Percussion Elective Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

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Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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Course

MUAP-1257-001 Percussion Elective

Prerequisites

Course Description

One 60-minute lesson per week, minimum six hours of outside practice per week required. Emphasis on basic technique and musicianship, with appropriate literature tailored to the needs/desires of the individual student.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and the Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) have developed a comprehensive overview of neuromusculoskeletal, vocal and hearing health issues for postsecondary schools and departments of music.  Information of a medical nature is provided by PAMA; information regarding contextual issues in music programs, by NASM. The following links address the risk of noise-induced hearing loss, neuromusculoskeletal and vocal injury—all of which are widespread and serious public health issues for musicians and others.

NASM-PAMA Advisories on Neuromusculoskeletal \ and Vocal Health

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• Student guide: https://nasm.arts-accredit.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/02/4a_NASM_PAMA_NMH-Student_Guide-Standard_June-2014.pdf
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NASM-PAMA Advisories on Hearing Health :

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• Student guide: https://nasm.arts-accredit.org/publications/brochures-advisories/nasm-pama-nms-vocal-health/
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Student information sheets:

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• Musculosketal: https://nasm.arts-accredit.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/02/5a_NASM_PAMA_NMH-Student_Information_Sheet-Standard-NMH_June-2014.pdf
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• Vocal: https://nasm.arts-accredit.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/02/6a_NASM_PAMA_NMH-Student_Information_Sheet-Standard-Vocal_June-2014.pdf
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• Hearing: https://nasm.arts-accredit.org/publications/brochures-advisories/nasm-pama-nms-vocal-health/
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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(2 sem hr; 1 hr lesson, 6 hrs practice)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Snare Drum:
\         Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone
\         Developing Dexterity by Mitchell Peters
\         Douze Etudes pour Caisse-Claire by Delecluse
\     Keyboard Percussion:
\         Fundamental Method for Mallets Vol. 1 by Mitchell Peters
\         Simply Four by Gifford Howarth
\         Instruction Course for Xylophone by George Hamilton Green
\         Jazz Mallets in Session by Arthur Lipner
\     Timpani:
\         Fundamental Method for Timpani by Mitchell Peters
\         Modern Method for Timpani by Saul Goodman
\     Drumset:
\         Time Functioning Patterns by Gary Chaffee
\         Essential Styles, book 1 by Steve Houghton
\     World Percussion/Hand Percussion:
\         TBA

\ Various Solo Material - as assigned

Supplies

\ Required Materials
\     Sticks and Mallets:(recommendations are listed in parenthesis)
\         1 pair general snare drum sticks (Innovative Percussion LD-1 or IP-1)
\   

Student Performance

\ Requirements
\     Music majors are required to perform a jury during the 16th week of school. Non-major elective students will not perform a jury but may take a final lesson during that 16th week.
\     All percussion students (elective AND major) will be required to perform from the literature they are studying from at least once during the semester. The student should demonstrate a high level of proficiency on the assigned piece and verbally demonstrate a knowledge of any historically or pedagogically-related information pertaining to the piece.
\     The performance format may be one of the following: a solo or joint recital, a masterclass with other percussion students, or as part of a concert or other pre-existing performance. This is at the discretion of the instructor, but will take suggestions from the student if a performance opportunity arises.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

\ For 30 minute elective:
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\ Students are expected to practice at least 30 minutes per day, for a total of 3 to 5 hours weekly.
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\ For 60 minute elective:
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\ Students are expected to practice at least 60 minutes per day, for a total of 6 to 10 hours
\ weekly.
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\ For music majors in their major area:
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\ Students are expected to practice 10 to 15 hours per week, divided equally among the days of
\ the week.

Grading Criteria

\ For Majors:    
\             Weekly Lesson Grade = 60%
\              Performance = 15%
\              Jury = 25%
\     
\     For Elective Students:
\              Weekly Lesson Grade = 90%
\              Performance = 10%

Attendance

\ Because lessons are set-up at the mutually agreed best time for both student and instructor, it is expected that attendance will be perfect. Some flexibility is available if either student or instructor must find another time for the lesson, but as much priority must be given to the originally scheduled time. To set-up your lesson time, please contact the instructor.
\   

\ Contact the instructor if you are unable to meet at the scheduled time. In the event of an unexcused absence, it is at the instructor's discretion as to whether the lesson is made up or not.

\ Per department policy, three unexcused absences will result in automatic failure of the course.

Calendar

Additional Information

\ Goals
\     The student will demonstrate basic knowledge in the five major areas of percussive study.
\     The student will demonstrate basic performance skills in a performance setting.
\     Other goals including short-term (semester), mid-range (collegiate term) and long-term (professional or post-collegiate) goals will be discussed at the beginning of each semester of study. The student is welcome to bring suggestions about course of study for a given semester.

\ Proficiency Requirements
\     Both non-major (elective) and major students will strive to achieve the following over the course of their first two semesters of study:
\     1. All Major Scales. Elective - one octave. Major - three octaves or full range of marimba.
\     2. All Relative Minor Scales. Same as above.
\     3. Major, minor, dominant 7th and diminished arpeggios (major only).
\     4. PAS 40 Rudiments
\     5. Accurate tuning of timpani.
\     6. Adequate time-keeping on drumset.
\     7. Familiarity of basic conga techniques.

\ Ensemble Opportunities
\     Amarillo College offers a number of ensemble opportunities including the Jazz Ensemble and the Community Concert Band. Percussion students are highly encouraged to participate in as many of these ensembles as their schedule will allow. For music majors, please refer to your ensemble participation requirements. Any questions can be directed to the Music Office.
\     It is important to remember that as percussionists, we must arrive earlier than anyone else to set-up and we must stay after everyone has left to tear down. There is no quicker way to be despised in an ensemble, than to arrive late, rehearse carelessly, then leave all of your materials out afterward!

\ A Word about Practicing
\     It is necessary for a musician to spend time “in the practice room” honing their craft. There is no way around advancement as a musician, unless the musician is dedicated to finding regular practice time.
\     There are two myths I’d like to eradicate about practicing:
\     Myth #1: You must practice for several hours at a time in order to get anything done. Not true! Some of my best practice time comes when I have twenty or thirty free minutes that I can practice in. If you don’t have a block of an hour or more to practice, look for the “dead time” in your schedule where you can slip in and out of a practice session. Often, if we practice in those times, we’ll find that we are more on-task and focused because of the time limitation.
\     Myth #2: It’s not how often you practice, it’s how much you practice. If that were true, then we could choose to not eat on Monday, then double our calorie intake on Tuesday! Regularly scheduled, daily practice time is much more important than two or three (or fewer!) practice times a week.
\     Because we are percussionists, we are often at the mercy of rehearsal halls for our practice facilities. Therefore, we must be creative in planning our practice times. For room availability, please contact the Music Office. They will be glad to help you find times in which you can practice and not disturb an existing rehearsal.
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\ Good luck! I look forward to working with you this semester!