Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) Course List
MUCO 500: Aural Skills (3 units)
This course demonstrates the relevancy of music to functional tonal music. To pass the course, students need to be comfortable with hearing and identifying functional chromaticism in both melody and harmony. For melody this means that you need to be able to hear and identify chromatic embellishments and modal mixture. Harmonically you need to be able to hear and identify applied harmonies (secondary dominants), modal mixture harmonies, and altered harmonies (Neapolitan chords and Augmented 6th chords).
MUCO 501: Tonal Analysis (3 units)
This course reviews the common practice period (1650-1900) and the various approaches to phrase design, tonal organization and type-forms (binary, ternary, rondo, sonata).
MUCO 502: Post-Tonal Analysis (3 units)
This course is an introductory survey of 20th/21st century approaches to the organization of pitch (serial, modal, extended tonal, etc.), rhythm, texture and form.
MUCO 503: Schenkerian Analysis (3 units)
This course reviews the application of Schenkerian techniques to large works. Criticisms and extensions of Schenker, semiotic approaches, and theories of rhythmic structure.
MUCO 504: Orchestration Arrangement Analysis (3 units)
This course is a review of materials covered in elementary orchestration; for students whose entrance examination in orchestration indicates a need for further study. Beginning to intermediate exercises in orchestration, including scoring for chamber ensembles and orchestra; study of the history of orchestration.
MUHL 550: Medieval – Romantic (3 units)
This course will cover chief musical developments in Western Europe from the middle of the 14th century to the 19th century. Styles, forms, composers, and compositions of the Baroque era, the classical style in symphonic music, opera, and chamber music and vocal and instrumental music of the Romantic era from late Beethoven through Brahms will be covered throughout the course.
MUHL 551: 20th century to Present (3 units)
This course will cover the historical and philosophical problems and composers of the period; specific emphasis determined by the department.
MUHL 552: Music Seminar (3 units)
This course will be chosen by faculty from a selected topics of current interest.
MUHL 553: Modernism of the 20th century (3 units)
This course will cover the start of Wagner’s ideas and how it created the Modernist Era. Music problems and composers of the period will be covered, and specific emphasis will be determined by the department.
MUHL554: Music of the 21st century (3 units)
This course will cover performance practice and the various musical genres that arose during the 21st century. It will be a course designed to analyze the music of the recording industry and its influence on 21st century music. It will be specified by the department.
MUHL 555: American Music (3 units)
This course will cover music that arose from the indigenous regions of North America and how the development of different musical styles arose to prominence.
MUHL 556: Opera History (3 units each, total 6 units)
This course is a study of the national schools of 19th Century opera with special attention to music style and sociopolitical context. All of the usual suspects will be discussed – Rossini, Cherubini, Meyerbeer, Donizetti, Weber, Verdi, Wagner, Puccini, etc. as well as many of the most recent issues in scholarship.
MUHL 570: Research Materials and Techniques (3 units)
Introduction to music research, information science and technical writing. Required of all graduate students majoring in music.
MUHL 571: Doctoral Colloquium (3 units)
These will be regularly scheduled meeting with faculty and doctoral students to share ideas and the results of scholarly research. Must attend one quarter in order to graduate.
MUHL 572: Song and Chamber Music Interpretation (3 units)
This course will be led by a performing faculty member who will put an emphasis on different interpretation approaches to different musical styles. It will be an analytical study, but with an emphasis on performance. This course will cover the various techniques of vocal and instrumental accompanying. It will cover a range of topics and musical styles and genres set by the department. It will be an analytical approach to the performance practice of each musical period and work discovered during the course.
MPKS 600: Music Pedagogy (3 units)
This course will survey the different methods and studies of college curriculum music classes. Students will be required to do Studio/group instruction. Moreover, students will explore different business practices; auditions, and interview techniques. They will be required to survey and observe and to practice teaching.
MPKS 648: Keyboard Literature (3 units)
Keyboard students are required to take 2 KL courses
This is a course that emphasizes on solo piano literature. It will also put an emphasis on composers’ influences, performance practices and the development of the pianoforte.
MPKS 640: Keyboard Proficiency (2 units); Vocal students are required to take 2 KP courses
Vocal students are required to take this class. The course will cover techniques of performance, note reading, and basic musicianship. Not open to keyboard music majors.
MPKS 641: Keyboard Skills (3 units)
This course will emphasize sight-reading and the various principles of style as related to intermediate literature; c-clef and open score reading; improvisation and functional harmony. Introduction to standard reference works, periodicals. Required of all keyboard majors.
MPKS 650: Individual Coaching (2 units each, 12 units total)
At least two years, six semesters of individual coaching is required. This is only for Piano Majors. This is in preparation for all recitals.
MPKS 651: Keyboard Ensemble Studies (3 units)
Preparation and performance of literature for piano duets and duo-piano, and other forms of ensemble work.
MPVS 630: Individual Coaching (2 units each, 12 units total)
This will be required of all vocal students. They will be required to take at least two years, six semesters of individual coaching. This is in preparation for all recitals.
MPVS 631: Vocal Pedagogy (2 units)
Vocal students will be required to take 2 courses on vocal pedagogy. This course will cover special emphasis on voice physiology, function, and the various pedagogical approaches and methodologies. It will also have a special emphasis on practice teaching.