Music Theory & History Courses

MUS. 100 FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC (3)
Three lecture hours per week.
Students will learn how to read music notes, rhythms, key signatures, scales and chords. Students will develop listening techniques and explore musical styles and aesthetics. Recital attendance may be required. Appropriate for the general student, this course partially fulfills General Education requirements for the Humanities. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C1).

MUS. 110 MUSIC THEORY I (3)
Three lecture hours per week. Prerequisite: MUS. 100, 301, 377 or 401 with a grade of C or better, or equivalent. Extended practice in and application of written music theory skills. Learn melodic, rhythmic and chord structures needed for performance, writing, understanding and developing strong musicianship. Projects may include composition, arrangements, transcriptions and/or orchestrations. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C1).

MUS. 111 MUSICIANSHIP I (2)
Two lecture hours and one lab hour per week plus three lab hours per week by arrangement. Prerequisite: MUS. 100, MUS. 301, MUS. 377, or MUS. 401 with a grade of C or better, or equivalent. Extended practice in and application of skills related to all areas of music theory for the serious student seeking continuous studies in music. Application topics will change from term to term. Projects may include composing, arranging, performance, ear training and/or improvisation. May be repeated twice for credit. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C1).

MUS. 115 MUSIC, ART AND IDEAS (3)
(Credit/No Credit or letter grade.)
Three lecture hours per week. Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 100 or 105, or equivalent.
An integrated consideration of art and music as reflections of the philosophies and traditions of cultures. The understanding of the various elements common to the creative efforts of art and music are emphasized as a means to enhance and extend a student’s recognition, involvement, and ultimately, appreciation of these efforts. Diverse media are examined to demonstrate the realizations of ideas into works of art and music. Also listed as ART 115. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C1).

MUS. 144 CONCERT ENJOYMENT (2)
(Credit/No Credit.)
Three lecture hours per week. Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 100 or 105, or equivalent.
This course is primarily a music appreciation course in which concerts will be attended on a regular basis. Approximately eight concerts will be seen per semester. The concerts will be selected from a wide range of northern California musical companies, universities, and college productions. One week a concert will be attended; the next week it will be analyzed and critiqued. Group sales will enable ticket prices to be kept at a minimum. May be repeated for credit a maximum of three times. Transfer credit: CSU (C1).

MUS. 202 MUSIC APPRECIATION (3)
Three lecture hours per week. Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 100 or 105, or equivalent.
Topics addressed in the course include aesthetics, the variety of ensembles, musical form and design, analysis of the creative process, and criteria for the evaluation of musical performances. Lectures are illustrated by live and recorded examples. Recital attendance may be required. Appropriate for the general student, this course partially fulfills General Education requirements for the Humanities. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C1) (CAN MUS 8).

MUS. 204 MUSIC HISTORY (3)
Three lecture hours per week. Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 100 or 105, or equivalent.
Historical survey of classical music, designed for the general student as well as the music student. Lectures, which may include discussions of Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern styles of music, are illustrated with live and recorded examples. Recital attendance may be required. Partially fulfills General Education requirements for the Humanities. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C1).

MUS. 240 MUSIC OF THE AMERICAS (3)
Three lecture hours per week. Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 100 or 105, or equivalent.
Survey of American musical heritage including African, Latin, and European influences on American music forms such as jazz, folk music, and the classical tradition. Partially fulfills General Education requirements for the Humanities. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C1).

MUS. 250 WORLD MUSIC (3)
Three lecture hours per week. Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 100 or 105, or equivalent.
Survey of selected listening and readings from the music of China, Japan, India, Bali, Java, Africa, Native American, Latin America and the Near East. A variety of media, guest speakers/performers will be included. Optional live performance attendance. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C1).

MUS. 275 HISTORY OF JAZZ (3)
(Credit/No Credit or letter grade.)
Three lecture hours per week. Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 836.
Understanding and enjoying music by studying the historical development of jazz from a musical and sociological perspective. Topics include discussion of musical elements, vocal and instrumental ensembles, artistic values, and the role of jazz in our culture. Concert attendance may be required. Partially fulfills General Education requirements for the Humanities. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C1).

MUS. 290 INTRODUCTION TO MIDI (MUSICAL INSTRUMENT DIGITAL INTERFACE) MUSIC (2 or 3)
Two lecture hours per week plus one lab hour per week by arrangement for 2 units or two lecture hours per week plus three lab hours per week by arrangement for 3 units.
Introduction to the use and implementation of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) musical instruments, including interfacing with computers and MIDI software. Ability to read music is desirable but not essential. Transfer credit: CSU.

MUS. 301, 302, 303, 304 *PIANO I, II, III, and IV (1 or 2)
Two lecture hours and one lab hour per week plus three lab hours by arrangement per week. Students will be auditioned and placed in one of the following classes:

MUS. 301 *PIANO I (2)
Recommended MUS. 100 or equivalent.
Beginning piano with an emphasis on music reading, keyboard harmony, improvisation and keyboard technique.
Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C1).

MUS. 302 *PIANO II (2)
Prerequisite: MUS. 301 or demonstration of equivalent skill.
Continuation of Piano I with increased emphasis on sightreading, technique and piano literature.
Transfer credit: UC; CSU.

MUS. 303 *PIANO III (2)
Prerequisite: MUS. 302 or demonstration of equivalent skill.
Piano literature from Baroque, Classic, Romantic and 20th century; keyboard harmony and ensemble. Recital performance may be required.
Transfer credit: UC; CSU.

MUS. 304 *PIANO IV (2)
Prerequisite: MUS. 303 or demonstration of equivalent skill.
Piano literature from Baroque, Classic, Romantic and 20th century; keyboard harmony and ensemble. Recital performance may be required. May be repeated for credit a maximum of three times.
Transfer credit: UC; CSU.

MUS. 350 THE ART OF ROCK, RHYTHM & BLUES I (3)
Three lecture hours per week plus two lab hours per week by arrangement.
A beginning-intermediate performance course for singers, guitarists, bassists, drummers, keyboards and other instrumentalists interested in American contemporary music. Learn to organize a band and negotiate the many aspects of the music business. Students will participate in live performances by arrangement.
Transfer credit: UC; CSU.

MUS. 351 THE ART OF ROCK, RHYTHM & BLUES II (3)
Three lecture hours per week plus two lab hours per week by arrangement. Recommended: MUS. 350 or equivalent
performance experience.
An intermediate-advanced performance course for singers, guitarists, bassists, drummers, keyboards and other instrumentalists interested in American contemporary music. Learn to organize a band and negotiate the many aspects of the music business. Students will participate in live performances by arrangement. May be repeated twice for credit.
Transfer credit: UC; CSU.

MUS. 377 GUITAR I (2)
(Credit/No Credit or letter grade.)
Two lecture hours and one lab hour per week plus three lab hours per week by arrangement. Recommended: MUS. 100 or equivalent.
Basic guitar instruction. Stringing, tuning, fingering, playing techniques, notation, chords and chord progressions, reading guitar music, strum techniques, fingerpicking, playing simple melodies, and accompaniment. Emphasis on popular and folk music literature. Introduction to music theory for the guitar and voice. Individual and group instruction.
Transfer credit: UC; CSU.

MUS. 378 GUITAR II (2)
(Credit/No Credit or letter grade.)
Two lecture hours and one lab hour per week plus three lab hours per week by arrangement. Prerequisite: MUS. 377 or demonstrated equivalent skills.
Continuation of skills begun in MUS 377. Areas covered include barre-chords, CAGED chord/scale theory, blues scales, accompaniment techniques, and major and minor scale patterns. Emphasis on popular music literature. Intermediate music theory for the guitar. Individual and group instruction. Transfer credit: UC; CSU.

MUS. 379 GUITAR III (2)
(Credit/No Credit or letter grade.)
Two lecture hours and one lab hour per week plus three lab hours per week by arrangement. Prerequisite: MUS 378 or demonstrated equivalent skills.
Intermediate/advanced guitar instruction. Principles of moveable chord and scale structure (CAGED), advanced strumming and fingerpicking patterns, advanced theory (scale, secondary dominants, and motif development), improvisation, arpeggios, and reading music. Emphasis on American music literature. Individual and group instruction. May be repeated twice for credit.
Transfer credit: UC; CSU.

MUS. 380 GUITAR IV (2)
(Credit/No Credit or letter grade.)
Two lecture hours and one lab hour per week plus 3 hours by arrangement per week. Prerequisite: MUS. 379 or equivalent.
Continuation of the development of skills begun in MUS 379. Additional material includes motif development, improvising, three notes per string scales, blues techniques, counterpoint, walking bass, modern rhythmic techniques, and other advanced guitar techniques.
Individual and group instruction. May be repeated for credit a maximum of three times.
Transfer credit: UC; CSU.

MUS. 383 GUITAR ENSEMBLE I (2)
(Credit/No Credit or letter grade.)
Two lecture hours and one lab hour per week plus 3 hours by arrangement per week. Prerequisite: MUS 378 or equivalent.
A course for guitarists in techniques from Doo-Wop and Rhythm and Blues to Rock in a small ensemble. Students work extensively on these styles and within the application with the intention of public performance. Public performance required. May be repeated for credit a maximum of three times.
Transfer credit: UC; CSU.

MUS. 401, 402, 403, 404 *VOICE I, II, III and IV (2, 2, 2, 2)
Two lecture hours and one lab hour per week plus three hours by arrangement per week. Recommended: MUS.
401 – MUS. 100 or equivalent. Prerequisites: MUS. 402 –MUS. 401 or placement by audition; MUS. 403 – MUS. 402 or placement by audition; MUS. 404 – MUS. 403 or placement by audition.
Transfer credit: UC; CSU.

MUS. 401 *VOICE I
Training in vocal technique, musical expression and performance skills for the beginning singer. Content includes posture, breathing, tone production, music fundamentals, English diction, and performance preparation techniques.

MUS. 402 *VOICE II
Continuation of training in vocal technique, musical expression and performance skills begun in MUS. 401 for the intermediate singer. Content includes refinement of posture, breathing, tone production, and performance preparation techniques. Further studies in music theory and language diction. Emphasis placed on song interpretation and vocal styles.

MUS. 403 *VOICE III
Continuation of training in vocal technique, musical expression and performance skills begun in MUS. 401 and 402 for intermediate/advanced singers. Content includes refinement of posture, breathing, tone production, and performance preparation techniques. Further studies in music theory and language diction. Emphasis placed on song interpretation and vocal styles.

MUS. 404 *VOICE IV
Continuation of training in vocal technique, musical expression and performance skills begun in MUS. 401, 402 and 403 for advanced singers. Content includes refinement of posture, breathing, tone production, and performance preparation techniques. Further studies in music theory and language diction. Emphasis placed on song interpretation and vocal styles. May be repeated once for credit.

MUS. 420 TRADITIONAL KULINTANG MUSIC (2)
(Credit/No Credit or letter grade.)
Two lecture hours and one lab hour per week plus two lab hours per week by arrangement.
An introduction to the theory and performance of the traditional bronze gong music and dance of the Southern Philippines, including music and dance of the Maguindanao people of Cotabato, the Maranao people of the Lanao, the Tausug people of Sulu, and the Tiruray people of Upi. May be repeated for credit a maximum of three times.
Transfer credit: CSU.

MUS. 430 CONCERT BAND
(.5 or 1 or 1.5 or 2 or 2.5 or 3)
(Credit/No Credit or letter grade.)
Three or five class hours per week.
Study and performance of music for concert band. Performance is required. Open to all students of the College. May be repeated for credit a maximum of three times.
Transfer credit: UC; CSU.

MUS. 450 JAZZ BAND (1 or 2 or 3)
Three or five class hours per week.
Career course that includes organization, training, procedures, arranging, vocals and other phases of dance band work. Performance is required. May be repeated for credit a maximum of three times.
Transfer credit: UC; CSU.

MUS. 470 CONCERT CHOIR (2 or 3)
Eight lecture hours and four lab hours per .5 unit.
Recommended: MUS. 100 or equivalent.
Performance of choral music for accompanied and/or unaccompanied choir. The choir may perform alone or in conjunction with other musical organizations on and off campus. Performance is required. (Open entry.) May be repeated for credit a maximum of three times. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C1).

MUS. 475 JAZZ CHOIR (2)
(Credit/No Credit or letter grade.)
Three class hours per week. Prerequisite: Vocal audition given by the instructor which includes vocalizing, sightreading, and tonal memory. Study and performance of contemporary vocal/choral music within the popular and jazz idioms. Students who play bass guitar, string bass, or drums are also welcome to enroll in this course. Performance is required. May be repeated for credit a maximum of three times. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C1).

MUS. 665 SPECIAL TOPICS IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE (.5-2 or 1 or 2)
(Credit/No Credit or letter grade.)
Three lecture hours per week plus three lab hours by arrangement; no lab hours are required for the 1 unit class. Prerequisite: Successful completion of a beginning applied music course or demonstration of equivalent skill in the performance area.
Advanced study in specialized areas of the performing arts. Designed for vocalists, pianists, and instrumentalists, this course provides for extended in-depth study of both performance practice and performance art using selected themes as listed in the class schedule. (Open entry.) May be repeated for credit as topics vary.
Transfer credit: UC; CSU.