An introduction to point-set topology with emphasis on Euclidean spaces and applications to analysis. Topics include connectedness, compactness, countability conditions, separation properties, metric spaces, continuity, homeomorphisms, and product spaces.
A treatment of probability and a logical development of the framework of mathematical statistics. Topics include random variables, distribution functions, sampling, and statistical inference.
This course addresses the techniques and theory of partial differential equations. Many physical and biological applications and models are explored, including the heat equation, the wave equation, and LaPlace's equation. Significant attention is given to both theory and applications.
Music
Today’s music—pop, EDM, hip-hop, K-Pop, movie music, etc.—shares many characteristics of older styles, including blues, jazz, rock, R&B, country, piano, and orchestral scores. In this class the student learns to listen perceptively to older idioms and to apply those skills to more recent music. The ear comes to recognize musical concepts such as meter, mode (major, minor), musical form ("what's a bridge?"), texture, and more recent recording techniques such as looping, sampling, and Auto-Tune.
Today’s music—pop, EDM, hip-hop, K-Pop, movie music, etc.—shares many characteristics of older styles, including blues, jazz, rock, R&B, country, piano, and orchestral scores. In this class the student learns to listen perceptively to older idioms and to apply those skills to more recent music. The ear comes to recognize musical concepts such as meter, mode (major, minor), musical form ("what's a bridge?"), texture, and more recent recording techniques such as looping, sampling, and Auto-Tune.
An introduction to the great music of Western civilization from the Middle Ages to the present. The course begins with a discussion of the elements of music and proceeds with a chronological overview of music history. Musical masterworks from all style periods are studied. May not be taken for credit by students who have taken MUSC 211.
An introduction to the great music of Western civilization from the Middle Ages to the present. The course begins with a discussion of the elements of music and proceeds with a chronological overview of music history. Musical masterworks from all style periods are studied. May not be taken for credit by students who have taken MUSC 211.
Students learn to play the piano, read music notation, and compose songs. No prior musical experience is necessary. Musicality is developed by integrating theory and analysis, aural skills, performance, and composition. Through this integration of skills and knowledge, the course fosters a comprehensive understanding of music relevant to our current musical and cultural landscape. The 4th hour addresses ear training and practical musicianship.
Students learn to play the piano, read music notation, and compose songs. No prior musical experience is necessary. Musicality is developed by integrating theory and analysis, aural skills, performance, and composition. Through this integration of skills and knowledge, the course fosters a comprehensive understanding of music relevant to our current musical and cultural landscape. The 4th hour addresses ear training and practical musicianship.
Students learn to play the piano, read music notation, and compose songs. No prior musical experience is necessary. Musicality is developed by integrating theory and analysis, aural skills, performance, and composition. Through this integration of skills and knowledge, the course fosters a comprehensive understanding of music relevant to our current musical and cultural landscape. The 4th hour addresses ear training and practical musicianship.
This course covers the fundamentals of electronic music and studio recording. Using Reason software, students learn about MIDI, sound synthesis, sampling, drum machines, loop players and sound processing. The second half of the semester focuses on Pro Tools, a digital recording program. Students learn recording techniques, sound editing, use of plug-in MIDI instruments, and how to produce recordings of their own music.
The "roots" music of the Southeastern United States has been one of the region's chief exports. Musicians wander back roads, crowd front porches and church pews, and sometimes make their way to music centers like Nashville, New Orleans, and Memphis. This course focuses on musicians in the Southern tradition and addresses diverse idioms, especially the blues (folk, country, electric) and Sacred Harp singing. Students become knowledgeable in interpreting lyrics and in deploying terminology for music analysis, including mode, meter, harmony, and form (e.g., 12-bar blues).
This is the final course in the theory and musicianship sequence. Students continue to hone the skills introduced in the previous semesters, while progressing onto more advanced concepts. The new topics covered in this course include modulation, chromatic harmony, tonal extensions, modality, jazz theory, hip-hop studies, and post-tonality. As in MUSC 160 and 260, musicality is developed by integrating theory and analysis, aural skills, historical contextualization, performance, and composition. Through this integration of skills and knowledge, the course fosters a comprehensive understanding of music relevant to our current musical and cultural landscape.
An introduction to musicology that features scholarly assessments and case studies drawn from the whole length of European and American music history, including the "phonograph effect." Students take responsibility for several kinds of in-class discussions, developing leadership skills. The course also helps students prepare the listening and other components of the music comprehensive exam. The course assumes substantial previous contact with music history on the part of the student.
Through the lens of media composition, students develop their musical imagination for the moving image. Applying material learned in MUSC 160, 260, and 214, students score music for advertisements, movie and game trailers, and short films. Basic knowledge of Logic Pro X and some music notation software (e.g., Finale or MuseScore) is useful for the course.
Music, Ensembles and Lessons (Individual and Group)
The University Choir plays an important role in the musical life of the University and All Saints' Chapel. At All Saints', the choir's activities include singing at all Sunday Eucharist services during the semester as well a monthly Choral Evensong. In addition to its liturgical duties, the choir offers several concert performances throughout the year, often with orchestral accompaniment. Membership in the choir is open to any undergraduate student.
The University Orchestra presents the full range of the symphonic repertory and collaborates frequently with other organizations to present choral-orchestral and musico-theatrical works. Participation in the University Orchestra is open to all qualified undergraduate students as well as students from the School of Theology, faculty, and members of the Sewanee community.
Singing from the Sacred Harp hymnal represents an old but still rewarding Southern musical practice, suitable for all amateurs willing to sing loudly. In twice-a-week practices, we cover the fundamentals of shape-note singing and learn to sing in parts. Approximately once a month we travel to Alabama to participate in one of the traditional Sacred Harp singings.
Jazz Ensemble provides experiences in performance of all types of jazz literature from early swing (Duke Ellington, Count Basie) and Latin forms (Antonio Carlos Jobim) to contemporary fusion (Pat Metheny, Brecker Brothers, Yellow jackets). The group focuses on the developing jazz student, providing an opportunity for a challenging ensemble experience while encouraging the performer to explore improvisation. In addition, members have the opportunity to compose and arrange music for the ensemble. Membership is open to all students regardless of major. The group consists of saxophones, trumpets, trombones, guitar, bass, drum set and keyboard. In addition, the group involves male and female vocalists as well as string players with an interest in learning to sing or play jazz. The jazz ensemble offers one or more performances each semester.