A professor leading a music theory class

Undergraduate Courses

Undergraduate Courses

A professor leading a music theory class

Undergraduate Courses

Courses offered in 2026-27

The Department of Music Research and Composition offers courses in music composition, music theory, music history, and popular music. Regardless of your major at Western University, we offer courses you can include in your academic life.

Course Outlines

Please refer to the course outline posted to your course's OWL Brightspace for current information. If unavailable, please reach out to your instructor.

Music Courses open only to non-music students

(Not offered in 2026-27)

Music Courses open to music and non-music students

(Not offered in 2026-27)

2700B: Post WWII Popular Music

The history, nature and function of popular music, with particular reference to rock music. The course will emphasize musical styles, form, instrumentation, vocal timbres and performing style through a study of representative works.

2701A Musical Theatre

The contexts and forms of popular theatre in which music plays a vital part. Emphasis will be on such twentieth-century genres as the Musical, Rock Opera, Musical Comedy, Comic Opera, Operetta and Vaudeville.

2703B: Introduction to Hip Hop

A survey of the musical art-form of Hip Hop. Consideration of artists, sub-genres, performance practice and cultural impact.

(Not offered in 2026-27)

Music History / Popular Music Courses for Music Students

1710F: Music History: Introduction

Consideration of various approaches to studying the history of music: guided listening, writing about music, library resources.

1730B: Introduction to Popular Music & Culture

An introduction to the study of the culture and history of popular music of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and its links to other arts and media.

1750G: Music History: c.900 to c.1750

Survey of music from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods.

2700B: Post WWII Popular Music

The history, nature and function of popular music, with particular reference to rock music. The course will emphasize musical styles, form, instrumentation, vocal timbres and performing style through a study of representative works.

2701A Musical Theatre

The contexts and forms of popular theatre in which music plays a vital part. Emphasis will be on such twentieth-century genres as the Musical, Rock Opera, Musical Comedy, Comic Opera, Operetta and Vaudeville.

2703B: Introduction to Hip Hop

A survey of the musical art-form of Hip Hop. Consideration of artists, sub-genres, performance practice and cultural impact.

2736B: Introduction to Desktop Music Production [in Popular Music]

Introduction to fundamental principles of recording using desktop music facilities.
(Prerequisites: one of 2700A/B, 2701A/B, 2702A/B; or for 2018-19 co-requisite: 2700B with permission)

2750F: Music History: C. 1750 to Present

Survey of music from the Classical and Romantic periods, and music of the 20th and 21st centuries.

3700B: Topics in Medieval Music

Selected topics in the historical, cultural, and analytical study of medieval music (c. 900 - 1400).

3701A: Topics in Renaissance Music

Selected topics in the historical, cultural, and analytical study of Renaissance music (c. 1400 - 1600).

3703B: Topics in Classical Music

Selected topics in the historical, cultural, and analytical study of Classical music (c. 1750 - 1810).

3730A Popular Music: Genre Studies

Detailed study of one or more genres in popular music focusing on repertory, style, music analysis, and/or cultural history.

3732G: Song Lyric Writing

An introduction to the basics of effective lyric writing using a variety of literary tools.

3735A: Popular Music Songwriting

Introduction to the tools and techniques of songwriting in a variety of popular music styles.

3736B Vocal Pre-Production, Tracking, and Editing

Practical acquisition of the fundamental principles essential for preparing pop singers to track and edit vocals.

3737B: Topics in the Popular Music Industry

Topics in the popular music industry, emphasizing its history, business, cultural, legal, and creative contexts.

3739A: Digital Mixing and Mastering

Theory and practice of mixing and mastering in a primarily digital environment.

4735B: Popular Music Songwriting II

Advanced approaches and techniques of songwriting in a variety of popular styles.

4740Y: Advanced Project in Popular Music Production

Allows students an opportunity to identify and capitalize on professional avenues for producing, distributing, and marketing music.

4791A: The Notations of Early Music

The notation and editing of European music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance; principles and practical exercises.

Music Theory / Composition Courses for Music Students

1629A: Introduction to Composition

Introduction to musical elements and manipulation (pitch, rhythm, intensity, timbre, texture, and form), and appropriate repertoire.

1639U: General Integrated Musicianship (GIM) I

Musicianship skills for basic diatonic materials. Topics include an introduction to solfège, tonal listening, sight singing, dictation and keyboard harmony.

1641U: General Integrated Musicianship (GIM) II

A continuation of Music 1639. Musicianship skills for advanced diatonic materials. Topics include sight singing, dictation and keyboard harmony.

1649A: Studies in Music Theory I

Basic theory and analysis of tonal music from c.1700 to the early nineteenth century. Topics covered include diatonic harmony and voice-leading, the concept and practice of tonality, basic tonicization and modulation, and an introduction to musical form.

1651B: Studies in Music Theory II

Continuation of Music 1649A/B. Intermediate theory and analysis of tonal music. Topics covered include harmonic sequences, an introduction to chromatic harmony, and the small forms of tonal music.

2629: Composition I

An introductory course in composing for voices and instruments. The course will include analysis of pertinent repertoire.

2639U: General Integrated Musicianship (GIM) III

A continuation of Music 1641U. Musicianship skills for chromatic materials. Topics include chromatic solfège, sight singing, dictation, and keyboard harmony.

2641U: General Integrated Musicianship (GIM) IV

A continuation of Music 2639U. Musicianship skills for advanced chromatic materials. Topics include sight singing, dictation, and keyboard harmony.

2651A: Studies in Theory III

Continuation of Music 1651A/B. Advanced theory and analysis of tonal music. Topics include advanced chromatic harmony, imitative contrapuntal forms, and the large forms of tonal music.

2671G: Music Across Cultures

Study of musical practices from around the world in their social, historical, theoretical, and aesthetic dimensions.

2695A: Introduction to Electroacoustic Music Composition

A practical introduction to electroacoustic music composition, including digital hardware and software. Students will study appropriate concepts, terminology, and repertoire, and will compose original music in the electroacoustic medium.

3601B Schenkerian Analysis

A study of Schenkerian analytic techniques with application to small forms.

3620A Tonal Counterpoint I

Study of the practice of tonal counterpoint in Baroque style. Development of written skills through species counterpoint and free counterpoint in the style of J. S. Bach. Composition of pieces such as choral preludes, binary dances, inventions, and fugal expositions.

3629: Composition II

Works in the larger forms for vocal and/or instrumental ensembles. Analysis with an emphasis on twentieth-century literature.

3630B Choral Arranging

Vocal scoring with and without instrumental accompaniment.

3641B: Score Preparation and Instrumental Arranging

Instruments of the orchestra and band. Timbres, ranges, transpositions, terminology, and score arranging. Arranging for orchestral and/or wind ensembles.

3649A: Studies in Music Theory IV

Theory and analysis of post-tonal music from c.1890-1950, with emphasis on atonal and basic twelve-tone repertoire.

3650B: Studies in Music Theory V

Continuation of material from Music 3649A/B. Theory and analysis of post-tonal music from c.1950 to the present, with emphasis on serial and post-serial repertoire.

3680B Special Topics (Jazz Theory)

Special topics in analysis, composition or theory.

3696B Electroacoustic Music Composition

Continued study of the terminology and technology of electronic music. Historical development, musique concrète, the “classical” studio, the synthesizer, and computer applications. Survey of the literature with some analysis. Compositional techniques and notation peculiar to electronic music and its real-time performance.

4629: Composition III

A continuation of Music 3629. Works in medium-sized forms for solo instruments and chamber ensembles. Analysis with an emphasis on contemporary literature

4671A: Introduction to Music Research

A consideration of various issues and approaches to research in musicology and in music theory.

Contact

Department Chair

Peter Franck
TC 318
(519) 661-2111 x84330
pfranck@uwo.ca

Undergraduate Program Assistant

Claire Naudi
TC 210
519-661-2111 x85332
mrcdept@uwo.ca