Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Church Music and Performing Arts > Course Offerings



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MUSIC

MUS 100—Music Appreciation (3 CH) Perceptive listening and appreciation of musical elements, forms and style periods, including composer’s lives, individual styles and representative works. Emphasis on classical music, jazz, American popular music and world music included. Offered every fall. (WIC)

MUS 115—Introduction to Music (3 CH) An introductory course in music theory and its notation through analysis of rhythmic, melodic and harmonic elements of music. Study of scales, intervals and triads, with emphasis on developing basic keyboard skills. Offered every fall.

MUS 154—Music Theory (3 CH) Tonal harmony in common practice: Study of scales, intervals, triads, harmonic progressions in terms of structure, procedures and application to four-part music writing. Offered every spring. (P: Strong music background or MUS 115)

MUS 224—Voice Class I (1 CH)* Study of fundamentals of vocal production in a group setting. Weekly meetings include vocalization and application of techniques to songs. Offered every term.

MUS 234—Voice Class II (1 CH)* A continuation of MUS 224 in a second year of study. Offered every term. (P: Two semesters of MUS 224)

MUS 244—Private Voice I (1 CH)* Study of fundamental vocal technique in one 30-minute lesson of private instruction per week. Weekly vocalization and application of technique to song repertoire. Admission by consent of the instructor. Offered every term.

MUS 274—Private Piano (1 CH)* A study of piano technique beginning at the student’s current level. Practical application of techniques to piano literature. Admission by consent of the instructor. Offered every term.

MUS 284—Private String Instruments (1 CH)* A study of string technique beginning at the student’s current level. Practical application of techniques to appropriate string literature (violin, viola, cello, string bass). Offered every term.

MUS 294—Private Organ (1 CH)* A study of organ technique beginning at the student’s current level. Practical application of techniques to organ literature, with special emphasis given to hymns and church service music. Offered every term. Admission by consent of instructor.

MUS 304—Private Voice II (1 CH) A continuation of MUS 244 in a second year of study. Offered every term. (P: Two semesters of MUS 244 and consent of instructor.)

MUS 314—Private Brass (1 CH)* A study of instrumental technique beginning at the student’s current level. Practical application of techniques to literature for the instrument. Offered every term.

MUS 324—Private Guitar (1 CH)* A study of guitar technique beginning at the student’s current level. Practical application of techniques to appropriate guitar literature. Offered every term.

MUS 334—Private Woodwinds (1 CH)* A study of instrumental technique beginning at the student’s current level. Practical application of techniques to literature for the instrument. Admission by consent of instructor. Offered every term.

MUS 354—History of Sacred Music (3 CH) Exploration of the development of Western sacred music styles, forms, performance practice, literature and composers from ancient times to the present. Offered spring of odd-numbered years. (P: MUS 100 and MUS 115 or consent of the instructor) (WIC)

MUS 364—Choral Conducting (2 CH) Choral Conducting prepares the student to rehearse and train a vocal ensemble for performance. The course covers basic conducting technique, selection and cataloging of music, auditioning, rehearsal techniques and other practical information for planning and administering a choral program. Offered spring of even-numbered years. (P: MUS 115 or consent of the instructor)

MUS 454—Church Music Practicum (2 CH) A practical approach designed to prepare students for careers or part-time careers as church musicians. The overall objective for this course is to provide a careful blend of training designed to equip students with the requisite intellectual and musical skills to succeed in the church music profession. Course work will include hymn playing, source materials for major denominations, choral conducting from the organ, techniques for handbell choirs, sacred organ literature, improvisation and service playing. Offered on demand for church music minors in junior or senior years. (P: two semesters of MUS 294, two semesters of MUS 466, and completion of MUS 154 and MUS 354 [or concurrent enrollment] and MUS 364 [or current enrollment])

MUS 464—Handbell Choir (1 CH)* Handbell Choir provides an instrumental performance opportunity for the student who may have had no previous ensemble experience. A musical background is extremely helpful. The Handbell Choir performs at several functions on and off campus during the school year. Offered every term. (P: MUS 115 or consent of instructor)

MUS 466—Thiel Choir (1 CH)* A practical approach to the study of choral music from most historical periods of the Western music. Particular emphasis is given to performance practice. Four class sessions weekly lead to scheduled concert tours and other public appearances. One additional hour per week required of first- and secondyear members in developing sight-reading skills. Admission by audition with instructor. Offered every term.

MUS 468—Concert Band (1 CH) Instrumental group for woodwinds, brasses and percussion. Performs music of all periods in concerts on campus and elsewhere. Membership is open to students with previous playing experience or consent of instructor. Offered every term.

MUS 469—Chamber Singers (1 CH)* A practical approach to the study of choral music for small vocal ensembles, including madrigal and Renaissance forms. One class session weekly plus additional rehearsals lead to an annual Christmas dinner, participation in the Christmas Festival and spring Thiel Choir concert tour, and other appearances on and off campus. Admission by audition or consent of instructor and limited to students enrolled in MUS 466. Offered every term.

MUS 470—Greenville Symphony (1 CH)* Students are encouraged to audition for participation in the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. Students accepted to play with the symphony may register for course credit and use the credits for meeting both Integrative and total credit hour requirements. Admission by audition with the orchestra conductor. Interested students should contact Dr. Bray or the Records Office to make arrangements. Offered every term.

THEATRE ARTS

THAR 187—Theatre through the Ages (3 CH) A survey of drama and stage history from ancient Greece to the present day. The course will cover plays and theatre styles, as well as production techniques such as acting, directing and technical theatre.

THAR 217—Introduction to Technical Theatre (4 CH) Principles, techniques and practical application of theatre crafts necessary to design and construct stage scenery, lighting and other effects. Aesthetic fundamentals of creating stage designs and the use of crafting and artistic techniques to transform creative ideas into actual theatrical experiences. Basic design in costume and make-up for state.

THAR 257—Basic Acting (4 CH) Introduction to and application of the fundamental principles and mechanics of acting. A course involving the use of vocal techniques, body expression, movement, interpretation and pantomime. Emphasis is placed upon building composure and self-confidence required to communicate favorably with people. (WIC)

THAR 307—Children’s Theatre and Creative Dramatics (4 CH) A course covering the study and use of techniques in children’s drama, with special emphasis on using creative dramatics with children, writing children’s plays and performing before children at area grade schools.

THAR 347—Advanced Acting and Directing (4 CH) A course covering detailed study and use of the advanced techniques and methods used to develop characterization, and the study and practice of the art of directing. THAR 455—Cooperative Education (CH variable)

THAR 455—Cooperative Education (CH variable)