Welcome to BUTI!
Every year we have a few academic elective classes that you have access to. All classes are optional, but we encourage you to try at least one.
2025 Elective Class Offerings
Theory
The music theory elective involves intensive study in aspects of music including harmony, counterpoint, analysis, and aural skills. Based on a conservatory-style model, the course will reinforce fundamentals and explore diatonic and chromatic harmony and its use in the repertoire. Exercises in four-part writing and counterpoint will help students to build a deeper understanding of how music is constructed, leading to analysis of repertoire. In addition, the course will include an aural skills component, focusing on ear training and dictation, in order to further develop the ear to hear both vertically and horizontally. Study in these topics will help the student to engage with their own repertoire on a deeper level and begin to open up creative possibilities in interpreting or composing works. This course will meet twice weekly for 45-minute sessions and students will be expected to complete regular coursework in topics covered in class. Before beginning, students will complete a placement exam to ensure that material is appropriate and engaging. If you choose to take Music Theory you can not take other Tuesday/Thursday electives weeks 2 through 4.
Preventing Injury - A Survey of Body Methods
A survey course that introduces you to various ways to keep your body ready for making music!
Feldenkrais® for Musicians
The Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education can help musicians create more dynamic and expressive performances by enhancing body awareness and fostering efficient movement. In this session, attendees will participate in an Awareness Through Movement® lesson designed to develop greater ease, range, and quality of movement for playing and singing. Attendees should wear comfortable clothes and bring an instrument and a blanket/mat for the floor. Individual lessons are also available.
Body Mapping
Looking for more reliable technique, richer tone colors, or a bigger dynamic range? Want to feel more comfortable and confident on stage?
Body Mapping at BUTI is a transformative workshop that helps musicians fine-tune posture, breathing, and movement to unlock better performance and practice habits. You’ll learn how your body is designed to move—so you can play or sing with greater ease, expression, and consistency, even under pressure.
Bring your instrument and uncover how to make the changes that lead to better performances—and more joy in music-making!
Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique is a proven mind-body method for becoming aware of unhelpful
tensions in playing/singing which prevent ease and freedom in performing. By addressing
everyday posture, coordination, breath and habits, the Alexander Technique offers freedom
from excess tension, prevents injury, helps with chronic pain and helps with performance
anxiety. Students of the Alexander Technique report feelings of lightness and expansion, of
being centered and open, feeling present and connected to themselves and their music.
If you choose to take Survey of Body Methods you cannot take any other Tuesday or Thursday class weeks 2 through 4.
Jazz Improv
A class for all instrumentalists. We will jump into jazz improvisation through learning about swing rhythm, jazz harmony, creating improvised melodies, learning the Blues form and more. This is a playing class! Jazz Improv will take place on Friday July 18.
Professional Development
Set yourself up for success! We’ll tackle your written profile (Artist Statement/Personal Statement) and your digital presence, artist websites and how to successfully use social media. Professional Development takes place over two Fridays (7/18 and 7/25).
Women in Music History
Introduction & Women in Music History Part 1
Beginning with a brief discussion examining why, in the 21st century, the classical music
industry is still not inclusive of music by women. Discover how we got here, what needs to be
done, and what you can do to create a more level playing field for the future of classical music.
Covering the Baroque era through Classical era, speaking generally about the conditions and
context of the time that enabled or prevented women from composing music, highlighting
multiple composers from each era, and providing a list of works and recording locations with
which students can start familiarizing themselves.
Women in Music History Part 2
Covering the Romantic era through the 21st century, highlighting multiple composers
from these eras, providing a list of works and recording locations with which students can start familiarizing themselves. Additionally, students will learn how to use the Boulanger Initiative Database, be provided an entry level list of research resources, briefly learn about intentional curation and where to start.
Women in Music History will take place Tuesday and Thursday July 15 and 17.
Chamber with Nico Muhly
Join American composer Nico Muhly on a journey through his chamber music rep! Bring your instruments and an open mind.
Nico Muhly, born in 1981, is an American composer who writes orchestral music, works for the stage, chamber music and sacred music. He’s received commissions from The Metropolitan Opera: Two Boys (2011), and Marnie (2018); Carnegie Hall, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Tallis Scholars, and King’s College, Cambridge, among others. He is a collaborative partner at the San Francisco Symphony and has been featured at the Barbican and the Philharmonie de Paris as composer, performer, and curator. An avid collaborator, he has worked with choreographers Benjamin Millepied at the Paris Opéra Ballet, Bobbi Jene Smith at the Juilliard School, Justin Peck and Kyle Abraham at New York City Ballet; artists Sufjan Stevens, The National, Teitur, Anohni, James Blake and Paul Simon. His work for film includes scores for for The Reader (2008) and Kill Your Darlings (2013), and the BBC adaptation of Howards End (2017). Recordings of his works have been released by Decca and Nonesuch, and he is part of the artist-run record label Bedroom Community, which released his first two albums, Speaks Volumes (2006) and Mothertongue (2008).
Chamber Music with Nico Muhly will take place August 5th and 7th.