Minor in Music
The Music Department offers a minor in Music to students looking to extend their music studies beyond one or two semesters. Music minors can participate in certain major-restricted courses, ensembles, and applied lessons (with audition).
The music minor program requires 15 credit hours of course study with a “C” or better and must include a minimum of three credit hours from three of these four areas:
- Theory and Aural Training — MUS 280 or above
- Music History/Literature — MUS 265 or above
- Ethnomusicology — MUS 311 or above
- Performance Studies — MUS 230_ or above
The balance (6 credits) of the Minor in Music requirements may be taken in any area of music (MUS 200 or above). Introductory courses (MUS 106, 107, 108, etc.) may be used to fill core requirements, but may not be applied to the minor. Transfer credits in music may be considered; however, no more than 7 transfer credits may be applied to the music minor.
To request a minor in music, please complete an Academic Minor Request Form and send it to the Undergraduate Chair with a request to meet and discuss a program of study. Please note that this form is for currently enrolled classified students only. Incoming students may contact the Undergraduate Chair after August 1st (fall). Music minors who wish to study applied music or participate in an ensemble should contact the respective area chair to arrange an audition.
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the above requirements are met. Students enrolled in the minor should meet with the Undergraduate Chair during each registration period. One semester before the expected date of graduation, the student should contact the Undergraduate Chair for a completed Verification of Minor form.
MUS 280 Basic Theory and Aural Skills (3 cr)
- Fundamentals of music theory, notation, sightsinging, and dictation.
- MUS 280 (3 cr) is the recommended theory component course for the Minor in Music. If the student has little or no background in music, MUS 108 (3 cr) may be recommended as a pre-requisite for MUS 280.
- Students with extensive backgrounds in music who wish to be placed in MUS 281 (2 cr) and 283 (1 cr), courses intended for music majors, must attend the New Music Student Orientation in August during registration week for appropriate placement.
- No placement will be made prior to August registration, except for students who have completed MUS 280 and have declared music as their major.
MUS 281 Theory I (2 cr)
- Materials and organization of music; analysis, writing, keyboard applications. Students who register for class and are not adequately prepared may be asked to take MUS 280.*
- Co-requisite: 283 or consent.
MUS 282 Theory II (2 cr)
- Continuation of 281.
- Pre: 281 or consent. Co-requisite: 284 or consent.
MUS 283 Aural Training I (1 cr)
- Problems in perception, identification, and notation of musical sounds. Emphasizes sight singing; cannot be audited. Students who register for class and are not adequately prepared may be asked to take MUS 280.*
- Co-requisite: 281 or consent.
MUS 284 Aural Training II (1 cr)
- Continuation of 283.
- Pre: 283 or consent. Co-requisite: 282 or consent.
MUS 285 Theory III (2 cr)
- Detailed study of theory, writing, analysis, keyboard application.
- Pre: 282. Co-requisite: 287.
MUS 287 Aural Training III (1 cr)
- Advanced problems in perception, identification, and notation of musical sounds. Sight-singing.
- Pre: 284. Co-requisite: 285.
MUS 289 Introductory Practicum in Music Composition (2 cr)
- Original composition; specific approaches to creative writing.
- Pre: 282 or consent. Repeatable.
MUS 265 History of Western Music to 1750 (3 cr)
- Development of Western music from its origins to 1750. Styles, schools, composers.
- Pre: 282 or consent.
MUS 266 History of Western Music After 1750 (3 cr)
- Development of Western music from 1750 to the present. Styles, schools, composers.
- Pre: 282 or consent.
MUS 266 can be taken before MUS 265. With consent or after completing MUS 265 or 266, music minors with special interests may be permitted to take upper-division (360, 46_) genre and period courses. Music minors may be given consent by the musicology faculty if they have sufficient music background.
MUS 370 Music in Modern America (3 cr)
- Varieties of music, including jazz and other popular forms; relevant antecedents.
- Pre: sophomore standing; freshmen with consent only.
MUS 407 Music Cultures of the World (3 cr)
- Folk, popular and art music from major regions of the world, with emphasis upon Asia and the Pacific, representative styles and regional characteristics.
- Pre: junior standing or consent.
MUS 477 History of Rock & Roll (3 cr)
- perspectives including economics, regionalism, freedom of expression.
- Pre: upper division standing or consent.
MUS 478_ Musical Cultures (3 cr)
- The study of a musical culture area.
- Pre: junior standing or consent.
- (B) Hawai‘i
- (C) China
- (D) Japan
- (E) Korea
- (F) Indonesia
- (G) Philippines
- (H) India
- (I) Polynesia
- (P) Africa
- (Q) Other
MUS 479 Topics in Ethnomusicology (3 cr)
- Problem oriented cross-cultural investigation of music and music organization.
- Pre: junior standing or consent.
See also Performance Studies Ensembles: 311_, 312, 410B, 411_, 412, 413, 417.
Applied Music
- MUS 231_ Applied Music, Western (1 cr)
Individual instruction in solo vocal or instrumental performance at elementary level.
Pre: audition or consent.
Students wishing to enroll in applied music courses must get department approval. Approval is also contingent upon evidence that the student is making satisfactory progress toward completion of the minor and is meeting the distribution requirement. Music minors are accommodated whenever possible, but music majors have priority. (Registration is monitored and verified by the Department Chair.) Instruction is given in 14 individual half-hour lessons per semester. Lessons are not made up unless the instructor is notified in advance that a student will miss a lesson.
Registration for lessons and choice of teachers must be approved by the music minor advisor, department chair and applied area. Assignment and admission to MUS 231 are based on auditions given by the department during the advising and registration period. Applied music courses cannot be audited or taken on a CR/NC grade basis.
Ensembles
MUS 311_ Non-Western Music Ensembles I (1 cr)
- Performance of literature for groups of various sizes and kinds at introductory level.
- Pre: upper division standing or consent. Repeatable.(B) Hawai‘i
- (C) China
- (D) Japan
- (E) Korea
- (F) Indonesia
- (G) Philippines
- (H) India
- (I) Polynesia
- (P) Africa
- (Q) Other
MUS 312 Hula/Chant Ensemble (2 cr)
- Ancient style.
- Pre: upper division standing or consent. Not repeatable.
MUS 410_ Ensembles (1cr)
- Performancae of literature for ensembles and performing groups of various sizes and kinds.
- Pre: audition or consent. Repeatable.(B) Hawaiian chorus
- (C) University Chamber Singers
- (D) Piano-Vocal Collaboration
- (F) Chamber music
- (G) Guitar
- (K) Jazz
- (M) Contemporary music
- (N) Theatre music
- (O) Percussion
- (P) Flute
MUS 411_ Ethnic Music Ensembles II (1 cr)
- Performance of literature for ensembles and performing groups of various sizes and kinds.
- Pre: 311 in same section. Repeatable.
MUS 412 Hula/Chant Ensemble II (2 cr)
- Ancient style.
- Pre: MUS 312 or consent. Not repeatable.
MUS 413 Hula/Chant Ensemble III (2 cr)
- Ancient style; halau protocol.
- Pre:412. Repeatable.
MUS 414 University Concert Choir (1 cr)
- Performance of a range of choral literature.
- Pre: choral experience and consent. Repeatable.
MUS 415 Opera Workshop (var cr)
- Opera in performance. Styles and characterizations. Performance of scenes and one complete work.
- Pre: Upper division standing or consent. Repeatable.
MUS 416_ University Symphony Orchestra (1 cr)
- Performance of orchestra literature, including major works for chorus and orchestra, opera and dance.
- Pre: audition or consent. Repeatable.
- (B) Symphony
- (C) Chamber orchestra
MUS 417 University Javanese Gamelan (1 cr)
- Performance of Jogja and Solo Gamelan traditions; Uyon-uyon,Wayang Kulit, Wayang Wong.
- Pre: 311H or consent. Repeatable.
MUS 419_ University Band (1 cr)
- Performance of literature, including works by contemporary composers.
- Pre: audition or consent. Repeatable.(B) Symphonic wind ensemble
- (D) Concert band
- (C) Symphonic band
- (E) Marching band
MUS 421 Acting V: Musical Comedy (3 cr)
- Essential training in skills required to perform in musicals. Students present scenes from musical comedies for criticism and review.
- Pre: 231B, (THEA 321 and THEA 322), audition, or consent (cross-listed as THEA 421).