(Offered as NEUR 226 and PSYC 226.) An introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system, this course will explore the neural bases of behavior at the cellular and systems levels. Basic topics in neurobiology, neuroanatomy and physiological psychology will be covered with an emphasis on understanding how neuroscientists approach the study of the nervous system. Three class hours and four hours of laboratory per week.

Requisite: PSYC 212 or BIOL 181 or 191. Limited to 36 students. Spring semester. Professors Turgeon and Graf.

How do people organize sound into music? How do they organize themselves to make music? What do musicians hear in and think about the music they are making? How can one describe and compare patterns, principles, and processes in different musics? This course addresses these questions through the close study of rhythm, groove, and meter, harmonic practices, mode and tuning, pedagogy, composition, and improvisation, and musical form in a variety of musical traditions from around the world.

Functioning as a combined seminar and performance workshop, this course explores the theory and practice of musical improvisation. Rather than focus on one specific musical style, we will define “improvised music” in an inclusive way that draws equally from American and European experimental musics, various approaches to post-1965 jazz improvisation, and several musical traditions from around the world that prominently use improvisation. Students will be encouraged to develop new performance practices drawn from and in dialogue with these diverse musical traditions.

Independent Reading Course. A full course.

Fall and spring semesters.

A continuation of MUSI 371. One class meeting per week and private conferences. This course may be repeated.

Requisite: MUSI 371 or the equivalent and consent of the instructor. Spring semester. Professor Sawyer.

(Offered as THDA 352, FAMS 342 and MUSI 352.)  The focus of this studio course will be to create performances, events, happenings and installations in multiple locations both on and off campus.  This course is especially designed for students in dance, theater, film/video, art, music and creative writing who want to explore the challenges and potentials in creating performances outside of traditional "frames" or venues (e.g., the theater, the gallery, the lecture hall, etc.).

Members of the class will be assigned to chamber ensembles, representing a range of repertoire from the past and present. Ensembles will include both student and artist musicians, who will prepare works for performance in class sessions and private coachings. Intensive class analysis will serve as the basis of musical expression and interpretation. This course is open to singers and instrumentalists. MUSI 310 may be elected either as a full credit or half credit and may be repeated.

Admission with consent of the instructor. Spring semester.  Professor Schneider.

Members of the class will be assigned to chamber ensembles, representing a range of repertoire from the past and present. Ensembles will include both student and artist musicians, who will prepare works for performance in class sessions and private coachings. Intensive class analysis will serve as the basis of musical expression and interpretation. This course is open to singers and instrumentalists. MUSI 310 may be elected either as a full credit or half credit and may be repeated.

Admission with consent of the instructor. Spring semester. Professor Schneider.

(Offered as THDA 280 and MUSI 260.) Conducted as a collaborative workshop among student writers and composers, this course explores the close relationship between words and music. While working together on new music/text pieces for the stage, we will seek to arrive at various definitions of "music theater." In addition to ongoing creative assignments, we will examine existing works in various genres, including songs, musical theater, opera and other experimental forms.