Music

This is a broadly based course focusing on musical experiences in different contexts, containing elements of music perception, music and emotions, music and motion, as well as music in different social contexts. The course gives an overview of relevant research within these fields.

This course helps students develop skills in the performance of Renaissance vocal music. Coaching in the performance of the rich tradition of Renaissance music, drawing on both sacred repertories (e.g., Latin motets) and secular repertories (e.g., partsongs in English, French or other languages). Small ensembles consisting of very few singers per part are formed, involving both male and female voices.

This course develops students’ skills in musical improvisation through an integrated approach combining lectures and practical workshops. Lectures focus on the application of core musical materials, encouraging students to explore a broad range of stylistic and structural elements through multiple perspectives. Workshops provide opportunities for experiential learning, with an emphasis on 222 ensemble-based improvisation and real-time musical interaction. Students actively participate using their primary instrument or voice, applying concepts in a hands-on, collaborative environment that supports both individual creativity and group cohesion. 

This course explores the historical development of Korean popular music and Hallyu culture, from the early formation of modern Korean popular music to the global rise of K-pop. It examines how Korean popular music, television dramas, and films have evolved in relation to social, cultural, and media changes in Korea, and how these cultural forms collectively contributed to the emergence of the Korean Wave Hallyu. Through case studies of major artists, cultural texts, and media platforms, students analyze the characteristics of K-pop as well as key Hallyu content such as K-dramas and Korean films, focusing on their production systems and global circulation.  The course provides international students with a comprehensive understanding of Korean popular culture as both a cultural expression and a global phenomenon. 

Evaluation: Attendance 20%, Assignments 15%, Midterms 30%, Final Exam 35%. 

This course aids students to develop ensemble performance skills in the area of early music. Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to successfully execute a performance at the relevant level of competence and in an appropriate style, demonstrate knowledge and understanding of specific performance styles, demonstrate an ability to perform sympathetically within the context of a group, demonstrate a critical understanding of the act of performance, and discuss the issues surrounding the performance practice of select genres.

This course presents African music through practical and hands-on experience. Groups of five to six members learn a variety of indigenous musical instruments from the whole African continent. Practical music-making, which forms the mainstay of the course, serves as an introduction to a multi-faceted pan-African aesthetic experience. A theoretical component places this practical exploration in philosophical, historical, and cultural context. No prior knowledge of music or previous musical experience is needed. 

This course explores the rich musical and cultural traditions of the Silk Road, a vast network of trade routes connecting East Asia, the Mediterranean, and Europe. The course examines how the Silk Road facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and music, shaping world history and cultural development. Through the study of musical genres, styles, and instruments from across the region, the course investigates how music intersects with identity, power, and diplomacy across geographical and historical boundaries. The course also looks at similar cross-cultural projects happening today, such as the Yo-Yo Ma Silk Road initiative.

The course features live performances and interactive workshops, as well as instruments from different regions. No musical background is necessary. 

This course introduces different approaches in the study of non-western musical cultures. Students will learn about methodologies borrowed from ethnomusicology and ethnography. Students focus on particular case studies including, for example, Iranian pop music and Bollywood musicals.

Gagaku is one of Japan's traditional musical genres, boasting the longest history. Along with Buddhist chanting, it forms the backbone of Japanese music. Understanding the history and structure of gagaku is fundamental to understanding the diverse forms of Japanese music. 

This course first defines the term gagaku in Japan, grasping its etymology and genres, then studying the basics of the imported music and dance that form the core of the current gagaku tradition (e.g., genres, instrument arrangements, and performance techniques). Then, it traces the history of ancient Japanese songs and dances, as well as music and dances from the continent that were introduced between the 5th and 9th centuries. The course then examines the evolution of gagaku from its peak in the Heian period to its current form from various angles. 

Thus, this class experiences the rich diversity of gagaku, a genre that continues to thrive today. It includes the many variations of traditional pieces preserved in ancient scores, pieces that have been given new life through revivals and restorations, and the possibilities of musical expression that have expanded through the adoption of Western music.

This course cultivates the fundamental literacy skills required for commercial music composition. The topics covered include pop songwriting, beat making, film scoring, and jingle production. Students are introduced to contemporary practices in the music industry through music demos, instrumental tracking, music arrangement, and music production techniques.