Music Ensembles
Ensemble Title and
Course Number
Percussion I
PMUS 1410
A Cappella Voices
PMUS 1420
Acoustic Guitar
PMUS 1440
Performance Practice
PMUS 1470
Ensemble Description
Instrumentation
Beginning Ensemble. Focus on basic percussion techniques and
introductory ensemble playing utilizing Afro-Cuban literature.
Comprised of percussion instruments of both definite and indefinite
pitch. Introduces rhythmic sight-reading. Develops collaborative
learning, aural skills and interactive multi-cultural awareness.
Percussion instruments including (but not limited to):
Drum set, Mallet Keyboards (Marimba, Vibraphone,
etc.), Hand/Frame drums, etc. Note: instrumentation is
determined by literature. No previous experience or
study in Music Theory required.
Beginning Ensemble. A cappella choir. This course will focus on
choral singing to further the adult student’s musical and vocal skills.
Emphasis will be on successful preparation for the advanced a
cappella groups and concert performance at semester’s end.
Beginners with good vocal and musical potential are
welcome, subject to an internal audition process for part
placement. Minimal choral experience, e.g., church,
high school, etc.
Beginning ensemble. Explores the techniques and repertoire of
acoustic guitar. Musical styles include: jazz, Latin, bluegrass,
Renaissance, Baroque, tango and blues.
Acoustic guitars only – steel and nylon string
acceptable. Basic sight reading skills required.
This ensemble is offered in the fall semester only.
Beginning Ensemble. Explores individual and group performance
settings for first year audition track students. Course skills include:
performance protocol, presentation, self assessment and peer
assessment.
All Audition Track students enrolled in 1000 level
Applied Lessons must register for one semester of
Performance Practice Ensemble in either the fall or
spring semester of that year.
Non-Audition Track students may enroll in Performance
Practice Ensemble following their second semester of
applied music lessons or with permission of the
instructor.
Rhythm Section Techniques
PMUS 2094
Intermediate Ensemble. This ensemble will focus on the rhythm
section as accompanists, listening to and analyzing the great rhythm
sections of the past (and some of the present) and learning how to
better communicate musically with each other and support
soloists/vocalists. This ensemble will accompany the Musical
Theater Ensemble Production.
Guitar, piano, bass, drum set. Maximum of 4 of each
instrument.
Electro/Acoustic
PMUS 2420
Intermediate Ensemble. This course will study established methods Any mix of electronic and acoustic instrumentation
used as agents of musical creativity in the practice of improvised including computer, turntable, guitars, keyboard, voice,
music. Focus on real-time musical collaboration utilizing musical as well as strings, brass, woodwind, drums / percussion.
vocabularies from wide range of sources. Instrumentation of many
kinds may be utilized.
Music Theory knowledge & previous experience playing
in a rhythm section helpful.
Pop/Rock
PMUS 2430
Chamber Ensemble
PMUS 2440
Bluegrass Ensemble
PMUS 2450
Intermediate Ensemble. This course will focus on group rehearsals General instrumentation of pop / rock styles. Also can
of contemporary music with challenging technical and vocal take any acoustic instrumentation of strings, brass, and
requirements. Students will gain experience in transcribing and winds.
creating simple arrangements, learning adequate musicality,
performing presentation and group cooperation.
Intermediate Ensemble. Mixed instrumental group for string, wind,
brass, piano, and percussion players. Students will develop sightreading and improvisation skills and perform student originals and
arrangements including repertoire from the Baroque period through
the Avant-Garde with no stylistic limitations.
Mixed instrumental group for string, wind, brass, piano,
and percussion players.
This ensemble is offered in the fall semester only.
Intermediate Ensemble. This ensemble is designed to give students Open to advanced instrumentalists and vocalists.
the opportunity to explore Bluegrass music and related folk and
country styles through performance, listening and discussion.
Important artists, repertoire, musical trends, and historical
perspectives will be studied.
Musical Theatre
PMUS 2460
Intermediate Ensemble. This course consists of group rehearsals of Voice. Subject to an internal audition for scene casting
cotemporary and original music theater works with a focus on assignments.
techniques, technologies, and strategies for performing.
Accompanists position available to earn ensemble
credit.
Musical Theatre Production
PMUS 2461
Students will participate in a fully-staged musical theater production Voice. Subject to an internal audition for scene casting
to be held every other year in the spring semester. This will include, assignments.
but is not limited to: auditions, musical coachings, stage and/or
acting coachings and dance.
Mobile Device Ensemble
PMUS 2470
Intermediate Ensemble. This ensemble will be comprised of students Laptop computers, iPads, iPhones. Students will be
utilizing only laptop computers, iPads & iPhones to create music. required to supply their own mobile devices and apps.
The ensemble will explore various contemporary styles including
house, dance, ambient and other current electronic music.
Percussion III
PMUS 3410
Advanced Ensemble. Focus on percussion techniques and
ensemble playing utilizing Afro-Cuban literature. Comprised of
percussion instruments of both definite and indefinite pitch. Assumes
intermediate rhythmic sight-reading ability. Develops collaborative
learning and awareness of drumming as universal language.
Jazz Combo
PMUS 3430
Percussion instruments including (but not limited to):
Drum set, Mallet Keyboards (Marimba, Vibraphone,
etc.), Hand / Frame drums, etc.
Note: instrumentation is determined by literature. Music
Theory helpful, but not required.
Advanced Ensemble. Instrumental jazz group. This ensemble will Open to advanced level horns, guitar, piano, bass,
focus on group rehearsals of bebop, swing, funk, & fusion. Students drums & percussion. No vocalists.
should plan to commit for 1 year, unless scheduled to graduate in
December.
As an advanced ensemble, completion of PMUS 3300
Advanced Sight Reading & Improvisation highly
recommended.
Voz de la Clave (Latin Ensemble)
PMUS 3440
Advanced Ensemble. This ensemble performs Salsa and Afro- Piano, bass, guitar, percussion (congas, bongo,
Caribbean
music. Ensemble
rehearsal
time
includes timbales), horns, vocalists.
practicing repertoire and learning about Latin music concepts.
Vocalists must be able to pronounce the Spanish
language, but do not need to be fluent in the language.
Students should plan to commit for 1 year, unless
scheduled to graduate in December.
Singer/Songwriter
PMUS 3450
Ninth Street Singers
PMUS 3460
Piano Trio
PMUS 3470
Claim Jumpers
PMUS 4410
Advanced Ensemble. Focus on student compositions of original Vocalists. Self-accompanying skills highly encouraged.
songs with lyrics and instrumental accompaniment including creation
of lead sheets for band performances. Individual and group
songwriting is explored. Students participate in community-building
activities including community service and a songwriting retreat.
Advanced Ensemble. Elite a cappella mixed choir. This course will Voice only. Previous choral experience, basic music
focus on group rehearsals of various genres of vocal ensemble theory knowledge and sight reading ability highly
music, including pop, rock, jazz, musical theater, and gospel.
desirable. This group performs difficult music in 8 part
harmony.
Advanced Ensemble. Students will create piano trios, receive Piano, Bass and Drum students only.
feedback from faculty in weekly coaching sessions, and have
professional opportunities such as gigs and recordings. Standard
Jazz, Contemporary Jam Band and original arrangements will be
studied and performed. Students will perform a recital in the fall
semester and perform during Piano Trio Night in the Spring.
Signature Ensemble. The Claim Jumpers will focus on group Trumpet, clarinet, saxophone, trombone, piano, bass,
rehearsals of significant traditional jazz literature, masterworks of tuba, guitar, banjo, drums, percussion, jazz fiddle, vocal.
classic jazz of the 1920s, and improvisation within the traditional jazz
genre at the highest level.
Signature Ensemble. Advance jazz guitar group. This course will 4
guitars;
1
bass
(upright
or
guitar);
1
focus on group rehearsals of bebop and fusion.
drummer/percussionist. Possibility of piano. No vocalists
or horns.
Guitar Ensemble
PMUS 4430
As an advanced ensemble, completion of PMUS 3300
Advanced Sight Reading & Improvisation highly
recommended. Students should have passed their
Sophomore Proficiency.
Students should plan to commit for 1 year/2 semesters,
unless scheduled to graduate in December. Auditions
occur Fall semester.
MIX A Cappella
PMUS 4460
Advanced Ensemble. Small group a cappella choir focusing on
competitive performances and lead singing through vocal group
rehearsals of pop, rock, world music, and jazz genres. Students will
learn to apply sound and microphone techniques for live
performances.
Voice only. Previous choral experience, basic music
theory knowledge and sight reading ability highly
desirable. This group performs difficult music in 6 part
harmony.
Courses that may be taken ONE TIME each for ensemble credit. Please note exceptions and pre-requisites below.
Course Title and Number
Course Description
Course information
and Pre-requisites
Commercial Piano Styles
PMUS 2092
Explores the major commercial piano styles of the twentieth Prerequisite: Students must have already passed
century with a focus on the performance of these styles.
PMUS 1026 (Piano Class IV) or be accepted as
an audition-track pianist.
Commercial Guitar Styles &
Theory - Harmony
PMUS 2095
A comprehensive guitar course that focuses on melodic theory This course is offered in the fall semester only.
specific to the guitar fingerboard. Topics include: tetra chords,
scales, modes, arpeggios, finger technique development and
improvisation.
Commercial Guitar Styles &
Theory - Melody
PMUS 2096
A comprehensive guitar course that focuses on harmonic theory
specific to the guitar fingerboard. Topics include: chord voicing and
inversions, jazz and commercial accompaniment styles including
walking bass, bossa nova, funk and finger picking.
This course is offered in the spring semester only.
This course is offered in the fall semester only.
Commercial Singing I
PMUS 2097
Fundamentals of voice production: posture, breath management
and support, tone, resonance, diction, phrasing and interpretation.
Development of contemporary solo vocal repertoire and traditional
styles. Development of solid understanding of vocal technique and
its application to all vocal styles. Training in all aspects of vocal
performance needed for live performance and recording sessions
(microphone technique, stage presence, appropriate vocal styles
and delivery).
Commercial Singing II
PMUS 2098
Functional Guitar Skills
Acoustic Styles PMUS 2750
Electric Styles PMUS 2751
Advanced Jazz Improvisation
PMUS 3300
This course provides opportunity to continue to develop individual This course is offered in the spring semester only.
skills in commercial solo singing.
This course will consist of diverse semester modules addressing
Prerequisite: PMUS 2095, or PMUS 2096, or
specific styles and applications. Each module will include a timepermission of instructor.
line study relating the guitar to important musical and historical
events and include analysis, performance and teaching of essential This course is offered in the spring semester only.
twentieth century guitar literature.
Explores the techniques and concepts of instrumental jazz and
commercial improvisation and sight reading. Major concepts
include understanding and interpreting the construction of jazz
harmonic nomenclature and the mastery of the melodic elements
of improvisation.
This course is required for instrumental students
in the Performance Emphasis. Students cannot
earn credit for the major requirement and
ensemble in the same semester. Performance
Emphasis students may repeat the course for
ensemble credit. Non-Audition Track students
must complete PMUS 1310 or have permission of
the instructor to enroll.
This course is offered in the spring semester only.
Advanced Vocal Improvisation
PMUS 3330
Provides study of harmony, style and advanced improvisation
techniques for vocalists. Course activities include study of scat
singing, syllables, accents, rhythmic patterns, and phrasing over
standard chord changes in several genres.
This course is required for vocal students in the
Performance Emphasis. Students cannot earn
credit for the major requirement and ensemble in
the same semester. Performance Emphasis
students may repeat the course for ensemble
credit.
Prerequisite: Non-Audition Track students must
complete PMUS 1310 or have permission of the
instructor to enroll.
This course is offered in the spring semester only.