Music

This is a second-stage seminar on music-related materials in the Japanese language. The main purpose is to read some of the latest publications in musicology in Japan and thereby to grapple with thematic issues and concerns that are currently under debate in Japanese academia. A special reference is given to writings in music history, popular music studies, and sound studies. Students are expected to become confident in using Japanese as a research instrument.

This course examines selected topics on the music of West and Central Africa. The course includes historical background of music in West and central Africa, interaction of musical traditions in the pre-colonial period, a survey of the musical practices with particular reference to musical forms/styles, instruments and aesthetics and the relationship of music to its culture, as well as contemporary trends in West and Central African Music.

This course is an introductory study of Korean music and culture that focuses on the significance of music and musical practices in a holistic manner that includes court music, religious music, folk music and contemporary music. It is intended to provide basic knowledge of terminology, history and the characteristics of important genres that might emerge in discussing theoretical aspects of Korean traditional music.

Goals are 1)To introduce Korean musical instruments and their historical relevance in Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Central Asian Music. 2)To appreciate various Korean traditional music genres such as classical (court and ritual music) and folk music (folk songs, pansori, sanjo). 3)To discuss the philosophical backgrounds of Korean religious music: Shamanism, Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Christian 4)To distinguish Korean musical features in pansori and sanjo. 5)To learn how to analyze music within a cultural context. 6)To discuss Hallyu and Korean popular music.

This course explores Singapore’s historical and present-day relationship with Western music, examining its influences on and integration into our culture and society, and its role in our self-identification. Socio-historical and contemporary perspectives are used when analyzing various case studies. The course critically considers how Singapore and Singaporeans have shaped and been shaped by music from the West, and be empowered to make decisions in negotiating this cultural correspondence moving forward. Topics covered include historical overview of the arrival of Western music in Singapore and the various functions that music plays and has played in society

This course introduces the foundational concepts of Western music theory, providing basic skills needed to read and write conventional staff music notation, as well as to analyze musical notation and sounds. The rudiments of music theory describes a set of concepts and skills widely used to communicate about musical ideas. This course covers such fundamentals, from the absolute basics to some more advanced concepts, including material such as pitches and scales, intervals, clefs, rhythm, form, meter, phrases and cadences, and basic harmony. While the concepts and skills that generally define music theory are useful ones to interrogate many forms of music, the area of study as a whole has most commonly been developed to explain compositions of Western European art music. However, students are encouraged to value and draw upon their prior experiences in music listening and performance to contextualize their learning, as they acquire this particular set of skills.

This course teaches bel canto singing skills to students of different vocal levels through the singing and interpretation of vocal works (including solo and chorus). The course cultivates the ability to express oneself through song and establishes the correct aesthetics of vocal art.

This course examines the fundamentals of using and applying technology in the production of music. It covers the elements of sequencing, recording and computer notation, as well as basic composition, arrangement and notation skills.