Spring 2025

Conducting (MUCD)

• D class assignments available in TMC-200; Phone: (213) 740-4721.
• Students accepted into a graduate program must take entrance examinations prior to their first registration. Any deficiencies revealed must be removed prior to completion of two semesters of course work. Transferring undergraduate students registering for the first time who have previous course work must take the appropriate examination for placement. Contact the Thornton School Office of Student Affairs for information. INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION 1 unit has a $350 fee, and includes 7.5 hours of total instruction. 2 units has a $700 fee, and includes 15 hours of total instruction. Contact school for course level guide.

MUCD 301: Individual Instruction (1.0-2.0 units, max 16)

Intermediate and advanced instruction (secondary emphasis) for music majors and minors. Open only to music majors and minors.

• Restriction: Registration open to the following major(s): Music, Jazz Studies, Music Industry, Music Recording, Composition, Composition (Film Scoring), Electroacoustic Media, Jazz Studies (Vocal), Music Education, Bassoon, Clarinet, Classical Guitar, Double Bass, Flute, French Horn, Harp, Harpsichord, Oboe, Organ, Percussion, Piano, Saxophone, Studio Guitar, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Viola, Violin, Violoncello, Vocal Arts
• Note: Final Deadline to request D-clearance: Friday of the first week of classes. Submit an individual instruction d-clearance request online here: music.usc.edu/students/individual-instruction-d-clearance-request-forms/. Thornton does not allow this course to be audited.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
Choral Conducting
43205D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 30	Tram Sparks	MUS211
Instrumental Conducting
43207D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 30	Larry Livingston	MUS317

MUCD 340: Choral Conducting I (2.0 units)

Basic conducting techniques; score analysis; conducting patterns; problems of tempo, dynamics, articulation and text.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
43210D	001	Lecture	8:30-9:50am	Tue, Thu	1 of 16	Michael Raleigh	MUS106

MUCD 343: Instrumental Conducting I (2.0 units)

Communicating musical ideas to instrumental ensembles; reading and conducting from full score of orchestral compositions. Laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite: ability to read a music score.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
43221D	001	Lecture	8:30-9:50am	Mon, Wed	2 of 14	Troy Quinn	MUS105

MUCD 348: Instrumental Conducting and Orchestration (2.0 units)

Reading and conducting from scores, communicating musical ideas to instrumental ensembles, arranging for small and large ensembles, notation, playing techniques, timbre, rhythm and intonation.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
43226D	001	Lecture	12:00-1:20pm	Monday	11 of 12 (5 on waitlist)	Sharon Lavery,	MUS105
			12:00-1:20pm	Wednesday		Neal Desby	MUS319
43227D	001	Lecture	12:00-1:20pm	Monday	11 of 12	Neal Desby,	MUS319
			12:00-1:20pm	Wednesday		Larry Livingston	MUS105

MUCD 441: Choral Conducting II (2.0 units)

Refinement of techniques developed in MUCD 340; study of styles and interpretations of choral music from the Renaissance to the present.

• Prerequisite: MUCD 340

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
43246D	001	Lecture	4:00-5:50pm	Tue, Thu	6 of 12	Emily Sung	MUS208

MUCD 443: Instrumental Conducting II (2.0 units)

Principal composers and representative instrumental works since the eighteenth century; studies of styles and interpretations based on scores and the performance of works in class.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
43255D	001	Lecture	12:00-1:50pm	Mon, Wed	11 of 12 (2 on waitlist)	Troy Quinn	MUS208
43256D	001	Lecture	10:00-11:50am	Wednesday	11 of 12 (3 on waitlist)	Sharon Lavery	MUS105
			11:00-12:50pm	Friday			AES138A
43257D	001	Lecture	10:00-11:50am	Tue, Thu	11 of 12 (4 on waitlist)	Larry Livingston	MUS105

MUCD 490x: Directed Research (1.0-8.0 units, max 12)

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Junior, Senior

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
43260D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 30	Tram Sparks	MUS211
43263D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 30	Larry Livingston	MUS317

MUCD 501: Individual Instruction (1.0-2.0 units, max 8)

Secondary instruction for graduate music majors or instruction for graduate non-music majors.

• Note: Final Deadline to request D-clearance: Friday of the first week of classes. Submit an individual instruction d-clearance request online here: music.usc.edu/students/individual-instruction-d-clearance-request-forms/. Thornton does not allow this course to be audited.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
Choral Conducting
43280D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	2 of 30	Tram Sparks	MUS211
Instrumental Conducting
43285D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	8 of 30	Larry Livingston	MUS317

MUCD 541: Choral Conducting III (2.0 units, max 6)

Problems of preparing and conducting contemporary choral music and major choral-orchestral works from full score; special projects according to student's development and interests. Laboratory, 3 hours.

• Prerequisite: MUCD 441

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
43295D	001	Lecture	10:00-11:50am	Mon, Wed	4 of 10	Tram Sparks	AES138A

MUCD 543: Instrumental Conducting III (2.0 units, max 4)

Problems in advanced conducting.

• Prerequisite: MUCD 443
• Note: D-clearance approved by instructor.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
43300D	001	Lecture	12:00-1:50pm	Tue, Thu	10 of 12	Larry Livingston	MUS208

MUCD 553: Individual Instruction (1.0-2.0 units, max 8)

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
Choral Conducting
43310D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 30	Tram Sparks	MUS211

MUCD 590: Directed Research (1.0-12.0 units)

Research leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
43320D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 30	Tram Sparks	MUS211
43323D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 30	Larry Livingston	MUS317

MUCD 641: Choral Conducting IV (2.0 units, max 8)

Continuation of MUCD 541, including choral conducting pedagogy.

• Prerequisite: MUCD 541

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
43330D	001	Lecture	10:00-11:50am	Mon, Wed	2 of 6	Tram Sparks	AES138A

MUCD 653: Performance (1.0-2.0 units, max 12)

Individual or master class instruction for D.M.A. Performance majors.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
Choral Conducting
43335D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	3 of 30	Tram Sparks	MUS211

MUCD 790: Research (1.0-12.0 units)

Research leading to the doctorate. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
43360D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 10	Tram Sparks	MUS211
43365D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 10	Larry Livingston	MUS317