Courses
Search for courses listed in this bulletin. To find a semester course schedule (including instructors, meeting times and locations), go to mynmu.nmu.edu.
- Offered: Fall (even years)
- Prerequisites: Music major standing.
A course for choral music education students, presenting techniques for effectively organizing, rehearsing, and conducting instrumental ensembles of varying levels and types. Students will perform on a secondary instrument in a lab ensemble setting.
- Offered: Fall
A survey of Western classical music and music literature. Topics include musical terms, forms, styles, genres and historical periods. Emphasis is placed on primary composers, critical listening to their masterworks, and understanding their influence in the development of the Western art music. The ability to read music is a necessary skill for successful completion of this course.
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: This course is open to all university students.
A course designed for prospective P-6 elementary music educators teaching basic playing and pedagogy for instruments commonly used in the classroom. Instruments include autoharp, Orff instruments, small percussion, guitar, and keyboard.
- Offered: Winter
A functional approach developing basic skills in playing the acoustic guitar.
Notes:Students must provide their own instrument.
- Offered: Fall Winter
A course for elementary education or special education majors, introducing musical concepts, skills, and pedagogical principles used in teaching music in the elementary classroom. Students become familiar with music of various eras, styles, and cultures.
Notes: This course may be taken by music majors as an elective.- Offered: Winter, Odd Years
- Prerequisites: Music major at 200 level or instructor permission.
Designed for music education majors to learn the fundamentals of playing and teaching standard percussion instruments.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: Audition.
One individual lesson per week with emphasis on the fundamental performance concepts and techniques of percussion instruments. Snare drum and keyboard instruments are stressed at this level of study.
Notes: May be repeated for credit as often as desired.- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: Audition.
Violin, viola, violoncello, string bass. One individual lesson per week with emphasis on the development of independence of the left hand, scales and shifting in seven positions.
Notes: May be repeated for credit.- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: Audition.
Instruction in jazz, blues, rock guitar or bass guitar styles for intermediate or advanced players. One individual lesson per week.
Notes: May be repeated for credit as often as desired.- Offered: Winter
Classroom instruction in vocal technique for those students with little or no previous instruction.
Notes:May be repeated for credit.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: Audition.
One individual lesson per week with emphasis on basic singing technique (posture, breathing, diction, and resonance). Repertoire is at the discretion of the instructor but normally begins with Italian and English-language art songs and progresses to more challenging pieces as skill develops.
Notes: May be repeated for credit as often as desired.- Offered: Contact Department
A functional approach to clear, expressive diction for singing, emphasizing Italian and German as used in the concert and operatic repertoire.
- Offered: Contact Department
Practical experience in operatic performance and production. Projects range from full operas to scenes, depending on student aptitude and interest. May include tech and support work.
Notes:May be repeated for credit.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: Audition.
Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone. One individual lesson per week using representative solos and technical exercises to develop tone, embouchure, breath control and articulation. Clarinetists will focus on Bb soprano clarinet. Saxophonists will focus on Eb alto saxophone before branching out to any secondary saxophone.
Notes: May be repeated for credit as often as desired.- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: "C" or better in MU 104 and MU 105.
A continuation of harmonic processes through analysis and composition. The course will introduce counterpoint, chromatic harmony and arranging of small vocal and instrumental forms.
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: "C" or better in MU 104 and MU 105.
Continuation of development begun in MU 105; emphasis on transient modulations and altered chords.
- Offered: Winter
- Prerequisites: "C" or better in MU 201 and MU 202.
A continuation of chromatic materials and extended harmony. 19th, 20th, and 21st century harmonic devices are explored. The course includes analysis, composition and arranging.
- Offered: Fall, Odd Years
- Prerequisites: Music majors at 200 level (see department) or instructor’s permission.
Skills required for the effective conducting of musical rehearsals and performances, including score study and comprehension, clear conducting gestures, and verbal communication.
- Offered: Contact Department
- Prerequisites: MU 208.
Continuation of MU 208, refining rehearsal technique, score comprehension and expressive conducting.
- Offered: Winter
- Prerequisites: "C" or better in MU 201 and MU 202.
Further development of the skills involving more complex modulations, changing meters and 20th century melodic and harmonic idioms.
- Offered: Winter
- Co-requisites: May be taken concurrently with MU 204.
- Prerequisites: MU 201 with a “C” or better.
The fundamentals of musical orchestration and arranging. Students will create arrangements for a variety of ensembles, notating and preparing them for performance and/or publication.
- Offered: Winter, Even Years
- Prerequisites: MU 208 or instructor's permission.
A course for choral music education students, presenting techniques for effectively organizing, rehearsing, and conducting choral ensembles of varying levels and types.
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: Acceptance into the Bachelor of Music Education program.
A course for music education students to explore the essence of teaching, characteristics of master teachers, principles of effective teaching and learning, and to personally reflect on your own strengths, weaknesses, and journey towards becoming a music educator. This course serves as an introduction to the profession of music teaching and will prepare you for your music methods courses. Students will perform peer-teaching episodes during class.
- Offered: Contact Department
- Prerequisites: MU 101 and an audition or instructor’s permission.
Explores jazz harmony and improvisational techniques in common practice in the jazz tradition. Skills will be applied in a performance situation.
- Offered: Fall, Even Years
- Prerequisites: Music major at 200 level (see department) or instructor permission.
Designed for music education majors. Fundamentals of playing the trumpet and horn, with emphasis on pedagogy.
Notes:May be repeated once for credit.