Catalog 2023-2024

Music

Teaching Faculty

Professor Krebs 

Associate Professors Morgan and Renshaw James (chair)

Description

The music department offers a music major and a music minor as well as a wide variety of private lessons and ensembles.

Students may take a theory placement exam to determine the best starting point in the theory sequence. Students placed into MUSI 202 Diatonic Harmony will receive credit for MUSI 100 Music Fundamentals upon completion of MUSI 202 Diatonic Harmony with a grade of C or higher. Students placed into MUSI 301 Chromatic Harmony receive credit for MUSI 202 Diatonic Harmony upon completion of MUSI 301 Chromatic Harmony with a grade of C or higher. Music majors placed into MUSI 301 Chromatic Harmony take an additional MUSI elective in place of MUSI 100 Music Fundamentals to fulfill the nine-course requirement for the major.

More specific information for music majors and minors is available in the Music Department Handbook.

 

Major in Music

9 courses and other requirements distributed as follows:

  • 4 music theory courses:
              MUSI 100 Music Fundamentals
              MUSI 202 Diatonic Harmony  
              MUSI 301 Chromatic Harmony
              MUSI 425 Form and Analysis
  • 3 music history and literature courses chosen from:
              MUSI 270 World Musics
              MUSI 311 Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Music
              MUSI 312 Classic, Romantic, and Modern Music
  • 2 elective courses chosen from:   
             MUSI 150 Survey of Western Classical Music
             MUSI 180 Film Music
             MUSI 230 History of Jazz
             MUSI 250 Introduction to Opera
             MUSI 260 Popular Music Since 1900
             MUSI 280 Topics in Music
             MUSI 405 Conducting
  • 6 semesters of applied music chosen from:
              MUSA 300 Applied Music (30 minutes)
              MUSA 400 Applied Music (60 minutes)
  • 6 semesters of the appropriate ensembles chosen from:
              MUSA 2A1 Accompanying
              MUSA 2CH Choir
              MUSA 2OR Chamber Orchestra
              MUSA 2WE Wind Ensemble
  • MUSA 101 Recital Attendance

Senior Capstone Experience

The Senior Capstone Experience for the music major consists of a senior project. The senior project may take the form of a research paper with presentation or a lecture recital. There is no course credit associated with the project, but students receive a capstone grade.

Minor in Music

6 courses distributed as follows:

  • MUSI 100 Music Fundamentals
  • MUSI 202 Diatonic Harmony
  • 2 courses from the following list:
              MUSI 150 Survey of Western Classical Music
              MUSI 180 Film Music
              MUSI 230 History of Jazz
              MUSI 250 Introduction to Opera
              MUSI 260 Popular Music since 1900
              MUSI 270 World Musics
              MUSI 280 Topics in Music
              MUSI 311 Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Music
              MUSI 312 Classic, Romantic, and Modern Music
  • 1 course credit equivalent of the appropriate ensembles:
              MUSA 2A1 Accompanying
              MUSA 2CH Choir
              MUSA 2OR Chamber Orchestra
              MUSA 2WE Wind Ensemble
  • 1 course credit equivalent of applied music:
              MUSA 300 Applied Music (30 minutes)
              MUSA 400 Applied Music (60 minutes)

Lessons and Ensembles

Students interested in taking private music lessons and/or participating in music ensembles should not pre-register through their advisors. Instead, students should visit hendrix.edu/musicauditions  to sign up for an ensemble audition and to find additional information regarding signing up for lessons. Signing up for lessons and ensemble auditions occurs during the first week of orientation and registration in the fall, or during the first week of classes in the spring. Ensembles and lessons are open to all Hendrix students regardless of major.

The grade earned in each semester of a Music Activity class is included in the computation of the student's grade point average. However, to receive one complete course credit towards a music major, students must complete music activity partial course credits that sum to one whole credit.

    A complete course credit earned in this manner may be used to satisfy the Expressive Arts Learning Domain, except in the case where the student has opted to take a MUSA 300 private lesson on a credit-only basis with no grade. Any number of individual activity courses may be taken by a student. However, note that there is a limit of 2 course credits from partial credit courses from any department that can be used for the 32 courses required for graduation. Music majors may earn 2 additional course credits toward the 32 required course credits for graduation from music activity classes.

    Ensembles include both large ensembles and small chamber groups. A list and descriptions of credit and non-credit ensembles appears below in the course listings under Music Activities.

     

    Program Course Listings

    The courses for this program are organized into the following categories:

    Music Courses

    MUSI 100

    Music Fundamentals

    Introduces and develops basic skills in reading and writing musical notatoin, keyboard, sight singing, and aural skills. This course functions as the first level of the music theory sequence and should be envisioned much like the first level of a language sequence. For all students regardless of background.

    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSI 150

    Intro to Western Classical Music

    A course designed to develop skills in listening to music and to introduce the literature of Western art music. For all students regardless of background.

    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSI 180

    Film Music

    An overview of film music from the silent era to the present, covering important composers and discussing the various techniques and aesthetic approaches involved in combining music and film. Designed for all students.

    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSI 202

    Diatonic Harmony

    Survey of basic harmonic principles up through secondary chords and basic modulation procedures. Continuation of keyborad, sight-singing, and aural skills begun in MUSI 100. For students with an interest in music as a major or minor. Prerequisite: MUSI 100, approval of instructor, or successful completion of a placement examination

    MUSI 100, approval of instructor, or successful completion of a placement examination
    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSI 230

    History of Jazz

    A study of America’s true art form, jazz music, in its various forms and styles, with a goal of understanding and appreciating how jazz music reflects the culture and society of its time. For all students regardless of background.

    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSI 250

    Introduction to Opera

    An introduction to some of the major works in the active operatic repertoire. Designed for all students.

    Expressive Arts EA
    Writing Level 2 W2
    MUSI 260

    Popular Music Since 1900

    An introduction to popular music since 1900. Works covered range from the late 19th century up to today. Designed for all students.

    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSI 270

    World Musics

    Survey of selected folk, classic, and popular musics from around the world. Designed for all students regardless of background.

    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSI 280

    Topics in Music

    An introduction to individual composers, specific musical genres, or the art music of a particular country. For all students regardless of background.

    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSI 301

    Chromatic Harmony

    Continuation of MUSI 202 Diatonic Harmony. Survey of more advanced concepts including augmented sixth chords, Neapolitan chords, and advanced modulations. Continuation of keyboard, sight-singing, and aural skills developed in MUSI 202. Prerequisite: MUSI 202

    MUSI 202
    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSI 311

    Medieval, Renaissance&Baroque Music

    Students are introduced to a variety of topics related to music research in Western European history, approximately 500 AD to 1750. Topics addressed include: the religious context of music in medieval Europe, changing notions of authorship and musical creativity across time periods, gender roles in music, interdisciplinarity in early opera, and a critical examination of the nature of the Western musical canon. The course also introduces students to research skills that are drawn upon in MUSI 312 and the senior capstone project. Prerequisite: MUSI 202, or permission of instructor

    MUSI 202, or permission of instructor
    Expressive Arts EA
    Historical Perspectives HP
    MUSI 312

    Classic Romantic, Modern Music

    Students continue their study of research topics involving Western art music from 1750-present. Topics addressed include: musical topos and rhetoric in the Classical period, the social implications of comic opera, individuality and creativity in the 19th century, music as a response to global conflict, and postmodernism in late 20th century music. Prerequisite: MUSI 311, or permission of instructor

    MUSI 311, or permission of instructor
    Expressive Arts EA
    Historical Perspectives HP
    Writing Level 2 W2
    MUSI 405

    Conducting

    The study of scores, interpretation, and movement. Emphasis is on the development of a non-verbal vocabulary to communicate artistically with members of an ensemble in order to solicit a predetermined musical result. Prerequisite: MUSI 202

    MUSI 202
    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSI 425

    Form and Analysis

    Application of the skills acquired in MUSI 202 Diatonic Harmony and MUSI 301 Chromatic Harmony through the analysis of large-scale musical forms. Includes a survey of standard forms from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as post-1900 procedures and compositional techniques. Prerequisite: MUSI 301

    MUSI 301
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    Music Activities

    Any number of individual activity courses may be taken by a student. However, note that there is a limit of 2 course credits from partial credit courses from any department that can be used for the 32 courses required for graduation. Music majors may earn 2 additional course credits toward the 32 course credits required for graduation from music activity classes.

    MUSA 0CC

    Chamber Chorale

    Chosen from the membership of the Choir, the Hendrix College Chamber Chorale is a small select group that specializes in vocal chamber works from the Renaissance to the present. The Chamber Chorale rehearses two hours weekly. Chamber Chorale is a non-credit ensemble. Prerequisite: Concurrent participation in Choir

    Concurrent participation in Choir
    MUSA 0JE

    Jazz Ensemble

    The Hendrix College Jazz Ensemble is open to musicians interested in performing jazz literature that ranges from big band arrangements to progressive jazz. The ensemble rehearses ninety minutes weekly. Prerequisite: concurrent participation in Wind Ensemble. (Open to all students by permission of the instructor. No credit is offered for participation.)

    concurrent participation in Wind Ensemble. (Open to all students by permission of the instructor. No credit is offered for participation.)
    MUSA 0WC

    Women's Ensemble

    Open to all women without audition, the Women’s Ensemble performs music of all styles for treble voices. The ensemble rehearses 2 hours weekly and is conducted by Dr. Andrew Morgan. Women’s Ensemble is a non-credit ensemble.

    MUSA 101

    Recital Attendance

    Music majors must attend a total of 35 recitals and performances throughout their four years at Hendrix. Students enroll in this course during their senior year and earn a grade determined by the percentage of the 35-required performances they have attended. The performances students have attended are logged by the student and their advisor. Prerequisite: Senior standing and permission of the Music Department chair

    Senior standing and permission of the Music Department chair
    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSA 2CH

    Choir

    The Hendrix Choir is an auditioned mixed voice choral ensemble that studies and performs repertoire from a broad spectrum of musical traditions and historical time periods. Recent projects have included performances of Latin American vocal music, gospel and collaborative programs with the Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. The Choir performs several times yearly, including the annual Candlelight Carol Service, and campus-wide events such as convocations and commencement. The Choir rehearses 80 minutes three times weekly and is conducted by Dr. Andrew Morgan. (Taken for letter grade-only, with ¼ credit weight.)

    Artistic Creativity AC
    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSA 2OR

    Chamber Orchestra

    The Hendrix College Chamber Orchestra performs at least two concerts per semester and rehearses four hours per week. Repertoire is drawn from all historic periods with emphasis on the classic tradition, historic performance practice, working with living composers, guest artists and student soloists, dance, theatrical, and symphonic genres. Student musicians who play woodwind, brass, percussion, keyboard, and stringed instruments enroll in HCCO by audition and/or permission of the conductor. (Taken for letter grade-only, with ¼ credit weight.)

    Artistic Creativity AC
    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSA 2WE

    Wind Ensemble

    The Wind Ensemble is an auditioned group composed of students from a wide variety of majors on campus. Drawing from symphonic band, wind ensemble, and chamber winds repertoire, the ensemble performs a variety of traditional and contemporary works. The Wind Ensemble performs four concerts annually and rehearses 80 minutes three times per week. It is conducted by Dr. Gretchen Renshaw. (Taken for letter grade-only, with ¼ credit weight.)

    Artistic Creativity AC
    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSA 2A1

    Accompanying

    Piano students may receive music activity credit if they rehearse and accopany lessons for at least four hours each week during the course of a semester. Must be taken for a grade.

    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSA 300

    Applied Music (30 minutes)

    One half-hour instruction weekly. Fee: Private instruction, $150 per semester. Fee is waived for students who must study piano or voice in order to complete MUSI 201 or MUSI 202 successfully. Private and class instruction in piano, organ, voice, string, wind, and percussion instruments. Adequate piano proficiency is a prerequisite for organ study. Three hours practice (30 minutes daily for six days) required each week. Non-majors and music majors taking MUSA 300 in a secondary area may elect to take MUSA 200 on a credit-only basis. In this case the student must declare intention to take this course for credit only within the first two weeks of the semester at the Office of the Registrar. All other policies regarding Credit Only courses also apply.

    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSA 3C1

    Beginning Class Piano

    An introduction to the basics of playing the piano and music notation. This course is intended for students with little to no prior piano experience. Students who successfully complete this course may then move on to private piano lessons. This course may not be repeated. Lesson fees do not apply to this course.

    Expressive Arts EA
    MUSA 400

    Applied Music (60 minutes)

    One hour instruction weekly. Fee: $300 per semester. Private instruction in piano, organ, voice, and string, wind, and percussion instruments. Adequate piano proficiency is a prerequisite for organ study. Six hours practice (60 minutes daily for six days) required each week. Students may enroll in MUSA 400 only after successful completion of an audition before the music faculty. MUSA 400 is intended primarily for music majors and minors. After successful completion of the audition, non-majors may enroll in MUSA 400 if there is space available. MUSA 400 is a graded music activity course.

    Artistic Creativity AC
    Expressive Arts EA
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