Religion is an often overlooked element in the study of hip hop culture. Offers students the opportunity to examine the variety of ways religion finds expression in the dynamic cultural medium of hip hop.

BUILDING: GRGEN | ROOM: 108

This course covers the acoustical and psychoacoustic fundamentals of audio recording including the nature of sound, sound pressure level, frequency and pitch, hearing and sound perception, reflection, absorption and diffusion of sound, sound diffraction, room acoustics, reverberation, and studio design principles. The course also provides practical experience in audio recording including an introduction to recording studio equipment, microphones and microphone placement techniques, signal flow, amplification, analog and digital recording, analog to digital conversion, digital processing of sound, multi-track recording and an introduction to mixing and mastering. Each student is required to complete a substantive recording project at the end of the course.

BUILDING: CSB | ROOM: 412

Study of Black American Christian musical beginnings, including forms of worship, early musical practices, the Spiritual, evolution of Gospel. An examination of ante-bellum musical activities follows including secular song types, character of the folk music with respect to poetic and musical form, language and themes. Attention will be given to significant literary and aesthetic developments, especially during the Harlem Renaissance and the poetry of several writers of that era will be surveyed. The course will treat Blues, its origins evolution through the 1940s. Surveys of classical music forms from the 18th to mid-20th century; music of the theater from minstrelsy to Broadway; precursors of jazz, the syncopated dance orchestra and brass bands; early jazz to bebop round out the course offerings.

BUILDING: MEL | ROOM: 221

The Rock Repertory Ensemble is devoted to performing accurate versions of songs from the rock music repertory, with selections ranging from the early 1950s to the present day. Open to guitarists, bassists, drummers, keyboard players, and singers, with consideration given to winds players depending on repertory for a given semester. Audition required.

BUILDING: STRNG | ROOM: LOWER

A look at the historical deals and innovations that have impacted the music business between 1877 to present. From ground breaking inventions to brilliant marketing initiatives to hushed back-room deals, this course will expose the key moments where the record industry changed forever, both for good and bad. ** NOTE: This is a 6 week course**

BUILDING: DEWEY | ROOM: 1305

One rehearsal per week. Two concerts per semester. In addition, there may be off-campus performances in local colleges, churches, and other venues in the greater-Rochester community. The Gospel Choir performs a varied repertoire of sacred music -- spirituals, hymns, traditional and contemporary Gospel, music of the praise-and-worship genre. (Fall and Spring) (1 credit)

BUILDING: HUTCH | ROOM: 140

The Jazz Ensemble is open by audition to all U of R community, and performing a wide variety of music. Occasional guests artists and clinicians. (Fall and Spring) (1 credit)

BUILDING: OBRN | ROOM: DANCE

A historical and critical survey of the American musical theater from roughly 1960 to the present, as reflected principally in the works of composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim and/or producer/director Harold Prince. Analysis of lyrics, musical forms and idioms, process of adaptation and production, modes of performance. Although prior completion of MUR 135A is recommended, students with a strong background in musical theater will be admitted as well. **video lab goes w/course-sign up**(Fall, alternate years)

BUILDING: DEWEY | ROOM: 1305

This course explores the history of rock music, emphasizing primarily the period between 1955-1990. Discussion and reading focusing on identifying a variety of rock-music styles within the historical context of the development, transformation, and interaction of pop styles. Issues of technological development, social, political, and cultural context, race and gender, and music-business practices will also be considered. No prerequisites for this course.

BUILDING: LATT | ROOM: 201

The science and technology of the electric guitar and related accessories such as amplifiers, and effects processors opens a window onto the fields of audio, music and electrical engineering. The course begins with students building and experimenting with electric guitars to learn about the vibration of strings, musical tuning systems, overtones and timbre, modes of oscillation, Fourier analysis, transducers and passive electrical components and circuits. In a second project, a headphone amplifier, students are introduced to the fundamental concepts of electronics, including voltage, current, resistance and impedance, basic circuit analysis, ac circuits, impedance matching, and analog signals. The course then moves on to introduce basic digital signal processing concepts through a guitar effects processor (stomp box) project; this includes conversion of sound to digital format, frequency analysis, digital filtering and signal processing and musical sound synthesis.

BUILDING: CSB | ROOM: 209

a basic understanding of sound design & creation, and working with sound for picture. The emphasis is on demonstrations and hands-on experience to enable students to gain a practical knowledge of sound and music production using computers. Topics include synthesizers & samplers; recording and editing with Pro Tools; sound effect creation; foley & automatic dialog replacement; basic soundtrack composition; and working to picture. Many techniques are explored employing software and hardware based sound creation tools throughout the course. Students will complete a major project at the conclusion of the course.

BUILDING: CSB | ROOM: 423

REQUIRED LAB FOR MUR 135B

BUILDING: DEWEY | ROOM: 1305

No description

BUILDING: HOPE | ROOM: 226

Small group playing of selections from the jazz repertoire, with an emphasis on improvisation. Admission is by permission of instructor only. (1 credit)

BUILDING: DEWEY | ROOM: B315