Fundamentals of Music
AURAL COMPREHENSION
MUSIC 132-01
FALL, 2015
Instructor: Mark R. Wells Tuesday/Thursday, 4-4:55PM
Contact: Performing Arts Department Davidson building, Room 214
D 228 Davidson Building
Or
Music Center of South Central Michigan
(269) 963-1911, x 2587
Office Hours: By appointment (Fridays and Mondays work best)
Course Description and Goals:
Students are required to take MUS 132 concurrently with MUS 130. A sequential course designed to develop critical listening skills in music reading with special emphasis on ear training (interval identification, basic melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic dictation) and sight singing. Students will be encouraged to participate in computer-assisted instruction for additional assistance. Students will be expected to spend one hour a week outside of class in the computer lab for computer assisted instruction and practice.
Course Length: One semester, 16 hours of instruction, 1 credit hour.
Text: “The Musician’s Guide to Aural Skills” -Philips, Clendinning, and Marvin, Vol. 1
Supplemental Materials: Staff paper and a sharp pencil
Study Groups: Students are strongly encouraged to form study groups. Students who do participate in a study group will undoubtedly profit from the experience and should do better on the sight-singing and ear training exams.
Receiving Credit for Recitals: Each student enrolled in MUS 132 will be required to attend a minimum of four KCC music recitals/concerts. It is important to remember that, for the purposes of MUS 132, students will not be awarded credit for recitals in which they perform. The student must give a copy of the concert program/booklet to the instructor NO LATER than one week following the event. Any programs given past the one week deadline will not be accepted for credit.
Ear Training: The Computer program entitled AURALIA is used for this class. Students need not buy software to use Auralia. Students who wish to buy a copy of Auralia for home use should check the following website for distributors and prices (+ or - $100): www//risingsoftware.com
Course Outcomes and Objectives
Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to sing/play and/or identify:
:
- major, minor, and chromatic scales
- any interval, ascending and descending.
- major and minor triads in various inversions
- melodies in diatonic major and minor modes
Content and Tentative Schedule of Course
Assignments are due at the beginning of each class meeting for which they are assigned. Late work will not be accepted. The assignments will be graded and returned at the beginning of the following class meeting when possible.
Unit Examinations: Topics for each exam will be announced in class.
Thursday, August 27th-What is aural comprehension? Study words: meter, beat,
Tuesday, September 1st - Using ears to identify key measure, duple meter,
The fundamentals of rhythm, ictus, downbeat,
Meter and Rhythm upbeat, triple meter
Practice AURALIA, Levels 1-4
Thursday, September 3rd- How is pitch related to speech?Sing the major and natural minor
scales from DO to DO
Tuesday, September 8th-1) Determining the height of pitchesPractice your scales, using the
syllables
2) Scales and scale degreesComplete exercises 1.3 and 1.4
(whole/half step relationships) (parts 1 & 2 in your
text)
3) Solmization (use of syllablesReview your scale degrees:
to identify pitches). Learning1. Tonic
your solfege and symbols2. Supertonic
3. Mediant
4. Subdominant
5. Dominant
6. Submediant
7. Leading tone (or
Subtonic).
Study words: tonic, solemnization,
scale degrees, scale, melodic
contour, pitch, sequential
Thursday, September 10th-TEST DAY!SINGING QUIZ #1
Tuesday, September 15th-1. Major and minor scale degrees
2. Vocabulary list
Thursday, September 17th-
Tuesday, September 22nd- How do minor keys function in music? Read Chapter 4 in your text and
1). Listening to the minor scales and practice pages 80-84. Be ready to sing!
Identifying them (natural, melodic,
And harmonic scales).
Thursday, September 24th-
Tuesday, September 29th- What are intervals and how do they
work?
1). Identify intervallic relationships
2). Augmented/diminished intervals (???)
Thursday, October 1st-IT’S TEST TIME!!!SINGING QUIZ #2
Tuesday, October 6th-
Thursday, October 8th-How does one notate rhythm?
Tuesday, October 13th- 1) Rhythmic values
2) Meter signs
3) Understanding the beams vs.
the flags
4) The augmentation of the dot
5) Rhythmic dictation
Thursday, October 15th-The concept of melodySTUDY FOR THE QUIZ
Tuesday, October 20st- 1) Melodic dictation
2) Now add the correspondingPractice AURALIA, levels 5-7
solfege to the transcribed melody
Thursday, October 22nd-IT’S TEST TIME AGAIN!!!SINGING QUIZ #3
Tuesday, October 27th-
You will be given a piece to sing
at sight
Thursday, October 29-Ways of identifying the keyStudy words: enharmonic, circle of fifths, diatonic collection,
Tuesday, November 3rd- diatonic
1). Finding the tonic pitch collection, key, key signature,
2) Review the score and seek out dictation
melodic relationships
3). Beginning and ending pitchPractice AURALIA, levels 7-10
Thursday, November 5th-Understanding the relationshipsAURALIA-INTERVALS, all levels
Tuesday, November 10th- between intervals and how they
function, both independently
and with its ‘countermelody’
Thursday, November 12th-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SINGING QUIZ, #4
Tuesday, November 17th- scales, intervals, melodic
dictation, rhythmic dictation
Thursday, November 19th-
Tuesday, November 24th- Review sessionsAURALIA-INTERVALS/SCALES
ALL LEVELS
T H A N K S G I V I N G B R E A K
Tuesday, December 1st- Review sessions-preparation AURALIA- Intervals/
Scales
Thursday, December 3rd- for finals. We will cover any ALL LEVELS
material needed.
Tuesday, December 8th-Review sessions-preparationAURALIA-INTERVALS/SCALES
for finals. We will cover anyALL LEVELS
material needed
Thursday, December 10th-F I N A L E X A M I N A T I O N: D I C T A T I O N
Receiving Credit for recitals:
Students will receive credit for attending a minimum of FOUR KCC music recital/concerts. It is important to remember that, for the purposes of Music 132 students will not be given credit for recitals in which they perform. The student must give a copy of the concert program to the instructor NO LATER than one week following the event. After the deadline, credit will not be given for the recital concert.
Methods/Evaluation
Lectures, class participation, attendance in class, participation, and written work.
Grading System
A94-100C+77-79D-60-63
A-90-93C 74-76F59 and below
B+87-89C-70-73
B 84-86D+67-69
B-80-83D64-66
POINT ASSESSMENT:
Quizzes25%
AURALIA Lab Work20%
Class Participation35%
Recital/Concert Attendance 5%
Final Exam15%
It is understood that students will be attending the classes for which they have signed up (see policy below).
KCC General Policy Statements
1). Kellogg Community College Academic Integrity Statement:
The Kellogg Community College policy on Academic Integrity is spelled out in the student handbook. If it is suspected that you are cheating, fabricating, facilitating academic dishonesty, or plagiarizing, there may be serious consequences. The incident will be documented and may be reported to the academic chair and/or program director for possible disciplinary actions up to and including course, program, or college expulsion.
2). Kellogg Community College Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 Statement:
Kellogg Community College does not discriminate in the admission or treatment of students on the basis of disability. KCC is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Students with a documented disability are strongly encouraged to speak with the instructor and with the professional staff at support services (ext. 2624). The college offers many resources, but it is important to take advantage of them early. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the College and instructors of your needs.
3). Instructor Syllabus Rights Statement:
Information contained in this syllabus was to the best knowledge of the instructor considered correct and complete when distributed for use at the beginning of the semester. However, this syllabus should not be considered a contract with Kellogg Community College and any student, nor between the instructor and any student. The instructor reserves the right, acting within the policies and procedures of Kellogg Community College, to make changes in the course content or instructional techniques without notice or obligation.
4). Student e-mail: YOU MUST HAVE A FUNCTIONING KCC E-MAIL ADDRESS!
All KCC students are provided with e-mail accounts through the college server. You will be responsible for checking your KCC e-mail regularly and should be prepared to use KCC e-mail as part of student-college interaction. For e-mail account information, check the web at
5). Cell Phone and Other Electronic Equipment Statement:
CELL PHONES AND PAGERS must be on mute during class. If you must take or return an emergency call, please go out into the hall to do so.
6). Class conduct and Participation:
Class participation is encouraged. We will follow the College policies regarding Conduct. I expect students to create an atmosphere of respect. Come prepared with an open attitude that is professional and shows that you are ready to learn.
7. Food Statement:
Drinks and/or snacks may NOT be brought into the keyboard/computer lab. This rule is strictly enforced.
8). Attendance policy:
Attendance is a graded component of this class. Missing five or more classes/labs will result in a non-passing grade. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed from other students or the instructor. The instructor is under no obligation to make up missed assignments or activities with you. In case of tardiness or early departure, 1 point is deducted for each ten minutes.
9). Homework policy:
Assignments are due at the beginning of the class meeting for which they are assigned. Late work will NOT be accepted. The assignments will be graded and returned at the beginning of the following class meeting.
10). Withdrawal:
Check with the registrar’s office for the last day to withdraw and receive full refund. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain this information. If you fail to withdraw from class before the deadline, you will be held accountable for your end of the semester grade.
SUPPLIMENTAL MATERIALS: Music staff paper in a 3-ring binder. Pencils and a KCC or other working e-mail account.
NB: THE SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. I WILL DO MY BEST TO REMAIN ON SCHEDULE AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. YOU ARE EXPECTED TO WORK ON ALL ASSIGNMENTS WEEKLY. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO GET BEHIND IN YOUR ASSIGNMENTS-I WILL BE PERIODICALLY CHECKING TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE CURRENT IS THESE WORKBOOK ASSIGNMENTS. IT IS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT YOU READ THE ASSIGNED CHAPTER(S) PRIOR TO THE CLASS DISCUSSION. FINALLY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE REGULAR APPOINTMENTS WITH ME TO DISCUSS YOUR PROGRESS. I WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A MID-TERM GRADE/ASSIGNMENT ASSESSMENT.