Mar 28, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2020-2021 
    
USC Catalogue 2020-2021 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

Courses of Instruction


Return to: USC Thornton School of Music 

USC Thornton School of Music

Courses

Jazz Studies

  • MUJZ 545 Jazz Ensemble Development

    Units: 2, 2 years
    Terms Offered: Sp
    Techniques, approaches, teaching materials, and music useful in developing jazz ensembles in educational settings, from junior high school through college.
    Duplicates Credit in former MUED 547.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUJZ 547 Jazz Composition

    Units: 2
    Max Units: 4.0
    Terms Offered: Fa
    Application of theoretical and compositional techniques used in jazz to written music. Analysis and performance of historical and contemporary examples will be included.
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 547.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUJZ 551 Graduate Jazz Improvisation

    Units: 2
    Terms Offered: Sp
    Development of proficiency in improvising to advanced jazz concepts, including transposition, substitute harmony, superimposed harmony, atypical harmonic schemes and contemporary chord and scale types.
    Prerequisite: MUJZ 451 .
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUJZ 553 Individual Instruction

    Units: 1 or 2
    Max Units: 8.0
    Terms Offered: FaSpSm
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUJZ 554 Graduate Certificate Performance

    Units: 4
    Max Units: 16.0
    Terms Offered: FaSpSm
    Individual instruction and related lab participation for Graduate Certificate students.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUJZ 588 Special Studies in Jazz Performance

    Units: 2
    Max Units: 6.0
    Performance problems, composers and/or stylistic analysis of music from the jazz idiom. Specific emphasis to be determined by the Jazz Studies department.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUJZ 590 Directed Research

    Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
    Terms Offered: FaSpSm
    Research leading to the master’s degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Credit/No Credit

  • MUJZ 599 Special Topics

    Units: 2, 3, 4
    Max Units: 8.0
    Selected topics of current interest.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUJZ 653 Performance

    Units: 1 or 2
    Max Units: 12.0
    Terms Offered: FaSpSm
    Individual or master class instruction for DMA Performance majors.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUJZ 688 Special Topics in Jazz Performance

    Units: 2
    Max Units: 4.0
    Terms Offered: Fa
    Examination and analysis of solo and compositional repertory of the jazz idiom through transcription and comparative research. Specific emphasis to be determined by the Jazz Studies department.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUJZ 790 Research

    Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
    Research leading to the doctorate. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Credit/No Credit

School of Music

  • MUSC 102gw World Music

    Units: 4
    Exploration of music and cultures of the world. Engagement with international musicians, global issues, field work and musical diasporas in Los Angeles.
    Satisfies New General Education in Category A: The Arts
    Satisfies Global Perspective in Category G: Citizenship in a Diverse World
    Duplicates Credit in former MUHL 302
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 110 Freshman Forum

    Units: 1
    Terms Offered: FaSp
    Introduction to issues and skills relevant to the professional musical world of today.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Credit/No Credit

  • MUSC 115gp Western Music as Sounding History

    Units: 4
    An introduction to Western art music and culture from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern eras through reading, listening, analyzing and writing about music.
    Satisfies New General Education in Category A: The Arts
    Satisfies Global Perspective in Category H: Traditions and Historical Foundations
    Duplicates Credit in former MUHL 315
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 170g Classics of Music and Literature: from Ancient Greece Through Contemporary LA

    Units: 4
    Terms Offered: FaSp
    (Enroll in CLAS 170g )
  • MUSC 200gmw The Broadway Musical: Reflections of American Diversity

    Units: 4
    A uniquely American genre, the Broadway musical serves as a catalyst for inquiry into human diversity, cross-culturalism, and significant social and political issues.
    Satisfies New General Education in Category A: The Arts
    Satisfies Global Perspective in Category G: Citizenship in a Diverse World
    Duplicates Credit in former MUSC 400
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 210g Electronic Music and Dance Culture

    Units: 4
    The origins and development of EDM and its relatives such as disco, house, techno, rave and electronica, focusing on cultural and technological influences.
    Satisfies New General Education in Category A: The Arts
    Duplicates Credit in former MUSC 410
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 250gmw The Music of Black Americans

    Units: 4
    A chronicle of the musical contribution of Africans and African Americans to American society and to the foundations of musical genres and styles throughout the world.
    Satisfies New General Education in Category A: The Arts
    Satisfies Global Perspective in Category G: Citizenship in a Diverse World
    Duplicates Credit in former MUSC 450
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 255 Songwriting I

    Units: 2
    Terms Offered: FaSp
    Development of musical and lyrical skills, composing, listening, analysis, and critiques of popular original music.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 320gmw Hip-hop Music and Culture

    Units: 4
    A history of hip-hop music from its inception to the present: its musical processes and styles, as well as attendant social, political and cultural issues.
    Satisfies New General Education in Category A: The Arts
    Satisfies Global Perspective in Category G: Citizenship in a Diverse World
    Duplicates Credit in former MUSC 420
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 355 Songwriting II

    Units: 2
    Terms Offered: FaSp
    Continuation of Songwriting I; particular emphasis on the analysis of the techniques of important popular songwriters and the application of these techniques to original songs.
    Prerequisite: MUSC 255 .
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 252.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 371g Musical Genre Bending

    Units: 4
    The aesthetic and ethical issues of genre-bending music in 20th and 21st century rock, classical, jazz, and folk music.
    Satisfies New General Education in Category A: The Arts
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 372g Music, Turmoil and Nationalism

    Units: 4
    An exploration of musical practices and styles which reflect and shape national identities and which focus on those created in response to political turmoil in many forms.
    Satisfies New General Education in Category A: The Arts
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 373g Writing About Popular Music

    Units: 4
    Immerses students in criticism, scholarship, and creative writing dealing with popular music. Students participate in that discourse through developing their own authorial voices.
    Satisfies New General Education in Category A: The Arts
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 422 The Beatles: Their Music and Their Times

    Units: 4
    Music, lyrics, recordings, production techniques, career strategy, social ramifications, and especially the technological impact of the musical group known as The Beatles.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 423 Classic Rock: Popular Music of the Sixties and Seventies

    Units: 2
    Critical examination of the lyrics, structure, associated mythology, technology, and evolving styles of popular music reflecting the turbulent societal changes during the Sixties and Seventies.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 424 Iconic Figures of Popular Music

    Units: 2
    Max Units: 8.0
    Terms Offered: FaSp
    Music, life, recordings, and attendant musical, cultural and political influences of a seminal musician or group in 20th or 21st century popular music.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 430m Music and the Holocaust

    Units: 4
    Terms Offered: FaSp
    Study of the creation and performance of Holocaust related music from 1933 to the present, including interaction with other arts.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 444 American Roots Music: History and Culture

    Units: 4
    Terms Offered: Irregular
    The history, genre, styles, songs, lyrics, and influences of American vernacular music in the 20th century, including the background that spawned these musical genres.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 455 Songwriting III: The Performing Songwriter

    Units: 2
    Continuation of Songwriting I and II with emphasis on the development of performance skills of original popular music in preparation for songwriting showcases.
    Prerequisite: MUSC 355 .
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 254.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 460 Film Music: History and Function from 1930 to the Present

    Units: 4
    Terms Offered: Fa
    A survey of the art and craft of film music as practiced by outstanding composers in motion pictures.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 465 Music, Television and American Culture

    Units: 4
    Terms Offered: Sp
    An exploration of the social and cultural impact of music written for, popularized by, or exploited by American television from the 1950s through today.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 470 Contemporary Popular Music: A Global Perspective

    Units: 2
    Terms Offered: Sm
    Contemporary popular music in global culture; includes performance and collaboration opportunities with local musicians.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 475 Musician’s Health and Wellness

    Units: 2
    Interactive exploration of injury prevention, body awareness disciplines, effective practice strategies, warm-ups and stretches, performance anxiety, hearing protection, and other pertinent wellness topics for musicians.
    Recommended Preparation: Music background
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 480 Young Artist Project I

    Units: 2
    Ideation and development of plans for unique individualized, mentored projects related to students’ diversified and often hybrid work as classical musicians.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 481 Young Artist Project II

    Units: 2
    Refinement, execution and reflection on unique individualized, mentored projects related to students’ diversified and often hybrid work as classical musicians.
    Prerequisite: MUSC 480 
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 496 Careers in Music

    Units: 2
    Terms Offered: Sp
    A study of the practical aspects of the music business, including the history, procedures, standard practices, economics and technologies employed by the music industry.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 498x Internship in Music

    Units: 1, 2, 3, 4
    Max Units: 8.0
    Terms Offered: FaSpSm
    Practical work experience in the student’s field of study, at an off-campus location. Students are individually supervised by faculty.
    Registration Restriction: Open only to Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts, Music majors only.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Credit/No Credit

  • MUSC 499 Special Topics

    Units: 2, 3, 4
    Max Units: 8.0
    Terms Offered: FaSpSm
    Selected topics of current interest.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 598 Internship in Music

    Units: 1, 2, 3, 4
    Max Units: 4.0
    Terms Offered: FaSpSm
    Practical work experience in the student’s field of study, at an off-campus location. Students are individually supervised by faculty.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Credit/No Credit

  • MUSC 599 Special Topics

    Units: 2, 3, 4
    Max Units: 8.0
    Selected topics of current interest.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • MUSC 798 Internship in Music

    Units: 1, 2, 3, 4
    Max Units: 4.0
    Terms Offered: FaSpSm
    Practical work experience in the student’s field of study, at an off-campus location. Students are individually supervised by faculty.
    Registration Restriction: Open only to doctoral students in music.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Credit/No Credit

  • MUSC 800 Studies for the Qualifying Examination in Music

    Units: 0
    Terms Offered: FaSpSm
    Studies for the qualifying examination.
    Duplicates Credit in the former GRSC 800
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Credit/No Credit

Screen Scoring

  • SCOR 403 Introduction to Scoring Movies and Television

    Units: 2
    Practical composition course covering the unique art, craft, and technology involved in writing and integrating music for animated and live-action visual media.
    Prerequisite: MUCO 133b 
    Recommended Preparation: Composition background, MTEC 443  or MTEC 445 
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 405 Introduction to Scoring Video Games

    Units: 2
    Practical composition course covering the unique art, craft, and technology involved in composing and integrating video-game music. 
    Prerequisite: MUCO 133b 
    Recommended Preparation: Composition background, MTEC 443  or MTEC 445 
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 445
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 490x Directed Research

    Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
    Max Units: max 12
    Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit. 
    Registration Restriction: Open only to juniors and seniors
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 499 Special Topics

    Units: 2, 3, 4
    Max Units: 8
    Selected topics of current interest.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 501 Individual Instruction

    Units: 1, 2
    Max Units: 08
    Secondary instruction for graduate music majors or instruction for graduate non-music majors.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 502 Individual Instruction in Advanced Screen Scoring

    Units: 1, 2
    Max Units: 4
    Individual instruction and review of students’ work. Selected composers, orchestrators, filmmakers, and other important industry collaborators offer their insights on scoring and career building.
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 520 and MUCO 545
    Instruction Mode: Lecture, Lab
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 503a Advanced Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television

    Units: 2
    Scoring principles involved in designing, timing, and composing scores for video projects, including documentaries, animated, and live-action projects. Will also include composing for live recording sessions. 
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 440a
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 503b Advanced Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television

    Units: 2
    Scoring principles involved in designing, timing, and composing scores for video projects, including documentaries, animated, and live-action projects. Will also include composing for live recording sessions. 
    Prerequisite: SCOR 503a 
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 440b
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 504a Orchestral Scoring

    Units: 2
    Explores the sounds of and notations for the major orchestral instruments; provides instruction on implementation of those instruments in scoring and orchestrating for the screen.
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 443a
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 504b Orchestral Scoring

    Units: 2
    Explores the sounds of and notations for the major orchestral instruments; provides instruction on implementation of those instruments in scoring and orchestrating for the screen.
    Prerequisite: SCOR 504a 
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 443b
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 505a Advanced Game Scoring and Integration

    Units: 2
    Explores more sophisticated principles and techniques involved in the unique aspects of composing and integrating music for video games.
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 540a
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 505b Advanced Game Scoring and Integration

    Units: 2
    Explores more sophisticated principles and techniques involved in the unique aspects of composing and integrating music for video games.
    Prerequisite: SCOR 505a 
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 540b
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 506 Applied Techniques in Contemporary Scoring

    Units: 2
    Explores the most recent artistic and technological innovations in film/television scoring, and includes creating cues from adapted themes.
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 522b
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 511a History of Film Scoring

    Units: 2
    Examines the evolution of movie music from 1920s to present. Includes recorded interviews with the most significant film composers and film clips of their work.
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 442a
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 511b History of Film Scoring

    Units: 2
    Examines the evolution of movie music from 1920s to present. Includes recorded interviews with the most significant film composers and film clips of their work.
    Prerequisite: SCOR 511a 
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 442b
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 512 Entrepreneurialism for the Screen Composer

    Units: 2
    Addresses challenges facing emerging screen composers, including negotiating deals; establishing a studio, production budgets, and a publishing business; tracking royalties; licensing music; and engaging representation. 
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 521a Recording, Mixing and Editing for the Screen Composer

    Units: 2
    Addresses the need for modern-day screen composers to produce and digitally record, sweeten, mix, and edit much of their own music.
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 560a
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 521b Recording, Mixing and Editing for the Screen Composer

    Units: 2
    Addresses the need for modern-day screen composers to produce and digitally record, sweeten, mix, and edit much of their own music.
    Prerequisite: SCOR 521a 
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 560b
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 523a Advanced Screen Scoring Technology

    Units: 2
    Explores sophisticated principles and applications of technologies for screen scoring, including the use of synthesizers, samplers, and sequencers.
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 523a
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 523b Advanced Screen Scoring Technology

    Units: 2
    Explores sophisticated principles and applications of technologies for screen scoring, including the use of synthesizers, samplers, and sequencers.
    Prerequisite: SCOR 523a 
    Duplicates Credit in former MUCO 523b
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 590 Directed Research

    Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
    Research leading to the Master’s Degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Credit/No Credit

  • SCOR 599 Special Topics

    Units: 2, 3, 4
    Max Units: max 8
    Selected topics of current interest.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • SCOR 790 Research

    Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
    Research leading to the doctorate. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Credit/No Credit

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