CMUS 315 Contemporary Music and Studio Direction

This course equips the student for success in dynamic music directing, especially within a commercial music context. The student will hone essential skills including conducting techniques, score interpretation, and rehearsal management and will engage in a comparative analysis of conducting practices, applying insights to Broadway, studio recording, and modern worship contexts. By integrating musicianship, styles, and disciplined performance principles, the curriculum empowers the student to embrace the multifaceted role of a Music Director, fostering adaptability and creativity in today’s evolving musical landscape.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt. The thread must be at least 300 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to at least 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 200 words. Scholarly citations are not required for the thread or replies. The student is expected to demonstrate course-related knowledge in their Discussion threads and replies.

Exercise Video Assignments (4)

The student will submit 4 videos of gestural conducting concepts practiced during the assigned module: week. The conducting exercises will vary in length and style. For this assignment, the student is required to record a video showcasing conducting skills with the required musical selections. The student will need to access the audio track on the Labuta companion website for these exercises. Scores are available on both the website and in the Labuta & Matthews text. Evaluation will focus on technical skills covered in weekly videos and your overall grasp and development of conducting concepts up to that point. The student must review the grading rubric to understand how his/her content will be graded.

Video Project Assignments (2)

The student will upload 2 major project videos of complete pieces demonstrating his or her progress with gestural expressions. The student will be assessed on technical skills taught in the weekly videos and a general understanding/development of conducting concepts taught throughout the course. Unlike the Exercise Video Assignments, these video projects focus on all concepts learned in the course up until the assigned module. The video projects will vary in length and style. For these assignments, the student is required to record a video showcasing conducting skills with the required musical selections. The student will download the provided score from the resources section and use the audio to complete a recording of the conducting exercise. The student will submit a video for each project directly to Canvas. The student must review the grading rubric to understand how his/her content will be graded.

Broadway Musical Directing Assignment

The student will write a reflective paper exploring how the articles and videos provided in the Learn section of the assignment’s module can benefit development as a music director/conductor. The student will discuss key concepts presented in the resources provided, compare what the student has learned from these resources to his/her initial understanding from the initial conducting modules, and explain how this new knowledge may shape his/her future work as a music director. The submission should be 2 to 3 pages in length and exhibit correct Turabian formatting. 

Studio Conducting Assignment

In this assignment, the student will focus on studio conducting, helping you to understand its practical aspects and apply the insights gained from module content. The student will summarize key insights from the provided articles and videos, analyze a film score’s recording process, and describe preparations and actions as a studio conductor in a ‘Conductor’s Journal’. The submission should be 2 to 3 pages in length and exhibit correct Turabian formatting.

Worship Music Director Assignment

In this assignment, the student will cultivate the skills required to be a proficient music director in a contemporary worship music setting. He/she will analyze provided music scores and recordings, marking the scores to provide direction during rehearsals and live performances, considering various aspects of a live performance. This assignment requires the completion of two parts. The first part is to review and mark selected musical scores and recordings that the student might use in a church setting. The second part of the assignment requires a reflection of your experience for future application in worship ministry. The chart analyzations will be loaded into the same assignment link. The reflection (Part 2) portion of this assignment should be 2 to 3 pages in length and exhibit correct current Turabian formatting.