USA - MU398: On the Road (CO, MT, UT, WY)
MU398: Advanced Topics in Music: On the Road
Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming
Summer 2027
This experiential course immerses students in the performance, history, culture, and professional practice of American folk and bluegrass music. Students develop instrumental and vocal skills while working together as a touring ensemble, rehearsing and performing at venues and music festivals throughout the American West. Through intensive rehearsals, individual instruction, live performances, and travel, students learn what it means to function as a professional working musician. The course emphasizes ensemble playing, repertoire development, improvisation, harmony, stagecraft, musicianship, collaboration, and the ability to adapt to real-world performance situations.
Students perform regularly for public audiences and experience the challenges and rewards of preparing music on a professional timeline. The course culminates in participation in a major bluegrass music festival and band competition, providing students with an authentic performance experience alongside established professional musicians. In addition to music, the course explores the cultural and geographic contexts in which American roots music developed and continues to thrive. Students engage with the communities, landscapes, festivals, and traditions that shape contemporary folk and bluegrass music.
No prior professional performance experience is required, but students should be involved in folk/bluegrass lessons or ensemble and be prepared for a collaborative musical experience.
Course led by Prof. Keith Reed