MUS-111 Master Composers
A study of masterpieces of Western Music Literature intended for students with little or no background in music. Students will be introduced to musical terms, forms, styles, genres, and historical periods in order to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of how music works.
For more detailed course information view the
Course Outline
Course Description
A study of masterpieces of Western Music Literature intended for students with little or no background in music. Students will be introduced to musical terms, forms, styles, genres, and historical periods in order to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of how music works.
Credit Hours
3SUNY General Education Course
Course Learning Outcomes
- Apply basic technical nomenclature pertinent to engaging music literature.
- Apply basic features characteristic of conventional historic style periods while considering the creative processes of composers active in those style periods.
- Write a response to a selected text demonstrating information literacy skills designed to enhance academic and personal success.
- Identify campus resources to aid the development of independent learning skills necessary for success within a field or discipline.
- Reflect on their own learning in order to articulate academic and career goals and develop an educational plan to reach those goals.
Topic Outline
- MUS 111 covers a wide variety of music literature, including orchestral, keyboard, vocal, and chamber music. We will consider the structure of pieces as well as their most salient and characteristic style features. Specific repertory varies from term to term. We will also consider various topics in music aesthetics, which will be the basis for class discussions and/or writing assignments.
- 1. Basic elements of music
- a. Melody (contour, range, intervals, phrases, cadences, and conjunct and disjunct motion)
- b. Harmony (chords, triads, tonality, diatonic, non-diatonic, consonance, and dissonance)
- c. Rhythm (beats, meter, measures, and syncopation)
- d. Texture (monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic, and counterpoint)
- e. Timbre (instruments and voice parts)
- f. Form (strophic, binary, ternary, and movements)
- g. Tempo (presto, allegro, moderato, adagio, etc.)
- h. Dynamics (piano, forte, mezzo forte, etc.)
- i. Instruments (strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and keyboard)
- j. Notation (clefs, staff, noteheads, stems, measures, etc.)
- k. Ensembles (chorus, orchestra, chamber ensembles, etc.)
- 2. Style and function
- a. Sacred music and secular music
- b. Genres (sonata, symphony, concerto, chamber music, opera, etc.)
- c. Historical periods (Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary)
- 3. Campus resources and career strategies
- a. Career choices in music
- b. Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)
- c. Survival skills for music
- d. Information literacy in music
- e. College resources and facilities
- f. College culture and social life
- g. Campus policies and procedures