Fine Arts - Music - FAM

FAM 115 Fundamentals of Music 3 Credits

Basic elements of music, its terms, and its notation including pitch, rhythm, chords, dynamics, tempo, and other aspects. Students will gain familiarity with the piano keyboard.

Prerequisite: none.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: fall, spring & summer.

FAM 119 Masterpieces of Music 3 Credits

A survey of Western art music from medieval Gregorian chant to the present, including the study of musical elements, historical background, musical style, and masterworks of various periods.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: fall & spring.

FAM 122 History of Rock and Roll 3 Credits

A survey of the history of rock and roll and its impact on American and world culture. The musical and cultural roots of rock and roll and the evolution of the style over several decades will be examined.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: Occasionally.

FAM 123 World Musics 3 Credits

Survey course, including folk, traditional, and art music of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and North and South America. Classes include listening and videos with the study of instruments, dances, songs, and rhythms of these cultures.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: occasionally.

FAM 124 America's Music 3 Credits

Music made or continuously used by Americans up to the present: sacred congregational music, vernacular music, African-American music, and cultivated traditions. Historical and sociological development of folk, jazz, and popular music as uniquely American.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: spring & summer.

FAM 126 Music Performance 1 Credit

Half-hour private lessons designed for all levels of experience are offered in piano, organ, harp, guitar, voice, strings, woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion, and conducting. For music majors, music minors, education majors with a music concentration, and music scholarship winners (no fee).

Prerequisite: permission of department chair; limited to music majors, music minors, music scholarship students, & music education students with a concentration in music.

FAM 130 America's Music 3 Credits

This course introduces students to music made or continuously used by Americans up to the present: sacred congregational music, vernacular music, African-American music, and cultivated traditions. The historical and sociological development of folk, jazz, and popular music as uniquely American music will also be studied. This course is 100% online. (Field 3)

Offered: every fall, spring, & summer.

FAM 171 Chorale 0 Credits

A mixed-voice singing group that performs repertoire in both the classical and popular styles (Same as FAM 181 except for 0 credit).

Offered: fall & spring.

FAM 172 Jazz Ensemble 0 Credits

Jazz ensemble that plays a wide range of music from Count Basie to Maynard Ferguson and everything in between (Same as FAM 182 except for 0 credit).

Offered: fall & spring.

FAM 174 Chamber Orchestra 0 Credits

Chamber orchestra that performs a wide range of orchestral literature from the Baroque period through the 20th century. Concert programs provide students with wide experiences in the orchestral arts (Same as FAM 184 except for 0 credit).

Offered: fall & spring.

FAM 181 Chorale 1 Credit

A mixed-voice singing group that performs repertoire in both the classical and popular styles (Same as FAM 171 except for 1 credit).

Offered: fall & spring.

FAM 182 Jazz Ensemble 1 Credit

Jazz ensemble that plays a wide range of music from Count Basie to Maynard Ferguson and everything in between (Same as FAM 172 except for 1 credit).

Offered: fall & spring.

FAM 184 Chamber Orchestra 1 Credit

Chamber orchestra that performs a wide range of orchestral literature from the Baroque period through the 20th century. Concert programs provide students with wide experiences in the orchestral arts. (Same as FAM 174 except for 1 credit).

Offered: fall & spring.

FAM 212 Canisius and the BPO Experience 3 Credits

Classes meet at both Canisius University and Kleinhans Music Hall as students study music on stage, behind the scenes, and in the orchestral repertory with Canisius University faculty, BPO conductors, soloists, and managers.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: occasionally.

FAM 213 Women in Music 3 Credits

Roles of women composers and performers in art music from the time of ancient Greece through the present as they struggle to break the confines of traditional gender roles to gain equal representation and recognition.

Fulfills College Core: Diversity, Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: occasionally.

FAM 217 Music of the Baroque Period 3 Credits

A study of Western art music of the Baroque period (1600-1750) beginning with the early operatic works of Monteverdi and concluding with the mature masterpieces of Bach and Handel. Many different instrumental and vocal genres are covered in this course, including concerto, sonata, suite, opera, cantata, and oratorio.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: occasionally.

FAM 219 19th Century Music 3 Credits

Great composers of the Romantic period, including their lives, selected works, musical style, and influence.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: occasionally.

FAM 220 Art Music from 1900 to the Present 3 Credits

Covers impressionism in music, which ushers in the twentieth century, European music 1910-1945, American music, and new music since 1945.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: occasionally.

FAM 223 The World of Music Theater 3 Credits

The course covers basic elements of the history of musical theater: its beginnings, how it has evolved, comparison of past and current trends, performers – past and present, styles of music used, lyrics. It also explores how music theater mirrors, imitates, comments, or predicts current world affairs.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: occasionally.

FAM 226 Music Performance 2 Credits

Half-hour private lessons designed for all levels of experience are offered in piano, organ, harp, guitar, voice, strings, woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion, and conducting. For music majors, music minors, education majors with a music concentration, and music scholarship winners (no fee).

Prerequisites: Music major, Creative and Performing Arts Interdisciplinary Studies major, music minor, music scholarship holder, Education major with a concentration in music.

Offered: every fall & spring.

FAM 250 Music for Children 3 Credits

Course provides the backgrounds, models, and skills necessary to create musical experiences for the pre-school and elementary-age child.

Offered: occasionally.