Courses

The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular term. 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.

• 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
  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 STR 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.