Minor in Classical Music

The minor in classical music provides a foundation in professional classical music that teaches the skills musicians require for successful careers as multi-stylistic performers. Classical music spans centuries of Western European tradition, and continues to evolve worldwide through the contributions of a diverse array of living composers, and the addition of new genres of classically inspired music in films, video games, and beyond. It is necessary for the student to understand the origins as well as the contemporary evolution of the art form. The minor in classical music enables students to integrate their strong foundational technique with their knowledge of the art to become skillful and innovative performers.

The minor in classical music transcends traditional classical music training programs by embracing historic repertoire as well as living composers and contemporary genres in order to prepare students for the performance opportunities of tomorrow.

This minor integrates inclusive innovative music by educating creative, collaborative, passionate, and musically literate professionals who are globally diverse.

Entrance Requirements

There are no entrance requirements for this minor. Students must follow the regular declaration of minor procedure as outlined in the Registration Guide. This minor is managed by the Professional Performance Division.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will:

  • demonstrate classical technique and musicianship as they sing and/or play classical music from a variety of time periods and diverse styles including music by living composers;
  • lead and collaborate with other classical musicians, using high level listening skills to resolve tuning, phrasing, ensemble, and stylistic discrepancies in the preparation and performance of classical music;
  • describe current trends and practices within the field of classical music, including auditions and preparation, recording, contemporary composition, and concert production;
  • read and sight read various types of classical scores and parts; and
  • synthesize important classical music styles, history, musicians, ensembles, instruments, forms, compositional techniques, and performance practices.
Curriculum and Courses

Required Courses

History (choose one course; 2 credits)

  • MHIS-347 Music of Women Composers
  • MHIS-353 African American Composers: Classical Tradition

History and Analysis (choose one course; 2 credits)

  • MHIS-317 19th Century Program Music (fall only)
  • MHIS-325 History of American Musical Theater
  • MHIS-331 History of Film Music
  • MHIS-361 Concert Music after 1945
  • MLAN-250 Maurice Ravel: The Man and His Music
  • MLAN-288 Music of Olivier Messiaen
  • MLAN-311 Analysis of Classical and Romantic Music
  • MLAN-312 Analysis of 20th- and 21-st Century Music
  • MLAN-314 In the Mix: Contemporary Composition Approaches in Discussion on Form, Aesthetic, and Style
  • MLAN-315 Traditional Composition Forms in the 20th Century 1
  • MLAN-320 The Music of John Cage and Morton Feldman: Sound–Time–Process
  • MLAN-371 The Beethoven String Quartets
  • MLAN-372 Bartok's Chamber Music
  • MLAN-375 The Music of Igor Stravinsky
  • MLAN-381 Seminal Composers of the 20th and 21st Centuries
  • MLAN-411 Current Trends in Orchestra Composition

Large Ensemble (choose one to two courses; at least 2 credits)

Chamber Ensemble (choose one to two courses; at least 2 credits)

READING SKILLS (choose one course; at least 1 credit)

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS (choose one to two courses; at least 2 credits)

  • CM-231 Instrumentation and Score Preparation
  • CM-351 Choral Composition
  • COND-311 Advanced Conducting Seminar with Live Chamber Orchestra
  • COND-331 Advanced Conducting Skills for the Theater
  • COND-334 Conducting for Dance
  • COND-351 Advanced Conductor's Workshop with Live Keyboard Ensemble
  • COND-355 Conducting Small Ensembles
  • COND-361 Conducting for Film and TV Production
  • ICE-225 Business Fundamentals of Creative Industries
  • LMSC-208 Music Acoustics
  • MB-215 Arts Administration

SKILLS LABS/ELECTIVES (choose one course; at least 1 credit)

All Instruments

  • ET-321 World Music Ear Training
  • HR-361 World Music Materials and Concepts for the Contemporary Musician
  • ILWD-115 Efficient Practicing Lab
  • ILWD-342 Phrasing and Interpretation in the Classical Style
  • ILWD-380 Audition Workshop for Instrumentalists
  • LHUM-218 Music, Collaboration, and the Arts
  • PSIJ-346 Thematic Development in Improvisation and Composition
  • PST-351 Stage Performance Techniques 1

Bass

Brass

Guitar

Percussion

Piano

  • ILPN-220 Musical Theater Keyboard Skills
  • ILPN-237 Advanced Rhythmic Lab for the Keyboardist
  • ILPN-385 Classical Accompanying

Strings

  • ILST-125 Viola for Violinists and Five-String Fiddlers

Voice

  • DANV-111 Dance Styles for Singers
  • DANV-113 Beginner Barre
  • DANV-311 Musical Theater Dance Workshop
  • ENVC-132 Circle Song Choir
  • ENVC-300 Vocal Master Class
  • ILVC-117 The Essentials of Voice: Best Practices for Vocalists in Technique and Performance
  • ILVC-119 Alexander Technique for the Contemporary Singer: Developing Awareness and Ease
  • ILVC-151 Acting Skills for the Vocalist
  • ILVC-210 Elements of Vocal Technique for Non-Voice Principals
  • ILVC-260 Piano-Accompanying Techniques for Vocalists
  • ILVC-271 Live Sound for the Vocalist
  • PSH-200 Vocal Technique and Wellness
  • PSVC-110 Elements of Vocal Technique
  • PSVC-131 American Diction for Singers
  • PSVC-161 The Professional Vocalist Audition Workshop
  • PSVC-321 Vocal Pedagogy
  • PSVC-343 Coaching Theater Vocalists
  • PSVC-422 Vocal Pedagogy 2
  • PSVC-450 Comparative Vocal Pedagogy

Woodwinds

  • ILWD-213 The Art and Sound of Tone Production
  • ILWD-341 Flute Repertoire Class: Baroque through Contemporary