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Piano Class I Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Instructor Information

Instructor

James Rauscher (Curriculum Vitae)

E-Mail

jfrauscher@actx.edu

Phone

8063715350

Office Location

Music Building 303

Office Hours

MW 10:30-12:00

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

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.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

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

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

MUSI-1181-002 Piano Class I

Prerequisites

Course Description

For students with a limited keyboard background. Includes scales, chord progressions, technical studies, sightreading drill, short selections from solo literature.

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.

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NASM-PAMA Advisories on Neuromusculoskeletal \ and Vocal Health

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NASM-PAMA Advisories on Hearing Health :

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Student information sheets:

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(1 sem hr; 3 studio)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Alfred's Group Piano for Adults, Book 1, 2nd edition, by Lancaster/Renfrow

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\ Modes and Moods, by Robert D. Vandall

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Supplies

\ 3 ring binder, for handouts

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\ pencil

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\ textbooks

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Student Performance

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\ 1.         Recognize and play any note on the grand staff.

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\ 2.         Identify and understand the notation of rhythm:  whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, and their dotted values.

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\ 3.         Identify time signatures.

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\ 4.         Play exercises that utilize intervals up to an octave.

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\ 5.         Play major, minor, augmented and diminished chords beginning on any key.

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\ 6.         Play triads in root position, first inversion and second inversion.

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\ 7.         Play I-IV-I-V7-I progressions in all major keys.

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\ 8.         Perform solo repertoire that uses scale patterns and chords.

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\ 9.         Sight-read and transpose music with tonic, dominant & subdominant chords.

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\ 10.       Harmonize/transpose melodies with tonic, dominant & subdominant chords.

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\ 11.       Create two-hand accompaniments from chord symbols.

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\ 12.       Improvise melodies over tonic, dominant and subdominant chords.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student 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

\ The student is expected to practice a minimum of 30 minutes between each class period, or a total of at least 90 minutes per week outside of class.

Grading Criteria

Based upon homework, and on performance on four playing exams given on material covered in Units 1 through 13 in the textbook, plus a written exam at the end of the semester.  Homework will be worth a total of 200 points.  Each of the five exams will be worth 100 points.  Therefore, there will be a total of 700 points possible.  Final grade will be based on the following scale:

 

A = 90-100%

B = 80-89%

C = 70-79%

D = 60-69%

F = Below 60%

 

 

The following criteria will be used to determine your grade:

 

HOMEWORK:

10 assignments, worth 20 points each, will be given throughout the semester, for a total of 200 possible points.

 

REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS:

Four playing exams on material from Chapters 1-13, given at end of Units 2, 4, 9, and 13. 

 

FINAL EXAMINATIONS:

1) The fourth playing exam, given at the end of Unit 13, will be considered the final playing exam.

Attendance

\ Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class.

Calendar

Four playing exams on material from Chapters 1-13, given at end of Units 2, 4, 9, and 13.

1) The fourth playing exam, given at the end of Unit 13, will be considered the final playing exam.

2) A written final exam will be given, covering terms from Chapters 1-13.

 

DETAILED COURSE SYLLABUS AND PROJECTED SCHEDULE:

MUSIC 1181:             PIANO CLASS I, FALL SEMESTER                               Revised 8/12/15

TEXTBOOKS:           *ALFRED’S GROUP PIANO FOR ADULTS, BOOK 1, by E. L.     Lancaster and Kenon D. Renfrow , 2nd Edition

*MODES AND MOODS, by Robert Vandall

 

DETAILED COURSE SYLLABUS AND PROJECTED SCHEDULE:

Mon, Aug. 24  Introduction to lab.

Attendance and grading policies

On-line access to course materials

BE ON TIME!!!

ASSIGNMENT:         EACH ASSIGNMENT GIVEN IS FOR THE FOLLOWING CLASS PERIOD.  FOR INSTANCE, THIS ASSIGNMENT IS FOR WEDNESDAY’S CLASS:

1.         Purchase textbooks, looseleaf notebook, pencils.

2.         Study p. 8-10 in text

3.         Log in to eMusicTheory.com on personal computer

 

Wed, Aug. 26 ASSIGNMENT:         Review pp. 8-10

Study pp. 11-24

Practice note recognition on eMusicTheory.com

 

Fri, Aug. 28     ASSIGNMENT:         Review pp. 8-22 as needed

                                    p. 23    Fill in each blank, then practice 4 note groups

                                    p. 25-26  Try reading each melody

Work with flash cards

In Class: Complete Worksheet #1

Practice note recognition on eMusicTheory.com

 

 

Mon, Aug 31   ASSIGNMENT:         Practice and review the entire unit, especially pp.23-26.

                                                            In Class:  Complete Worksheet #2

                                                            Practice note recognition on eMusicTheory.com

 

Wed, Sept 2    ASSIGNMENT:         Review all of Unit 1

pp. 29-32 Study these pages

                                    p. 30    Fill in the blanks

                                    p. 32    Study about key signatures

p. 33    Practice Miniature Waltz

p. 34    Practice Minuet

p. 38    Practice Technique exercise No. 1

p. 35    Practice the rhythm reading

Complete Worksheet #3: Key signatures (Due Fri, Sept 4)

Practice note recognition on eMusicTheory.com

 

Fri, Sept 4       ASSIGNMENT:        

  • Unit 1 should be well learned for Wednesday.  Students must be able to recognize and name all the notes on the grand staff, and be able to find them on the keyboard.  Students should also be practicing pp. 33-38 in Unit 2, in preparation for the first quiz on September 14 & 16.
  • Complete Worksheet #4 (Unit 1 Review), from handout; due on Wed, Sept 9.
  • Practice note recognition on eMusicTheory.com

 

Mon, Sept. 7   LABOR DAY (NO CLASS)

 

Wed, Sept 9    ASSIGNMENT:  PREPARE FOR QUIZ NO. 1 ON MONDAY & WEDNESDAY, 9/14 & 9/16 (at least 3 items must be finished on 9/14):

                        1.         p. 38 Technique exercise No. 1                                                   20 points

                        2.         p. 33 Miniature Waltz                                                                 20 points

                        3.         p. 34 Minuet                                                                                 20 points

                        4.         P. 36-37 Be able to play any reading example                          15 points

                        5.         P. 38 Play one harmonization (your choice)                             15 points

                        6.         Note recognition on computer (at least 25 correct,                   10 points

                                    with no more than 2 mistakes)

                        7.         (Extra credit)  Play Chromatic scale                                         10 points

 

Fri, Sept 11     ASSIGNMENT: 

  • Worksheet #5 (Unit 2 Review Worksheet), due today before end of class.        
  • PREPARE FOR QUIZ NO. 1 ON MONDAY/WEDNESDAY, 9/14 & 9/16:(See Wed, Sept 9 for quiz items)

 

Mon, Sept 14  QUIZ NO. 1     

            ASSIGNMENT:         Study Unit 3 for Friday

 

Wed, Sept 16  QUIZ NO. 1, continued       

            ASSIGNMENT:         Study Unit 3 for Friday

 

Fri, Sept. 18    ASSIGNMENT:         p. 42-45 Practice all exercises

                                    p. 46    Dance

                                    p. 47    Bright Lights Boogie

                                    p. 50-51 Try reading Nos. 1-4

                                    In Class:  Complete Worksheet #6

                                    BRING TODAY’S COMPLETED WORKSHEET #6

                                                TO EVERY CLASS FROM NOW ON!!!!

 

Mon, Sept 21  ASSIGNMENT:         practice 5 finger patterns from worksheet, hands together

                                                            p. 52-53 Practice each piece hands alone

                                                            p. 55  Practice each hand alone

                                                            Modes & Moods:  Energized (p. 16), first 8 measures,

                                                                        hands alone

                                                           

Wed, Sept 23  ASSIGNMENT:         Practice 5 finger patterns from worksheet, hands together

                                    p. 56    Barcarolle: practice each part

Energized, first 16 measures

 

Fri, Sept 25     ASSIGNMENT:         p. 60 Playing Major Five-Finger Patterns and Broken

                                                                        Chords, in all keys

p. 61 Technique, in all keys

p. 62-63  Read each of these

Energized, 24 measures

Complete Worksheet #7, Key Signatures (handout), due                                                             on Monday, Sept 28

Mon, Sept 28  ASSIGNMENT:         p. 60 Playing Major Five-Finger Patterns and Broken

                                                                                                Chords, in all keys

                                                            p. 61    Technique, in all keys

                                                            p. 64    Little Scherzo

Energized, entire piece

 

Wed, Sept. 30 ASSIGNMENT:         PREPARE FOR QUIZ NO. 2, ON 10/5 & 10/7

                        1.         p. 60    Playing Major Five-Finger Patterns and               

                                    Broken Chords, in all keys                                                   20 points

                        2.         P. 61    Technique exercise in all keys                                  20 points

                        3.         P. 64    Little Scherzo                                                             20 points

                        4.         p. 68    Harmonization with 2 hand accompaniment          20 points

                        5.         Energized, from Modes and Moods                                    20 points

 

            Also, complete Worksheet #8: Unit 4 Review Worksheet, due Friday, Oct 2

 

 

Fri, Oct. 2        ASSIGNMENT:         PREPARE FOR QUIZ NO. 2, ON 10/5 and 10/7

(See Wed, Sept 30, for Quiz items)

 

Mon, Oct 5 and Wed, Oct 7: Quiz No. 2       At least 3 items must be finished on 10/5

                                                 ASSIGNMENT: Begin study of Unit 5

 

Fri, Oct 9         In class:

  • p. 72 (Study about Minor Five-Finger patterns & fill in the keyboards)
  • p. 73 Practice the Major & Minor 5 finger patterns on white key starts
  • p. 74 fill in the keyboards starting on black keys, and practice the Major & Minor 5 finger patterns on black key starts
  • p. 75  Study about Minor Chords, and practice the Minor 5 finger patterns and chords exercise
  • Worksheet #9: Complete the Minor 5 Finger worksheet (will be passed out in class, due on Monday, Oct. 14)

ASSIGNMENT:  Practice p. 73-75, and bring completed worksheet #9

 

Mon, Oct 12    ASSIGNMENT:         p. 73    Major/Minor five finger patterns, all keys, up

                                                            chromatically, ending with minor, then major chord

                                                p. 77    Sight read each piece

                                                            p. 82    Harmonize each piece, and write in LH

 

Wed, Oct 14   ASSIGNMENT:         P. 73    Major/minor five finger patterns, all keys, up

                                                                        Chromatically, ending with minor, then major chord

                                                            p. 87    Play RH of each one, then add LH harmony

                                                            p. 83    Play each part of the ensemble

                                                            p. 86    Study rhythms with triplets

                                                            p. 88    Toccatina

 

 

 

 

Wed, Oct 16   ASSIGNMENT:         In class, complete Worksheet No. 10 and turn in

                                                            P. 79    Major/minor five finger patterns, all keys, up

                                                            Chromatically, ending with minor, then major chord

                                                            p. 98    (Bottom) Playing Major, Augmented, minor, and

diminished chords, in every key, going down chromatically.

                                                            p. 104  Technique #1 (on white keys!)

                                                            p. 105  Harmonization with two hand accompaniment, No. 1

                                                            p. 88-89  Toccatina

 

Mon, Oct 19    ASSIGNMENT:         p. 73    Major/minor five finger patterns, all keys, up

                                                                        Chromatically, ending with minor, then major chord

                                                            p. 98    Playing Major, Augmented, Minor, and dimimished

                                                                        chords, in every key, going down chromatically.

                                                            p. 104  Technique #1 and #2

                                                            p. 105  #1

                                                            p. 88-89           Toccatina

                                               &nbs

Additional Information

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