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2009 Graduate Level Music Classes

Special note to Four-Summer Masters students: All graduate-level music classes are applicable to the four-summer masters degree. Classes from the 100- and 200-level do not apply. For more information on this program, visit the Four-Summer Music Education Master's Degree page.

CPDU CREDITS for State of Illinois public school teachers are available for many of the summer courses. For information, including registration and prices, contact Dorothy Wyandt, 847-491-7485 or d-wyandt@northwestern.edu.

Four-Summer Masters Degree

Individuals who have a bachelor’s degree and certification to teach can complete a master of music degree in music education in four summers. If you are interested in this program, please write

Office of Music Admission and Financial Aid
Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music
Evanston, Illinois  60208-1200

Selected Topics: Music and the Interdisciplinary Arts

MUSIC_ED 345-0 Sec. 33

Instructor: Janet Barrett

• 3 weeks
• 6/22-7/10
• MTWThF 8 - 10 a.m.
• Evanston Campus

This special topics course has been designed for individuals interested in promoting arts-based interdisciplinary experiences for elementary and secondary school students.  Topics include the relationship of music to other subject areas within a comprehensive music curriculum, the design of educational experiences that relate various arts disciplines to one another (such as music, art, and literature), and establishing valid connections between the arts and disciplines outside the arts (such as history and social studies).

Paradigms and Processes in Music Education  

MUSIC_ED 423-0 sec. 26

Instructor: Janet Barrett

• 6 weeks
• 6/22-7/31
• MW, 12 noon - 2 p.m.; F 12 noon - 1 p.m.
• Evanston Campus

An introduction to the major paradigms and methods used in music education research, the principal sources of research information, and the challenges facing contemporary music education researchers and those who utilize research findings to inform teachingpractice.This course is required of all students enrolled in the four-summer master's degree program in music education.

Teaching Composition in the Schools

MUSIC_ED 368-0 SEC. 26

Instructor: Maud Hickey

• 6 weeks
• 6/22 - 7/31
• MW 10 a.m. - 12 noon; F 10 - 11 a.m.
• Evanston Campus

This course will examine practical and research literature for incorporating composition and improvisation in music classes. Applications and design of curricular materials for teaching sequences dealing with composition and improvisation will be examined for all music teaching situations - instrumental, vocal, general - and for all ages.

Philosophical Bases of Music Education

MUSIC_ED 421-0 Sec. 26

Instructor: Carlos Abril

• 6 weeks
• 6/22 - 7/30
• TW 8 - 10 a.m.; Th 8 - 9 a.m.
• Evanston Campus

Application of philosophical theory to practical issues and problems facing the field of music education.  One of the primary goals of the course is the development of a personal philosophy of music education. Topics include art and feeling, the creative process, aesthetic meaning, aesthetic experience, musical meaning, and musical experience. This course is required of all students enrolled the four summer master’s degree program in Music Education.  This course is recommended for master’s students in their  second summer.

Advanced Conducting: Orchestra

CONDUCT 340-3 Sec 26

Instructor: Robert Hasty

• 6 weeks
• 6/23 - 7/30
• TW 3 - 5 p.m.; Th 3 - 4 p.m.
• Evanston Campus

This course addresses the musical and pedagogical skills involved in conducting orchestras in secondary schools, college, community and professional orchestras.  Topics of focus will include score study and preparation, stylistic considerations, ensemble development, rehearsal skills and  conducting technique. Victor Yampolsky will be a guest clinician.

Advanced Conducting: Band

CONDUCT 340-0 Sec 26

Instructors: Mallory Thompson, Ryan Nelson, Gerard Morris

• 6 weeks
• 6/22 - 7/29
• MTW 3 - 5 p.m.
• Evanston Campus

A section of the advanced conducting sequence which emphasizes score study, repertoire selection, rehearsal techniques, and interpretive decision-making.  This class is for those with considerable musical experience.

Orchestral Bowing: Style and Function

CONDUCT 445-0 Sec 23

Instructor: James Kjelland

• 3 weeks
• 6/22 - 7/10
• MTWThF 8 - 10 a.m.
• Evanston Campus

This is a three-week course designed to meet the needs of a) the non-string player, conductor, teacher, composer, to review and upgrade knowledge and skill in orchestral playing, and b) the string player to learn bowing pedagogy, performance practice, and section leadership.  Topics include:  hands-on skill development, rehearsal techniques and protocol, style and performance practice, score preparation and analysis.

Band Repertoire Since 1990

CONDUCT 335-0 Sec 23

Instructor: Ryan Nelson

• 6 weeks
• 6/22 - 7/3; 7/27 - 7/31
• MTWThF 8- 10 am.
• Evanston Campus

This course studies the important works for wind band composed since 1990. Rather than surveying all works written in this time period, the class will focus on defining the new list of "Masterworks" for grade 2 - 6 literature. Repertoire planning and programming for all levels of band ensembles will be emphasized. This class will meet intensively for the first two weeks of summer session, allowing for three weeks of individually paced repertoire study. The course culminates in a final week of repertoire presentations and programming workshops.

Marching Band Techniques

CONDUCT 323-0 Sec 23

Instructor: Daniel Farris

• 3 weeks
• 6/22 - 7/10
• MTWThF 10 a.m. - 12 noon
• Evanston Campus

Marching band techniques is a course designed to develop skills, obtain knowledge, and study the application, techniques, styles and systems related to the total spectrum of teaching and administering marching bands.  The course will emphasize the pedagogy of developing marching band music fundamentals, stimulate creative thinking and present a specific system of conceiving, writing and teaching a marching band show.  This class will utilize computer charting software.

Rehearsal Techniques for the School Jazz Ensemble

JAZZ ST 335-0 sec. 26  

Instructor: Don Owens

• 6 weeks
• 6/23 - 7/31
• TTh 10 a.m. - 12 noon; F 11 a.m. - 12 noon
• Evanston Campus

This class is designed for the public school teacher, with or without extensive experience/expertise in the Jazz Idiom.  The class will cover warm-up strategy for the whole ensemble, including the rhythm section; score analysis as it relates to issues of performance, specifically balance, blend, intonation; teaching improvisation from the “podium”; and special class session devoted to the rhythm section emphasizing “comping” during tutti sections as well as solo sections.  The instructor will identify several jazz charts for study – swing, Latin, ballad, jazz-rock.  These charts (instrumental and/or vocal) will be the main source of study for the class.

Selected Topics: Free Improvisation

MUS_COMP 335-0 Sec 23

Instructor: Stephen Syverud

• 3 weeks
• 6/22-7/10
• MTWThF 2 - 4 p.m.
• Evanston Campus

Various methods of improvisation are discussed and attempted.  Students develop techniques in the art of improvisation.  Class sessions are a combination of listening to recorded improvisations, trying various ways of structuring improvisations, and listening/commenting on other students' improvisational attempts.  Improvisations are not "practiced", but different methods are used and explored without completing "finished" products.  All members of the class are expected to participate in performing improvisations.  During the last class period, a public concert for friends and acquaintances will occur.

MUSICOL 335-0 Sec 23

Selected Topics:  Beyond “The Golden Age”:  The Film Musical Revisited

Instructor: Jennifer Jenkins

• 3 weeks
• 6/22 - 7/10
• MTWThF 10 a.m. - 12 noon
• Evanston Campus

Whereas many courses and studies devote much of their discussion of “the musical” to the films of Hollywood’s “golden age” (which peaked in the 1930s- ‘50s with the studio system itself), this course examines what comes next.  Our main focus will be the evolution of the film musical from the 1980’s forward to the present day, including (but not limited to) a look at “dance musicals” (Footloose, Strictly Ballroom), stage musicals reborn (Chicago, Dreamgirls), the biopic musical (DeLovely, Ray, Walk the Line), the animated musical renaissance (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and  the Beast, Aladdin), and other assorted modern classics.  With the help of extended viewings of film excerpts (both in and out of class), readings from various sources devoted to the musical and to film music, and class discussion, we explore the many ways in which the contemporary film musical adds to the history of that majestic genre, expanding our very definition of what a “musical” can be and reconsidering the role of audience expectations in shaping what we see – and hear- on screen.  Masters’ students will be encouraged to relate this study to their teaching settings in elementary or secondary schools.

Computers, Technology, and the Music Experience

MUSIC_TECH 434-0 Sec 26

Instructor: Peter Webster

• 3 weeks
• 7/13 - 7/31
• MTWThF – 10 a.m. - 12 noon
• Evanston Campus, Library Mac/PC classroom

This is a course intended for masters students in Music Education.  This course will explore the new developments in music technology while reviewing current software packages appropriate for school and personal use. Class members will write simple compositions, print music notation, work with digital audio, and learn about useful non-music programs. The accent will be on creative thinking in music and using technology as an aid to teaching. This course is required of all students enrolled in the four-summer master's degree program in music education.  Note:  this summer's course will be a combination of in-lab and distance learning.  Portions of the work will be accomplished independently and with online resources and students will not meet as a class.  Each week the course will meet at least once as a class but some weeks will be heavily weighted toward distance learning.  All students are strongly urged to have their own personal computers with video camera capabilities for distance work.

Selected Topics:  Music Theory Review

MUSIC THRY 335-0 Sec. 26

Instructor: Susan Piagentini

• 6 weeks
• 6/22 - 7/31
• TTh 12 noon - 2 p.m.; F 1 - 2 p.m.
• Evanston Campus

A review of the fundamentals of music theory, with an emphasis on harmony, form and expression in tonal music.  Selected literature will include piano, chamber, orchestral, band, and choral works, some of which will be selected from the summer ensemble concert repertoire.  We will also discuss the relevance of analysis to the field of performance and education, including the AP Music Theory curriculum.

Vocal Pedagogy for the Choral Conductor

VOICE 425 Sec. 23           

Instructor: Karen Brunssen

• 3 weeks
• 7/13 - 7/31
• MTWThF 2 - 4 p.m.
• Evanston Campus

Students will learn a basic and useable knowledge of the vocal apparatus and to apply it, both one-on-one and in group situations. Instruction will include reading, lecture, videos, demonstration, class participation as vocal models, singing exercises, vocal literature, and discussion. Students will walk away with techniques they can use quickly in rehearsals  as well as exercises and concepts for specific purposes, as well as a sequential order for developing the voice and a better diagnostic ear.

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