Music

School

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

School Dean

Nancy LaGreca, Ph.D.

Department

Music

Department Chair

Matthew Mireles, Ph.D.

St. Mary's University music majors learn to become trained musicians, teachers, and performers so they can excel in their careers or in graduate studies.The music program provides a solid foundation in music theory, music history, composition, conducting, and performance ensembles. All music majors take private lessons in voice or in their chosen instrument.

Music students posess both analytical skills and creativity and are highly motivated and self-disciplined. All music majors take four semesters of piano, and aspiring educators learn to teach young people how to play instruments through a series of methods courses. Music students have the opportunity to perform extensively, both in solo and ensemble situations.They also gain practical skills that help them excel both on stage and in the classroom.

Minor in Music

MU 1001. Concert Music. 0 Semester Hours.

The study and practice of performance through required concert attendance, performance opportunities, forums, and discussions. This noncredit course is required of all music majors every semester.

MU 1002. Concert Music. 0 Semester Hours.

The study and practice of performance through required concert attendance, performance opportunities, forums, and discussions. This noncredit course is required of all music majors every semester.

MU 1110. Percussion Methods. 1 Semester Hour.

MU 1111. Applied Music (Private Lessons): Piano Proficiency. 1 Semester Hour.

Development of basic keyboard skills for music majors.

MU 1112. Applied Music (Private Lessons): Piano Proficiency. 1 Semester Hour.

Development of basic keyboard skills for music majors.

MU 1121. Aural Skills I. 1 Semester Hour.

Basic music theory lab to include ear-training, solfeggio, rhythm drill, keyboard harmony, transposition, and improvising accompaniments. This course is taken with Music Theory.

MU 1122. Aural Skills II. 1 Semester Hour.

Basic music theory lab to include ear-training, solfeggio, rhythm drill, keyboard harmony, transposition, and improvising accompaniments. This course is taken with Music Theory.

MU 1133. World Music. 1 Semester Hour.

Survey of music of cultures across the world, with emphasis on Africia, Asia, the Americas, and Eastern Europe. Emphasis on the listening experience. Reading materials focus on the cultural significance of music.

MU 1141. Piano Proficiency I. 1 Semester Hour.

MU 1142. Piano Proficiency II. 1 Semester Hour.

MU 1151. Concert Choir. 1 Semester Hour.

Rehearses and performs sacred and secular choral literature from various periods and styles. Concerts and special Masses on and off campus. Open to all St. Mary's students with permission of director. Required each semester for voice majors. May be taken by Free Audit.

MU 1152. Concert Choir. 1 Semester Hour.

Rehearses and performs sacred and secular choral literature from various periods and styles. Concerts and special Masses on and off campus. Open to all St. Mary's students with permission of director. Required each semester for voice majors. May be taken by Free Audit.

MU 1153. Wind Ensemble. 1 Semester Hour.

In depth study, rehearsal and performance of traditional and contemporary wind band literature. Open to all students of the university. Qualified students are encouraged to audition.

MU 1154. Wind Ensemble. 1 Semester Hour.

In depth study, rehearsal and performance of traditional and contemporary wind band literature. Open to all students of the university. Qualified students are encouraged to audition.

MU 1155. Jazz Laboratory. 1 Semester Hour.

Membership by audition. Jazz ensembles, big band, combos, improvisation. Rehearsal and performance of jazz music. May be taken by Free Audit.

MU 1156. Jazz Laboratory. 1 Semester Hour.

Membership by audition. Jazz ensembles, big band, combos, improvisation. Re- hearsal and performance of jazz music. May be taken by Free Audit.

MU 1157. Brass Ensembles. 1 Semester Hour.

Brass Ensembles (Quintets, etc.).

MU 1158. Brass Ensemble. 1 Semester Hour.

Brass Ensembles (Quintets, etc.).

MU 1159. Woodwind Ensembles. 1 Semester Hour.

Woodwind Ensembles (Quintets, etc.).

MU 1160. Woodwind Ensemble. 1 Semester Hour.

Woodwind Ensembles (Quintets, etc.).

MU 1161. Percussion Ensembles. 1 Semester Hour.

Percussion Ensembles (Quintets, etc.).

MU 1162. Percussion Ensembles. 1 Semester Hour.

Percussion Ensembles (Quintets, etc.).

MU 1163. Chamber Choir/ Vocal Ensembles. 1 Semester Hour.

Chamber Choir/Vocal Ensembles.

MU 1164. Chamber Choir/ Vocal Ensembles. 1 Semester Hour.

Chamber Choir/Vocal Ensembles.

MU 1165. Rattler Band (Pep Band). 1 Semester Hour.

Rattler Band (Pep Band).

MU 1167. Guitar Ensembles. 1 Semester Hour.

Guitar Ensembles.

MU 1168. Guitar Ensembles. 1 Semester Hour.

Guitar Ensembles.

MU 1171. Jazz Combo. 1 Semester Hour.

Jazz Combo.

MU 1172. String Ensemble. 1 Semester Hour.

MU 1211. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 2 Semester Hours.

Private Lessons (Applied Music).

MU 1212. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 2 Semester Hours.

Private Lessons (Applied Music).

MU 1300. Music Portal to the Creative Self. 3 Semester Hours.

MU 1301. Applied Classes. 3 Semester Hours.

Designed for beginners who want to learn basic music fundamentals, how to read music and play beginning piano repertoire. Requires no prerequisite class, no prior knowledge of music or the ability to play the piano.

MU 1311. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 3 Semester Hours.

Private Lessons (Applied Music).

MU 1321. Music Theory I. 3 Semester Hours.

Basic music theory. Clefs. Key signatures. Scales. Elementary forms. Basic music vocabulary. Melody-writing. Multi-voice writing (Common Practice Period). Analysis. Lab will include ear-training, solfeggio, rhythm drill, keyboard harmony, transposition, and improvising accompaniments. For music majors and minors only.

MU 1322. Music Theory II. 3 Semester Hours.

Basic music theory. Clefs. Key signatures. Scales. Elementary forms. Basic music vocabulary. Melody-writing. Multi-voice writing (Common Practice Period). Analysis. Lab will include ear-training, solfeggio, rhythm drill, keyboard harmony, transposition, and improvising accompaniments.For music majors and minors only.

MU 2001. Concert Music. 0 Semester Hours.

The study and practice of performance through required concert attendance, performance opportunities, forums, and discussions. This noncredit course is required of all music majors every semester.

MU 2002. Concert Music. 0 Semester Hours.

The study and practice of performance through required concert attendance, performance opportunities, forums, and discussions. This noncredit course is required of all music majors every semester.

MU 2113. Applied Music: Piano Proficiency. 1 Semester Hour.

Development of basic keyboard skills for music majors.

MU 2114. Applied Music: Piano Proficiency. 1 Semester Hour.

Development of basic keyboard skills for music majors.

MU 2123. Aural Skills III. 1 Semester Hour.

Advanced music theory lab to include ear-training, solfeggio, rhythm drill, keyboard harmony, transposition, and improvising accompaniments. This course is taken with Music Theory.

MU 2124. Aural Skills IV. 1 Semester Hour.

MU 2149. Diction, part 1. 1 Semester Hour.

MU 2213. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 2 Semester Hours.

Private Lessons (Applied Music).

MU 2214. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 2 Semester Hours.

Private Lessons (Applied Music).

MU 2230. The Living Symphony. 2 Semester Hours.

Students will study and explore a number of great musical works and encounter them as living art forms through concerts. Required attendance at five San Antonio Symphony performances.

MU 2313. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 3 Semester Hours.

Private Lessons (Applied Music).

MU 2314. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 3 Semester Hours.

Private Lessons (Applied Music).

MU 2323. Music Theory III. 3 Semester Hours.

Traditional harmony and ear training. Analysis of harmonic idioms as used into the 20th century. Continuation of melody writing. Elementary counterpoint. Prerequisite: MU 1321, MU 1322 or equivalent and piano proficiency. For music majors and minors only.

MU 2324. Music Theory IV. 3 Semester Hours.

Traditional harmony and ear training. Analysis of harmonic idioms as used into the 20th century. Continuation of melody writing. Elementary counterpoint. Prerequisite: MU 1321, MU 1322 or equivalent and piano proficiency. For music majors and minors only.

MU 2331. Music History I. 3 Semester Hours.

Critical study of Western music history from antiquity to 1750, including representative composers, works, and genres, as well as significant concepts and issues. Examination of social setting and function, historical importance, aesthetics, and composers' biographies.

MU 2355. History of Popular Music. 3 Semester Hours.

MU 3001. Concert Music. 0 Semester Hours.

The study and practice of performance through required concert attendance, performance opportunities, forums, and discussions. This noncredit course is required of all music majors every semester.

MU 3002. Concert Music. 0 Semester Hours.

The study and practice of performance through required concert attendance, performance opportunities, forums, and discussions. This noncredit course is required of all music majors every semester.

MU 3110. How instruments work. 1 Semester Hour.

MU 3116. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 1 Semester Hour.

Preparatory and advanced work in technique and literature of piano, voice, guitar,strings, and band instruments. Individual and/or group instruction on major or secondary instrument 1/2 hour a week (practice 6 hours). Additional work for credit at any level may be requested by the Music faculty. Applied work may also be taken in conducting, composition, computer/synthesizer music, and other skill areas, with consent of the Music faculty. Unless student is a music major or music minor, applied music courses may be taken only on a P/NP basis. All piano and guitar majors must have lab experience in accompanying.

MU 3125. Arranging & Orchestration. 1 Semester Hour.

Composition, arrangement and orchestration for school performing groups, including band, jazz band, and choir.

MU 3127. Counterpoint. 1 Semester Hour.

MU 3142. Music: Essential Elements. 1 Semester Hour.

Examination of the position and value of music in society. Emphasis on understanding the basic elements of music; appropriate skills for singing, playing, moving to, and listening to music; understanding and appreciation of music, of both Western and of non-Western cultures.

MU 3149. Diction, part 2. 1 Semester Hour.

MU 3215. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 2 Semester Hours.

Applied Accompanying.

MU 3216. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 2 Semester Hours.

Private Lessons (Applied Music).

MU 3224. Form and Analysis. 2 Semester Hours.

Melody writing. Motif and development. Song forms. Classical forms.

MU 3225. Arranging and Orchestration. 2 Semester Hours.

MU 3227. Counterpoint. 2 Semester Hours.

Eighteenth century practice. Single melodic line. Two voice counterpoint. Motif development. Two-part invention.

MU 3242. History of Music Applied. 2 Semester Hours.

Examination of the history, position, and value of music in society. Emphasis will be on the historical evolution of music; basic elements of music; appropriate skills for singing, playing, moving to, and listening to music; and an understanding and appreciation of music of both Western and of non-Western cultures.

MU 3245. Accompanying. 2 Semester Hours.

Sight reading, transposition, reducing operatic and orchestral scores, improvising simple choral accompaniments, solo vocal and choral warmups, accompanying UIL vocal solo and choral literature. Prerequisite: four semesters of applied piano, passing the piano proficiency examination.

MU 3315. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 3 Semester Hours.

Applied Harmony.

MU 3316. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 3 Semester Hours.

Private Lessons (Applied Music).

MU 3327. Counterpoint. 3 Semester Hours.

MU 3332. Music History II. 3 Semester Hours.

Critical study of Western music history from 1750 to the present, including representative composers, works, and genres, as well as significant concepts and issues. Examination of social setting and function, historical importance, aesthetics, and composers' biographies.

MU 3333. World Music. 3 Semester Hours.

Survey of music of cultures across the world, with emphasis on Africia, Asia, the Americas, and Eastern Europe. Emphasis on the listening experience. Reading materials focus on the cultural significance of music.

MU 3415. Application to all Levels of Music Methods. 4 Semester Hours.

MU 3445. All Level Music Methods. 4 Semester Hours.

Examination of the position and value of music in the EC-12 school curriculum. Emphasis on ability to organize; relations with administration; and effective methods of presenting material. Development of the ability to express a philosophy of music education, and knowledge of current methods and materials in all fields and levels of music education.

MU 4001. Concert Music. 0 Semester Hours.

The study and practice of performance through required concert attendance, performance opportunities, forums, and discussions. This noncredit course is required of all music majors every semester.

MU 4002. Concert Music. 0 Semester Hours.

The study and practice of performance through required concert attendance, performance opportunities, forums, and discussions. This noncredit course is required of all music majors every semester.

MU 4110. Applied Techniques of Teaching I. 1 Semester Hour.

MU 4110 will be taken in 5 different areas, earning 1 semester hour of credit in each: Percussion; Brass; Woodwinds; Strings; and Voice. In these 1-hour teach- ing technique courses, the lessons deal with meeting common problems found in music classrooms/ensembles. For the instruments: methods of teaching all in stru- ments in each family, based on the similarities of the instruments in each. The stu- dent is expected to reach the intermediate level of playing ability on one in stru- ment in each family. For voice: the fundamentals of vocal technique are covered: posture, breathing, phonation, resonation, articulation, diction, common vocal problems, pedagogy, physiology of the vocal mechanism, and vocal literature.

MU 4111. Applied Techniques of Teaching II. 1 Semester Hour.

This course is a continuation of MU 4110, to be taken in three areas, earning 1 semester hour of credit in each: Percussion, Woodwinds, and Brass.

MU 4112. String Methods. 1 Semester Hour.

MU 4113. Vocal Methods. 1 Semester Hour.

MU 4114. Woodwind Methods. 1 Semester Hour.

MU 4115. Brass Methods. 1 Semester Hour.

Applied Improvisation.

MU 4118. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 1 Semester Hour.

Applied Senior Recital.

MU 4119. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 1 Semester Hour.

MU 4125. Improvisation. 1 Semester Hour.

Fundamental improvisation skills, style interpretation, theory, and common performance practices in the evolution of improvisation.

MU 4130. Advanced Conducting. 1 Semester Hour.

Advanced Conducting.

MU 4181. Special Topics. 1 Semester Hour.

In-depth study of special topics in music history, music literature, music theory, composition, performance, etc. May be taken for a total of six hours as long as the topics are different.

MU 4210. SX Applied Techniques of Teaching Saxophone. 2 Semester Hours.

Applied Techniques of Teaching Saxophone.

MU 4211. PL Piano Literature. 2 Semester Hours.

Piano Literature.

MU 4217. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 2 Semester Hours.

Woodwinds.

MU 4218. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 2 Semester Hours.

Private Lessons (Applied Music).

MU 4225. Jazz Literature. 2 Semester Hours.

Survey of jazz music from ragtime to modern jazz. Open to majors and non-majors.

MU 4241. Instrumental Conducting. 2 Semester Hours.

Critical study of Western music history from 1750 to the present, including representative composers, works, and genres, as well as significant concepts and issues. Examination of social setting and function, historical importance, aesthetics, and composers' biographies.

MU 4242. Vocal Pedagogy. 2 Semester Hours.

Fundamentals of vocal technique: posture, breathing, phonation, resonation, articulation, common vocal problems, pedagogy, physiology of the vocal mechanism, and vocal literature.

MU 4245. Marching Band Techniques. 2 Semester Hours.

The study of basic marching routines. The parade band. The football band. The contest marching band. Materials.

MU 4246. Concert Band Literature. 2 Semester Hours.

Standard and contest literature. Programming. Rehearsal techniques. Instrumentation. Use of available instrumentation. The contest. Materials.

MU 4248. Choral Literature. 2 Semester Hours.

Standard and contest literature. Programming. Rehearsal techniques. The balanced ensemble. Score study. Style analysis. Resource materials.

MU 4249. Diction: English, German, Italian, French. 2 Semester Hours.

Diction and pronunciation for singers. A study of the International Phonetic Alphabet and its practical application through actual preparation and performance of music literature in the language being studied.

MU 4281. Special Topics. 2 Semester Hours.

In-depth study of special topics in music history, music literature, music theory, composition, performance, etc. May be taken for a total of six hours as long as the topics are different.

MU 4301. Music Education Methods. 3 Semester Hours.

MU 4315. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 3 Semester Hours.

MU 4317. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 3 Semester Hours.

Applied Conducting.

MU 4319. Applied Music (Private Lessons). 3 Semester Hours.

Applied Trumpet 9th semester.

MU 4341. Conducting. 3 Semester Hours.

Basics of conducting technique, score reading, and interpretation. Rehearsal techniques, organization, and the study of appropriate literature. Problems and methods of conducting instrumental ensembles.

MU 4381. Special Topics. 3 Semester Hours.

In-depth study of special topics in music history, music literature, music theory, composition, performance, etc. May be taken for a total of six hours as long as the topics are different.

Daniel Long, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Matthew Mireles, D.M.A.
Associate Professor

Adrian Ruiz, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor

Michael Sullivan, D.M.A.
Visiting Assistant Professor