Mus108 Introduction to Conducting 3 hours

Provides the beginning conductor with practical procedures and materials to conduct in all meters. Provides conducting experiences in class and with college choral groups. Emphasizes effective conducting and rehearsal techniques. Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: MUS 105 or 200 or consent of instructor.

Mus111 Bel Canto Singers 1 hour

A select choir of 20 to 22 voices performs music appropriate for a chamber ensemble. Members are required to take two semesters of private voice. Bel Canto Singers perform off campus at least two extended weekends per year. On alternate years, a two-week tour is taken following spring semester. Singers are required to purchase performance attire. Credit optional. Course is repeatable three times for a maximum of four credit hours.

Mus117 Class Piano 1 hour

Introduces music reading skills and finger coordination, reading and playing simple compositions, understanding musical elements. (For those having less than one year previous study.)

Mus122 Global Voices 1 hour

An auditioned choir that performs music from a broad range of choral literature, with an emphasis on music of cultures from around the world. Members are encouraged to take private voice or piano. Singers are required to purchase performance attire. Credit optional. Course is repeatable three times for a maximum of four credit hours.

Mus135 Chamber Orchestra 1 hour

An ensemble for students who have a background in playing string, woodwind, brass or percussion instruments. Performs off campus by invitation and holds public performances on campus each semester. Musical literature is chosen from the canon of string orchestra and chamber orchestra repertoire. Credit optional. Course is repeatable three times for a maximum of four credit hours.

Mus137 Class Guitar 1 hour

Introduces folk guitar. Develops knowledge and skill of basic guitar chording, strumming patterns, finger picking, music reading and playing while singing. Music is chosen in consultation with the instructor. Students provide their own guitars.

Mus151 Private Woodwinds 1 to 2 hours

Private lessons in woodwinds by individual appointment with the instructor. Extra fee. These courses are repeatable up to eight times for a maximum of 10 credit hours.

Mus153 Private Brass 1 to 2 hours

Private lessons in brass by individual appointment with the instructor. Extra fee. These courses are repeatable up to eight times for a maximum of 10 credit hours.

Mus155 Private Percussion 1 to 2 hours

Private lessons in percussion by individual appointment with the instructor. Extra fee. These courses are repeatable up to eight times for a maximum of 10 credit hours.

Mus157 Private Strings 1 to 2 hours

Private lessons in strings by individual appointment with the instructor. Extra fee. These courses are repeatable up to eight times for a maximum of 10 credit hours.

Mus161 Private Voice 1 to 2 hours

One-to-one vocal instruction that includes technical exercises to develop musical skills and physical coordination for singing. Vocal literature chosen according to the personal, vocal and musical needs of the student. Extra fee.

Mus171 Private Piano 1 to 2 hours

Private lessons in piano by individual appointment with the instructor. Extra fee. These courses are repeatable up to eight times for a maximum of 10 credit hours.

Mus181 Private Organ 1 to 2 hours

Private lessons in organ by individual appointment with the instructor. Extra fee. These courses are repeatable up to eight times for a maximum of 10 credit hours.

Mus191 Private Guitar 1 to 2 hours

Private lessons in guitar by individual appointment with the instructor. Extra fee. These courses are repeatable up to eight times for a maximum of 10 credit hours.

Mus200/201 Music Theory I/ II 3+3 hours

Studies music reading, dictation, composition, counterpoint, form, traditional and twentieth-century harmony and keyboard harmony. Prerequisite for MUS 200: MUS 105 or consent of instructor. Prerequisite for MUS 201: MUS 200.

Mus203 Music Appreciation 3 hours

Introduces all musical styles of Western music through listening, analysis and a study of the various periods and styles of music history including Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic and Contemporary. Designed to give students a working knowledge of the constituent elements of music so that they can actively and carefully listen to a wide variety of music. A Knowledge general education course.

Mus204/205 Aural Skills I/II 1+1 hours

Advances musical skills related to sight reading and aural skills. Aural Skills I develops skills around the fundamentals of solfege, interval training, triad identification, rhythm dictation and tonality. Aural Skills II develops skills around advanced interval training, seventh chord tonalities, melodic and rhythmic dictation, sight reading with solfege and simple improvisations of accompaniment. Both courses require instructor approval based on background in reading and performing.

Mus231 Sophomore Fine Arts Portfolio 1 hour

Offered to students who are taking two hours of studio credit in their major area of study and perform a sophomore recital. It is the culmination of four semesters of applied study and serves as an important benchmark for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music. This course guides the student through all aspects of staging a recital including goal setting, repertoire selection, program note construction and marketing. Additionally, students will carry out integrative work, identifying connections between their artistic development (especially recital content) and other disciplines they have engaged at Hesston College. Students will reflect on the finished product and identify future goals. Sophomore standing and approval by the fine arts faculty is required.

Mus240 Chorale: International Tour 1 hour

The chorale performs concerts in conjunction with the three-week European History and Fine Arts tour. The choir prepares a wide range or choral literature in preparation for the tour with an emphasis on European a cappella music from the Renaissance to the 20th Century and music by American composers. The choir gives approximately ten concerts during the tour in a variety of churches ranging from historic buildings to modern halls. Open only to members of Hesston College vocal ensembles also enrolled in Hum 240. Offered alternate summers. Credit optional.