Courses
Melodic Variation Techniques in American String Traditions
Historical listening and performance class covering the tributaries of Bill Monroe's music (old-time country music, blues, and swing) and tracing the development of the styles from 1945 to the
Traditional Microtonal Theory and Application
This course will introduce students to the theory of musical cultures in the eastern Mediterranean basin and North Africa.
Bluegrass Traditions and Contemporary Trends
Historical listening and performance class covering the tributaries of Bill Monroe's music (old time country music, blues, and swing) and tracing the development of the styles from 1945 to the
Survey of American Roots Music Styles
This course will survey and analyze a number of styles that form the bedrock of American popular music. These styles include blues, gospel, folk, country, Cajun, tejano, and Native American.
Survey of Contemporary String Styles
An overview of the history of contemporary string playing, with special emphasis on the work of major innovators: Joe Venuti, Stephane Grappelli, Jean-Luc Ponty, and others.
String Class for Music Education Majors
Functional study of string instruments. Technical fundamentals of class instruction in music education. Use of representative elementary/secondary school methods and materials.
Recording Techniques for String Players
This is an interdivisional course that offers students in the String Department, Professional Writing Division, and Music Production and Engineering Department insight into how to operate most effi
Sound Reinforcement Techniques for Strings
This course provides an understanding of the technology available for effective performances in nonacoustic situations.
Jazz Violin Lab
Advanced improvisational concepts and their application in strings. Reading charts with jazz phrasing, higher-level bowing, and left-hand development. Instrumentation: violin, viola.
String Reading Lab
This class will teach string players how to be fluent and expressive readers of standard music notation.
Contemporary Styles String Quartet
This ensemble offers study and performance of string quartets in a variety of contemporary styles.
Classical Improvisation
Classically trained students will use their classical skills to improvise in the classical vernacular.
Improvisational String Ensemble
An ensemble consisting of a string quartet plus rhythm section. Emphasis will be on ensemble playing skills and improvisational vocabulary in diverse contemporary idioms.
Rock Strings Ensemble
This ensemble offers string players the opportunity to study and play past and current rock violin styles, including the music of Jerry Goodman, Sugar Cane Harris, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Boyd Tinsley.
Global String Ensemble
This ensemble will examine the way string instruments and improvisation are used in a variety of musical cultures including Greek, Bulgarian, Hungarian, klezmer, Romanian, and Charanga.
Old Time Fiddle Ensemble
This ensemble explores ways to incorporate regional fiddle styles (including Appalachian/old-time, Celtic, Scandinavian, and related traditions) into varied small string ensemble formats, using ext
Contemporary Arranging and Performing For Strings
Strings playing covers of non-string based popular music. Students pick the repertoire and write the arrangements.
Classical String Chamber Music Ensemble
Study and performance of string quartets and trios from the repertoire of the baroque period through the 21st century.
Rhythmic Explorations for Strings
This ensemble will explore grooves, rhythms, and textures for string group using traditional, international, jazz, and other modern material, some of which will be improvised, some written.
Wayfaring Strangers Ensemble
This ensemble uses traditional folk, country, and blues repertoire as a means to develop higher level improvisational, compositional, and arranging skills in a band setting.