Professor Rob Kovacs
rcovacs@bw.edu

This course will explore what it means to be a contemporary songwriter. Through hands-on modeling and experimentation, students will apply tools and techniques to their own songwriting while simultaneously analyzing current contemporary, commercial, and art-pop trends. Weekly assignments and projects that capture the spirit of the course’s six parts will challenge students to create songs individually or as a collaborative team.

Professor Bryan Reichert
breicher@bw.edu

Have you ever wanted to learn to play the guitar, but didn't know where to start? Or maybe, you play already, but don't know where to go next? Then Guitar Class is the place for you! Guitar Class at BW provides students of all backgrounds and majors the opportunity to learn the guitar in a supportive classroom environment. We start playing from the very first class meeting and by the end of the semester, leave with a confident understanding of popular guitar playing styles and the tools to continue playing long after. Please contact Prof. Bryan Reichert, BW Conservatory of Music faculty, for more information!

Dr. Gabriel Pique
gpique@bw.edu

A survey of jazz from its origins through Dixieland and Ragtime to the present.

Professor Lorelei Batisla-ong
lbatisla@bw.edu

This course is for anyone interested in developing their accompaniment musicianship skills (in either ukulele or guitar) to use in a classroom setting. Within this context, we will experience elemental improvisation (using recorders, barred instruments, technology) and elemental movement and discuss pedagogical strategies to teaching young students. While this course is geared towards future music teachers, BW students entering the field of education and wanting to incorporate music in their classroom, or students seeking a musical elective would find this a meaningful course. Come as you are. No previous music experience required.

Dr. Carolyn Borcherding
cborcher@bw.edu

Survey of the evolution of electro-mechanical means of creating music with a focus on contemporary technology. Topics include hardware, software, MIDI, sequencing, sampling, and multimedia applications.

Dr. Danielle Kuntz
dmkuntz@bw.edu

This course is open to ALL Conservatory majors and is aimed at helping students to develop a broad understanding of music research methodologies, resources, and skillsets. Students will develop an independent research topic of their choice throughout the semester. Upon completion of this course, students will have prepared the materials (abstracts, prospectuses, etc.) and skills needed to participate in more advanced research opportunities, such as thesis projects, on-campus research programs (RBI Scholars, Summer Scholars), publications, or conferences.

Professor Ying Tan
qtan@bw.edu

Dr. Jess Narum
jnarum@bw.edu

In this course, we will explore different approaches to the study of popular music (specifically American popular music, mostly post-1960), including not only the study of harmony, form, and timbre, but also of rhythmic flow in hip-hop, the intertexts created by cover songs, and race and gender in music videos. Within some guidelines, students will be able to incorporate the music and music videos of their choice for all significant assignments, and the course will culminate in a project of their own design, allowing each student to determine both what they would like to study and how they would like to present their findings.

Staff Members of Cleveland Play House
bbowser@bw.edu

This course introduces skills required for success as a Teaching Artist including intermediate level training in: diversity, equity & inclusion; school & community resilience; restorative justice, culturally responsive teaching, creating a safe & creative classroom; and de-escalation & co-regulation.; taught in partnership with the Cleveland Play House.