MTC: Music Theory and Composition

MTC 512. Composition I. 3 Credits.

Exploration of basic compositional principles with a focus on the development of student's individual musical interests. Students write short pieces, each elaborated over a period of several weeks, exploring different principles of instrumental texture (e.g. monody, homophony, polyphony) and formal design (e.g. theme and variations, motivic development, song, dance forms). Works in progress are evaluated by peer and instructor critiques of Sibelius or Finale files.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MTC 513. Composition II. 3 Credits.

Individual lessons in free composition. Participation in weekly composition seminar. Student and assigned instructor design a project (or two) relating to student's needs and interests. Students participate in seminar and in a final composition concert at the end of the semester. Students are asked to perform and/or coordinate performance/reading of project for faculty and peers.
Pre / Co requisites: MTC 513 requires prerequisite of MTC 512.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MTC 514. Composition III. 3 Credits.

Individual lessons in free composition. Participation in weekly composition seminar. Student and assigned instructor design a project (or two) relating to student's needs and interests. Students participate in seminar and in a final composition concert at the end of the semester. Students are asked to perform and/or coordinate performance/reading of project for faculty and peers.
Pre / Co requisites: MTC 514 requires prerequisite of MTC 513.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MTC 517. Advanced Computer Music. 3 Credits.

Materials and techniques of electronic music and their use in composition. Laboratory experience in the composition of electronic music.
Consent: Permission of the Department required to add.
Typically offered in Spring.

MTC 518. Teaching Code and Computerized Music Making. 3 Credits.

Foundational concepts of music theory, perception, technology, and composition through basic coding in ChucK (an open-sourced, cross-platform audio processing language) with the goal of implementing this technology in the classroom.
Pre / Co requisites: MTC 518 requires a prerequisite of MTC 591 or a placement exam.
Distance education offering may be available.
Typically offered in Summer.

MTC 541. Advanced Orchestration. 3 Credits.

Original composition or arrangement for orchestra.
Typically offered in Fall.

MTC 542. Music Analysis. 3 Credits.

This course presents an overview of major trends in music analysis including formal analysis, motivic analysis, Roman numeral analysis, set theory, Schenkerian analysis, reductive techniques, theories of music perception, and theories of rhythm and meter. Music examined includes that of the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras, as well as early music. atonality, jazz, Broadway, and popular music. Primary goals of the course are to develop students' abilities to read music analyses critically and to develop and improve scholarly prose.
Typically offered in Fall.

MTC 544. 16th Century Counterpoint. 3 Credits.

A detailed understanding of the polyphonic textures of renaissance sacred music and how characteristic practices have distinguished genre and shaped western musical values.
Typically offered in Fall.

MTC 545. 18th Century Counterpoint. 3 Credits.

This class is a compositional and analytical style study of 18th century counterpoint. We will cover dissonance treatment, imitation, invertible counterpoint, figured bass, and several genres including chorale prelude, invention, canon, and fugue. We will also study rhetoric, contrapuntal schemata, and partimento.
Typically offered in Spring.

MTC 561. Jazz Harmony and Arranging. 3 Credits.

Jazz/popular harmony and arranging techniques, including contemporary chord symbols and terminology, and basic voicing for brass, reed and rhythm sections.
Typically offered in Fall.

MTC 579. Music Theory and Composition Seminar. 1-3 Credits.

Special topics seminar designed to meet specific needs of music majors in the area of theory research.

MTC 591. Music Theory Review. 3 Credits.

Graduate level review of tonal harmony.
Distance education offering may be available.
Typically offered in Fall.

MTC 681. Independent Study in Music. 1 Credit.

Individual research under the guidance of a faculty member.
Consent: Permission of the Department required to add.
Repeatable for Credit.

MTC 682. Independent Study in Music. 2 Credits.

Individual research under the guidance of a faculty member.
Consent: Permission of the Department required to add.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.
Repeatable for Credit.

MTC 683. Independent Study in Music. 3 Credits.

Individual research under the guidance of a faculty member.
Consent: Permission of the Department required to add.

MTC 697. Thesis. 3 Credits.

Private instruction for Masters Thesis.

MTC 698. Research Report. 1 Credit.

Contact department for more information about this course.

MTC 699. Musical Composition. 3 Credits.

Private instruction, for graduate majors in composition only.