MUMH 5030: Advanced Issues in Music Research

MUMH 5030: Advanced Issues in Music Research

Spring 2016, MW 12:30-1:50, Music Building 295

University of North Texas, College of Music

Instructor:Dr.J. Cole RitchieOffice: Music Building 260

Email: ffice Hours: Wednesday 2:30-3:30

Course Description
5030. Advanced Issues in Music Research. 3 hours. Advanced study of research and writing techniques and their application to proposals and papers, in the context of a selected topic.

Course Website

This course will rely on Blackboard Learn for the communication of announcements, assignments, submissions, grades, etc. You can access the course website by logging in to

Prerequisites

Music History Transcript Deficiencies; MUMH 5010

Course Description and Materials

This course is designed to provide a guided exploration intoaspects of and techniques for research into musical topics.We will also work extensively on techniques for thinking and writing about music. Using the topic of jazz music during the 1960s as a case study, we will learn how to develop a unique and necessary subject for research and complete a project in the vein of a thesis/dissertation proposal.

Objectives

• Investigatevarious materials and analytical methods that one can use to approach a research topic.
• Explore potential rhetorical structures for making an argument about musical subjects.
• Extensive practice regarding writing skill and strategies, including the creation of a document similar to those required to attain a DMA.
• Study the diverse trends of jazz music during the 1960s.

Readings

Individual reading assignments will be given throughout the course. These readings will be either posted on Blackboard Learn or distributed in class.

Recordings

Recordings for each lecture may be made available through a variety of sources:attached directly to the powerpoints, as a link on the weekly assignment sheet, on Blackboard Learn, or through the online course reserves. You can access the online course reserves through the library website. I will provide a link for you if you need to access this site.

Format and Types of Assessment and Evaluation

Total Score Grade

Mock DMA Topic Proposal400 900-1000A

Midterm Presentation 50800-899 B

Final Presentation100700-799C

Analysis Papers (x2)200600-699D

Short Writing Assignments1000-599F

Professionalism 150

Total 1000

Mock DMA Topic Proposal

A significant portion of this class and your grade is related to the production of a high-quality, 12-15 page (3600-4500 words)topic proposal similar to the type you will produce for your DMA topic proposal.

The topic for this paper will be of your own choosing provided it relates to the subject of the course. If you are uncertain of a topic, set up an appointment to meet with me and I will help guide you toward some potential subjects that use can use to begin your first assignments. During the course, it is possible that one of our class discussions/readings will inspire you toward a different topic of interest. You are free to change your central topic provided you do so by March 30. If you elect to change, you will have to ensure that all of the proposal criteria relates to the new topic including assignments already completed for the semester. The completed grades for these earlier assignments, however, will not be altered.

As this project is a substantial portion of your final grade, I will divide it into several components, which will be due throughout the semester. The due dates for each portion are listed in your syllabus. The number of points each portion is worth on your final course grade are in parentheses next to the item.

• Topic Proposal (30)
• Bibliography (40)
• Purpose/Significance and State of Research (50)
• Methodology (50)
• Revising your Thesis (30)
• Tentative Chapter Headings (40)
• First Draft (60)
• Final Submission (100)

Short Writing Assignments

Throughout the semester, you will also submit a variety of short writing assignments and activities. These writings will either be written during class or will be submitted online. All of these grades will be assessed on a 100 point scale and at the end of the semester, I will average these grades together to get your final score.

Class Presentations (Midterm and Final)

The midterm and final for this course will be oral presentations of your research stemming from your mock topic proposal. Prior to these presentations, we will discuss various strategies for effectively discussing your thoughts. This first of these presentations will be short and should be presented in a way that will allow for feedback from myself and your classmates. The final exam, which will be administered during the last week of class, will require you to present the information from your topic proposal. As you will be in the editing phase of other proposal assignment, you should already have all of the research completed and thus you will be able to focus on how to relate that information to others.

Analysis Papers

During the first half of the course, you will be required to write two short analytical papers of approximately 3-4 pages (750-1000 words). The first of these assignments will regard applications of traditional, harmonic analysis as a means to discuss jazz theory; the second will allow you to explore alternative means of analyzing jazz music. The goal of these assignments will be to not only analyze this music but also find an effect way to communicate this analysis through prose writing. Specific prompts for these assignments will be distributed later in the semester and you will have at least two weeks to complete the assignment after that prompt is distributed in class.

Professionalism

This grade is determined through a range of factors including:

• Arrival in the room by the time class begins with all of your materials
• Being prepared for and actively contributing to class discussion
• Submitting assignments on time
• Addressing the instructor and your classmates with respect
• Contributing to a positive classroom environment

Late Assignments

All assignments are due on the date specified in your syllabus (unless we as a class decide to move the date). I will accept these assignments up to one class period late for half credit on the assignment. Submissions after one week will not receive credit.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is required for this course.

In order to receive credit for attendance, you must be in your seat and ready to begin class by that timeand remain in class for the duration of the lecture. Class begins at 12:30; late arrivals may lead to a deduction from your professionalism grade. As class participation influences a substantial portion of your professionalism grade, it is essential that you attend regularly. Failure to do so will negatively affect that part of your grade and will likely affect your ability to perform on other class assignments as well.

You are permitted to have 4 unexcused absences. These absences are available in case of short-term illness, unavoidable obligations, or any other absence that would not be excused under University Attendance Policy ( Excused absences under this policy include University-sponsored events, religious observances, or serious emergencies. You have one week to obtain proper documentationin order to have an excused absence expunged from your record. If you need to miss this course due to appropriate professional obligations, please speak with me as I am willing to work with you as long as your reasons are legitimate and you have approached me beforehand.

You will receive a warning after afourth absence. It is your responsibility to know your total number of absences, and you can track your absences on your grade sheet on Blackboard Learn. If you have a question about your absences, please speak with me as soon as you notice an issue. If you accumulate a5thabsence, you have 48 hours to contact me directly with a legitimate reason and documentation for this absence. If I do not hear from you in 48 hours, you will be dropped from the class with a WF.

University Policies

Academic Dishonesty

Students caught cheating or plagiarizing will receive a "0" for that particular assignment or exam. Additionally, the incident will be reported to the Dean of Students, who may impose further penalty. According to the UNT catalog, the term “cheating" includes, but is not limited to: a. use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; b. dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; c. the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a faculty or staff member of the university; d. dual submission of a paper or project, or resubmission of a paper or project to a different class without express permission from the instructor(s); or e. any other act designed to give a student an unfair advantage. The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to: a. the knowing or negligent use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment; and b. the knowing or negligent unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.

Acceptable Student Behavior

Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Dean of Students to consider whether the student's conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university's expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found atdeanofstudents.unt.edu/conduct.

Access to Information – Eagle Connect

Your access point for business and academic services at UNT occurs atmy.unt.edu. All official communication from the university will be delivered to your Eagle Connect account. For more information, please visit the website that explains Eagle Connect and how to forward your e-mail:eagleconnect.unt.edu/

ADA Statement

The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website atdisability.unt.edu. You may also contact them by phone at(940) 565-4323.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress

A student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue to receive financial aid. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in addition to successfully completing a required number of credit hours based on total registered hours per term. Students cannot exceed maximum timeframes established based on the published length of the graduate program. If a student does not maintain the required standards, the student may lose their financial aid eligibility.

If at any point you consider dropping this or any other course, please be advised that the decision to do so may have the potential to affect your current and future financial aid eligibility. Please visit more information about financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress. It is recommended that you to schedule a meeting with an academic advisor in your college or visit the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office to discuss dropping a course being doing so.

Important Dates for Spring 2016

Jan. 19–Feb. 1Student may drop without instructor approval

Feb. 2–Feb. 26Instructor approval required to drop, student will receive an automatic W

Feb. 27–Apr. 5Instructor approval required to drop, instructor may assign either a W or a WF

Feb. 27–Apr. 22Instructor may drop students with WF for nonattendance

For more information, see the Spring Semester Academic Schedule: spring_2016

Grade of “I” (Incomplete)

An incomplete Grade (“I”) is a non-punitive grade given only during the last one-fourth of a term/semester and only if a student (1) is passing the course and (2) has a justifiable and documented reason, beyond the control of the student (such as serious illness or military service), for not completing the work on schedule. The student must arrange with the instructor to finish the course at a later date by completing specific requirements.

Retention of Student Records

Student records pertaining to this course are maintained in a secure location by the instructor of record. All records such as exams, answer sheets (with keys), and written papers submitted during the duration of the course are kept for at least one calendar year after course completion. Course work completed via the Blackboard online system, including grading information and comments, is also stored in a safe electronic environment for one year. You have a right to view your individual record; however, information about your records will not be divulged to other individuals without the proper written consent. You are encouraged to review the Public Information Policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) laws and the university’s policy in accordance with those mandates at the following link:essc.unt.edu/registrar/ferpa.html

Student Perceptions of Teaching (SPOT)

Student feedback is important and an essential part of participation in this course. The student evaluation of instruction is a requirement for all organized classes at UNT. The short SPOT survey will be made availableApril 18th– May 1stto provide you with an opportunity to evaluate how this course is taught. For the spring 2016semester you will receive an email onApril 18th (12:01 a.m.)from "UNT SPOT Course Evaluations viaIASystemNotification" () with the survey link. Please look for the email in your UNT email inbox. Simply click on the link and complete your survey. Once you complete the survey you will receive a confirmation email that the survey has been submitted. For additional information, please visit the spot website at .

Tentative Weekly Schedule

I reserve the right to change the topic question listed on the syllabus. Due dates for assignments, however, will not change. Plan your schedule accordingly.

Week 1 (Jan. 20)Syllabus/Course Introduction

Week 2 (Jan. 25/27)

Topic:The Scope of the Field

Writing Assignment:Searching for a Topic

Week 3 (Feb. 1/3)

Topic:Traditional Analytical Tools

Writing Assignment:Outlining an Argument

Week 4 (Feb. 8/10)

Topic:Analyzing a Recording

Writing Assignment:Analysis Paper #1

Week 5 (Feb. 15/17)

Topic:Video/Audio Sources

Writing Assignment:Abstract/Thesis Statement

Week 6 (Feb. 22/24)

Topic:Journalism

Writing Assignment:Bibliography

Week 7 (Feb. 29/Mar. 2)

Topic:Marketing

Writing Assignment:Analysis Paper #2

Week 8 (Mar. 7/9)

Topic:Archival Resources

Writing Assignment:Midterm Presentation

SPRING BREAK::NO CLASS MARCH 14-20

Week 9 (Mar. 21/23)

Topic:Ways to Approach a Single Composer

Writing Assignment:Purpose/Significance and State of Research

Week 10 (Mar. 28/30) – LAST DAY TO CHANGE TOPICS

Topic:Biography vs. Autobiography

Writing Assignment:Methodology

Week 11 (Apr. 4/6)

Topic:Reaction to Social Ideas, pt. I

Writing Assignment:Revising your Abstract/Thesis

Week 12 (Apr. 11/13)

Topic:Reaction to Social Ideas, pt. II

Writing Assignment:Tentative Chapter Headings

Week 13 (Apr. 18/20)

Topic:Major Events

Writing Assignment:First Draft – Topic Proposal Submission

Week 14 (Apr. 25/27)

Topic:Marginalized Groups

Writing Assignment:N/A

Week 15 (May 2/4)

Topic:Interaction with Other Cultures

Writing Assignment:Final Presentation

Final Exam (Topic Proposal Submission)

Submit by 12:30, Wednesday, May 11

UNT Final Exam Schedule

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