The Music Major at CSUB
Bachelor of Arts in Music
The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Music offers comprehensive training in performance, theory and history, all intended to prepare students for careers in professional music, teaching, or related fields. There are many opportunities for students to perform as soloists or in ensembles.- To prepare students for career opportunities in the varied fields of music
- To prepare students to work collaboratively
- To prepare students to be self-disciplined
- To develop the student's awareness of the development of musical style and influence in western cultural history
The requirements are flexible enough to allow each student to specialize or generalize as appropriate in two emphases: General Music and Music Education.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music
All Music Majors (General track and Education track) must take the following core classes:
MUS 122 - Music Theory I
Investigation of the musical materials and principles of traditional tonal practice including figured bass, four-part harmony through dominant seventh chords, and lead-sheet chord symbols; group performance of individual projects and introduction to computer notation. Prerequisite: MUS 120 or satisfactory score on theory placement examination. Required: concurrent enrollment in MUS 124.
MUS 152 - Music Theory II
Continued examination of traditional tonal practice including diatonic and chromatic seventh chords, modulation, and modal mixture; individual creative projects with group performance. Prerequisite: MUS 122 or satisfactory score on theory placement examination. Required: concurrent enrollment in MUS 154
MUS 222 - Music Theory III
Chromatic modulation and twentieth-century techniques, including extended tertian harmony, alternate scales, polytonality, serialism, pandiatonicism, and non-Western musical systems. Prerequisite: MUS 152 or satisfactory score on theory placement examination. Required: concurrent enrollment in MUS 224.
MUS 370 - Form and Analysis
Analysis of selected compositions of various historical periods, styles, and cultures. Development of criteria for both evaluation and understanding of principles of formal construction and musical continuity gained through the study of phrase structure and formal design, all part forms to sonata. Prerequisite: MUS 222 and 224, or consent of instructor.
MUS 124 - Theory Skills I
Practice in melodic, harmonic and rhythmic dictation in the classroom and at the computer lab, sight singing, and keyboard harmony. Prerequisite: MUS 120 or satisfactory score on theory placement examination. Required: concurrent enrollment in MUS 122.
MUS 154 - Theory Skills II
Intermediate-level melodic, harmonic and rhythmic dictation in the classroom and at the computer lab; sight singing; and keyboard harmony. Prerequisite: MUS 124 or departmental consent. Required: concurrent enrollment in MUS 152.
MUS 224 - Theory Skills III
Advanced-level melodic, harmonic and rhythmic dictation in the classroom and at the computer lab; sight singing; and keyboard harmony. Prerequisite: MUS 154 or departmental consent. Required: concurrent enrollment in MUS 222.
MUS 201 - Music History I
Examination of the important figures and periods in the history of Western music from Gregorian Chant to the end of the Baroque. For the Music major or the general student with basic (treble and bass clef) music reading skills. Prerequisite: MUS 101 or consent of instructor.
MUS 202 - Music History II
Continuation of MUS 201, covering the history of Western music from the Classical period to the present. For the Music major or the general student with basic (treble and bass clef) music reading skills.
MUS 481 - Baroque & Classical
An in-depth historical and analytical study of music from the Baroque and Classical periods (c 1600- 1830). Prerequisite: MUS 122 or permission of the instructor.
MUS 482 - Romanticism & Impressionism
An in-depth historical and analytical study of music of the Romantic and the Impressionistic periods (c 1830-1910). Prerequisite: MUS 122 or permission of instructor.
MUS 483 - Music of the Early 20th Century
An indepth historical survey and analytical overview of twentieth century music until the end of World War II, including impressionism, expressionism, neo-classicism, ethnomusicology, and jazz. Prerequisite: MUS 122 or permission of instructor.
MUS 484 - Music Since 1945
An in-depth historical survey and analytical overview of music composed since World War II, including total serialism, neo-romanticism, aleatoric procedures, minimalist, jazz, new wave, and electronic media. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
MUS 485 - Polyphonic Period & the Renaissance
An indepth historical and analytical study of music from the origins of polyphony through the Renaissance (c 800-1600). Prerequisite: MUS 122 or permission of instructor.
MUS 251 - CSUB University Singers
Group performance of choral music from various periods and styles of the choral repertoire including classical, folk, popular, and multicultural music. Admission with the consent of the instructor.
MUS 253 - CSUB Community Concert Band
Group performance of music from various periods of the repertoire. A minimum of three class hours per week. Admission with the consent of the instructor.
MUS 254 - Chamber Orchestra
Group performance of music from various periods of the repertoire. A minimum of three class hours per week. Admission with the consent of the instructor.
MUS 255 - CSUB Guitar Ensemble
Study and performance of music for the guitar from various periods of musical history. A minimum of three class hours per week is required. Admission with the consent of the instructor.
MUS 256 - CSUB Jazz Ensemble
Performance of representative big band repertoire, Latin Jazz, and world music. Individual creative projects are encouraged, performed, and digitally recorded. Admission with the consent of the instructor. A minimum of three class hours per week.
MUS 451 - CSUB University Singers
Group performance of choral music from various periods and styles of the choral repertoire including classical, folk, popular, and multicultural music. Admission with the consent of the instructor.
MUS 453 - CSUB Community Concert Band
Group performance of music from various periods of the repertoire. A minimum of three class hours per week. Admission with the consent of the instructor.
MUS 454 - Chamber Orchestra
Group performance of music from various periods of the repertoire. A minimum of three class hours per week. Admission with the consent of the instructor.
MUS 455 - CSUB Guitar Ensemble
Study and performance of music for the guitar from various periods of musical history. A minimum of three class hours per week is required. Admission with the consent of the instructor.
MUS 456 - CSUB Jazz Ensemble
Performance of representative big band repertoire, Latin Jazz, and world music. Individual creative projects are encouraged, performed, and digitally recorded. Admission with the consent of the instructor. A minimum of three class hours per week.hh
MUS 123 - Music Individual Instruction
Individual instruction in voice and in various musical instruments. Information regarding offerings each quarter, as well as registration procedures and admission approval, must be obtained from the department for each registration. Admission only to music majors or minors, on a proficiency placement basis.
MUS 223 - Music Individual Instruction
Individual instruction in voice and in various musical instruments. Information regarding offerings each quarter, as well as registration procedures and admission approval, must be obtained from the department for each registration. Admission only to music majors or minors, on a proficiency placement basis.
MUS 323 - Music Individual Instruction
Individual instruction in voice and in various musical instruments. Information regarding offerings each quarter, as well as registration procedures and admission approval, must be obtained from the department for each registration. Admission only to music majors or minors, on a proficiency placement basis.
MUS 423 - Music Individual Instruction
Individual instruction in voice and in various musical instruments. Information regarding offerings each quarter, as well as registration procedures and admission approval, must be obtained from the department for each registration. Admission only to music majors or minors, on a proficiency placement basis.
Perform proficiency examination before the faculty or complete and pass the six course piano curriculum. 6 Units Min.
MUS 132 - Piano I
Introduction to piano keyboard; piano technique: hand, arm and wrist position; five-finger patterns; music reading skills: melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic notation; scales; triads; introduction to repertoire; practice skills. Lecture, discussion/laboratory. Prerequisite: placement examination; departmental permission.
MUS 133 - Piano II
Piano technique: legato and staccato touch; scales, chord inversions, arpeggios; music reading skills, sight reading; melodic improvisation, harmonization; repertoire; ensemble playing; practice skills. Lecture, discussion/laboratory. Prerequisite: MUS 132 or placement examination; departmental permission.
MUS 134 - Piano III
Piano technique: introduction of exercises for velocity, facility; music reading, transposition; improvisation, harmonization; repertoire from Baroque to 20th Century; practice skills. Lecture, discussion/laboratory. Prerequisite: MUS 133 or placement examination; departmental permission.
MUS 232 - Piano IV
Piano technique: exercises for increased facility; sight reading, introduction of lead sheet, score reading and transposition; ensemble playing, introduction of accompanying; improvisation, harmonization; repertoire extension; practice skills. Lecture, discussion and laboratory. Prerequisite: MUS 134 or placement examination; departmental permission.
MUS 233 - Piano V
Piano technique exercises; sight reading, introduction of figured bass, choral score reading; modulations; analysis; continued solo and ensemble playing; repertoire extension; introduction of musical style periods; practice skills. Lecture, discussion and laboratory. Prerequisite: MUS 232 or placement examination; departmental permission.
MUS 234 - Piano VI
Piano technique exercises; sight reading, introduction of jazz chart, instrumental score reading; continued solo and ensemble playing; repertoire extension; practice skills; pedagogical issues. Lecture, discussion and laboratory. Prerequisite: MUS 233 or placement examination; departmental permission.
MUS 490 - Senior Recital
Reserved for those students especially proficient on an instrument or in voice. Admission with consent of the music faculty, which must be obtained no later than the pre-registration period of the student’s proposed final quarter. Consists of a 45-70-minute recital, which must be undertaken in residence. Co-requisite: concurrent enrollment in MUS 423. [By petition only]
MUS 492 - Senior Thesis I
Introduction to research techniques and sources. How to formulate a thesis, locate and evaluate sources. How to write about music. How to use computer assisted research tools. By the end of this section the student will have refined the thesis, identified the sources for research, and devised a preliminary outline for the paper (the thesis topic must have the approval of the music faculty by the seventh week of the quarter).
MUS 493 - Senior Thesis II
Continuation of MUS 492. By the end of this quarter the student will have incorporated the suggestions of faculty and completed a preliminary draft of the paper which will be submitted to the music faculty for comments. Class meetings will include progress updates and shared experiences in problem solving.
MUS 494 - Senior Thesis III
Completion of Senior Thesis. Students will fashion the final draft of the thesis which will be completed during this quarter. The draft will be submitted to the faculty for approval by the seventh week of the quarter. The final draft of the paper, incorporating faculty suggestions, will be completed before the tenth week of the quarter. The paper will be retained in the departmental office files, and copies made available upon request of students or faculty.
MUS 491 - Paper & Recital
Reserved for those students especially proficient on an instrument or in voice. Admission with consent of the music faculty, which must be obtained no later than the pre-registration period of the student’s proposed final quarter. Consists of a 45-70-minute recital, which must be undertaken in residence. Co-requisite: concurrent enrollment in MUS 423. [By petition only]
General Music (emphasis I) The Music Minor at CSUB
This emphasis assists individuals to attend graduate school, become professional musicians, or pursue other professional music careers.
MUS 111 - Introduction to Music Technology
The examination of computer applications for the notation of music, sequencing, and recording, as well as an introduction to the equipment and principles of onsite recording and sound reinforcement.MUS 371 - Music Form & Analysis
Continued examination of the principles of formal construction and musical continuity as revealed by analysis of selected compositions with an emphasis on contrapuntal forms, concerto, and twentieth century compositions including analysis of upper tertian harmony using jazz symbols, techniques of impressionism, neoclassicism, and serialism using set theory. Prerequisite: MUS 370.MUS 322 - Music Theory IV
Exploration of practices of modal and non-Western music: modes, Medieval notations, instrumental and pitch resources of selected Third World cultures. Prerequisite: MUS 152 or departmental consent.MUS 324 - Orchestration
Study of the individual characteristics of all instruments of the orchestra, terminology in multiple languages, scoring for strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments both alone and in combination. Creative projects are notated and realized with the help of music technologies such as MIDI, computer notation, and sequencing. Prerequisite: MUS 222 or departmental consent.MUS 325 - Beginning Conducting
Study of baton techniques and development of essential skills common to instrumental and choral conducting such as listening, gesture, error detection, score study and preparation, interpretation, rehearsal procedures, and performance. Technological advances of importance to conductors such as MIDI, recording technologies (audio & video) and computers will be examined and used. Repertoire studied includes Western and non-Western music in a variety of genres both vocal and instrumental.MUS 372 - Jazz Improvisation II
Performance of patterns derived from ascending melodic minor modes and pentatonic groupings, performance of transcribed blues solos, chromatically embellished ii-V-I patterns in both major and minor, transcription of solos for your instrument, and concepts of solo construction. Prerequisite: MUS 272 or satisfactory score on placement exam.MUS 375 - Counterpoint
Study of 18thCentury counterpoint starting with “species” counterpoint and leading to the composition of a twopart invention, threevoiced fugue, canons, and a chorale prelude. Prerequisite: MUS 222.MUS 385 - Music Drama
Analysis of selected operas with special emphasis on the musical development of drama, and the application of music devices to underscore dramatic effect and characterization. Prerequisites: MUS 222 and 224, or consent of instructor; also score reading skills, upper division standing, and completion of general education basic skills goals. MUS 425 - Advanced Conducting
Advanced study of conducting elements common to both vocal and instrumental conducting with continued work in listening skills, conducting technique, error detection, score study and preparation, interpretation, rehearsal procedures, and performance. The course requires guided outside observations of rehearsals and performances by conductors at various levels. Technological tools of importance to conductors such as MIDI, recording techniques (audio and video) and computers will be used extensively. Repertoire studied includes Western and non-Western music in a variety of genres both vocal and instrumental.MUS 472 - Jazz Improvisation III
Performance of patterns derived from Coltrane substitutions, abstract intervallic patterns, concepts of free improvisation, performance of transcribed blues and other solos, harmonic embellishment and substitution, quartal voicing of ii-V-I progressions, advance pentatonic concepts, blues heads and standards in all 12 keys, transcription of solos for your instrument. Prerequisite: MUS 372. MUS 477 - Special Studies in Music
Classes, individual research, and/or group investigation of selected topics in music or musical ensembles. Topics to be studied in any particular quarter will be designated before registration. May be repeated for different course content. Possible fields of study are: keyboard musicianship, seminars in composition and projects in musicology, the development of music for the solo voice after 1600, the symphony and symphonic poems from their inception to the present.MUS 481 - Baroque & Classical
MUS 482 - Romanticism & Impressionism
MUS 483 - Music of the Early 20th Century
MUS 484 - Music Since 1945
MUS 485 - Polyphonic Period & the Renaissance
The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Music offers comprehensive training in performance, theory and history, all intended to prepare students for careers in professional music, teaching, or related fields. There are many opportunities for students to perform as soloists or in ensembles. The requirements are flexible enough to allow each student to specialize or generalize as appropriate, and there are two emphases, one in General Music and one in Music Education.
Any undergraduate accepted into the University may undertake this major. Continuance is contingent upon satisfactory progress in all coursework, both in and out of the major.
Music Education (emphasis II)
This emphasis assists individuals to become music educators focusing on both primary and secondary educaction.
MUS 211 - Introduction to Music Technology
This course will introduce Music Education students to technologies that will enhance their ability to teach music and give the students the information, skills, experience and confidence to successfully implement technology into the music curriculum at their future institution.
MUS 257 - Early Field Experiences in Music
Designed to provide students with guided observations and directed field experiences in school music classrooms. The course establishes the relationship between theory and practice, and provides students with preliminary information to assist them in making informed judgments on whether to pursue a career in music education. Students will observe classes in general music, vocal and instrumental performance, at both the elementary and secondary levels. Offered on a credit, no-credit basis.
MUS 325 - Beginning Conducting
Study of baton techniques and development of essential skills common to instrumental and choral conducting such as listening, gesture, error detection, score study and preparation, interpretation, rehearsal procedures, and performance. Technological advances of importance to conductors such as MIDI, recording technologies (audio & video) and computers will be examined and used. Repertoire studied includes Western and non-Western music in a variety of genres both vocal and instrumental.
MUS 425 - Advanced Conducting
Advanced study of conducting elements common to both vocal and instrumental conducting with continued work in listening skills, conducting technique, error detection, score study and preparation, interpretation, rehearsal procedures, and performance. The course requires guided outside observations of rehearsals and performances by conductors at various levels. Technological tools of importance to conductors such as MIDI, recording techniques (audio and video) and computers will be used extensively. Repertoire studied includes Western and non-Western music in a variety of genres both vocal and instrumental.
MUS 403 - Music in the Elementary Schools
Study of pedagogical techniques and activities designed for teaching music for elementary children in the context of the elementary music class. Emphasis will be placed on the Kodaly and Orff approaches. Development of skills in teaching music literacy, musicianship, soprano and alto recorders, multicultural music, and lesson planning. Prerequisite: MUS 257.
MUS 405 - Secondary Instrumental Methods
Designed for students who intend to become instrumental music teachers in the secondary schools. The place and function of instrumental music in the high school curriculum. Provides opportunity for students to develop skills in rehearsal techniques, program development and organization, philosophies of music education. Prerequisites: MUS 222 or consent of instructor.
MUS 410 - Secondary Vocal Methods
Designed for students who intend to become vocal music teachers in the secondary schools. The place and function of vocal music in the high school curriculum. Rehearsal techniques, program development and organization, philosophies of music education. Prerequisites: MUS 222 or consent of instructor.
MUS 227 - Beginning Singing Techniques
Class instruction in the fundamental techniques of singing. Problems of breath control, tone production, diction, song repertoire, and interpretation. Historical theories of vocal production. No previous background required.
MUS 228 - Intermediate Singing Techniques
Intermediate-level class instruction in fundamental techniques of singing. Problems of breath control, tone production, diction, song repertoire, and interpretation.
MUS 229 - Advanced Singing Techniques
Advancedlevel class instruction in techniques of singing. Repertoire building, songs in foreign languages, operatic arias.
MUS 259 - Pedagogy
Principles involved in the playing and teaching of the regular orchestral instruments and maintenance of the regular band. Students are required to play each instrument studied in the class and demonstrate a working acquaintance with the pedagogical knowledge necessary to adequately instruct another person in the following areas:
.001 Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass
.002 Woodwinds: Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone
.003 Brass: Bb Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba
.004 Percussion: Appropriate definiteand indefinitepitched instruments, as determined by the instructor.