Courses

CCFA 7001: Arts Entrepreneurship I

Historical and philosophical understanding of entrepreneurship in the arts; developing a written proposal for arts startup.

MUAP 1001: Freshman Seminar

Ideas, performances, and perspectives by various guest lecturers to inform and inspire first-year music students; weekly sessions present workshops in performance, musicianship, music industry, and music technology.

MUSE 8606: Descriptive and Experimental Research in Music Education

Development of research concepts and models in quantitative research using experimental, quasi-experimental, and descriptive design models; determining relationships between independent and dependent variables through appropriate research procedures, analysis, and interpretation of findings.

MUSE 8207: Measurement of Musical Behavior

The investigation of evaluative tools in music education, formulation, and utilization of measurement devices in music teaching and research.

UNHP 1100: Honors Forum- Heavy Metal Music: Power and Protest

Since its beginnings 50 years ago with the release of Black Sabbath’s eponymous debut album, heavy metal has grown into a subcultural movement that simultaneously entertains, fascinates, disturbs, subverts, and generates widespread misunderstanding. It is an art form based on power – the electrical intensity of guitars and amplifiers, and the dynamics found in political, religious, ethnic, educational, and familial systems in Western society.

MUSE 7220: Introduction to Research in Music Education

Active investigation and exploration of research methodologies specific to music education.

MUSE 7608: Instrumental Ensemble Rehearsal Techniques

Includes practical skills of baton technique, score reading, basic rehearsal techniques, and theoretical areas of score analysis, repertoire, and programming, as well as classroom management and pacing of materials; instructor will provide on-the-spot critiques of student teaching and conducting.

MUSE 7995: Master’s Project in Music Education

Preparation of a practical research project as the culmination of the M.M. in Music Education.

MUSE 4403: Methods and Materials for Teaching Instrumental Music

Designed to prepare the instrumental music teacher to teach music concepts to intermediate and advanced players in mixed instrumental group settings. Instruction methodologies and materials, objectives, evaluation, motivation, and administration stressed.

MUSE 7002/8002: Teaching Music in Higher Education

Problems and practices in the teaching of music in higher education. Topics will include tenure and promotion, syllabus design, curriculum vitae construction, mock interviews, etc. 

MUSE 7222/8222: Research Applications in Music Education

Practical application of methodological techniques utilized in music education research; analysis and criticism of research techniques; design, implementation, and reporting of research data.

Courses at UMass Boston

MUSIC 109: Music Collaboratory

Music Collaboratory is a workshop-format course that provides immersive learning experiences in alternative musical styles to students of diverse backgrounds, especially those eager to explore global and commercial music for the first time. With open minds and open ears, participants study the history, performance practices, and pedagogical techniques of various musical traditions while collectively sharing responsibility for rehearsing and directing the group.

Fall 2018 Collaboratory: Creative Workshop

For fall 2018, the course will be organized as a Creative Workshop, producing all original music through individual and collaborative songwriting. This process will culminate in a series of three performances (on Nov. 5, Nov. 29, and Dec. 14) where participants will showcase brand-new songs. Ultimately, participants will emerge with a stronger sense of their own artistic voice, a useful toolkit of techniques for finding and exploiting song ideas, and a spirit of expectancy regarding the power of expressivity through collaboration.

Spring 2018 Collaboratory: A Semester-Long Celebration of The Beatles

Under the mentorship of Dr. Hanson, students will form their own bands and choose, arrange, re-imagine, and perform songs by the Beatles and their influences/contemporaries. Further, participants will use the Beatles’ music and lyrics as inspiration to write and perform original songs. Why the Beatles, you ask? Beyond the sold-out stadiums and record-setting album sales, these four musicians redefined the conventions and expectations of popular music in ways that still influence us over 50 years later. Their inventive songs have much to teach us about musical innovation, yet draw from familiar influences: early rock ‘n’ roll, the blues, African American soul, jazz, and classical music, to name a few. So there’s something for everyone. From a practical perspective, it is crucial that you gain experience with the Beatles’ catalog to stay competitive in your future career pursuits involving popular music. If you want to be a 21^st century musician, you need to know the music of the Beatles!

Fall 2017 Collaboratory: Rock/Pop Ensemble

The Music Collaboratory’s Pop/Rock Ensemble fulfills several needs within the Performing Arts Department and the University at large. It provides a performance outlet focused on rock and Top 40 styles to students of diverse backgrounds, including those new to popular music. It cultivates student-centered and collaborative learning, where everything from repertoire selection to performance production remains primarily the responsibility of student participants. (The instructor provides guidance in a facilitative, not didactic, role.) It promotes renewed visibility and an air of excitement for the UMB music program—a fresh approach that embraces innovation, empowers participants, and gives students a voice in pursuit of a higher purpose for artistic activity. And, it culminates in adventurous, invigorating performances that, while enjoyed by audiences and participants alike, are more reflective of the strength of the ensemble’s autonomous learning process than the quality of any standalone musical products.

Equally important is this course’s role as a teaching laboratory. Our goal is to enable low-stakes practice teaching in a non-traditional ensemble format. This will be especially important to participating UMB music education students, many of whom will go on teach in urban schools that cannot or will not sponsor traditional band, orchestra, or chorus. For these future music educators, the Music Collaboratory offers a rare opportunity to develop the techniques, know-how, and attitudes necessary for future career success.

Check out this web feature on guitar god Gary Hoey’s visit to the Music Collaboratory on October 24, 2017.

Spring 2017 Collaboratory: iPad Ensemble

The Music Collaboratory’s iPad Ensemble fulfills several needs within the Performing Arts Department and the University at large. It provides a performance outlet open to any student regardless of musical background. It introduces the iPad, and electronic music in general, as a viable and relevant medium for musical expression that extends beyond the boundaries of traditional band, orchestra, and chorus programs. This will be especially important to participating UMB music education students, many of whom will go on teach in urban schools that cannot or will not sponsor instrumental music. Finally, this course offers an opportunity for students to engage in problem-based learning in music; participants will collaborate in the production of music compositions and performances while the instructor provides guidance in a facilitative (not didactic) role.

MUSIC 483: Orchestration

Study of the range and timbre of instruments and practical ways of combining instruments. Discussion of mass, texture, and sound. This is a practical class that provides students with experiences in arranging music for vocal and instrumental ensembles typically found in public school music programs. Areas of study include transposition, ranges, and scoring considerations for voices, woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion, and commercial music instruments, with a specific emphasis on instruments played by students in the class. As a secondary focus, we will also explore technological applications for music teaching and learning using a hands-on approach. This class is project-based: outside of brief reading assignments and scoring exercises, students spend most of their time working on five major projects.

MUSIC 403: Brass Techniques

Intensive class instruction in the fundamentals of brass technique. This course offers preparation for teaching instrumental music in K-12 schools. Experiences in this class will enable you to develop expertise in brass performance and pedagogy. Through reading, observing, performing on instruments, and practice teaching, you will learn approaches to teaching brass students in K-12 school settings.

MUSIC 401: String Techniques

Intensive class instruction in the fundamentals of string technique. This course provides music education students with opportunities to develop teaching and performance skills necessary for classroom string instruction. Through reading, discussing, performing on instruments, and practice teaching, you will learn approaches to teaching upper and lower strings in the K-12 school setting.

MUSIC 404: Percussion Techniques

Intensive class instruction in the fundamentals of percussion technique. This course equips participants with enough practical knowledge and performance skill to effectively teach percussion to K-12 students.

MUSIC 111: Introduction to Music

Basic music materials, principles of design, and the cultural significance of representative works in historical sequence. Designed primarily for non-music majors. No prerequisites.

This course aims to answer some broad questions: What is music? Why do we “do” music? And what makes it so fascinating? You will gain a deeper understanding of musical structure and cultural context, allowing you to connect past and present to heighten music’s relevance in your life. We will focus on European and North American music, in both classical and popular styles. Occasionally, we will also study musical styles from non-Western locales.