Music History, Literature and Theory (MHIS)

MHIS 115. Fundamental Musicianship. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture hours (delivered online). 2 credits. Enrollment is restricted to music majors, music minors and students pursuing a concentration or minor in musical theatre. Study of fundamental written music notation, tone (harmonic series, timbre, instruments in the orchestra) and structure. Aural skill development parallels theoretical studies for integrated learning of notation and sound.

MHIS 120. Music in Culture. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture hours. 2 credits. Enrollment is restricted to students majoring or minoring in music. This class focuses on studying music within its own cultural context, and will explore the countless ways that music can sound, look and be meaningful. Much of the music in the world looks and sounds very different from music typically studied in U.S. university programs. This music often involves different instruments, scales, rhythms, ways of participating and ways of thinking.

MHIS 145. Theory and Aural Skills I. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 3 laboratory hours. 4 credits. Open to music majors and minors only. The application of music theory, aural skills and keyboard knowledge are combined in the study of harmonic and melodic structure. Activity begins with rudiments and progresses to diatonic harmony. Emphasis is placed upon the development of aural skills as applied to the presented material.

MHIS 146. Theory and Aural Skills II. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 3 laboratory hours. 4 credits. Prerequisite: MHIS 145. Open to music majors and minors only. The application of music theory, aural skills and keyboard knowledge are combined in the study of harmonic and melodic structure. Activity begins with harmonic voicing and progresses to secondary harmony as applied to phrase structure in music. Emphasis is placed upon the development of aural skills as applied to the presented material.

MHIS 147. Jazz Theory and Aural Skills. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: MHIS 145. Theoretical and aural recognition of established melodic, harmonic and rhythmic traditions within jazz so as to apply successfully to creative performance-practice and composition-arranging pursuits.

MHIS 243. Music Appreciation. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Not open to music majors. Designed to encourage understanding of music from selected periods. Development of active cognitive listening skills through guided listening to selected recorded music.

MHIS 244. Experiencing Music. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 1 lecture and 2 laboratory hours. 3 credits. Designed for the purpose of developing familiarity with the elements of music that are part of a successful performance and listening experience. Weekly attendance at both VCU and external events is part of the criteria to develop students' awareness of the creative process in shaping a musical performance.

MHIS 245. Theory and Aural Skills III. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 3 laboratory hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: MHIS 146. Open to music majors. The application of music theory, aural skills and keyboard knowledge are combined in the study of harmonic and melodic structure. Second year studies continue with chromatic harmony and modulations. Emphasis is placed upon the development of aural skills as applied to the presented material.

MHIS 246. Theory and Aural Skills IV. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 3 laboratory hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: MHIS 245. Open to music majors. The application of music theory, aural skills and keyboard knowledge are combined in the study of harmonic and melodic structure. Final semester of study continues with chromatic harmony and concludes with modern techniques as applied to form in music. Elements of popular styles and jazz are incorporated as appropriate. Emphasis is placed upon the development of aural skills as applied to the presented material.

MHIS 251. American Popular Music. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online). 3 credits. A music history course studying the origins of today’s popular music. Attention will be given to comprehensive study of the timeline of popular music starting in the late-19th century and ending with present-day popular music. Emphasis will be placed on understanding social and cultural impacts on popular music in America and vice versa. Additional emphasis will focus on the ability to tie in historical elements while discussing and reflecting on current popular music trends and popular music’s influence around the world. The primary objectives for students in this class are to gain comprehensive knowledge of American popular music from the 19th century to the present, distinguish related musical styles that influenced the development of American popular music and be able to properly recognize American popular musical styles aurally.

MHIS 252. Soundscapes. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online). 3 credits. This class will serve as an introduction to music from around the world. Students will learn to identify musical genres and their instruments. In addition to covering the musical characteristics of each geographical area students will take an ethnomusicological approach and explore the social, political and cultural context within which each genre is played.

MHIS 256. Musicianship Practicum. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 1 lecture and 1 laboratory hour. 2 credits. Prerequisites: APPM 174 or APPM 374; and MHIS 245. Application of musical analysis, composition, keyboard and ear training in holistic and integrated assignments and projects. Group assignments will lead to development of self-directed project.

MHIS 291. Topics in Music. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits. Flexible semester courses in selected aspects of music theory, literature or history. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered.

MHIS 303. Piano Literature Through 1828. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture hours. 2 credits. A survey of stringed keyboard literature. Historical, formal and stylistic considerations of the various periods and composers of keyboard music from 1600-1828 (Baroque and Classical eras). Listening and reading assignments included.

MHIS 304. Piano Literature Since 1828. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture hours. 2 credits. A survey of stringed keyboard literature. Historical, formal and stylistic considerations of the various periods and composers of keyboard music from 1828 to the present (Romantic, 20th century, Modern eras). Listening and reading assignments included.

MHIS 305. Form and Analysis I. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture hours. 2 credits. Prerequisite: MHIS 245. An analytical study of musical forms and salient features of melody, harmony, rhythm and timbre of late Baroque, Classical, early and late Romantic compositions.

MHIS 306. Form and Analysis II. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture hours. 2 credits. Prerequisite: MHIS 245. Study of traditional and new approaches to form in the music of the 20th century. Examination of post-tonal harmony as a determinant of form, formal aspects of motivicism, contour, rhythm, register, timbre and texture.

MHIS 307. The Physics of Sound and Music. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: A 100- or 200-level physics course or equivalent and the ability to read music or sing or play a musical instrument, or permission of instructor. Basics of the physics of waves and sound. Fourier synthesis, tone quality, human ear and voice, musical temperament and pitch, physics of musical instruments, electronic synthesizers, sound recording and reproduction, room and auditorium acoustics. Not applicable toward the physics major. Crosslisted as: PHYS 307.

MHIS 311. Jazz Arranging I. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: MHIS 147 and MHIS 245. A study of the basic harmonic, melodic, notational and orchestrational techniques needed to draft a successful jazz arrangement. Students will write arrangements for quartet and quintet, and the final project will be to write an arrangement for an eight-piece jazz ensemble.

MHIS 312. Jazz Arranging II. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: MHIS 311. Advanced harmonic, melodic and orchestrational techniques applied to writing for the small jazz ensemble, vocal group and large jazz orchestra.

MHIS 321. Classical Music Survey I. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture hours. 2 credits. Prerequisite: UNIV 200 or HONR 200. A study of classical music from antiquity through the Classical Era. Students will learn correlations between musical works, composers and the cultures/societies in which the works were composed. Students will read about, listen to, review and write about a diverse and inclusive variety of works by a similarly diverse and inclusive pool of compositional and performing artists, including under-represented artists of African descent and figures in the LGBTQ+ community. Students will learn a diverse array of musical terminology including, but not limited to, genres, terms, forms and directives, and will discover ways to apply such terminology in their current music-making activities.

MHIS 322. Classical Music Survey II. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture hours. 2 credits. Prerequisite: UNIV 200 or HONR 200. A study of classical music from the Romantic Era through present day. Students will learn correlations between musical works, composers and the cultures/societies in which the works were composed. Students will read about, listen to, review and write about a diverse and inclusive variety of works by a similarly diverse and inclusive pool of compositional and performing artists, including under-represented artists of African descent and figures in the LGBTQ+ community. Students will learn a diverse array of musical terminology including, but not limited to, genres, terms, forms and directives, and will discover ways to apply such terminology in their current music-making activities.

MHIS 324. Jazz History. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: MHIS 120. Study of jazz in a historical context from pre-jazz roots to contemporary styles.

MHIS 350. Studies in the Music of the African Continent and Diaspora. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. Prerequisite: MHIS 243 or MHIS/AFAM 250. An in-depth examination of selected topics and issues in African-derived musical and cultural traditions. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester. Crosslisted as: AFAM 350/INTL 370.

MHIS 373. Beethoven and Brahms Symphonies. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture hours. 2 credits. Prerequisite: MHIS 305. An overview of all symphonies will be the basis for an in-depth analysis of selected movements.

MHIS 380. Survey of the Music Industry. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Topics include copyright, business organization, music production, management, recording, freelancing, grants, taxation and careers allied with music.

MHIS 392. Independent Study. 1-6 Hours.

Semester courses; variable hours. 1-6 credits per semester. Maximum total of 6 credits. Determination of the amount of credit and permission of the instructor and department chair must be obtained prior to registration for the course. Open generally only to students of junior and senior standing who have individual interests in areas not otherwise available to the student.

MHIS 405. Jazz Form and Analysis I. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: MHIS 312. Arranging and performance-practice techniques across selected jazz styles.

MHIS 422. The History of the Symphony. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: MHIS 321 or 322. Historical and analytical study of selected symphonies from the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

MHIS 424. History of American Musical Theatre. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: MHIS 321 or 322. Historical and analytical study of selected musical theatre productions from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.

MHIS 465. History of the Art Song. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture hours. 2 credits. Enrollment is restricted to music majors and music minors. A survey of western classical art song repertoire from 1760-1950 with emphasis on German lieder, French melodies (diacritical accent), and Spanish, British and American songs. A diverse array of composers from the following style periods will be studied: Rococo, Classical, Romantic, Post-Romantic, Impressionism, atonality and serialism, and other 20th-century styles.

MHIS 476. Duke Ellington. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. An overview of the music of Duke Ellington. Lectures and presentations on Ellington recordings, writings and sources of his influences will serve as content for overview.

MHIS 491. Topics in Music. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of nine credits. Flexible semester courses in selected aspects of music theory, literature or history. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.

MHIS 492. Independent Study. 1-6 Hours.

Semester courses; variable hours. 1-6 credits per semester. Maximum total of 6 credits. Determination of the amount of credit and permission of the instructor and department chair must be obtained prior to registration for the course. Open generally only to students of junior and senior standing who have individual interests in areas not otherwise available to the student.

MHIS 591. Topics in Music. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; variable hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credits. Flexible term courses in selected aspects of music performance, theory, literature, or history. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.

MHIS 592. Individual Project. 1-6 Hours.

Semester courses; 1-6 credits. Prerequisites: permission of supervising faculty member, adviser and department chair. Open only to degree-seeking graduate students in music. Individual work in an area not otherwise available to the student.