MUSIC APPRECIATION-MUS205

MWF 10:00-10:50am

SUMMER MTWR 9:20-11:50am

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:

Yudkin, Jeremy. "Understanding Music." 4th ed.

RATIONALE
MUS 205, Music Appreciation, is an introductory college-level course which is designed to guide students through a study of the basic elements of music and demonstrate how such elements are combined in creating musical compositions. During the course, students will be introduced to the concept of musical style coupled with demonstrations explaining how combinations of musical elements create various musical styles. Discussions of composers' lives, historic events and socioeconomic situations will be used to enhance students' understanding of specific musical compositions, composers and audiences for which they were composed. Finally, students will have opportunities to hear and discuss a variety of compositions in an effort to develop their critical skills perceptions of musical styles.

COMPETENCIES
To acquire competencies given for the course, the student will:

A. View and discuss multimedia presentations on the following: a) "The Art of Listening," b) "Musical Sound and Noise" c) Instruments of the Orchestra," d) "The Opera," e) "Carmen."

B. Discuss and analyze the effects of musical elements in vocal and instrumental compositions of major stylistic periods.

C. Compare and contrast the organizational structure of homophonic forms (vocal and instrumental): binary, ternary, strophic, through-composed, theme & variations, sonata; polyphonic structure: fugue and mass.

D. Follow the melodic lines in selected vocal and instrumental compositions such as a) "The Erlking" - Schubert (Art song), b) "Fuque in g minor"- Bach. c) "Symphony No. 94" - Haydn, the 2nd movement.

E. Evaluate the structure and performance practices of Afro-American composers
and their musical styles.

F. Be familiar with items relating to musical terms, symbols, and notations.

G. Identify musical compositions or excepts when played in class or on exams.

BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

A. Understand & aurally recognize the difference between noise and music;

B. Recognize basic musical symbols, common meters, pitches, intervals,
key signatures, etc. studied in this course;

C. Identify and recognize by sound the four basic vocal types;

D. Identify, by sight and sound, the various instruments used in orchestras and bands; which instruments constitute instrumental families and ensembles;

E. Recognize and explain how musical elements (melody, rhythm, texture dynamics, etc.) are used in recorded examples;

F. Define musical terms such as rhythm, tone color, texture, form, etc.;

G. List musical characteristics of various styles (medieval, baroque,
classical, romantic, blues, ragtime, jazz) studied in class;

H. Identify instrumental and vocal forms in monophonic, homophonic, and polyphonic compositions.

I. An understanding of the following symbols used in music notation:
1. Lines, spaces, clef signs, ledger lines, note values
2. Sharps, flats, double sharps, double flats, meter signs

J. Aural recognition of the five major instruments groups: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion families in addition to keyboard instruments (piano, harpsichord, organ);

K. Recognition of all musical terms discussed in class; (vocal and instrumental): binary, ternary, strophic, through-composed, theme & variations, sonata; polyphonic structure: fugue, mass.

COURSE OUTLINE

I. Introduction

A. Music in Today's Society
B. Course Objectives/Requirements

II. Elements and Material of Music

A. Characteristics of Sound
B. Melody: Musical Time
C. Rhythm: Musical Time
D. Harmony: Musical Space
E. Musical Texture
F. Musical Form
G. Tempo
H. Dynamics

III. Performing Media: Voices and Instruments
A. Instrumental Families (Orchestra and Band)
B. Electronic Instruments
C. Classification of Voices
D. Music Notation
1. Musical signs and symbols
2. Tonality

IV. Periods and Styles of Music

A. Middle Ages (Medieval)
B. Renaissance
C. Baroque (vocal and instruments)
D. Classicism
E. Romanticism
F. Nationalism
G. Impressionism/Expressionism
H. Origin and Influence of Jazz
I. Modern Music Trends/Characteristics
J. Origin of Gospel Music

V. Music in Nonwestern Cultures

A. Africa (Subsaharan)
B. Japan (Koto music)
C. India

EVALUATION PROCEDURES
In this course, students will receive grades on teacher constructed tests and special classroom assignments. Quizzes or exams should be taken on the scheduled date, which will be ONLINE. If you miss a test, OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION MUST BE PROVIDED within two days after you return to class. University activities and doctor's excuses are the only TWO provisions accepted for make-up exams.

The grading scale for exams is as follows:

100-90 =A
89-80 = B
79-70 = C
69-60 = D
59-0 = F

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

A. All students are expected to attend class regularly and BE ON TIME. Regardless of absentees, excused or unexcused, you, THE STUDENT, NOT THE INSTRUCTOR are responsible for lecture material presented, assignments given, and meeting of deadlines for unexcused absence approval. At the end of the course, every unexcused absence will result in a one point deduction of your final grade. Three or more absences will result in an automatic forfeit of any extra credit points awarded during the semester. A period of two weeks after your return to class will be awarded to students to address and reslove any unexcused absences.

B. Make-up exams and other class work will be permitted upon receipt of doctor's note or University individuals of authority. The final decision of approval is the INSTRUCTOR'S.

C. In accordance with University rules, male students will not wear hats in the classroom, as well as, no eating or drinking by anyone.
D. The student must have access to a computer and email address.

REFERENCES

Dallin, Leon. "LISTENER'S GUIDE TO MUSICAL UNDERSTANDING." 7th., Dubuque, IA: Wm. C. Brown Publisher, 2001.

Kerman, Joseph. "LISTEN." 2nd Brief ed., New York: Worth Publishers, 1992.

Machalls, Joseph. "THE ENJOYMENT OF MUSIC." New York. W. W. Norton & Co., 1987.

RESOURCE MATERIALS

A. Recordings: dvds, cassette tapes, compact discs
B. Music scores, journals, and books.

CLASS ROOM RESOURCES AND RECREATION

Online Testing Site Online Music Theory Reference Educational Games for Music

My Homepage p.girtmon@att.net