MUS 100 -- INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC Online, Fall 2011 Instructor -- Karen Salvador, Ph.D Contact Information Email: ksalvado@umflint.edu Office: 126 French Hall Office Phone: 810 762 0950 Office Hours: Mondays 11:00-1:00, Wednesdays 1-3:00 PM Or by appointment (Please email me). Course Goals This course presents an introduction to the development, styles, forms, and elements of Western Art Music from Medieval times to the present. Throughout the course, these topics will be linked to current musical trends and issues in our society through listening and online discussion. Students will become more critical listeners, learn to analyze what they hear, and develop their ability to write about and discuss familiar and unfamiliar music. No previous study or knowledge of music is required, and students do not need to know how to read music. Required Text Bonds, Mark Evan. Listen to This (Second Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. The text must include access to MyMusicLab. Use this course code when you register: cm496445 If you buy a used text, you can purchase access to MyMusicLab at http://www.mymusiclab.com/index.html Learning Outcomes No. 1 Reflect on one’s own learning processes No. 4 Demonstrate the ability to think creatively No. 7 Use visual or non-verbal tools to enhance and decode messages No. 8 Demonstrate knowledge of culture and the arts No. 12 Investigate the nature of citizenship Evaluation 25% Quizzes (5) 25% Blogs, Comments, Discussions (Participation and Quality) 15% Written Assignments 15% Listening Journal 10% Concert Reviews (2) 10% Final Analysis Project
MUS 100 Syllabus Salvador, p. 2 Quizzes: Five non-cumulative, open-book quizzes will be given over the course of the semester. The quizzes will primarily ask about the content of the readings, particularly the opening section to each “Part” of the textbook (e.g., for Part I that would be pp. 16-21), the elements of music (see pp. 1-15) as they relate to the chapters being tested, and the terminology reviewed in the summaries of each “Part” (e.g., in Part I, p. 53). Remember that the “Global Connections” sections are optional and will not be tested. About 15% of each quiz will reference our discussion threads. The rest of the quiz questions will be drawn from the publisher’s test question bank. Taking the practice quizzes available on MyMusicLab might be a good idea. Quiz Dates: September 21 (Intro, Parts 1 and 2) October 5 (Part 3) October 19 (Part 4) November 9 (Part 5) December 12 (Part 6) Blogs/Comments/Discussions: Online courses allow you considerable flexibility in how you choose to schedule your participation in class. Since this is a 3-credit class, you should plan to spend about 3 hours a week reading discussion threads and posting to discussion threads (i.e., “attending” class). In addition, you should plan to spend about 6 hours a week reading from our textbook, listening to MyMusicLab (and other music suggested by me and your peers), working on assignments, and studying to prepare for quizzes. Please plan to spread your participation over the week, so that we each contribute to ongoing discussions. In the “course content” area on blackboard, there are folders for each week. Each week’s folder has assignment sections that might include: “Read,” “Submit,” “Blog,” “Discussion,” etc. The “Blog” section will tell you what you need to write about and how many blogs you need to read and write comments on. The quality of blogs will be evaluated based on mechanics (i.e., grammar, punctuation, and spelling) thoughtfulness, and relatedness to the topic at hand. In “Discussion,” you will find similar guidelines for each discussion thread. The quality of responses in discussion threads will be evaluated on the same criteria as blogs, as well as how respectful/appropriate they are. ***** Blogs must go up by Thursday at 11:59 PM of the week they are assigned to give others time to comment on the required number of posts.***** I will nearly always post an example blog, and you can use those as a model if you wish. You can comment on my blog if you want to, and that will count as one of your responses. I will allow you to engage in discussion as a class, although I will monitor discussions and guide as necessary.
MUS 100 Syllabus Salvador, p. 3 Written Assignments In the folders for some weeks, there will be an area called “Submit.” Written assignment(s) for that week will be described in the “Submit” category. Written assignments are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM of the week after which they were assigned. Written assignments will be graded on how well they answer the questions posed in the assignment as well as the overall quality of writing, organization, and mechanics (grammar, spelling, and punctuation). Listening Journal You will need to start a listening journal (use the course tools button). The journal is a way for you to reflect on your reactions to the music in Listen To This/MyMusicLab. The journal is private, and I will check in on it and comment every week or two. In this journal, please comment on what you are thinking about the music you are listening to as part of your reading. Do you hear what the listening guides are talking about? Did you enjoy the piece? What does it remind you of? What are the features of the music that are the most striking (strange, mundane, wonderful?) Please write an entry each week about the listening for that week. You do not need to comment on every piece included in that reading assignment... in fact, it might be better to comment in detail about 1 or 2 pieces that you either really liked or really disliked. The listening journal is credit/no credit. You will receive credit if you have thoughtful entries each week (a page or two… like 300-400 words) that demonstrate a development in your ability to write about music. Please spell check and read over your entries before you submit them. Concert Reviews: Due dates: October 24 and November 28th As a part of MUS 100, students will be required to attend and review two live musical performances during the semester. You may choose to attend events on or off campus, and they may be of instrumental or vocal music, including orchestra concerts, solo recitals, jazz concerts, musicals, ballets, operas, or chamber music concerts. If you wish, one concert review may be of a popular music event. The other must be student or professional musicians in a concert setting. There are a number of concerts that are free for students here at UMFlint (and I would bet any other college, if you do not live close by) as the music students and faculty perform frequently. You may not be a participant in the concert for you to receive credit. Each review should be 2-3 pages in length, double-spaced in a readable 12- point font. Please include the performers’ names, the date and the location of the performance in your paper. Be sure to keep a copy of the concert program. Do not collaborate with others on this assignment. The assignment will be graded on mechanics (grammar, punctuation, and spelling) organization, clarity, and content. For content, I will be looking for the types of terms and analysis used in
MUS 100 Syllabus Salvador, p. 4 our discussions and textbook, used in a way that indicates thoughtful review of the concert being discussed. Because you will all see different events, your papers will all be different. You could start your paper by describing details about the concert such as the venue, the performers, and the genre of music being presented. Then, you might answer some/all of the following questions: What was your impression of each of the works performed? How was this music similar to or different from other examples you have heard of this genre? How were the text and music related? Was an explanation provided for program music (if there was any)? How did the audience respond to the selection(s)? Why? Was there anything remarkable or unexpected about the musicians, conductor(s), or the music? (Did anything surprise you?) What did you think about the quality of the performance (perhaps compared to recordings you have heard)? There are many ways to structure your report; be sure that you capture what held your interest about the music that you heard. Remember to incorporate ideas and terms used in class and in the textbook! Papers are welcome earlier than the posted due dates. Final Analysis Project: Each student will choose an enduring, distinctive composer, performer, artist, or ensemble. Choose someone with a career spanning more than ten or so years, whose musical “voice” is easily recognized by anyone with a passing familiarity with their genre. Also, this person/group must participate in the composition of the works they perform. Pick a group/person whose music you LOVE. Here is your chance to teach ME! Select three contrasting pieces that are quintessentially representative of that performer’s work at different times in his/her/their career, and include links so I can listen to them. In a 4-5 page typed, double-spaced paper (12 pt font) begin with a brief biography of the composer/performer/artist/ensemble, and a brief description of the genre in which he/she/they perform(s). Cite your sources. Then discuss how the “voice” of the composer/performer/artist/ensemble shines through, even within these contrasting pieces of music. That is, what are the musical elements that distinguish the work of this composer/performer/artist/ensemble? What influences do you hear in the different examples? Use musical terminology and give specific examples of what you are talking about (apply the terminology and concepts used in the listening guides throughout your book, and reference specific times on specific tracks
MUS 100 Syllabus Salvador, p. 5 where I can hear what you are talking about). It may help to follow the suggestions on p. 513 as you write. I will post a sample analysis. Your final project is due on Friday, December 16 by midnight. I will not accept late final projects. Due Dates for Readings, Blogs, Journals, and Assignments: Readings should be completed, journal entries submitted and any assignments are due by Monday at 11:59 PM each week. Blogs and initial comments on each new discussion thread are due by Thursday of each week, and your responses to posts and participation in discussions should be ongoing. In any reading assignment, “Global Connections� sections are optional. Submitting Assignments: You must submit all assignments through BlackBoard. Do NOT email them to my outlook account. When you submit the assignment, please use a title like this: salvador_Listening Review 1 (Your last name, underscore, name of assignment). Please check the classlist to be sure you do not have the same last name as another student. If you do, please use your first initial as well (ksalvador_genderassignment). When I download the assignments to grade them, they are no longer associated with your account. If you call it "assignment" I cannot tell who submitted the assignment, and I will not grade it. Late Assignments: If you do not submit an assignment the week it is due it will be considered late. Late assignments will be accepted until one week past the due date, but the grade will be lowered one whole letter grade (i.e., if it earned a B+, it would receive a C+). Assignments will not be accepted more than one week late. Writing Center: The Writing Center can help you with any writing or speaking project, from starting an assignment to the finished paper or speech. You can get help with papers or speeches for any course on campus, graduate or undergraduate. Take a draft of your paper or speech to the Writing Center and the tutors will help you complete it. If you have an assignment sheet, bring that too. For more information about the Writing Center or to schedule an appointment, go to the Writing Center website at http://www.umflint.edu/writingcenter/ or call (810) 766-6602. The Writing Center is located in 559 French Hall. Academic Integrity:
MUS 100 Syllabus Salvador, p. 6 All violations of academic integrity will be reported to the College of Arts and Sciences immediately and will result in a lowered grade or failure for the course. Additionally, violations of academic integrity could result in expulsion from the University of Michigan-Flint. Academic dishonesty includes plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, aiding and abetting dishonesty, falsification of records and documents, identity theft, misrepresentation, or the attempt to commit any of these acts. For further information, consult the latest UM-Flint Course Catalog. Online Decorum: Just as in a traditional class, the success of this class hinges on the respectful exchange of ideas. By its nature, discussion involves some amount of disagreement, and it is in challenging and being challenged that we learn and grow. However, please strive to be open-minded and polite in your online interactions. Try to hear what the other person is trying to say, and then before you respond, consider what you might say to a person standing in front of you instead of an anonymous typed message. Keep the discussion professional and on-topic. Discussion is 25% of your final grade for this course, and personal attacks, bullying, inappropriate language, and other infringement on the integrity of our discussion threads will be penalized with a lowered grade. Furthermore, if the behavior is egregious or continuous, I will pursue disciplinary action at the university level. Final Exam: We will not have a final exam. Your final project is due on Friday, December 16 by midnight. I will not accept late final projects.