Courses

The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular semester. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the MyBU Student Portal for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

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  • 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 Registration for MP608 is restricted to MM, PD, and DMA candidates. BM candidates should register for MP408/409 in order to fulfill the Teamwork/Collaboration area of the BU Hub.
    • Part of a Hub sequence
  • 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.
    • 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 611: Piano Literature 1
    Study and performance of keyboard music from the Baroque period through the pre-Classical period. 3 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
    Historical study of the major piano pedagogues from 1600 to the early 1900s and critical analyses of their methods; team teaching of basic piano techniques pertaining to beginning pianists; critical analyses of different piano primer publications as to their effectiveness and clarity. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course, Historical Consciousness.
    • Part of a Hub sequence
  • CFA MP 616: Piano Pedagogy 2
    Continuation of the topics begun in Pedagogy MP415 with a focus on the works of Ortmann and Schultz; team teaching focused on techniques pertaining to more advanced pianists; piano works of major composers are evaluated with emphasis on the different phases of pianistic development. Effective Spring 2022, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course, Historical Consciousness.
    • Historical Consciousness
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • 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.

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