School of Music: Applied Lessons & Ensembles

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  • CFA MP 165: Non-major Private Music Instruction: Brass (Hour)
    14 1-hour private instrument lessons provided by CFA graduate brass majors for students not majoring in brass performance. Class is offered to students with or without prior brass experience and no pre-requisites are required. Open to CFA and non-CFA students. Course requires applied music fee. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 166: Non-major Private Music Instruction: Brass (Half-hour)
    14 1/2-hour private instrument lessons provided by CFA graduate brass majors for students not majoring in brass performance. Class is offered to students with or without prior brass experience and no pre-requisites are required. Open to CFA and non-CFA students. Course requires applied music fee. 0.5 cr.
  • CFA MP 175: Non-major Private Music Instruction: Percussion (Hour)
    14 1-hour private lessons on classical concert percussion provided by CFA graduate percussion majors for students not majoring in percussion performance. Class is offered to students with or without prior percussion experience and no pre-requisites are required. Open to CFA and non-CFA students. Course requires applied music fee. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 176: Non-major Private Music Instruction: Percussion (Half-hour)
    14 1/2-hour private lessons on classical concert percussion provided by CFA graduate percussion majors for students not majoring in percussion performance. Class is offered to students with or without prior percussion experience and no pre-requisites are required. Open to CFA and non-CFA students. Course requires applied music fee. 0.5 cr.
  • CFA MP 180: Group Guitar 1: Beginning
    Beginning Guitar is an introduction to the fundamentals of guitar playing. No previous experience is necessary. By learning music from the Beatles to Bach to the blues, we will cover basic chords, scales, music notation and both pick and finger-style playing. Students should bring their own guitars. Several are available for rent from the Music Performance office (CFA room 240, 617-353-2391). 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 181: Group Guitar 2: Intermediate
    Intermediate Guitar is designed for students who have acquired some basic guitar and reading skills. This section includes work with movable (barre) chord fingerings, movable scale fingerings, improvisation, and improving one's knowledge of the fingerboard. Repertoire includes everything from rock and blues classics to jazz standards. Students should bring their own guitars. Several are available for rent from the Music Performance office (CFA room 240, 617-353-2391). 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 182: Group Guitar 3: Advanced
    Advanced Guitar is for more experienced guitar students. This section focuses on improving one's playing through mastery of chord and scale fingerings, understanding the music theory behind them, and putting all that information and physical skill to work in the context of improvising and accompanying a selection of jazz standards. Players interested in any style of music can benefit from this skill-building work. Students should bring their own guitars. Several are available for rent from the Music Performance office (CFA room 240, 617-353-2391). 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 185: Non-major Private Music Instruction: Other Instruments (Hour)
    14 1-hour private lessons provided for students not majoring in performance on non-traditional instruments supported by CFA, including guitar. Class is offered to students with or without prior experience and no pre-requisites are required. Open to CFA and non-CFA students. Course requires applied music fee. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 186: Non-major Private Music Instruction: Other Instruments (Half-hour)
    14 1/2-hour private lessons provided for students not majoring in performance on non-traditional instruments supported by CFA, including guitar. Class is offered to students with or without prior experience and no pre-requisites are required. Open to CFA and non-CFA students. Course requires applied music fee. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 231: English Diction
    Performance for singers: emphasis on style, interpretation, and perfection of English lyric diction. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 232: Italian Diction
    Performance for singers: emphasis on style, interpretation, and perfection of Italian lyric diction. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 233: French Diction
    Performance for singers: emphasis on style, interpretation, and perfection of French lyric diction. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 234: German Diction
    Performance for singers: emphasis on style, interpretation, and perfection of German lyric diction. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 235: Opera Project 1
    Designed to provide a basic understanding of how to prepare and perform appropriate selections from the operatic repertoire, with a dual focus on stagecraft and musical preparation. Class performance projects include recitative, staged operatic arias and opera scenes. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 236: Opera Project 2
    Continuation of CFA MP235. Designed to provide a basic understanding for undergraduate singers (freshmen and sophomores) of how to prepare and perform appropriate selections from the operatic repertoire, with a dual focus on stagecraft and musical preparation. Class performance projects include recitative, staged operatic arias and opera scenes. Students in the class will be considered for ensemble participation in the mainstage productions. Admission by audition. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 331: Song Literature 1
    The development of the Lied genre will be traced from the 18th through 20th centuries, focusing on the poetry and musical setting. Study and performance of Lieder, including songs of Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf and Schoenberg. 2 cr. This course is part of a Hub sequence. Effective Fall 2020, this course, when taken with MP 332, fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
    • Part of a Hub sequence
  • CFA MP 332: Song Literature 2
    The development of the melodie genre will be traced from the 19th through 20th centuries, focusing on the poetry and musical setting, as well as an overview of Russian art song. Study and performance, including works of Berlioz, Faure, Duparc, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky. 2 cr. The development of the Lied genre will be traced from the 18th through 20th centuries, focusing on the poetry and musical setting. Study and performance of Lieder, including songs of Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf and Schoenberg. 2 cr. This course is part of a Hub sequence. Effective Fall 2020, this course, when taken with MP 331, fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CFA MP 333: Song Literature 3
    The development of the English, Italian, and Spanish art song will be traced through study and performance. Among composers to be considered: Dowland, Purcell, Britten, Ives, Argento, Rorem, Granados, Turina. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 335: Performance Techniques for the Singing Actor 1
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: Voice Majors. Fundamental stage techniques. Basic stage language, movement, presentation skills, and fundamentals of acting for recital and opera. No audition necessary. Some Opera Workshop participants may be asked to take Performance Techniques as a pre-requisite to casting in scenes. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 336: Performance Techniques for the Singing Actor 2
    Continuation of CFA MP335. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 381: Introduction to the Organ
    Introduction to the Organ, a companion course to CFA MP382 Introduction to the Harpsichord, will cover organ technique, repertoire, registration, history, and design. Basic techniques of touch, pedaling and coordination, and hymn playing will be addressed, as well as a survey of the literature written for the organ as related to developments in organ design and technology. Visits to local organs on and off campus will be included as well as classes regularly held in Room 426 where there is a seven-stop Noack mechanical studio organ. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 382: Harpsichord for Keyboard Majors
    Study and performance of the harpsichord and its literature. Students instructed in the various aspects of harpsichord playing, including technique, registration, basso continuo realization, performance practice, national styles, and the major composers for the instrument. 2.0 credits.
  • CFA MP 390: Intro to Conducting
    This course covers basic skills, including use of each hand, study of musical terminology, transposition, tempi, and dynamics. Students learn simple score reading and receive conducting experience. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 391: Conducting 2
    Basic skills--beat patterns, use of each hand, study of musical terminology, transposition, tempi, and dynamics; simple score reading and conducting experience with emphasis on instrumental techniques. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 408: Chamber Music
    Study and performance of chamber music in various combinations. Chamber ensembles receive one hour of coaching each week with a member of the faculty. (May be repeated for credit.) 1 cr. Effective Fall 2019, this course is part of a Hub sequence: when taken with CFA MP 409, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Part of a Hub sequence
  • CFA MP 409: Chamber Music 2
    Study and performance of chamber music in various combinations. Chamber ensembles receive one hour of coaching each week with a member of the faculty. (May be repeated for credit.) 1 cr. Effective Fall 2019, this course is part of a Hub sequence: when taken with CFA MP 408, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • CFA MP 412: Piano Literature 2
    Study and performance of keyboard music of the Classical period. 3 cr.
  • CFA MP 413: Piano Literature 3
    Study and performance of piano music of the Romantic period. 3 cr.
  • CFA MP 415: Piano Pedagogy and Practicum 1
    Teaching methods and materials for use in private and group instruction; literature concerned with leading teachers' approaches to acquiring musical skill and understanding; observation of studio and class teaching; supervised teaching experience. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 416: Piano Pedagogy and Practicum 2
    A continuation of the topics begun in Piano Pedagogy MP415, this course begins with the pedagogical works of Ortmann and Schultz and focuses on teaching techniques for more advanced students. Piano works of major composers are discussed with emphasis on literature selection for different phases of pianistic development. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 440: Orchestral Techniques: String
    For advanced performers on orchestral instruments. Focused study of standard orchestral excerpts in preparation for professional orchestra auditions. Undergraduate students only. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 441: String Literature 1: Solo
    Study through score study, lecture, listening, and other modes of presentation of solo string literature from the Baroque to the present. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 442: String Literature 2: Solo
    Study through score study, lecture, listening, and other modes of presentation of solo string literature from the Baroque to the present. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 443: String Literature 3: Chamber
    Study through score study, lecture, listening, and other modes of presentation of string chamber music literature from the Baroque to the present. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 444: String Literature 4: Chamber
    Study through score study, lecture, listening, and other modes of presentation of string chamber music literature from the Baroque to the present. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 445: String Pedagogy and Practicum 1
    Teaching methods and materials for use in private and group instruction; literature concerned with leading pedagogues' approaches to teaching musical skills and understanding. 2 cr. Effective Fall 2019, this course is part of a Hub sequence: when taken with CFA MP 446, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: The Individual in Community, Ethical Reasoning, Creativity/Innovation.
    • Part of a Hub sequence
  • CFA MP 446: String Pedagogy and Practicum 2
    Teaching methods and materials for use in private instruction; literature concerned with leading pedagogues' approaches to teaching musical skills and understanding. 2 cr. Effective Fall 2019, this course is part of a Hub sequence: when taken with CFA MP 445, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: The Individual in Community, Ethical Reasoning, Creativity/Innovation.
    • The Individual in Community
    • Ethical Reasoning
    • Creativity/Innovation
  • CFA MP 449: Harp Pedagogy, Literature, and Ensembles
    Teaching methods and materials for use in harp instruction; study of harp solo literature from the Baroque to the present; study of harp ensemble literature.
  • CFA MP 460: Orchestral Techniques: Brass
    For advanced performers on orchestral instruments. Problems for various instruments in standard orchestral literature. Undergraduate students only. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 465: Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion Pedagogy and Practicum
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: Non-music education majors. Teaching methods and materials for use in private and group instruction; literature concerned with leading teachers' approaches to acquiring musical skills and understanding. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 470: Orchestral Techniques: Percussion
    For advanced performers on orchestral instruments. Problems for various instruments in standard orchestral literature. Undergraduate students only. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 499: Independent Study: Undergraduates
    Individual projects arranged between undergraduate students and faculty, often in areas outside of the regular curriculum. Plans must be submitted in advance of registration. Variable credit.
  • CFA MP 500: Large Instrumental Ensemble: Symphony/Chamber Orchestra
    The Boston University School of Music Orchestral Program, which includes the Symphony Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra, plays a central role in the education of the School's instrumentalists. The primary conductors, with faculty coaches and guest conductors, lead the orchestras in more than sixteen concerts each season including special performances such as two mainstage operas, the Student Concerto Competition Winners Concert, and two annual performances at Boston's Symphony Hall during which the Symphonic Chorus also appears. Readings and recordings of standard orchestral repertoire and student compositions take place throughout the year. The orchestras require placement auditions each September.
  • CFA MP 502: Large Instrumental Ensembles: Wind Ensemble
    The Boston University Wind Ensemble is designed to prepare wind, brass, and percussion players for their professional careers in ensemble performance. It also provides future music educators with institute standard teaching concepts and methods related to the study of band repertoire and performance. The ensemble challenges students through both standard repertoire as well as new music written for symphonic bands. The Wind Ensemble requires a placement audition each September.
  • CFA MP 511: Practical Piano 1
    Keyboard harmonization skills, sight-reading, technical drills and accompaniment for simple melodic lines. Designed to promote keyboard facility for graduate-level singers. Other music majors with permission. (Required of vocal performance majors in master's degree program). 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 512: Practical Piano 2
    Continuation of CFA MP511. (Required of vocal performance majors in master's degree program). 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 520: Complexity in Rhythm
    Complexity in Rhythm is a one semester course designed for students who wish to expand their rhythmic vocabulary. Students will explore the notations, sounds, and compositional functions of meter, tempo, syncopation, and polyrhythm through rhythmic exercises, analysis puzzles, and an extensive survey of repertoire. By the end of the semester, students will be able to dissect sophisticated rhythmic notation, understand the mathematical relationships between rhythm, meter, and tempo, assess how to practice and learn complex rhythms, and relate such rhythms to their compositional function and historical or cultural contexts.
  • CFA MP 531: Graduate Diction
    One-semester review course for singers. This course is intended as a quick review of the basics and nuances of Italian, German, French, to be supplemented by in-class discussion and exercises, weekly homework projects, quizzes, and singing in class. Knowledge of the International Phonetic Alphabet is required. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 532: Vocal Coaching and Performance Seminar
    Performance for singers: emphasis on style and interpretation of concert repertoire. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 534: Oratorio Literature and Repertoire
    Performance for singers: emphasis on style and interpretation of oratorio literature. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 551: Prof Presence
  • CFA MP 553: Saxophone Ensemble
    Students will learn musical and technical ensemble concepts related to rehearsing and performing in a conducted saxophone choir. Music selected will reflect a variety of styles. Open to graduate and undergraduate students. 1 cr
  • CFA MP 563: Trombone Choir
    Students will learn musical and technical ensemble concepts related to rehearsing and performing in a conducted trombone choir. Music selected will reflect a variety of styles. Open to graduate and undergraduate students. 1.0 credit.
  • CFA MP 581: Continuo 1
    Keyboard and other continuo players are given note-by-note analysis and coaching of selected continuo realizations, both written and improvised. Non-keyboard players are given tutelage in basic continuo realization appropriate to their level of keyboard skill, so that they may be able to accompany their future students, and also to better appreciate and have more discernment of the continuo player's role in ensembles in which they take part. Additionally, they will play their own instruments (or sing) in the class so that the keyboard players have practice in realizing figured bass accompaniments. For both, a historical overview of the practice of figured bass accompaniment is given together with stylistic analysis and practical musical coaching.
  • CFA MP 582: Continuo 2
    Continuation of CFA MP581.
  • CFA MP 583: BU Baroque Orchestra
    The Boston University Baroque Orchestra will perform one program a semester. The participants will perform on baroque instruments at A=415. It will be open to any student who has had experience playing in the baroque style on baroque instruments. Once the members of the ensemble is established a program will be selected that will reflect the make up of the orchestra. The program will allow members to have solo opportunities if they are prepared to take on this responsibility. Since this is a project based course once a concert date is determined we will set approximately six rehearsal times before the concert date.
  • CFA MP 585: Baroq Inst Tech
    This course description is currently under construction.
  • CFA MP 599: Alexander Technique
    Students are taught the principles of the Alexander Technique. Students will begin to become aware of their habitual patterns; patterns of movement, daily life, voice etc. The class explores breathing, performance anxiety, and efficient movement choices. This helps with preventing injury. Students learn to deepen the exploration of habits; examining details of playing instruments, breathing, speaking and sitting. Students develop powers of observation and awareness and patterns of thinking. As the class brings in more explorations, the students begin to see how the Alexander Technique can help their musical life.
  • CFA MP 600: Boston University Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra
    The Boston University School of Music Orchestral Program, which includes the Symphony Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra, plays a central role in the education of the School's instrumentalists. The primary conductors, with faculty coaches and guest conductors, lead the orchestras in more than sixteen concerts each season including special performances such as two mainstage operas, the Student Concerto Competition Winners Concert, and two annual performances at Boston's Symphony Hall during which the Symphonic Chorus also appears. Readings and recordings of standard orchestral repertoire and student compositions take place throughout the year. The orchestras require placement auditions each September.
  • CFA MP 602: Boston University Wind Ensembles
    The Boston University Wind Ensemble is designed to prepare wind, brass, and percussion players for their professional careers in ensemble performance. It also provides future music educators with institute standard teaching concepts and methods related to the study of band repertoire and performance. The ensemble challenges students through both standard repertoire as well as new music written for symphonic bands. The Wind Ensemble requires a placement audition each September.
  • CFA MP 603: Boston University Symphonic Chorus
    Required of undergraduate vocal performance majors. May be repeated for credit. 0.5 cr.
  • CFA MP 604: Boston University Singers
    Required of undergraduate vocal performance majors. May be repeated for credit. 0.5 cr.
  • CFA MP 605: Opera Workshop
    Undergraduate (juniors and seniors) singers are selected who demonstrate operatic potential, have mastered a beginning level of acting and vocal skill, and who need experience, integration, and refinement. Coursework includes acting, music and dramatic coaching, movement, stage and audition techniques and master classes. The class culminates in performance of opera scenes or one act operas. Students may be eligible for secondary roles when appropriate and in consultation with the student's applied teacher. Students in Opera Workshop will participate in mainstage production ensembles. Admission by audition.
  • CFA MP 606: Opera Theatre
    Designed for graduate singers who demonstrate operatic potential and have mastered an intermediate integration of acting, vocal, and movement skills. Coursework includes acting, music and dramatic coaching of scenes and arias, movement classes, diction, scenes participation audition preparation, and master classes. All students enrolled in Opera Theatre will be considered for casting in principal roles when appropriate and in consultation with the student's applied teacher. All students in Opera Theatre will also participate in the mainstage production ensembles. Other performance opportunities may include scenes programs or one act operas. Admission by audition.
  • CFA MP 607: New Music Ensemble
    Time's Arrow is a new music ensemble of unfixed instrumentation, performing works for unspecified instrumentation and music of fixed instrumentation, both large and small ensembles and soloist. The group works directly with composers whenever possible. May be repeated for credit. Does not fulfill musical organization requirements. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 608: Chamber Music
    Study and performance of chamber music in various combinations. Chamber ensembles receive one hour of coaching each week with a member of the faculty. (May be repeated for credit.) 1 cr. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • CFA MP 609: Baroque Chamber Music
    Study and performance of Baroque chamber music for winds, strings, and continuo. Ensembles receive one hour of coaching each week with a member of the applied music faculty in the Historical Performance Department. (May be repeated for credit.) 1 cr. This class is part of a Hub sequence. Effective Spring 2019, when taken with CFA MP 608, this class carries a single unit of Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • CFA MP 610: Ensemble for Pianists
    Admission by audition. Four-hand and ensemble work for piano; works using piano with small combinations of instruments. (May be repeated for credit.) 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 612: Piano Literature 2
    Study and performance of keyboard music of the Classical period. 3 cr.
  • CFA MP 613: Piano Literature 3
    Study and performance of piano music of the Romantic period. 3 cr.
  • CFA MP 615: Piano Pedagogy 1
    An historical overview of the main treatises in Piano Pedagogy as well as teaching methods and materials for use in private and group instruction. The first semester deals with literature and musical concepts as they relate to beginning pianists. The second semester covers some of the major repertoire of the common practice period as well as the work of Ortmann and Schultz. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 616: Piano Pedagogy 2
    A continuation of the topics begun in Piano Pedagogy MU708, this course begins with the pedagogical works of Ortmann and Schultz and focuses on teaching techniques for more advanced students. Piano works of major composers are discussed with emphasis on literature selection for different phases of pianistic development. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 621: Accompaniment Skills
    Practical training in ensemble techniques for piano majors, featuring in-class partnerships with vocalists, instrumentalists, and fellow pianists. May be repeated for credit. 1 cr. Either semester.
  • CFA MP 622: Duo Sonata Repertoire for Strings and Piano
    Focused study of a specific body of string duo sonata repertoire through in-class performance, analysis, and critique. Additional duo rehearsal required. Topic varies by semester.
  • CFA MP 635: Performance Techniques for the Singing Actor 1
    Designed for classical singers desiring careers in the current and evolving industry. Provides a focused approach to learning the skills of performance, along with professional protocols in rehearsal, audition, and performance. Readings, discussions, and practices are introduced from Linklader, Graham, Balk, Goldovsky, Adler, Meisner, Mamet, Stanislavsky, O'Brien, Chekhov, Alexander, and Viewpoints. Students begin with study of their existing repertoire. Strategies and skills of performance for auditions, HD, the proscenium stage and alternate spaces, including performance in the round, are discussed and explored. Performance skills, character research, and role study culminate in the performance of a staged aria. May be taken alone or as a supplement to any level of the Opera Programs. With permission of instructor, MP 635 may be taken either as a prerequisite to, or concurrent with, MP 636.
  • CFA MP 636: Performance Techniques for the Singing Actor 2
    Continuation of CFA MP635. Students will deepen character study, collaborating with other class members for research, rehearsal, and scenes (or one act operas) for a culminating performance. Each student practices performance skills and serves as stage director as well as performer.
  • CFA MP 640: Orchestral Techniques: Strings
    For advanced performers on orchestral instruments. Focused study of standard orchestral excerpts in preparation for professional orchestra auditions. Graduate students only. 1 cr.
  • CFA MP 641: String Literature 1: Solo
    Study through score study, lecture, listening, and other modes of presentation of solo string literature from the Baroque to the present. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 642: String Literature 2: Solo
    Study through score study, lecture, listening, and other modes of presentation of solo string literature from the Baroque to the present. 2 cr.
  • CFA MP 643: String Literature 3: Chamber
    Study through score study, lecture, listening, and other modes of presentation of string chamber music literature from the Baroque to the present. 2 cr.

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