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



Music Courses

MUS 014 Music Appreciation (3 C.H.)
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.

MUS 015 Introduction to Music (3 C.H.)
An introductory course in music and its notation through analysis of rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic elements of music. Study of scales, intervals and triads, with emphasis on developing basic skills of musicianship.

MUS 154 Music Theory (3 C.H.)
Tonal harmony in common practice: Study of scales, intervals, triads, harmonic progressions, cadential figures, modulation and chord analysis. (P: Strong music background or MUS 015.)

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

MUS 234 Voice Class II (1 C.H.)*
A continuation of Voice Class I in a second year of study. (P: Two semesters MUS 224.)

MUS 244 Private Voice I (1 C.H.)*

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. Special fee charged.

MUS 274 Private Piano (1 C.H.)*
A study of piano technique beginning at student's current level. Practical application of techniques to piano literature. Admission by consent of the instructor. Special fee charged.

MUS 284 Private String Instruments (1 C.H.)*
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). Special fee charged.

MUS 294 Private Organ (1 C.H.)*
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. Special fee charged.

MUS 304 Private Voice II (1 C.H.)*
A continuation of Mus 244 in a second year of study. (P: Two semesters of MUS 244.) Special fee charged.

MUS 314 Private Brass (1 C.H.)*
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. Special fee charged.

MUS 324 Private Guitar (1 C.H.)*
A study of guitar technique beginning at the student's current level. Practical application of techniques to appropriate guitar literature. Special fee charged.

MUS 334 Private Woodwinds (1 C.H.)*
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. Special fee charged.

MUS 354 History of Sacred Music (3 C.H.)
Exploration of the development of Western sacred music styles, forms, performance practice, literature and composers from ancient times to the present. (P: MUS 014 and MUS 015)

MUS 404 Choral Conducting (2 C.H.)
Choral Conducting prepares the student to rehearse and train a vocal ensemble for performance. The course covers basic conducting technique, selection and cataloguing of music, auditioning, rehearsal techniques, and other practical information for planning and administering a choral program. (P: MUS 015 or consent of the instructor.)

MUS 454 Church Music Practicum (2 C.H.)
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. (P: Two Semesters MUS 294; Two Semesters MUS 554; Completion of MUS 154 and MUS 354 [or concurrent enrollment] and MUS 404 [or current
enrollment].)

MUS 504 Handbell Choir (1 C.H.)*
Handbell Choir provides an instrumental performance opportunity for the student who may have had no previous ensemble experience. The
Handbell Choir performs at several functions on and off campus during the school year. (P: MUS 015 or consent of instructor.)

MUS 554 Thiel Choir (1 C.H.)*
A practical approach to the study of choral music from most historical periods of the Western music. Particular emphasis is given to performance practice. Three class sessions weekly lead to scheduled concert tours and other public appearances. One additional hour per week required of first year members in developing sight-reading skills. Admission by audition with instructor.

MUS 564 Concert Band (1 C.H.)*
Instrumental group for woodwinds, brasses, and percussion. Performs music of all periods in concerts on campus and elsewhere. Membership by audition.

MUS 574 Chamber Singers (1 C.H.)*
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 Candlelight Dinner, participation in the Christmas Festival, annual Thiel Choir spring tour, and other appearances on and off campus. Admission by consent of instructor and limited to students enrolled concurrently in MUS 554.

MUS 584 Greenville Symphony (1 C.H.)*
Students are encouraged to audition for participation in the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. Students accepted to play with the symphony by the audition 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 the Records Office to make arrangements.
* May be repeated for additional credit.

Theatre Arts Courses

THAR 187 Theatre Through the Ages (3 C.H.)
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 (3 C.H.)
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 C.H.)
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.

THAR 307 Children's Theatre and Creative Dramatics (4 C.H.)
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. (P: THAR 257 or consent of the instructor.)

THAR 347 Advanced Acting and Directing (4 C.H.)
A course covering detailed study and use of the advanced techniques methods used to develop characterization, and the study and practice of the art of directing. (P: THAR 257 or consent of the instructor.)