
  Under the guidance of an assigned instructor. May be repeated for credit. Majors in their senior year take Mus 198 as a corequisite.

PERFORMANCE STUDY

Performance study courses are offered both fall and spring, and may be repeated for credit. Music majors and minors, Presidential Arts Scholarship students, and other students with skills or potential appropriate to the department's select ensembles are eligible for private lessons. Eligibility and placement for students new to private performance study are determined at a placement fair held at the beginning of each semester. For courses numbered 11 through 50 and 57 through 60, students may not register in the same semester for both the 1- and 2-credit course in the same instrument or in voice. Mus 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 151, and 153 do not include individual lessons and do not require a supplementary fee. All other performance study courses include individual lessons and require a supplementary fee, as follows: 1. One-credit-hour courses: individual lessons of one-half hour a week, supplementary fee, $200.
2. Two- or three-credit-hour courses: individual lessons of one hour a week, supplementary fee, $400.
Supplementary fees for private performance courses are nonrefundable after the first two weeks of the fall and spring semesters. Consult the Music Department for details. The supplementary fee is waived during the fall and spring semesters for full-time music majors and minors and for Presidential Arts Scholars in Music.
Required practice: a minimum of three hours a week for 1-credit courses and six hours a week for 2-credit courses.

1112 Piano (1–2) Staff
1314 Voice (1–2) Staff
1516 Pipe Organ (1–2) E. Guenther
1718 Violin (1–2) Field, Findley
1920 Classical Guitar (1–2) Rojas
2122 Viola (1–2) Wassertzug
2324 Cello (1–2) Barnet
2526 Bass (1–2) Koczela
2728 Flute (1–2) Stang-McCusker, Lonkevich
2930 Recorder (1–2) Gilliam
3132 Oboe (1–2) Stabile-Libelo
3334 Clarinet (1–2) Ferguson, Jones
3536 Saxophone (1–2) Fraize
3738 Bassoon (1–2) Dircksen
3940 French Horn (1–2) Fearing
4142 Trumpet (1–2) Birch
4344 Trombone (1–2) Sciannella
4546 Percussion (1–2) Edgar, Connell, Potter
4748 Harp (1–2) Seidman, Smith
4950 Tuba (1–2) Corella
51 University Orchestra (1) D'Alimonte
  Preparation and performance of orchestral literature. Prerequisite: audition before director.
52 Instrumental Ensemble (1) Staff
  Chamber ensemble groups are approved by audition. Section numbers are .11 guitar ensemble, .12 percussion ensemble, .13 jazz combo, .14 keyboard ensemble, .15 string ensemble, .16 woodwind ensemble, .17 brass ensemble, .18 Baroque ensemble, .19 Latin band, .20 blues band.
53 University Singers (1) Becker
  Preparation and performance of choral literature. Prerequisite: audition before director.
55 Jazz Band (1) Levy
  Preparation and performance of classic and contemporary "big band" literature. Prerequisite: audition before director.
56 University Band (1) Fritz, Birch
  Section .10 is University Symphonic Band; Section .11 is University Wind Ensemble.
5758 Harpsichord (1–2) Gascho
5960 Jazz Performance Techniques (1–2) Staff
  Section numbers are .10 piano, .11 bass, .12 percussion, .13 guitar, .14 brass, .15 woodwind.
61 Class Piano for Beginners (1) Staff
  Study of the rudiments of musical notation and piano playing in a small classroom setting. Open to majors and minors who need basic keyboard facility. Departmental prerequisite: Private performance courses 112 through 160 are open by examination.Required practice: a minimum of eight hours a week for 2-credit courses.
112 Piano (2) Staff
114 Voice (2) Staff
   
116 Pipe Organ (2) E. Guenther
   
118 Orchestral Instrument (2) Staff
   
120 Classical Guitar (2) Rojas
   
151 Conducting (3) Fritz
  Technique of conducting, score reading, rehearsal procedures, analysis, and interpretation of selected musical literature; practice in conducting. Prerequisite: Mus 101. (Fall, even years)
153 Vocal Theater Workshop (1) Von Villas, Conlon
  Development of body awareness for the stage, acting improvisations, and character development. Scenes chosen from the opera, operetta, and musical theater repertoire. Musical coaching, use of makeup, and audition preparation.
158 Harpsichord (2) Gascho
160 Jazz Performance Techniques (2) Staff
   
185 Advanced Performance Study (3) Staff
  Private study in vocal or instrumental performance. Public performance and a minimum of 12 hours of practice per week are required. Prerequisite: audition before a faculty committee.
 

The George Washington University

© 2008 University Bulletin
The George Washington University All rights reserved.

Information in this bulletin is generally accurate as of fall 2007. The University reserves the right to change courses, programs, fees, and the academic calendar, or to make other changes deemed necessary or desirable, giving advance notice of change when possible.