Music Classes For Everyone
Interested in music but pursuing another major? No problem! Enroll in our non-major courses or join a music ensemble and earn general education credits on select courses.
Join an ensemble!
The School of Music's ensembles (large and small) are open to all University of Utah students. Most do require an audition; however, some do not. If you have questions, please call the School of Music at 801-581-6762. Auditions occur every August before the start of fall semester.
MUSC 1010
Introduction to Music
3 Credits
Requirement Designation: Diversity & Fine Arts Exploration
Components: Lecture
Music is an art that exists only in time. It cannot be ‘frozen’ and made available to study at leisure as one would study a painting or piece of sculpture. Through class discussion, guided listening, and required attendance at concerts, students examine historically important forms and techniques of the music of Western civilization. Particular attention is paid to historical and formal relationships of music to other fine arts, such as painting and architecture. Also emphasizes critical listening to discern important elements of musical composition and develop an appreciation of music as art, not just as entertainment.
MUSC 1015
Basic Guitar and Songwriting
3 Credits
Requirement Designation: Fine Arts Exploration
Components: Lecture
MUSC 1236
Survey of Jazz
3 Credits
Requirement Designation: Diversity & Fine Arts Exploration
Components: Lecture
Survey of Jazz teaches the history and evolution of the art form jazz, and integrates these concepts with cultural, sociological, political, technological, and musical factors. The course exposes students in unique and creative ways to the process in which jazz musicians manipulate musical elements. The relationship between jazz and African American culture is inseparable and complementary, and is a major emphasis of the course. This is a lower-division survey course with a focus on diversity, designed for the non-major as well as the music major.
MUSC 1250
World Music
3 Credits
Requirements Designation: International Requirement & Fine Arts Exploration
Components: Lecture
A selective survey of the music of the indigenous peoples of Africa, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and the Americas. The course will examine the ways that music functions within these cultures. The students will study the music itself, the people who make it, the instruments they use, and the complex of ideas, behaviors, and processes that are involved in the production of this music. This course is open to all University of Utah students. This lecture course will serve as the School of Music’s elective for the Baccalaureate International Requirement.
MUSC 1460
Introduction to Music Theory
3 Credits
Requirement Designation: Fine Arts Exploration
Components: Lecture
An online, introductory course in music theory. Includes the study of basic notation, scales, key signatures, intervals, triads and seventh chords. For non-music majors only.
MUSC 2100
History of Rock and Roll
3 Credits
Requirement Designation: Fine Arts Exploration
Components: Lecture
History of Rock n’ Roll is a subject possessing an immense scope of information. The biggest challenge is to determine which of the artists will be covered. In other words, to pair down this daunting scope into one of focus and clarity by highlighting major accomplishments that both resonated and influenced the development of each musical period. There will many very successful, famous pop artists who will not be covered. But that is not the issue. The real issues are the trailblazers, the perpetuators, and the ones who will leave a lasting legacy. It is their creative impact that matters rather than popularity. The music that we have come to know as rock n’ roll had to originate from somewhere and usually, that “somewhere” lies far beneath the mainstream radar screen. Therefore, the main focus will be channeled on the artists who have made the greatest creative impact in their respective periods.
MUSC 3003
Beginning Classic Guitar
2 Credits
Components: Seminar
MUSC 3004
Intermediate Classical Guitar
2 Credits
Components: Seminar