course descriptions
Prerequisite Grade
All prerequisites must be passed with a grade of C- or better.
Departmental Courses
1 Perceiving the Performing Arts
Professional artists in the fields of dance, music, and theatre introduce students to the fundamental concepts of their respective disciplines. Students go to Bay Area performances in each artform studied.Team taught.
50 SMArts (.25)
This activity course gives a quarter credit to students who attend at least 10 arts events held on Saint Mary’s campus during the semester. Written journal required. 100 Exploring the Performing Arts An exploration of different topics relevant to an understanding of the disciplines of dance, music, and theatre and their relationship to each other. Possible topics include historical change (from classical to modern), themes (what’s hot now), and styles (realism, minimalism).
160 Special Topics in Performing Arts
Offered every other year, this course covers in depth a specific aspect of the performing arts only touched on in other classes. Rotating topics include such things as: African American Dance, Great Composers, Acting on Stage and Screen. Though this upper-division class is open to all interested students without prerequisite, prior completion of Performing Arts 1 strongly recommended.
197 Special Study
An independent study or research course for students whose needs are not met by the regular course offerings of the department. Permission of the chairperson and instructor required.
198 Senior Project
During their senior year, majors in Dance, Music, Theatre or Dramatic Arts, under the supervision of a faculty member, are required to develop a project which d e m o nstrates their expertise and creativity.The project may take the form of a solo performance, involvement with a performing arts group off campus, a substantive essay, or directing/ choreographing a student production. See advisor for guidelines before end of junior year.
Dance
22/122 Applied Dance
Studio instruction in various dance styles (ballet, jazz, modern, African, Ballet Folklorico) at the beginning and intermediate levels.
121 Dance History I
This course covers the development of dance from its roots in court dancing through the development of ballet to the beginning of the modern era. Students attend professional dance concerts in the Bay Area.
123 Dance History II
This course studies the development of modern dance from its roots in ballet to the innovations of the present. Prerequisite: 121
125 Dance in Performance
A course in dance analysis and criticism. Different aspects of dance as a performing art are studied through attendance at dance performances offered in the Bay Area by local companies and national troupes performing on tour. Prerequisite: 1
126 Dance Production
Rehearsal and technique class for the Saint Mary’s Dance Company, culminating in public performances. Permission of instructor required.
Music
10 Rock to Bach: Introduction to Music
Students in this class cultivate the ability to listen more deeply. They study the evolution of classical music, jazz, blues, and early rock through exposure to more than 3 dozen composers—from Bach to Miles Davis to Little Richard.
11 Music Fundamentals
Students learn to read musical notation and study the basic construction of music through scales, key signatures, chords, and the relationship between melody and harmony.
12 Applied Music (.25)
Group instruction in musical instruments (piano, guitar, strings, woodwinds), or credit for participation in performance groups (Chamber Music, Jazz Band, NightinGaels, Gospel Choir). Beginning and intermediate levels. May be repeated for credit every semester.
14 World Music and Dance
A survey of music and dance from China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Native American culture.
15 Medieval and Renaissance Music (.5)
A brief examination of various aspects of music from the Middle Ages through the sixteenth century, with a focus on musical forms, vocal and instrumental technique, and performance contexts.
111 Symphonic Music
This course familiarizes students with masterpieces of the orchestral repertoire, while teaching them how to listen with more understanding to the works of Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, and many others. Students learn not only the development of the symphonic form but also its relationship to the social milieu of the time.
113 Jazz and Blues in America
An examination of the development of jazz and blues in the United States from the early 20th century to the present. Major artists and trends are studied through directed listening and analysis of the cultural context from which they arose.
114 Music Theory/Ear Training
Students learn basic principles of harmony (chords) and voice-leading, improve their music-reading skills, learn how to notate simple melodies, and identify types of chords and intervals by ear. Ability to read music is required before enrolling in this class. Prerequisite: 11 or permission of instructor.
115 Music in Performance
This course emphasizes the art of listening with sensitivity to music by attending live concerts throughout the Bay Area. Students hear music from all historical periods performed by outstanding orchestras, chamber ensembles, and soloists in a variety of concert halls. Prerequisite: Performing Arts 1.
117 Form and Analysis
Combines the study of chromatic harmony with analysis of scores to determine the unity of form and content in selected compositions: e.g., a Bach fugue, a Mozart concerto, a Brahms symphony, or a 20thcentury atonal work. Prerequisites: 11 and 114.
118 Twentieth Century Composers
Students will become familiar with the twentieth century’s most important classical music composers such as Stravinsky, Bartok, Copland, Debussy, Gershwin, and will also study the music and aesthetics of contemporary artists.
119 Music and the Enlightenment (.5)
This course examines the evolution of opera, fugue, symphony, and other forms through the works of Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, and other composers of this period. It considers how the intellectual and political values of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were conveyed through their music. Prerequisite: Seminar 122.
Theatre
30 Foundations of Theatre I
A survey of major historical developments in theatre, from its ritual origins to the rise of the modern era. Satisfies Area A requirement.
33 Acting I: Principles of Performance
An introduction to the theory, history, and styles of realistic acting with emphasis on personalization, script analysis, and the dynamics of performance. Satisfies Area A requirement.
36 Theatre Masterpieces: World Drama or Modern Drama (.5)
Discussion and analysis of masterworks of dramatic literature. A global perspective showcases playwrights working in diverse styles, eras and traditions. May be repeated for credit as play selection varies. Satisfies Area A requirement.
37 Performance Lab (.5)
Introductory hands-on training in specific performance skills: for example, audition techniques, musical theatre, physical comedy, or voice for the actor. May be repeated for credit as topic varies. Does not satisfy an Area requirement.
38 Stagecraft (.5)
The fundamentals of stagecraft from the first rehearsal to the closing of a show, with emphasis on the responsibilities of each member of the production staff. Instruction is given in the use of hand tools, power tools and theatrical equipment, as lab hours are spent building sets and props for a mainstage production. Does not satisfy an Area requirement.
130 Foundations of Theatre II: Theatre of American Cultures
An in-depth study of contemporary dramatic literature, focusing primarily on multicultural elements. Students attend professional productions and learn to utilize current performance theories and practices. Prerequisite: Foundations I [Perfa 30] or consent of instructor.
132 Performing Arts in Production (.5 – 1.0)
Either half or full credit is available for participation in the technical aspects of a Performing Arts theatre or dance production: elements of stagecraft, costuming, marketing, front of house etc. Required for majors and minors, but open to all interested students. Does not satisfy an Area requirement.
133 Acting II: Characterization and Scene Study
A continuing exploration of the tools and techniques used to bring a character to life onstage. Emphasis is given to the development of the actor’s instrument - body, voice, emotion and imagination – while partner and ensemble exercises build toward the performance of scripted scenes. Prerequisite: Acting I [Perfa 33] or consent of instructor.
135 Theatre in Performance: Bay Area Theatre
A critical engagement with current theatre production and practices. Students attend performances throughout the Bay Area, while studying the contributions made to each production by the playwright, director, designers and actors. Prerequisite: Perceiving the Performing Arts [Perfa 1] or Acting I [Perfa 33] or Foundations I [Perfa 30]].
136 Theatre Seminar: Special Studies
An intensive study of a selected era, genre or movement particularly rich in theatrical significance. Analysis, research and concentrated writing practice are key components of the course. Recent topics have included History of American Musical Theatre, Contemporary Women Playwrights and Documentary Theatre; may be repeated as content changes. Satisfies Area A requirement.
137 Acting III
Students learn advanced performance skills through specially focused work such as Shakespearean scene study, comic and dramatic monologues, and the challenges of period style. May be repeated for credit as topic varies. Prerequisites: Acting I and II [Perfa 33 and 133] or consent of instructor.
138 Stage Lighting Design (.5)
A concentrated study of lighting for the theatre - from learning the technology and providing basic visibility, to understanding how to “paint” with light while enhancing a production’s emotional and artistic impact. Students participate in the semester’s mainstage production and develop design projects of their own. Prerequisite: Stagecraft [Perfa 38]
139 Design for the Stage (.5)
A concentrated study of stage, costume and prop design for the theatre. Students follow the process of designing for the mainstage production while working on design projects of their own. Special focus is placed drawing skills, mixing colors and stage terminology.
Prerequisite: Stagecraft [Perfa 38]
140 Stage Management (.5)
A course in the responsibilities and functions of a stage manager, from the first rehearsal through opening night and beyond. Students develop the skills to run a show in an efficient and positive manner. Prerequisite: Stagecraft [Perfa 38]
# Does not fulfill an Area requirement.
* Offered in alternate years.
** Offered at least once in a 3-year period.
# Does not fulfill an Area requirement.
