USC Thornton School of Music

• Undergraduate Degrees
• Graduate Degrees
• Programs
• Courses of Instruction  

Elisabeth Zosseder (MM ‘17) rehearses with the USC Thornton Symphony at Bovard Auditorium. Photo by Lawrence K. Ho/USC.

Since its founding in 1884, the USC Thornton School of Music has become the center of higher education in music in the western United States and is among the top schools of music in the nation. Situated in the heart of the vital musical life of Los Angeles, USC Thornton brings together a distinguished faculty and gifted students from around the world. It is in this wonderfully diverse cultural milieu that students are offered instruction in virtually all professional and scholarly branches of music, including instrumental and vocal performance, jazz, popular music performance, music production, early music, composition, screen scoring, music industry, musicology, music teaching and learning, arts leadership, pedagogy, choral and sacred music, conducting and opera. In addition to its major programs, USC Thornton also offers a wide array of music minors and general interest courses for students majoring in other disciplines.

The USC Thornton Symphony, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Opera, Wind Ensemble, Popular Music Ensembles, Songwriter Showcases, Jazz Orchestra, Contemporary Music Ensemble, Early Music Ensemble and a wide variety of large and small choral and instrumental ensembles offer students a broad performing experience. More than 500 formal and informal concerts and recitals are presented on campus each year and the school regularly presents eminent visiting artists and scholars in master classes, workshops, lectures, seminars and in performance.

Los Angeles is the home of numerous musical organizations whose performances contribute immeasurably to the cultural life of the region, and is also the home of the nation’s major recording, radio, film and television industries. All offer abundant opportunities to the serious young music professional.

Music Student Affairs

The Music Complex 200
(213) 740-4721
FAX: (213) 740-5950
Email: studentaffairs@usc.edu
Assistant Dean: Phillip Placenti

Music Admission

The Music Complex 200
(213) 740-8986
FAX: (213) 740-8995
Email: uscmusic@usc.edu
Assistant Dean: Phillip Placenti

Arts Leadership

Music Faculty Building 402
(213) 740-1895
Director: Kenneth Foster

Choral Music

Music Faculty Building 416
(213) 821-5756
Chair: Jo-Michael Scheibe

Classical Guitar

Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7702
Chair: Brian Head

Composition

Music Faculty Building 308
(213) 740-7416
Chair: Donald Crockett

Conducting

Music Faculty Building 308
(213) 740-7416
Chair: Larry Livingston

Jazz Studies

The Music Complex 118
(213) 740-3119
Chair: Bob Mintzer

Keyboard Collaborative Arts

Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7703
Director: Alan Smith

Keyboard Studies

Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7703
Chair: Alan Smith

Musicology

Music Faculty Building 308
(213) 740-7416
Chair: Joanna Demers

Music Teaching and Learning

Music Faculty Building 402
(213) 740-6935
Chair: Susan Helfter

Music Industry

The Music Complex 118
(213) 740-3224
Email: contemporary.music@usc.edu
Chair: Paul Young

Music Technology

The Music Complex 118
(213) 740-3224
Chair: Richard Schmunk

Organ

Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7703
Director: Ladd Thomas

Popular Music Performance

The Music Complex 118
(213) 740-3244
Chair: Patrice Rushen

Screen Scoring

The Music Complex 118
(213) 821-4192
Email: contemporary.music@usc.edu
Director: Daniel Carlin

Strings

Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7702
Chair: Ralph Kirshbaum

Studio Guitar

The Music Complex 118
(213) 740-3224
Chair: Frank Potenza

Vocal Arts

Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7704
Chair: Lisa Sylvester

Winds and Percussion

Music Faculty Building 308
(213) 740-7416
Chair: Kristy Morrell

All departments may be reached by writing to:

USC Thornton School of Music
Music Faculty Building
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0851
FAX: (213) 740-3217
email: uscmusic@usc.edu
music.usc.edu

Administration

Robert A. Cutietta, DEd, Dean

Lucinda Carver, DMA, Vice Dean, Division of Classical Performance Studies

Peter Webster, PhD, Vice Dean, Division of Scholarly and Professional Studies

Jeffrey de Caen, MBA, Associate Dean for Operations

Susan Miltner Lopez, MBA, Associate Dean for Administration and Finance

Donald Crockett, PhD, Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs

A. Phoenix Delgado, DMA, Assistant Dean for Advancement

Brian Head, MM, Assistant Dean for Academic Programs

Phillip Placenti, EdD, Assistant Dean for Admission and Student Affairs

Faculty

Robert Mann Chair in Strings and Chamber Music: Glenn Dicterow, BA

Bowen H. “Buzz” McCoy and Barbara M. McCoy Endowed Chair in Jazz at the Flora L. Thornton School of Music, Honoring President Steven B. Sample, 10th President of the University of Southern California: Bob Mintzer, BA*

Gregor Piatigorsky Chair in Violoncello: Ralph Kirshbaum, BA

H. Robert Reynolds Chair in Wind Conducting: H. Robert Reynolds, MM

Judge Widney Professor of Music: Midori Goto, MA*

Judge Widney Professor of Poetry and Public Culture: Dana Gioia, MA, MBA

Distinguished Professor of Composition: Morten Lauridsen, DMA*

Professors: Arthur C. Bartner, EdD*; Bruce Brown, PhD*; Ken Cazan, BFA*; Terry Cravens, DMA*; Donald Crockett, PhD*; Robert A. Cutietta, DEd; Joanna Demers, PhD; Kevin Fitz-Gerald, Art. Dipl; Stewart Gordon, DMA*; Jeffrey Kahane, MA; Larry Livingston, MM; Ronald McCurdy, PhD; Richard McIlvery, MM; Tim Page, BA; Alan Pasqua, BM*; Daniel Pollack, MS*; Frank Potenza, MM*; Jo-Michael Scheibe, DMA; Alan Smith, DMA*; Richard Smith, MM; John Thomas, MM; Frank Ticheli, DMA*

Associate Professors: Yehuda Gilad, Dipl*; Adam Gilbert, PhD; Rod Gilfry, MM; Cristian Grases, DMA; Elizabeth Hynes, BM; David Moore, BM; Robert Moore, PhD

Assistant Professors: Ted Hearne, MM; Beatriz Ilari, PhD; Andrew Norman, Art Dipl; Nate Sloan, PhD; Lisa Vest, PhD

Professors of Practice: Daniel Carlin, MM; Lucinda Carver, DMA*; Peter Erskine; Kenneth Foster, MA; Nick Strimple, DMA; Joel Timm, DMA; James Walker, BME

Associate Professors of Practice: Bernadene Blaha, MM; Karen Dreyfus, BM; Rotem Gilbert, DMA*; Mark Goldstein, JD; Brian Head, MM*; Lynn Helding, MM; Susan Helfter, DMA*; William Kanengiser, MM*; Veronika Krausas, DMA; Sharon Lavery, MM; Brent McMunn, MM; Kristy Morrell, DMA*; Antoinette Perry, MM; Christopher Sampson, MM; Richard Schmunk, DMA; Nick Stoubis, MM; Lisa Sylvester, DMA; Scott Tennant, MM

Assistant Professors of Practice: Jeffrey Allen, BA; Thomas Allen, MM; Lina Bahn, DM; Russell Ferrante, Dipl; Sean Friar, PhD; Andrew Garver, BS*; Jason Goldman, MM; Sean Holt, MA; Judy Lewis, EDD; Sean Nye, PhD; Jonathan Patterson, DMA; Stephen Pierce, DMA; Patrice Rushen; Michael Smith, BA; Mark Weiser, MM; Paul Young, DMA

Lecturers and Senior Lecturers (Full-time): David Arnay, MM; William Biersach, BA; Charles Gutierrez, AA; Christopher Roze, DMA; Aaron Serfaty, BFA; Stephen Trovato, BS

Adjunct Professors: Jeff Brabec; Todd Brabec; Bruce Broughton; Martin Chalifour; Suzi Digby; Vincent Mendoza; Norman Pearson; H. Robert Reynolds; Cherry Rhodes; Pepe Romero; Carl St. Clair; James Self; Jo Ann Turovsky; Allan Vogel; Peter Webster; Richard Wolf; Michele Zukovsky

Adjunct Associate Professors: Margaret Batjer; Che-Yen Chen; Judith Farmer; David Howard; Andrew Shulman; Tram Sparks; Bing Wang

Adjunct Assistant Professors: James Babor; Jon Burlingame; Neal Desby; Susan Feldman; Bruce Forman; Parmer Fuller; Adam Kofler; Jennifer Marotta; Leah Morrison; Darek Oleszkiewicz; Joseph Pereira; Robert Sheppard; Andrea Stolpe; Robert Young

Adjunct Instructors: Andy Abad; Helane Anderson; Robert Anderson; Pete Anthony; Adriana Balic; Steve Becknell; Snehal Desai; Sean Dougall; Sara Gazarek; Kathleen Grace; Jeremy Gruber; Ben Hong; Alphonso Johnson; Michael Kaminsky; Jennifer Kampani; Laura Karpman; Patrick Kirst; Tim Kobza; Marion Kuszyk; Edwin Livingston; Jackelyn Lopez; Andrew Martin; Mary Mattei; Jessica Maxfield; Roy McCurdy; Shawn Mouser; Sung-Hwa Park; David Poe; John Schmidt; Garry Schyman; Lawrence Shragge; William Skeen; Douglas Tornquist; Vivian Wang; Lindsay Wolfington

Lecturers (Part-time): Jongnic Bontemps; Lot Demeyer; Charles Koster; Troy Quinn; Scott Spencer; Michael Stever; Jason Yoshida

Emeritus Professors: William Dehning, DMA*; Gary Glaze, MM*; James Hopkins, PhD*; Arend Koole, DLitt et Phil; Frederick Lesemann, DMA*; Thom Mason, DMA; Donald McInnes, MM; Cynthia Munzer, BM; William A. Schaefer, MA; Margaret Schaper, MM*; Alice Schoenfeld*; Bryan Simms, PhD*; Ladd Thomas, DMA; William Thomson, PhD; James Vail, DMA*

Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Composition: Stephen Hartke, PhD*

*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.

Degree Programs

The Thornton School of Music offers professional and academic degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. These degrees are summarized below.

Bachelor of Music: Students working toward this professional degree have a wide choice of specializations: composition, music industry, instrumental performance, jazz studies, popular music performance, music production and vocal arts. Students can take either a single major program or double majors in several combinations such as piano and composition, string, or percussion instrument. The two majors must be offered by different departments but lead to the same degree (for example, Bachelor of Music). Double majors consisting of two majors in the same department are not permitted. The degree is granted by the Thornton School of Music.

Bachelor of Arts: These degrees are designed for students with a strong music background who wish to combine professional music training with substantial study in other disciplines.

Bachelor of Science: Offered by the Thornton School of Music in the specialized area of music industry.

Minors in Music: Eight different minors in music are offered, each approaching the discipline from a unique perspective and with a distinct curriculum: Jazz Studies, Musical Studies (Performance), Musical Theatre, Music Industry, Music Production, Music Recording, Popular Music Studies and Songwriting.

Master of Music: This is a professional degree that represents proficiency in one area of musical practice and relevant knowledge in musical literature, performance and technique. It requires a minimum of 30 graduate units, of which 15 must be at the 500 level or higher. Students complete either a thesis or recital(s) as part of the degree requirements. The degree can be earned in choral music, composition, conducting, jazz studies, keyboard collaborative arts, guitar, organ, piano, voice or instrumental performance, or sacred music. The degree is granted by the Thornton School of Music.

Master of Arts: This degree, offered through the Graduate School in conjunction with the Thornton School of Music, stresses music history or early music performance, with emphasis on scholarly research.

Master of Science: Two degrees are offered in Arts Leadership and Music Industry.

Doctor of Musical Arts: This is a professional degree that represents the highest level of expertise in a major field of musical practice and competence in several additional areas. Students may specialize in choral music, composition, jazz studies, vocal or instrumental performance, or sacred music.

Doctor of Philosophy: Conferred by the Graduate School, this is an academic degree in the field of historical musicology. A substantial background in music, research and languages is required.

Entrance to the Degree Programs

Admission to a degree program is granted through USC’s admission process, described in the Admission section of this catalogue. Supplementary materials are also required for students seeking admission to the Thornton School of Music, which are described online at music.usc.edu.

Applicants to a program within the school are screened by appropriate faculty selection committees that hold auditions, interviews and examine supporting materials. Letters of acceptance are issued by the USC Office of Admission.

Audition

A performance audition is required of applicants to most degree and certificate programs in the Thornton School of Music. Detailed information regarding audition requirements for specific Thornton programs is available online at music.usc.edu.

Graduate Record Examinations

Scores from the general test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are required for application and admission to the Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy and certain Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. (The music subject test is not required.) Test scores on the GRE that are more than five years old at the time of application are not accepted.

Placement Tests

Undergraduate transfer students who have had formal study in any of the following areas must take the appropriate placement examination prior to their first registration: aural skills, theory, music history, conducting, analysis, orchestration and performance. The results of these examinations determine placement in appropriate sequential courses.

Admission to Graduate Standing

All students entering a graduate-level degree program (MA, MM, DMA, PhD) at USC Thornton, who have not previously completed a degree at USC Thornton, must take a series of entrance exams in core music subjects. These exams are called Music Graduate Entrance Exams (MGEEs). Information regarding which exams are required for specific majors is available from the Thornton Student Affairs office.

MGEEs are administered during the week prior to the first week of classes each fall and spring semester. Entering students must take all required exams at the scheduled exam time prior to the beginning of their first semester in the program. If any given exam is not passed on the first attempt, that exam can be retaken at the scheduled exam time prior to the beginning of the second semester in the program. If the exam is not passed on the second attempt, the corresponding review course must be successfully completed with a grade of B minus or better before the beginning of the third semester in the program. No MGEE can be attempted after the second semester in the program, regardless of whether the exam has previously been attempted. If students complete any MGEE after their second semester in the program, the score earned on said exam will be invalid. Failure to fulfill all MGEE requirements by the beginning of the third semester – either through exams or review courses – may delay permission to fulfill degree requirements such as recitals, comprehensive or qualifying examinations, thesis projects, and dissertations, and may also have a negative impact on financial aid eligibility.

If a student is not able to take an exam at the scheduled exam time, the exam administrator may choose to administer a similar exam at another scheduled time during the first week of the semester. This alternate exam time will be arranged in rare cases and at the sole discretion of the exam administrator.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

The Thornton School of Music adheres to the USC Admission policies regarding TOEFL and IELTS scores. With some exceptions, international applicants from non-English-speaking countries are required to submit these scores by the application deadline. Test scores that are more than two years old at the time of application are not accepted. For any applicant whose first language is not English, regardless of educational background or immigration status, the Thornton School may require as a condition of admission that she or he take the International Student English (ISE) exam, administered by the USC American Language Institute, as well as complete any English language course work that may be prescribed from the results of that exam.

Advanced Standing Credit for Music Courses Taken at Accredited Institutions

Music courses completed with satisfactory grades at a regionally accredited institution of higher education may be acceptable for transfer. A review of transcripts and course syllabi will be required in order to determine transferability of course work. The Thornton School may also require a student to take a placement test (at no cost) to determine the extent of his or her knowledge in a given area of musical study before a final determination is made regarding transferability of course work.

Advanced Standing Credit for Music Courses Not Taken at Accredited Institutions

Music courses completed at an institution that is not regionally accredited will generally not be transferable. In exceptional cases, the Thornton School may consider petitions for transfer credit for these courses. The petition review process will include evaluation of transcripts with letter grades, course syllabi for each course for which transfer credit is being requested, and examples of work completed for a grade in those courses. Additional information may also be required in order for the Thornton School to complete a full transfer credit evaluation.

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum requirements for each major are listed under each degree. The USC course classification and numbering system is explained in the Registration  section of this catalogue. In addition, music courses sometimes carry the following abbreviations: CD = Conducting; CG = Classical Guitar; HC = Harpsichord; OR = Organ; P = Piano; SG = Studio Guitar; VA = Viola; VC = Voice Coaching; VO = Voice.

Change of Curriculum

To change from one curriculum to another, a student must apply and be approved for the new curriculum by the appropriate department chair and declare the intent to change curriculum through his or her academic adviser in the Thornton School.

Non-Degree Programs

Students who have highly specialized interests that may not be met through degree programs may apply for admission to one of the following non-degree programs.

Artist Diploma Program

This program is designed for young artists of exceptional ability and musical sensitivity who plan careers as solo performers. The Artist Diploma Program provides young artists the opportunity to devote their full time to concentrated study and practice for the duration of their assigned programs. This program typically requires two to three consecutive years of study for completion.

Graduate Certificate in Arts Leadership

The graduate program in arts leadership is a two-semester certificate program for artists, arts administrators and cultural workers of all types to develop the skills necessary to become successful leaders in the arts and arts organizations in a rapidly changing and radically altered contemporary world.

Graduate Certificate Program in Performance

This two-year graduate-level program is designed for students who have completed their undergraduate education in music, or its equivalent, and intend to concentrate their energies on the full-time development of their discipline.

Honor Society

Pi Kappa Lambda

Pi Kappa Lambda is a national honor society established in 1918 for the promotion and recognition of scholarship and performance in music. Students of the Thornton School of Music are eligible for election to Eta chapter at the University of Southern California, established in 1923, according to guidelines established by the board of the Eta chapter.

Undergraduate Degrees

Minors in Music

Minor in Performing Arts Studies

The minor in performing arts provides an interdisciplinary inquiry into the nature and aesthetics of the performing arts. It combines the disciplines of cinematic arts, dance, music and theatre. The minor is a unique course of study that looks at how the performing arts contribute to a culturally literate society. See the USC School of Dramatic Arts  section of this catalogue.

Graduate Degrees

Admission-Audition Requirements

Applicants to graduate programs in the Thornton School of Music must fulfill all music admission requirements described at usc.edu/music, in addition to fulfilling all USC graduate admission requirements. See Thornton School of Music Degree Programs and Entrance to the Degree Programs sections of this catalogue for further information.

Programs

• Choral Music (BA)
• Composition (BM)
• Jazz Studies (BM)
• Music (BA)
• Music Industry (BM)
• Music Industry (BS)
• Music Production (BM)
• Performance (Classical Guitar) (BM)
• Performance (Flute), (Oboe), (Clarinet), (Bassoon), (Saxophone), (French Horn), (Trumpet), (Trombone), (Tuba) or (Percussion) (BM)
• Performance (Organ) (BM)
• Performance (Piano) (BM)
• Performance (Popular Music) (BM)
• Performance (Studio Guitar) (BM)
• Performance (Violin), (Viola), (Violoncello), (Double Bass) or (Harp) (BM)
• Performance (Vocal Arts) (BM)

• Jazz Studies Minor
• Music Industry Minor
• Music Production Minor
• Music Recording Minor
• Musical Studies Minor
• Musical Theatre Minor
• Popular Music Studies Minor
• Songwriting Minor

• Artist Diploma Program

• Arts Leadership (MS)
• Choral Music (MM)
• Community Music (MM)
• Composition (MM)
• Conducting (MM)
• Contemporary Teaching Practice (MM)
• Early Music Performance Emphasis (MA)
• Jazz Studies (MM)
• Music History and Literature Emphasis (MA)
• Music Industry (MS)
• Performance (Classical Guitar) (MM)
• Performance (Flute), (Oboe), (Clarinet), (Bassoon), (Saxophone), (French Horn), (Trumpet), (Trombone), (Tuba) or (Percussion) (MM)
• Performance (Keyboard Collaborative Arts) (MM)
• Performance (Organ) (MM)
• Performance (Piano) (MM)
• Performance (Studio Guitar) (MM)
• Performance (Violin), (Viola), (Violoncello), (Double Bass) or (Harp) (MM)
• Performance (Vocal Arts) (MM)
• Sacred Music (MM)
• Screen Scoring (MM)
• Teaching and Learning (MM)

• Arts Leadership Graduate Certificate
• Performance Graduate Certificate

• Choral Music (DMA)
• Composition (DMA)
• Jazz Studies (DMA)
• Music, Historical Musicology Emphasis, (PhD)
• Performance - Organ, Percussion, Strings, Vocal Arts, or Winds (DMA)
• Performance — Classical Guitar (DMA)
• Performance — Early Music (DMA)
• Performance — Keyboard Collaborative Arts (DMA)
• Performance — Piano (DMA)
• Performance — Studio Guitar (DMA)
• Sacred Music (DMA)
• Teaching and Learning (DMA)

Courses

• MUSC 320gmw Hip-hop Music and Culture
• MUSC 355 Songwriting II
• MUSC 371g Musical Genre Bending
• MUSC 372g Music, Turmoil and Nationalism
• MUSC 373g Writing About Popular Music
• MUSC 422 The Beatles: Their Music and Their Times
• MUSC 423 Classic Rock: Popular Music of the Sixties and Seventies
• MUSC 424 Iconic Figures of Popular Music
• MUSC 430m Music and the Holocaust
• MUSC 444 American Roots Music: History and Culture
• MUSC 455 Songwriting III: The Performing Songwriter
• MUSC 460 Film Music: History and Function from 1930 to the Present
• MUSC 465 Music, Television and American Culture
• MUSC 470 Contemporary Popular Music: A Global Perspective
• MUSC 475 Musician’s Health and Wellness
• MUSC 496 Careers in Music
• MUSC 498x Internship in Music
• MUSC 499 Special Topics
• MUSC 598 Internship in Music
• MUSC 599 Special Topics
• MUSC 798 Internship in Music
• MUSC 800 Studies for the Qualifying Examination in Music

• SCOR 403 Introduction to Scoring Movies and Television
• SCOR 405 Introduction to Scoring Video Games
• SCOR 490x Directed Research
• SCOR 499 Special Topics
• SCOR 501 Individual Instruction
• SCOR 502 Individual Instruction in Advanced Screen Scoring
• SCOR 503a Advanced Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television
• SCOR 503b Advanced Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television
• SCOR 504a Orchestral Scoring
• SCOR 504b Orchestral Scoring
• SCOR 505a Advanced Game Scoring and Integration
• SCOR 505b Advanced Game Scoring and Integration
• SCOR 506 Applied Techniques in Contemporary Scoring
• SCOR 511a History of Film Scoring
• SCOR 511b History of Film Scoring
• SCOR 512 Entrepreneurialism for the Screen Composer
• SCOR 521a Recording, Mixing and Editing for the Screen Composer
• SCOR 521b Recording, Mixing and Editing for the Screen Composer
• SCOR 523a Advanced Screen Scoring Technology
• SCOR 523b Advanced Screen Scoring Technology
• SCOR 590 Directed Research
• SCOR 599 Special Topics
• SCOR 790 Research