Music (MUSC)
This course provides an overview to the foundational principles, philosophies, and practices in music education. Topics emphasized are: purposes of school music; students as music learners; content and structure of school music programs; and music teacher knowledge and skills. Identification of personal qualities and professional competencies of excellent music teachers will also be discussed.
Offered: Resident and Online
Online Prerequisite: Graduate Conducting Assessmen with a score of 0
Basic instruction in conducting techniques for worship leaders in traditional and non-traditional worship settings. Knowledge and skill areas include: posture and hand position, baton usage, foreign and mechanical terms, conducting gestures and patterns, basic score interpretation, and rehearsal management and technique.
Registration Restrictions: WRSP 010 with a score of 0-69
Offered: Online
Intermediate and advanced instruction in choral and instrumental conducting techniques for music educators. Knowledge and skill areas stressed are a review of conducting gestures and patterns; advanced score interpretation, rehearsal management and technique, special challenges in choral and instrumental contexts.
Offered: Resident and Online
Prerequisite: MUSC 515
This course is a continuation of WMUS 515 OR MUSC 515 and focuses on developing advanced instruction in conducting techniques in traditional and non-traditional settings. Specific attention is given to the role of the conductor in practical contexts, including 21st century evangelical worship, professional orchestral/choral organizations, and elementary, secondary, and collegiate educational systems
Offered: Resident and Online
Online Prerequisite: Graduate Music Assessment with a score of 0
In this course, students learn foundational principles of music theory including: notes, rhythms, intervals, chord construction, and harmonic progressions. Basic arranging and analytical techniques are also explored related to traditional, classical, and popular music styles. This course is designed to prepare students for MUSC 524 or WMUS 524.
Registration Restrictions: MUSC 010 with a score of 0-124
Offered: Online
Prerequisite: MUSC 522 or Graduate Music Assessment with a score of 125
This course is a foundational course for graduate contemporary music theory practices. Systematic and empirical investigations into formal and compositional procedures of selected masterworks from the tonal repertoire.The study includes a thorough investigation of jazz and extended harmonies used in contemporary popular music. Students continue to learn and apply analytical technique to various music styles. Melodic concepts and music form are explored in the literature from historical music periods and compared to present popular music literature and practice. Lectures lead to individual analytical projects. Principles of harmonic function are taught and applied to representative historical and popular music forms.
Registration Restrictions: Students must successfully complete the Graduate Music Theory.
Offered: Resident and Online
Prerequisite: MUSC 630
This course is designed to teach and develop advanced skills of arranging for music education vocal and instrumental ensembles. Arranging techniques relevant to standard contemporary concert bands, orchestras, and choirs will be explored, analyzed, and applied. Extended techniques in arranging may be applied to special ensembles such as chamber ensembles, flex-ensembles, Orff ensembles, jazz ensembles, and others.
Offered: Resident and Online
Bibliographic research in the field of music education. Students will identify, access, evaluate, and interpret music education resources and materials in preparation for performing research on music education topics.
Offered: Resident and Online
Lessons in Guitar, Piano, Voice, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Conducting, or Songwriting.
Registration Restrictions: Student must have the requisite experience or consent of the instructor (see syllabus for additional information specific to each application)
Offered: Resident and Online
Prerequisite: MUSC 589
Students study basic rehearsal techniques, synthesize rehearsal methodologies, and apply written and aural theory through large ensemble experience. Students engage in score analysis detailing expected rehearsal problems with appropriate pedagogical solutions.
Registration Restrictions: Consent of instructor
Offered: Resident
This ensemble is open to all Liberty University graduate students by audition and offers the opportunity to experience and participate in various styles of music. Special attention is given to the preparation and presentations of the Night of Worship (Spring), Christmas on the Boulevard (Fall), and other campus and area events.
Registration Restrictions: Audition or consent of instructor
Offered: Resident
Evaluation of various influences contributing to the creation of a unique "American" musical style. Materials are arranged and discussed in a theoretical/historical framework. Diversity of influences investigated include: European, African American, Afro-Cuban, American Indian, Spanish-Mexican, religious, jazz, blues, folk song, popular, and black gospel. Special attention is given to music of the American Colonies and specific musical influences through the 21st century.
Offered: Resident and Online
The study of computer applications in music, including competencies in the use of music notation software, music recording software, sequencing, smartboards, apps, interactive websites, sound shaping, and other innovative technological applications for the music education classroom. Students will focus on the effective use of technology in learning environments, with special attention to instructional practice, assessment development, and student engagement.
Offered: Online
In this course, students examine the historical and philosophical development of music education in America traced from its roots in biblical times through recent historical events and trends. Also emphasized are the pedagogical movements in and sociological aspects of music education from the early colonial period through the 21st century. Readings and discussions will emphasize specific subjects including: Ancient Greek music philosophy and aesthetics, music in the medieval universities and the quadrivium, the influences of humanism and the Enlightenment, musical aesthetics related to 19th and 20th century thought, and the current discussion related to aesthetic vs. praxial music educational philosophies.
Offered: Resident and Online
A study of the journey toward maturing in the Christian faith, with special application to the artist pursuing a career in music. Course includes the investigation of trials, successes and failures, submission and authority, and spiritual disciplines.
Offered: Resident
Prerequisite: MUSC 531
The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with a variety of research that informs music education in preparation for the final capstone curriculum project, lecture recital, or thesis in music education. Students expand their understanding of various research methodologies as related to music education while developing their scholarly writing skills.
Offered: Resident and Online
Students study materials and techniques for teaching beginning and intermediate music students of various ages in class and private lesson settings. Students also explore issues relevant to the advanced performer, such as handling of performance anxiety, physical and psychological well-being, and concerns related to advanced technique. Includes a segment on technological tools. Special attention is given to teaching group lessons at the college level. Provides practical experience under faculty supervision.
Offered: Resident
Graduate-level studies in a specified area of music literature (e.g., solo vocal literature, symphonic literature, brass literature, etc.).
Offered: Resident
Students study materials and techniques for teaching beginning and intermediate music students of various ages in class and private lesson settings. Students also explore issues relevant to the advanced performer, such as handling of performance anxiety, physical and psychological well-being, and concerns related to advanced technique. Includes a segment on technological tools. Special attention is given to teaching group lessons at the college level. Provides practical experience under faculty supervision.
Offered: Resident
This course helps students engage matters of curricula development and pedagogy through critical evaluation and inquiry. Emphasis is given to curricula and pedagogical models that address practical issues for primary, secondary, and college classrooms.
Offered: Resident and Online
Students gain understanding of the individual elements of a business plan, business structures, finance, marketing, management and organizational behavior, and leadership. Students learn entrepreneurial tools particular to the music community, techniques for innovation and creation of new ventures. At the conclusion of the course, students complete a cogent business plan applicable to different endeavors within the community.
Offered: Resident
The in-depth study and performance of English, Italian, German, French, Spanish, and Ecclesiastical Latin pronunciation (enunciation and articulation) through the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet.
Registration Restrictions: Students must pass a basic diction placement exam.
Offered: Resident
Prerequisite: MUSC 689
This course is designed to provide the student with practical experience in the planning and implementation of a major music education project. This is the completion of the research and curriculum project begun in MUSC 650. In the course, students focus on the development of a site-specific music curriculum, including the plans for implementation and assessment of the project.
Offered: Resident and Online
In this course, master's students engage in the research and writing of their thesis or capstone project.
Offered: Resident and Online
Prerequisite: MUSC 689
In this course, students complete the Thesis project begun in MUSC 650. The thesis is a comprehensive paper written in a specific music education discipline and selected in consultation between the student and approved faculty. It should illustrate a thorough understanding and mastery of research techniques and demonstrate a level of original discovery suitable for graduate work on the master's level. Students may not enroll in this class until the last semester of graduate work or until all other course requirements for the degree have been successfully completed. (Crosslisted with WRSP 690)
Offered: Resident and Online
Prerequisite: MUSC 689
This is a faculty supervised, 55-60 minute lecture recital program. The student must demonstrate the ability to conduct or perform appropriate repertoire for 50 percent of the recital. The student must demonstrate the ability to lecture about their selected repertoire for 50 percent of the recital. Preparation of the recital must demonstrate completion of a serious, formal research paper that documents the repertoire selected, historical information about composers and songwriters, and rationale for stylistic representation.
Offered: Resident and Online
Prerequisite: MUSC 689
This course is a written and oral examination that serves as a culminating assessment for the MA in Music Education. The comprehensive exam will be based on the content of courses taken in the MA in Education program.
Offered: Resident and Online
Prerequisite: MUSC 550
This is a faculty supervised, 60-minute performance recital program. The student must demonstrate the ability to perform a variety of classically based repertoire according to the student’s instrument or voice. Preparation of the recital must demonstrate advanced proficiency in both technique and artistry. In addition, well-researched and written program notes must be included in the program for the performance.
Registration Restrictions: Three completed semesters of MUSC 550 with a grade of B or higher.
Offered: Resident
Offered: Resident and Online
Offered: Resident and Online