Graduate Program Course Offerings

MUS 641 Strings 1.5 hours, 1 credit. The teaching of fundamental techniques of string playing (violin, viola, cello, and double bass) in the context of solo, orchestral, and chamber music; thorough review of basic string technique.

MUS 643 Woodwinds 1.5 hours, 1 credit. The teaching of fundamental techniques of playing a number of woodwind instruments: breathing, tone production, and fingering; acoustical principles of woodwinds; thorough review of woodwind technique; basic pedagogical methods.

MUS 645 Brass 1.5 hours, 1 credit. The teaching of fundamental techniques of playing a number of brass instruments: breathing, tone production, fingerings and slide positions; acoustical principles of brasses; thorough review of brass technique; basic pedagogical methods.

MUS 647 Percussion 1.5 hours, 1 credit. The teaching of fundamental techniques of playing percussion instruments: rudiments, stick control, coordination of hands and feet, syncopation, ensemble playing; acoustical principles of percussion; thorough review of percussion technique; basic pedagogical methods.

MUS 649 Piano Skills for Music Teachers 1.5 hours, 1 credit. Introduction to piano skills including scales, chord progressions, keyboard harmony and sightreading. The activities and materials used will reflect the needs of music educaiton students.

MUS 651 Conducting 1.5 hours, 1 credit. The teaching of technique and proficiency in basic conducting skills including conducting patterns, baton technique, expressive gestures, score study, and philosophical and psychological appreaches to ensemble management.

MUSED 677 Methods of Teaching Instrumental Music in the Elementary and Secondary Schools 3 hours (plus 18 hours a semester of fieldwork), 2 credits. Organization and administration of school instrumental programs at the elementary and secondary levels; an overview of rehearsal, teaching, and conducting techniques relative to the various ensembles of a school program, including a review of principles of performance for strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.

MUSED 678 Methods of Teaching Vocal and General Music in the Elementary and Secondary Schools 3 hours (plus 18 hours a semester of fieldwork), 2 credits. Organization and administration of school vocal programs at the elementary and secondary levels; an overview of rehearsal, teaching, and conducting techniques relative to the various ensembles of a school choral program, as well as an overview of the content and materials of the non-performing general music curriculum.

MUS 681, 682, 683, 684 Private Instruction in Instrument or Voice Each: 1 hour, 1 credit. For students not concentrating in performance.
COREQ: Registration for a Hunter Performance Ensemble. For more information on the Ensemble Requirement for Private Lessons, please refer to the Teacher Assignment Form link in the Undergraduate or Graduate Handbook section of the Music Department website.

MUS 700 Music Bibliography and Research Techniques 3 hours, 3 credits. The study of sources and bibliographical methods as applied to musical material.

MUS 710 Hunter Symphony 2 hours, 1 credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. May be taken four times for credit.

MUS 711 Hunter College Choir 2 hours, 1 credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. May be taken four times for credit.

MUS 713 Chamber Music 2 hours, 1 credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. May be taken four times for credit.

MUS 714 Chamber Singers 2 hours, 1 credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. May be taken four times for credit.

MUS 715 Jazz Ensemble 2 hours, 1 credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. May be taken four times for credit.

MUS 716 Jazz Vocal Workshop 2 hours, 1 credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. May be taken four times for credit.

MUS 717.xx Topics in Piano Performance 2 hours, 1 credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. May be taken four times for credit.

MUS 718.xx Topics in Vocal Performance 2 hours, 1 credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. May be taken four times for credit.

MUS 719 Special Topics in Music Performance 2 hours, 1 credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Topics: To be announced. May be taken four times for credit.

MUS 720 Opera Performance 3 hours, 3 credits. Prerequisite: Audition and Graduate Adviser’s permission. Preparation and performance of a fully staged opera. May be taken two times for credit.

MUS 721 Jazz and Popular Music Combos 2 hours, 1 credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. May be taken four times for credit.

MUS 724 Advanced Studies in Music Theory 1 3 hours, 3 credits. Prerequisite: Four semesters of undergraduate music theory. Advanced contrapuntal techniques. 19th-century chromatic harmony. Compositional styles from 1500 to 1900.

MUS 725 Advanced Studies in Music Theory 2 3 hours, 3 credits. Prerequisite: Four semesters of undergraduate music theory. Analysis and theory of compositional styles from 1900 to the present.

MUS 731 Composition 1 2 hours plus conferences, 3 credits. Prerequisite: An undergraduate course in composition or permission of the instructor. Practice in composition for various media.

MUS 732 Composition 2 2 hours plus conferences, 3 credits. Prerequisite: MUS 730. A continuation of MUS 730.

MUS 735 Orchestration 3 hours, 3 credits. Prerequisites: 2 semesters of undergraduate music theory and permission of the instructor. Study of the capabilities of musical instruments; analysis of orchestration techniques; arranging compositions for various instrumental combinations.

MUS 736 Computer Music 3 hours, 3 credits. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor. Making music with computers using technologies such as MIDI sequencing, hardware synthesis, and digital audio. Promises and limitations of these tools.

MUS 738 Jazz Harmony and Arranging 3 hours, 3 credits. Study of jazz harmony and rhythm, jazz composition, and jazz arranging.

MUS 739 Jazz Improvisation 3 hours, 3 credits. Study and performance of jazz improvisational techniques.

MUS 740 Seminar in Music Theory and Analysis 3 hours, 3 credits. May be taken three times for credit. Speculative theory, aesthetics, and scientific dimensions of music; detailed analysis of works relevant to theoretical problems under investigation. Topics to be announced.

MUS 742 Seminar in Style Criticism 3 hours, 3 credits. May be taken twice for credit. An intensive study of a small number of closely related works of music. Topics: To be announced.

MUS 751 Advanced Studies in Music History 1 3 hours, 3 credits. A study of advanced topics in the history of music in the European tradition to 1750. Includes analysis of music in different styles, studies of the role of music in cultural history, and instruction in research and writing about music.

MUS 752 Advanced Studies in Music History 2 3 hours, 3 credits. A continuation of MUS 751,dealing with music from 1750 to the present.

MUS 753 Transcription and Analysis in Ethnomusicology 3 hours, 3 credits. Critical examination and application of contemporary techniques to selected examples from various cultures.

MUS 760 Seminar in Music History 3 hours, 3 credits. May be taken twice for credit. Problems in research and analysis in selected areas of music history. Topics: To be announced.

MUS 775 Seminar in Ethnomusicology 1 3 hours, 3 credits. A history of the discipline; the development of theories and methods; selected problems.

MUS 776 Seminar in Ethnomusicology 2 3 hours, 3 credits. Field research as a principal means of data collection and theory testing in ethnomusicology. Emphasis will be placed on preparation of the research design, application of data-gathering techniques, adaptation to the field, and data analysis.

MUS 777 Seminar in Urban Ethnomusicology 3 hours, 3 credits.

MUS 778 Special Topics in Ethnomusicology 3 hours, 3 credits. Specialized study of the music of a specific region or a current issue in ethnomusicology. Topics: To be announced.

MUS 779 World Music Education 3 hours, 3 credits. A survey of world music traditions. Appropriate pedagogical techniques for transmitting multi-cultural musical knowledge and for presenting world music concerts to Pre-K-12 students.

MUS 781, 782, 783, 784 Private Study in Instrument or Voice Each: 3 hours, 3 credits. For performance concentrators.
COREQ: Registration for a Hunter Performance Ensemble. For more information on the Ensemble Requirement for Private Lessons, please refer to the Teacher Assignment Form link in the Undergraduate or Graduate Handbook section of the Music Department website.

MUS 785 Private Lessons in Composition 3 hours, 3 credits. Prerequisites: MUS 731 and MUS 732, and permission of the instructor.

MUS 789 Seminar in Music Performance 3 hours, 3 credits. Preparation, rehearsal, and performance of small and large ensemble works. Emphasis will be placed upon researching and analyzing the music being studied.

MUS 791-794 Independent Study Maximum 6 credits. Prerequisite: Approval by the Department Graduate Faculty Committee of a written proposal submitted by an announced deadline date during the previous semester. Special projects in the history of music, ethnomusicology, composition, or performance under approved professional guidance and capable of being evaluated by the Department.

      • MUS 791 1 credit. May be taken 4 times for credit.
      • MUS 792 2 credits. May be taken 4 times for credit.
      • MUS 793 3 credits. May be taken twice for credit.
      • MUS 794 4 credits. May be taken twice for credit (but only 6 credits count toward the degree).

MUS 798 Thesis in Music History or Ethnomusicology 3 credits. Individual research under supervision.

MUS 799 Thesis in Composition 3 credits. Individual study of composition under supervision.

Students may take courses at other branches of CUNY with permission of the school offering the courses, provided they do not duplicate Hunter’s offerings. Forms are available from the Director of Graduate Studies. Furthermore, the Music Department has a consortial relation with the Dalcroze School. Students in the TEP program are encouraged to take Dalcroze courses in addition to their requirements at Hunter College. In all, up to 12 credits may be transferred from other institutions, pending approval of the Director of Graduate Studies of the Music Department, the Divisional Dean, and the Registrar of Hunter College.