Courses

Chamber Singers (Section A) Worship Team (Section B) Renaissance Singers (Section C) Vocal Jazz Ensemble (Section D) Musical Theatre Vocal Ensemble (Section E)

Brass Quintet (Section A) Jazz Combo (Section B) Stage Band (Section C) String Quartet (Section D) Woodwind Quintet (Section G) Traditional Jazz Ensemble (Section H) Guitar Ensemble (Section I) Music Theatre Ensemble (Section J) New Music Ensemble (Section K)

The large vocal ensembles of the School of the Arts, Media + Culture provide opportunity for singers to develop vocal technique and music literacy while learning choral repertoire from many stylistic periods and traditions. The Concert Choir is the introductory vocal ensemble at TWU and most singers will spend a minimum of one semester in Concert Choir before progressing to the more advanced ensembles. This course introduces ensemble-singing skills, lyric diction, and expressive performance techniques. The Concert Choir regularly takes part in major joint performances with the other TWU choirs. TWU’s large vocal ensembles are open to students of all majors by audition.

Topics vary from year to year.

An integrated course including a brief review of basic rudiments of music, four-part written harmony, analysis, introduction to form and counterpoint. Harmonic elements include diatonic triads and their inversions, harmonization of melodies and basses, dominant and diminished seventh chords and secondary seventh chords. Sight singing and ear training including melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic materials are included.

An integrated course including a brief review of basic rudiments of music, four-part written harmony, analysis, introduction to form and counterpoint. Harmonic elements include diatonic triads and their inversions, harmonization of melodies and basses, dominant and diminished seventh chords and secondary seventh chords. Sight singing and ear training including melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic materials are included.

The study of song composition (songwriting) with an emphasis on the student producing songs in a variety of styles and for different contexts, but particularly for worship settings (either corporate, performance, or other). Compositional topics include song structure, lyric development, harmonic organization, and instrumentation, considered in the contexts of congregational worship, contemporary performance, Psalm and hymn. The course format involves group workshop sessions and individual tutorials, with the instructor guiding the student’s work.

An examination of meanings and purposes of sacred/church -song' in the context of the believing community, from OT Psalm to early church hymn, chant to Reformation hymn, revival hymn and gospel song to contemporary worship chorus. The course will be concerned with seeing the varied musical and textual expression of God's people throughout their history, understanding these expressions within the worship culture of their time, and appreciating the breadth of repertoire of the church's songs.

SAMC’s Orchestra is dedicated to the exploration and sharing of the vast literature of symphonic music, presented on and off-campus to the glory of God. The core repertoire of this large ensemble is the masterworks of the eighteenth through twentieth centuries. In keeping with the School’s spirit of collaboration, the Orchestra also performs newly created works by SAMC faculty and student composers. Membership in this ensemble is open to students of all majors by audition.