Ensemble Courses

The Directed Study – Hip-Hop Performance Studies Ensemble is a course designed to similar to an independent study. The lead student (who has at least 5th-semester standing), submits the approved application and proposal and is responsible for leading the rehearsals, delegating responsibilities, communicating week-to-week goals, planning the final performance, and promoting the final performance. These sections are created to support students who desire a show of covers or original music within the hip-hop idiom. The assigned/selected faculty is responsible for mentoring the lead student in their directorial role, and assisting students with coordinating equipment and/or performance needs with the Ensemble Department and/or College, as necessary.

The directed study application process is as follows:

• Attend mandatory directed study meeting held during each midterm week
• Complete online application
• Complete detailed proposal
• Audition and assemble a full band

The Directed Study – Latin Performance Studies Ensemble is a course designed to similar to an independent study. The lead student (who has at least 5th-semester standing), submits the approved application and proposal and is responsible for leading the rehearsals, delegating responsibilities, communicating week-to-week goals, planning the final performance, and promoting the final performance. These sections are created to support students who desire a show of covers or original music within the Latin idiom. The assigned/selected faculty is responsible for mentoring the lead student in their directorial role, and assisting students with coordinating equipment and/or performance needs with the Ensemble Department and/or College, as necessary.

The directed study application process is as follows:

• Attend mandatory directed study meeting held during each midterm week
• Complete online application
• Complete detailed proposal
• Audition and assemble a full band

The Directed Study ensemble will study and perform a specific genre or artist of their liking. In this course, students will participate in weekly supervised rehearsals. Students will gain experience in performing the particular directed studies' compositions. Emphasis will be given to stylistic integrity, as well as melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic accuracy.

The Directed Study – The Artist Showcase Ensemble is a course designed to be an intensive 15-week professional concert. There will be a limit of two accepted proposals for this course each semester as these courses will need intense departmental and college dedication, focus, preparation, and resources. The lead student submits the approved application and proposal and is responsible for leading the rehearsals, delegating responsibilities, communicating week-to-week goals, planning the final performance, and promoting the final performance. These sections are created to support students who desire a show of covers or original music within the pop idiom. The assigned/selected faculty is responsible for mentoring the lead student in their directorial role, and assisting students with coordinating equipment and/or performance needs with the Ensemble Department and/or College, as necessary.

The directed study application process is as follows:

• Attend mandatory directed study meeting held during each midterm week
• Complete online application
• Complete detailed proposal
• Audition and assemble a full band

Required Roles Outside of Core Band:

• Student Leader
• Musical Director
• Arranger/Programmer
• Production Manager
• Production Assistant/Administrator
• Sound Tech Engineer/FOH Engineer/Monitors

Optional Roles:

• Choreographer
• Vocal Director
• Stylist
• Set Design/Lighting
• Photographer
• Marketing/PR

The Directed Study – The Advanced Artist Showcase Ensemble is a course designed to be an intensive 15-week professional concert. There will be a limit of one accepted proposal for this course each semester as these courses will need intense departmental and college dedication, focus, preparation, and resources. The lead student (who has at least 5th-semester standing), submits the approved application and proposal and is responsible for leading the rehearsals, delegating responsibilities, communicating week-to-week goals, planning the final performance, and promoting the final performance. These sections are created to support students who desire a show of covers or original music within the pop idiom. The assigned/selected faculty is responsible for mentoring the lead student in their directorial role, and assisting students with coordinating equipment and/or performance needs with the Ensemble Department and/or College, as necessary.

The directed study application process is as follows:

• Attend mandatory directed study meeting held during each midterm week
• Complete online application
• Complete detailed proposal
• Audition and assemble a full band

Required Roles Outside of Core Band:

• Student Leader
• Musical Director
• Arranger/Programmer
• Production Manager
• Production Assistant/Administrator
• Sound Tech Engineer/FOH Engineer/Monitors

Optional Roles:

• Choreographer
• Vocal Director
• Stylist
• Set Design/Lighting
• Photographer
• Marketing/PR
• Treasurer

The Directed Study – Songwriting Performance Studies Ensemble is a course designed to similar to an independent study. With the guidance of the faculty director, the writers assume a leadership role providing all material, rehearsing the band, dedicating parts for the players and communicating to the ensemble the musical interpretation of original songs. The lead student submits the approved application and proposal and is responsible for leading the rehearsals, delegating responsibilities, communicating week-to-week goals, planning the final performance, and promoting the final performance. Throughout the semester students will perform and arrange original songs with extensive rehearsal time on each song. There will be a performance at the end of the semester with a polished set featuring the students' original material. The assigned/selected faculty is responsible for mentoring the lead student in their directorial role, and assisting students with coordinating equipment and/or performance needs with the Ensemble Department and/or College, as necessary.

The directed study application process is as follows:

• Attend mandatory directed study meeting held during each midterm week
• Complete online application
• Complete detailed proposal
• Audition and assemble a full band

A performance class to teach pianist/vocalist and guitar/vocalist solo performers to incorporate the use of Ableton Live, live looping and integration of controllers into solo performance. This class is for beginners in Ableton Live. Students will learn the technical and creative processes involved in adapting produced arrangements into a live, dynamic solo performance. Students will use Ableton Live to set-up a customized live set that represents the full scope of their individual sound. Weekly in-class performances and critiques will help students to prepare a live set fit for touring. The class will progress through building drum beats, creating bass lines, harmonic accompaniment, vocal harmony production, then learning how to live loop all of these elements together to perform a live arrangement. Students will examine performance techniques used by Kimbra, Grimes, Imogen Heap, James Blake, and more. Original repertoire may also be used.

This class is a small contemporary ensemble consisting of synthesizers and other electronics, typically along with a rhythm section composed of drum set and electric bass. The ensemble develops a concert-ready performance based upon improvisation, extended performance techniques, sound design, and grooves.

The Downtempo Electronic Ensemble studies and performs work from classic downtempo electronic artists as well as original work in the genre. Working as an ensemble as well as in smaller groups, the students attend weekly rehearsals and present an end-of-semester concert performance. Students perform music by artists such as Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Tycho, Bonobo, Loscil, Air, the Album Leaf, Kygo, Flume, Massive Attack, Morcheeba, Thievery Corporation, Ulrich Schnauss, Zero 7, Robert Rich, Emancipator, and more. In addition, students perform original works and explore improvisation techniques in ambient, downtempo, and related styles.

The Mashup Performance Ensemble explores sample-based performance in the style of Daedalus, Madeon, Girl Talk, Justice, Moldover, and more.  A variety of controllers are used used including grid, keyboard, and others. Repertoire focuses on both composed and improvisational frameworks. Asset collection and strategic planning for recontextualizing samples of previous recorded music are incorporated into the process. Mashup styles include dance floor as well as more experimental directions along the lines of Venetian Snares’ mashup of classical works.

The Future Pop Ensemble focuses on music of contemporary electronic artists who incorporate vocalists such as Disclosure, Kaytranada, Mura Masa, AlunaGeorge, SBTRKT, Little Dragon, Major Lazer, Moderat, and James Blake. This ensemble explores the evolution of electronic music in the mainstream touching upon genres such as garage, UK garage, deep house, trop house, 2-step, electronica, post-dubstep, indie pop, nu-disco, and alternative R&B, as well as other parallel genres. Working as a full ensemble as well as in smaller groups, students attend weekly rehearsals and will present an end-of-semester concert.

The Electronic Hip-Hop/R&B Ensemble performs songs in the style of current hip-hop and R&B popularized by such artists as Drake, The Weeknd, Tenashe, Travis Scott, and FKA Twigs. In this ensemble, students develop the skills to incorporate current technology with traditional performance that is required for this evolving genre. Working as an ensemble as well as in smaller groups, students attend weekly rehearsals and will present an end-of-semester concert.