Music and Performing Arts

3 semester credits. This course is designed to guide students through the diverse landscapes of guitar playing. The course is structured in a series of individual lessons on right and left hand techniques, rhythm, pick stroking, chordal theory, and guitar notation and scoring. The course will enhance musicianship through ear training and the development of aural skills along with hands-on research on a variety of musical styles and techniques for repertoire and instrument appreciation. Students will be encouraged to take advantage of the many contemporary and classical music venues that Florence has to offer in terms of live performances and studio sessions to better understand the figure of the guitar professional. This course requires a placement audition.

3 semester credits. This course gives a broad overview of the history of Italian opera from its origins to the beginning of the 20th century. As one of the most popular expressions of Italian culture, opera features specific musical and dramaturgic traits, as well as a fascinating symbolic language that will be investigated during the course. The course will analyze a selection of the most representative operas to understand their social and political context as well as the traditions linked to their interpretation and performance styles. Students will study opera in the very city in which it was created and where live opera performances animate the prestigious operatic seasons of Florentine theaters and venues. Selected works include Mozart's Don Giovanni and Le Nozze di Figaro, Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Bellini's Norma, Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, Verdi's La Traviata, and Rigoletto and Puccini's Bohème.

3 semester credits. This course introduces the basic elements of acting through text analysis, scene study, monologue work, character development, and physical and vocal expression. Students are encouraged to develop their sensorial awareness and self-confidence through the employment of various methods and movements that serve to reach dramatic quality. The course comprises lectures on the history of drama and it combines theoretical discussions with practical exercises, providing students with the tools to strengthen their ability to engage in inner reflection and public expression.

3 semester credits. The objective of this course is to encourage individual creative language while exposing the students to contemporary techniques of music composition. Through practical guidance in the composition of original music and intensive exploration of 20th century music theory and compositional methods, students will be able to concentrate on both the creative and the analytical aspects of contemporary composition. Collaboration between students in this course is strongly encouraged, along with the exchange of ideas, opinions, and information in order to assist each other with the composition and performance of technical exercises and creative projects. Prerequisites: One semester of music-related courses.

3 semester credits. The aim of this course is to acquire the key features of a well-rounded music producer. The first part of the course will target the technologies employed in professional recording studios. Students will be exposed to sound engineering, editing, mixing, and recording techniques, acquiring the skills to understand and master phases of the creative process. The second part of the course will analyze the business management of a production label in terms of relational and professional skills, product and artist management, and successful business strategies to challenge the expanding boundaries of the creative industry.

3 semester credits. philosophical evidence. This course will examine music through a multidimensional lens, tying musical compositions to the numerous dynamics of the city and its development over time. The course comprises a rich analysis of the interlinking epochs of music history, namely Greek and Roman theatrical music, court music, Classicism, Romanticism, Italian opera, popular music, jazz, rock, and rap. Students will engage in extensive listening exercises and will develop an understanding of music as a polyhedral art, instrument, and substantial human endeavor. Ultimately, students will be able to recognize the dialogue between music and history, as well as key protagonists in the evolution of musical performance and composition with references to structure, rhythm, instruments, narratives, and intent. The classroom approach of this course is based on experiencing the city as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations.

3 semester credits. This is an individualized course aimed at offering to each student professional guidance in achieving the personal objectives as a singer and performer. The program of the course will differ according to each student, granting a tailored approach in order to analyze specific breathing techniques and the necessary vocal exercises needed to improve pitch and sound quality. Focus will be given also to the interpretation and correct styling of the repertoire varying from classical opera to modern songs. Student involvement in the Florentine musical landscape will be cultivated throughout the course. This course requires a placement audition.

3 semester credits. This course is based on the study and practice of the necessary voice techniques to master opera repertoire under the professional guidance of the instructor. Through a series of individual lessons, students will be instructed on the development of healthy and correct breathing habits and on the proper use of the muscles to obtain accurate sound emissions in order to support the sound through the body. The course will also address the key techniques necessary to achieve correct tone placement and sound resonance. Students will train to gain control of the physiological aspects of phonation, acquiring competence in singing in Italian and the ability to address the challenges of the singer’s career. The course will provide the opportunity for the students to merge with the local musical community through research assignments. This course requires a placement audition and includes experiential learning with CEMI.