Music

ACADEMIC/SEMINAR MUSIC COURSES

The Beatles

Credit: 1/2

Length: 1 Semester

Prerequisites: None

Fulfills: Fine Arts or Humanities Elective

Concurrent Credit: none

A team-taught course in music and cultural history, The Beatles profiles the social, cultural, and musical history of The Beatles in their 1960s context. 

Fundamentals of Music

Credit: 1/2

Length: 1 Semester

Prerequisites: None

Fulfills: Fine Arts or Humanities Elective; Music POD Requirement (Music POD Students may test out)

Concurrent Credit: None

Fundamentals of Music is an introductory-level course open to all ASMSA students that discuss in broad terms the basic vocabulary, concepts, styles, genres, instruments and instrument families, and various traditions of music. The course is designed to increase basic musical literacy, understanding of music theory and music history, and inspire an appreciation for the musical artform.

History of Blues and Rock

Credit: 1

Length: 1 Semester

Prerequisites: None

Fulfills: Fine Arts or Humanities Elective; MusicPOD Elective when offered

Concurrent Credit: UAFS MUSI 2763 - Music Appreciation - 3 Credit Hours

Tracing the origins of the Blues circa 1890 through the development of R&B, Rock, and Rock and Roll through the 1950s-1970s, this course examines the history of American popular music in the 20th Century in depth alongside socioeconomic and technological developments.

Music History and Literature

Credit: 1/2

Length: 1 Semester

Prerequisites: None

Fulfills: Fine Arts or Humanities Elective; MusicPOD Elective when offered

Concurrent Credit: none

This survey course covers the origins and developments of sacred and secular music in the Western world from pre-Hellenic and Hellenic periods through the Medieval, Renaissance, Classical, Romantic, and broad 20th/21st Century eras.

Music Studio / Studio Class

Credit: 0

Length: 1 Semester; MusicPOD students are required to enroll every semester at ASMSA

Prerequisites: Restricted to MusicPOD students

Fulfills: MusicPOD requirement

Concurrent Credit: none

This weekly class is a meeting of all music faculty and MusicPOD students. Performances, performance critique, composition seminars, guest speakers, career planning, and semester/yearly planning take place during the class meeting time, facilitated by one or all of the music faculty members. This is an opportunity for MusicPOD students to "dry-run" performances, musical ideas, and so on, work on summer opportunity applications, discuss audition strategies, interface with visiting guests, and more.

Music Theory I

Credit: 1

Length: 1 Semester

Prerequisites: None

Fulfills: Fine Arts or Humanities Elective; Music POD Requirement

Concurrent Credit: UAFS MUSI 1223 - Music Theory I - 3 Credit Hours

Music Theory I instructs students on fundamentals of music notation and elementary analysis of Western musical materials (intervals, scales, triads, chords, basic Roman Numeral analysis). 

Music Theory II

Credit: 1

Length: 1 Semester

Prerequisites: UAFS MUSIC 1223 Music Theory I, or placement exam (80% or higher score) covering Music Theory I topics

Fulfills: Fine Arts or Humanities Elective; Music POD Requirement

Concurrent Credit: UAFS MUSI 1233 - Music Theory II - 3 Credit Hours

Music Theory II continues prior music theory instruction and introduces basic forms, chromatic harmony and modulatory techniques, advanced forms of analysis, and basic compositional techniques. Open to students who have taken Music Theory I and passed with a C or better or to students who have taken and scored highly on a placement exam. 

World Music

Credit: 1

Length: 1 Semester

Prerequisites: None

Fulfills: Fine Arts or Humanities Elective; MusicPOD Elective when offered

Concurrent Credit: UAFS MUSI 2763 - Music Appreciation  - 3 Credit Hours

This survey course examines musical and music-culture traditions from across the globe, highlighting instruments, genres/forms, and cultural/ritual usage of
music.

MUSIC PERFORMANCE COURSES

Applied Lessons (Brass, Composition, Percussion, Strings, and/or Woodwinds)

Credit: 1/2

Length: 1 Semester, Fall and Spring

Prerequisites: Instructor Permission and/or Demonstrated Ability

Fulfills: Fine Arts or Humanities Elective; MusicPOD Requirement

Concurrent Credit: None

Note: Applied Lessons do not count toward the ASMSA course maximum load.

Applied lessons are weekly 50-minute meetings between an applied instructor and a student in order to expand, refine, and improve their technical and expressive abilities on their applied instrument or in music composition. Weekly lessons are scheduled between the instructor and the student based upon mutual availability. A semester-end studio recital is part of the culminating grade. Note: as of 2023, Applied Lessons for credit are available only on a primary instrument (i.e., the instrument the student performs on the most) for winds, percussion, and string players. There are separate courses (Fall 2023) - Applied Brass, Applied Composition, Applied Percussion, Applied Strings, and Applied Woodwinds. Students may not be permitted to enroll in multiple instrumental areas without administrative permission. Students who wish to learn a new instrument should instead contact an instructor and applied lessons for credit shall not be administered unless there is sufficient room in that instructor's load and whether or not the instrument in question may be available at ASMSA for student use. 

Chamber Ensembles

Credit:  1/2

Length: 1 Semester, Fall and Spring (strongly suggested: entire year)

Prerequisites: Previous experience or permission of instructor

Fulfills: Fine Arts or Humanities Elective; MusicPOD Requirement for Orchestral String MusicPOD students

Concurrent Credit: None

Chamber Ensembles is an additional for-credit performance opportunity where students are placed into small groups for chamber music instruction. A faculty member meets with the group at least once per week for a coaching and the small group is expected to perform at the semester-end studio recital.

Choir

Credit: 1/2

Length: 1 Semester, Fall and Spring

Prerequisites: None

Fulfills: Fine Arts or Humanities Elective; MusicPOD Requirement for MusicPOD Vocalists

Concurrent Credit: None

Note: Choir does not count toward the ASMSA course maximum load.

Choir is a course that develops and demonstrates the vocal talent of ASMSA students. It is open to all students. Choir takes part in normal ArkCDA events, including Region and State Performance Assessment.

Students enrolled in this course are also eligible to take part in the ASMSA Jazz Ensemble.

Folk Music and Acoustics

Credit: 1/2 

Length: 1 semester 

Prerequisites: Algebra II 

Fulfills: STEM or Humanities elective; MusicPOD Elective when offered

Concurrent Credit: None

This team-taught course combines the study of American musical history and performance with the study of the physical laws of acoustics. Students will learn to play, and test the acoustic properties of such traditional American instruments as the banjo, guitar, dulcimer, and mandolin. Performances will be scheduled each semester.

Jazz Ensemble

Credit:  0 (This is not a credit-bearing course)

Length: 1 Semester, Fall and Spring (strongly suggested: entire year)

Prerequisites: Registration in one of the three standard performing ensembles (Choir, String Ensemble, Wind Ensemble) is required to participate.

Fulfills: None

Concurrent Credit: None

Jazz Ensemble is a volunteer organization consisting of students in one of the three performing ensembles. Students must be registered for credit in Choir, Wind Ensemble, or String Ensemble to participate. This course does not bear credit nor are there grades attached. This is an "extra" performing ensemble. Jazz Ensemble performs a minimum of two concerts per academic year of a variety of charts and repertoire from across the 20th and 21st Centuries, and students receive fundamental instruction on basics of improvisation and jazz harmony. Students opting to participate in Jazz Ensemble are eligible to audition for ASBOA-sponsored region/state jazz ensembles as appropriate. Jazz Ensemble meets once per week and usually about 10-12 times per semester.

String Ensemble

Credit:  1/2

Length: 1 Semester, Fall and Spring (strongly suggested: entire year)

Prerequisites: Previous experience or permission of instructor

Fulfills: Fine Arts or Humanities Elective; MusicPOD Requirement for Orchestral String MusicPOD students

Concurrent Credit: None

Note: String Ensemble does not count toward the ASMSA course maximum load.

This course increases and augments students’ technical and musical abilities on their orchestral string instruments, bolsters students’ awareness of large-ensemble, chamber, and flexible-ensemble repertoire, and challenges students musically, aesthetically, and creatively, introducing them to new, novel, and “Traditional” works alike. String Ensemble performs a minimum of four times per year and takes part in all ASBOA orchestral events, including Region and State Concert Assessment.

Students enrolled in this course are also eligible to take part in the ASMSA Jazz Ensemble.

Wind Ensemble

Credit:  1/2

Length: 1 Semester, Fall and Spring (strongly suggested: entire year)

Prerequisites: Previous experience or permission of instructor

Fulfills: Fine Arts or Humanities Elective; MusicPOD Requirement for Wind and Percussion MusicPOD students

Concurrent Credit: None

Note: Wind Ensemble does not count toward the ASMSA course maximum load.

This course increases and augments students’ technical and musical abilities on their wind or percussion instruments, bolsters students’ awareness of large-ensemble, chamber, and flexible-ensemble repertoire, and challenges students musically, aesthetically, and creatively, introducing them to new, novel, and “Traditional” works alike. Wind Ensemble performs a minimum of four concerts per year and participates in all ASBOA concert band events, including Region and State Concert Assessment. 

Students enrolled in this course are also eligible to take part in the ASMSA Jazz Ensemble.