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 450: Orchestral Techniques: Woodwinds
  For advanced performers on orchestral instruments. Problems for various instruments in standard orchestral literature. Undergraduate students only. 1 cr.
• 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 507: New Music Ensemble
  Time’s Arrow, a new music ensemble of unfixed instrumentation, features serious and immersive involvement in a number of works from the late twentieth and twenty-first centuries for smaller and larger ensembles, of traditional and non-traditional instrumentation, mostly unconducted, some of which involve non-traditional notation, advancing the understanding of both the aesthetic issues in that music and the techniques necessary for rehearsal and performance of those particular works, and, by extension, other works, both contemporary and earlier.
• 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. This course is open to all students, although it is geared toward graduate and upper-class music majors. Fluency in reading music notation is required.
• 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 540: Graduate Diction 1
  This course is the first of a two-semester sequence addressing the basics and nuances of lyric diction for singers. The course will include in-class discussion and exercises, weekly homework projects, quizzes, and singing in class. Knowledge of the International Phonetic Alphabet is required.
• CFA MP 541: Graduate Diction 2
  This course is the second of a two-semester sequence addressing the basics and nuances of lyric diction for singers. The course will include in-class discussion and exercises, weekly homework projects, quizzes, and singing in class. Knowledge of the International Phonetic Alphabet is required.
• CFA MP 551: Building your Professional 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 580: Viola for Violinists
  Violin majors are given the opportunity to explore study of the viola in a small group setting. Topics will include (but not be limited to): Alto clef reading and strategies for easy transition; Important differences in set-up, left hand and arm use, and right hand and arm use, all to produce a true viola tone and to avoid injury; Strategies for playing the viola in chamber music and orchestral settings; An overview of viola solo repertoire and the chance to study selected music on the viola. Students will need access to a viola and viola bow for the semester. (Check with instructor on options.) Class meets for one hour per week.
• 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.