MUSP 281: Musical Theatre Orchestra III

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2024
Credits: 4
Total Contact Hours: 144
Lecture Hours : 36
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 108
Outside of Class Hours: 72
Total Student Learning Hours: 216
Prerequisite: MUSP 182 or Audition.
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

Musical Theater Orchestra III offers advanced-intermediate level instruction in instrumental performance of conducted orchestral ensemble accompaniment of live staged dance, drama and song, including contemporary Broadway literature, and film and media soundtrack. This course provides continuing opportunities to meet the unique challenges of musical theatre performance that differ from those of concert stage performance, including following live dramatic action, pit orchestra orientation, woodwind doubling, underscore, click track and headphone use, book organization and music marking. 36 lecture hours, 108 lab hours arranged.

Course Objectives

  • play their chosen instrument at an intermediate-advanced level as evidenced by their achievement and control of tone production, articulation, intonation, velocity, rhythmic projection, dynamics, expression and appropriate style.
  • translate the music notation of intermediate-advanced (Grade 4) musical theatre, film and media literature consisting of clef, key signature, linear and harmonic note designation, meter, rhythmic subdivision (counting), dynamics (loudness level and variation), articulation, form, phrasing interpretation, and terminology.
  • demonstrate knowledge of an intermediate-advanced level concepts of musical theatre orchestra blend and balance, intonation anticipation and adjustment, style and articulation interpretation, and fundamental music theory applications.

Major Course Content

  1. Assessment of individual students' entry instrumental proficiency
  2. Review of professional musical theatre orchestra rehearsal and performance etiquette
  3. Review and development of intermediate-advanced tone production techniques
  4. Review and development of intermediate-advanced intonation adjustment techniques
  5. Review and development of intermediate-advanced articulation techniques
  6. Introduction to intermediate-advanced technical velocity development strategies
  7. Introduction to intermediate-advanced musical theatre orchestra notation terminology
  8. Introduction to intermediate-advanced musical theatre orchestra conductor gestural commands
  9. Review and development of an intermediate-advanced personal practice regimen
  10. Introduction to intermediate-advanced musical theatre orchestra musical rhythm concepts
  11. Introduction to intermediate-advanced individual, sectional and ensemble balance and blend concepts
  12. Review and development of intermediate-advanced phrasing, expression and dynamics techniques
  13. Review and development of intermediate-advanced sight-reading skills
  14. Ongoing presentation of the historical, cultural, stylistic, theoretical, interactional, structural and formal elements of the intermediate-advanced (Grade 4) level musical theatre orchestra, film and media literature rehearsed and performed
  15. Review of the standard categories, instruments and procedures of intermediate-advanced (Grade 4) level musical theatre orchestra, film and media literature performance evaluation
  16. Preparation and performance of intermediate-advanced (Grade 4) level musical theatre orchestra, film and media literature focusing on individual part performance proficiency integrated with ensemble awareness

Hours Arranged Content

  1. Instrument sections and section combinations meet weekly to rehearse assigned literature content and review and develop:
    1. Intermediate-advanced tone production techniques
    2. Intermediate-advanced intonation adjustment techniques
    3. Intermediate-advanced articulation techniques
    4. Intermediate-advanced technical velocity skills and tone flexibility skills
    5. Intermediate-advanced phrasing, expression and dynamics techniques
  2. Additional full ensemble lab rehearsals are scheduled beyond the scheduled class and sectional times, especially during the weeks and days approaching major performances to strengthen:
    1. Responsiveness to conductor gestural commands
    2. Musical rhythm execution and precision
    3. Individual, sectional and ensemble balance and blend
    4. Preparations for public performance
  3. Observe and evaluate live and recorded musical theatre orchestra performance
  4. Public performances

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Internet and/or library research (composer; historical era; stylistic, structural and formal elements; etc.) including listening of musical theatre, film and media literature rehearsed and performed.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

1. Written evaluation of live and recorded musical theatre, film and media performances using standard music adjudication forms.
2. Essays evaluating live and recorded musical theatre, film and media performances.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Study individual parts Study reference recordings Practice skills

Instruction Type(s)

Lab, Lecture