UNCA Catalog: Courses of Instruction
UNCA Catalog: Table of Contents
UNCA Catalog: Courses of Instruction
UNCA Catalog: Table of Contents
Associate Professor McKnight (Chair); Associate Professor Kirby, Assistant Professor Ekstrand; Lecturer J. Dorr; Instructor Haden
The Music Department offers three degree options: Bachelor of Science in Music Technology, Bachelor of Arts in Music (General Music Emphasis), and Bachelor of Arts in Music (Jazz Studies Emphasis). Because of the large degree of performance specialization inherent in this discipline, the department relies heavily upon an adjunct faculty of professional musicians. The following performance groups are a vital part of the Music Department: Chorus, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Asheville Symphony Orchestra and various ensembles including Jazz, Chamber, Percussion, Studio and Synthesizer.
There are two emphases within the B.A. program: 1) general music and 2) jazz studies. The Bachelor of Arts degree program in Music provides an opportunity for students to engage in a wide range of musical and academic studies. Students may emphasize areas of special interest, such as performance, composition, computer music, theory and history (traditional and jazz). The Bachelor of Arts degree program in Music with an emphasis in Jazz Studies is intended for students wishing to pursue careers as jazz performers, composers and arrangers.
Jazz Studies Emphasis
Bachelor of Science in Music Technology
The B.S. in Music Technology provides preparation for entry-level positions, specifically in recording and the technology-based areas of the music industry, and for graduate work.
Students wishing admittance to either the B.A. or B.S. degree program in music must first satisfy the LANG 102 and Library Research requirements. The student must also 1) pass an instrumental or vocal audition placing them into MUSC 291 (Applied Music); 2) complete MUSC 102 (Class Piano II) or demonstrate equivalent competency; and 3) either pass the UNCA Music Theory/Aural Skills Entrance Examination or successfully complete MUSC 131 (Introductory Music Theory). Audition guidelines are available from the Music Department.
Minor in Music
18 hours: MUSC 231, 232, 351, 352, 353; and six additional hours of electives in Music at the 300 or 400 level. At least nine of the hours in the minor must be taken at UNCA.
101, 102 Class Piano I, II (2,2)
Group and individualized instruction in piano designed to accommodate beginners, as well
as students with intermediate and advanced abilities. Lecture, demonstration and laboratory.
Fall and Spring.
103, 104 Class Guitar I, II (2,2)
Group and individualized instruction in techniques of guitar performance, classical and
popular. Lecture, demonstration and laboratory. On demand.
105 Class Voice I (2)
A study of voice production, including respiration, articulation, voice placement and
freshman-level repertoire. On demand.
Note: Courses 111 through 129 may be repeated for credit, but no more than eight hours in aggregate may count toward graduation requirements.
111 Chorus (1)
Performance course emphasizing vocal and ensemble technique, along with a broad survey
of vocal music literature. Fall and Spring.
121 Concert Band (1)
Performance course emphasizing reading and technique. Ability to perform on a brass,
woodwind or percussion instrument required. Fall and Spring.
122 Jazz Band (1)
Performance course encompassing jazz idioms. Open to all students by audition and
director's permission. Fall and Spring.
123 Ensemble (1)
Course designed to meet specific needs each semester. Possible participation in all types of
trios, quartets, quintets, etc., classical or popular styles. Open to all students by audition and
permission of instructor.
124 Symphony (1)
Performance of classical repertoire with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra. By audition
only and permission of the conductor.
125 Jazz Choir (1)
Jazz vocal choir rehearsing and publicly performing contemporary jazz arrangements. Open to
all students by audition.
128 Percussion Ensemble (1)
Performance course emphasizing percussion literature of all styles. Prerequisites: MUSC
192 (Applied Percussion) or equivalent and permission of instructor.
129 Jazz Ensemble (1)
Performance course for instrumentalists emphasizing small-group jazz literature from bebop
to present. Permission of instructor. Fall and Spring.
131 Introductory Music Theory (3)
Stresses basic music literacy, the rudiments of music, and basic analytical techniques and
proficiencies relevant to a study of the elements of music. Includes introductory aural
skills. Spring.
201 Aural Skills I (1)
Laboratory for ear-training and sight-singing. Recommended corequisite: MUSC 231. Fall.
202 Aural Skills II (1)
Continuation of MUSC 201. Prerequisite: MUSC 201; recommended corequisite: MUSC
232. Spring.
207 Conducting (2)
Emphasizes basic through refined conducting skills and their applicability to various styles
of music. Prerequisite: MUSC 232; or permission of instructor.
216 Musical Theatre Workshop (DRAM 216) (3)
Song interpretation and style of selected American Musical Theater repertoire. Course
culminates in group performance of scenes from various major works. Prerequisite: MUSC 105;
or permission of instructor.
231 Music Theory I (3)
A study of the organization of sound in time as seen through treatment of the elements of
music in the Common Practice Period (1600-1900); emphasis also on various types of scales,
tuning systems, transposing instruments and four-part voice leading. Includes creative writing.
Prerequisites: MUSC 102, 131; or permission of instructor. Fall.
232 Music Theory II (3)
A continuation of MUSC 231 with a unit on the treatment of the elements of music in
20th-century popular styles as compared with that of the Common Practice Period; includes a
study of modulation and altered chords; includes creative writing. Prerequisite: MUSC 231. Spring.
293, 294 Keyboard Harmony and Improvisation I, II (2, 2)
Common keyboard voicings and accompanimental improvisation techniques in various
musical styles, with an emphasis on harmonic theory and contemporary chord symbol
nomenclature. Prerequisites for MUSC 293: MUSC 102 or equivalent; 131 or equivalent. Prerequisite
for MUSC 294: MUSC 293. Fall (MUSC 293), Spring (MUSC 294).
301 Aural Skills III (1)
Continuation of MUSC 202. Prerequisite: MUSC 202; recommended corequisite: MUSC
331. Fall.
302 Aural Skills IV (1)
Continuation of MUSC 301. Prerequisite: MUSC 301; recommended corequisite: MUSC
332. Spring.
331 Music Theory III (3)
A study of counterpoint (16th and 18th centuries); a continuation of the study of
chromatic harmony (all altered chords and extended tonalities and extended chords); forms
(variation, sonata allegro, rondo, minuet and trio). Prerequisite: MUSC 232. Fall.
332 Music Theory IV (3)
Impressionistic and 20th-century techniques including alternatives to tonality and
contemporary treatment of the elements of music; techniques for writing and analyzing
compositions based on pitch class sets and serialism. Prerequisite: MUSC 331. Spring.
335 Synthesizers and Music Software (3)
An introduction to the use of personal computers and synthesizers for contemporary
electronic music composition and performance. Topics include computer and synthesizer concepts,
MIDI, electronic orchestration and sound synthesis. Prerequisites: MUSC 102, 131; or permission
of instructor. Fall.
351 Music History and Literature to 1750 (2)
The history of music from primitive man through the mid-18th century, with an analysis of
the respective literature. Prerequisite: MUSC 232; or permission of instructor. Every third semester.
352 Music History and Literature, 1750-1900 (2)
The music of the late Baroque through the Classical, Romantic and Impressionistic
periods including style analysis of appropriate literature. Presentations in this course will prepare
students for demonstrating oral competency. Prerequisite: MUSC 232; or permission of
instructor. Every third semester.
353 Music History and Literature from 1900 (2)
Survey and analysis of 20th century developments with emphasis on Stravinsky, Bartok,
the Schoenberg School, atonality, electronic and experimental music. Presentations in this
course will prepare students for demonstrating oral competency. Prerequisite: MUSC 232; or
permission of instructor. Every third semester.
355 Symphonic and Chamber Music Literature (3)
An explorative study and analysis of the symphonic and chamber music literature of the
17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Course includes listening, concert attendance, readings and lectures.
356 Opera and Oratorio Literature (3)
An introduction to opera, the lyric theatre and oratorio through listening, readings, lectures
and appropriate concert attendance.
357 Jazz History (2)
A study of the development of jazz from its roots in ragtime and blues forms through
contemporary acoustic and electroacoustic jazz styles. Prerequisite: MUSC 232; or permission of
instructor. On demand.
362 Arranging (3)
Study of harmony, melody and rhythm as applied to problems of arranging for instrumental
and vocal ensembles of varying sizes and styles. Prerequisite: MUSC 332; or permission of instructor.
364 Jazz Theory and Improvisation I (3)
The theory and performance of improvised melodic line construction and its
interdependence to issues including: chord/scale relationships, advanced scalar and modal analysis and
applications, harmonic function and substitution, and rhythmic development and alteration.
Prerequisites: MUSC 192 (or equivalent), 201, 231; corequisite: MUSC 202. Every other Fall.
365 Jazz Theory and Improvisation II (3)
The continued study of linear improvisation, with additional emphasis on motivic
development, superimposition and displacement of rhythmic elements, solo transcription analysis, and
sophisticated compositional structures. Prerequisites: MUSC 202, 364; corequisite: MUSC 301.
Every other Spring.
382 Music Industry and Business I (3)
A survey of the music industry with special emphasis on music publishing, copyright,
licensing, agents, managers, attorneys and merchandising. On demand.
383 Music Industry and Business II (3)
Surveys record industry and other technologically oriented areas of music enterprise:
record markets, artists' contracts, record production and merchandising; also radio,
telecommunications and newly developing technologies. Prerequisite: MUSC 382. On demand.
384 Audio Engineering Technology I (2)
Theoretical foundations of modern recording including the study of microphones,
loudspeakers, signal processors, magnetic tape, equalizers and filters. Prerequisites: MUSC 131; PHYS
102; corequisite: MUSC 385. Fall.
385 Recording Studio Practicum I (1)
Application of modern recording techniques with hands-on experience in a multitrack
recording studio, covering microphone technique, tape machine operation, session procedures,
basic production techniques. Prerequisites: MUSC 131; PHYS 102; corequisite: MUSC 384. Fall.
386 Audio Engineering Technology II (2)
A continuation of MUSC 384, including the theoretical foundations of digital audio,
studio synchronization and post production. Prerequisite: MUSC 384; co-requisite: MUSC
387. Spring.
387 Recording Studio Practicum II (1)
Continuation of MUSC 385, with emphasis on the application of modern recording
techniques, including digital recording, digital editing, studio synchronization, and advanced
production techniques. Prerequisites: MUSC 384, 385; co-requisite: MUSC 386. Spring.
484 Audio Engineering Technology III (2)
A continuation of MUSC 386 with emphasis on acoustical measurement, studio design,
and sound reinforcement. Prerequisites: MUSC 386, 387; corequisite: MUSC 485. Fall.
485 Recording Studio Practicum III (1)
A continuation of 387, including field-experience in sound reinforcement, remote
recording and advanced production techniques. Prerequisites: MUSC 386, 387; co-requisite: MUSC
484. Fall.
486 Audio Engineering Technology IV (2)
A continuation of MUSC 484, with emphasis on studio automation and emerging
technologies. Prerequisites: MUSC 484, 485; corequisite: MUSC 487. Spring.
487 Recording Studio Practicum IV (1)
A continuation of MUSC 485, including individually assigned studio and field work.
Prerequisites: MUSC 484, 485; corequisite: MUSC 486. Spring.
390, 490 Professional and Technical Internship (1-6)
Internship with a participating firm or organization relevant to the student's degree
emphasis. Internships available in various cities, such as New York, Nashville and Los Angeles, as well
as cities in North Carolina. Specific information available from department chair.
Prerequisite: departmental permission. Fall and Spring.
171-3, 271-3, 371-3, 471-3 Special Topics in Music (1-3)
Courses not otherwise included in the catalog listing but for which there may be special
needs. May be repeated for credit as often as permitted and as subject matter changes. On demand.
191-192, 291-292, 391-392, 491-492 Applied Music (2)
Individual weekly lessons (one hour or equivalent) and a one-hour weekly group
meeting. Details available from Music Department. Prerequisite: By audition and permission of the
department (B.A. students must be enrolled in Applied Music during the semester they
perform their degree recital.) Spring.
241-242, 341-342, 441-442 Composition (1)
Creative writing and original compositions in various forms and for varied media.
Prerequisite: MUSC 332; or permission of instructor. On demand.
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