Introduction to Music Literature Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Course

MUSI-1308-001 Introduction to Music Literature

Prerequisites

Course Description

Survey of the principal musical forms and cultural periods as illustrated in the literature of major composers.

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

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

NASM-PAMA Advisories on Hearing Health :

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

Student information sheets:

• 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
• 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
• Hearing: https://nasm.arts-accredit.org/publications/brochures-advisories/nasm-pama-nms-vocal-health/

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Machlis, Joseph and Forney, Kristine. The Enjoyment of Music, 12^th Complete Edition, W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN: 978-0-393-93637-7; The Norton Recordings, 12^th Edition, (online using access code from a NEW textbook)

Supplies

A brain that can focus, synthesize, learn, and recall information in regards to music literature; pencils/writing utensils, notebook paper/note-taking apparatus, and a strong work ethic.

Student Performance

After studying the materials presented in this course of study, the student should be able to do the following:

a. List major historical events (revolutions, discoveries, movements, etc...) which affected the course of Western Music and define their effect on composers and their music.

b. List principal composers from Antiquity through the Late Baroque/Early Classical time periods and identify at least one of their most notable works.

c. Be able to identify and understand the construction of musical forms during the time periods in outcome “b.”

d. Understand the most important musical genres connected with each historical time period, and their formal structures.

e. Identify a major environmental influence on the lives of the composers listed in item "b".

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

Professional Musician and student behavior is expected at all times within this course.

Grading Criteria

Class Attendance, Preparation (including essays and other non-research paper writings), and Participation: 30%

Exams (4): 40% (10% x 4 exams= 40%)

Research Paper/Course Presentation: 30%

Final Grade is based on the following scale:

A= 90-100%

B= 80-89%

C= 70-79%

D= 60-69%

F= Below 60%

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement; therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. Notification of excused absences (subject to approval of instructor) must be made 48 hours IN ADVANCE of the class period being missed, and must include all proper legal documentation for consideration of the excuse in question. You may contact me through the course shell, or at the above e-mail address if you do not understand this statement. You will be responsible for material and assignments that are covered in the class period that you miss, before you miss the class meeting (unless there is a legally-documented emergency). NO MORE THAN TWO EXCUSED ABSENCES WILL BE ALLOWED (after 6 absences/late-to-class, the instructor reserves the right to fail the student). Emergencies can occur, and these will be dealt with on an individual basis.  Being late to class and leaving class early will be considered absent.  Please note that this policy does not cover unexcused absences.  Unexcused absences, and being late to class, will not be tolerated and will lower your grade.   Students are expected to schedule the final examination time, for this class, and others, into their respective schedules.  You are responsible for that time and being in class during that timeframe.  A minimum subtraction of 1/3 of a letter grade will be deducted for all unexcused absences.  All students are expected to be in class on time (including Course presentations) and stay the entire scheduled time.  Students are not allowed to miss examinations.  Plan ahead and accordingly.  “My computer crashed” is not an acceptable excuse.  After two instances have occurred, the instructor reserves the right to fail the student.  Emergencies can occur, and these will be dealt with on an individual basis, but please contact me without panicking, and know that I want you to succeed but will not allow slacking.  Excused absences will be accompanied with a appropriate document of legal note (Physicians note, court order, death certificate, Police report, etc…) “My Girlfriend’s fish died” is not an appropriate excuse, and I heard that one before!  All College-related trips must have prior notification sent by the trip’s College Representative (the Professor in most cases), at least one week in advance (7 days).  If this is not done, an unexcused absence will be entered into the grading scheme.

The Instructor reserves the right to take offense at anything said, or done, by a course student that can be construed as offensive, rude, non-respective, etc., and lower the final grade without question.  Please be courteous, professional, and show respect when addressing a Professor/Instructor.

Calendar

Additional Information

RESEARCH PROJECT: Students will be required to write a 15-page (minimum, this does NOT include a title page, internal quotes, pictures, internal fluff, nor a bibliography, do not even ask!  This will count against you, as will finding a paper online and plagiarizing) from the time periods covered in class. The work should be directly related to the student's performance field. In addition, an oral presentation on the work will be presented in class with a PowerPoint Presentation, peer handout, and recordings of the work presented. Class presentations will be scheduled during the course of the semester.  PowerPoint presentation, peer handout, recordings, and paper will be due on 11/12/2016, by 23:59;59 CST (Never on, nor under the Professor’s office door! We live in a digital age.  E-mail it to me through the course! (Suggestions- MS Word for the paper / mp3, AAC, or AIFF for the recordings). Late papers and materials will not be accepted, so do NOT ask.  At the presentation, the student will provide a full copy (both digital and hard-copy) of all material to the instructor for grading, and will supply an analyzed score and handout for all the other students in the course. Topics for papers are to be typed; two copies printed, and brought to class on 08/31/2016 for Instructor approval. 10 points will be counted off of the project’s final grade for every hour late beginning at the start of class on 08/31/2016. 

The students will have all needed files for presentations on an easily accessible drive/format (e.g. - CD, DVD, Thumb/Jump/USB drive).  Downloading files from the Internet during the presentation time, and/or expecting the class computer to be able to read your iPod/iPhone is unacceptable.  Be overly prepared for this presentation!  Using YouTube, or other online accessible files, is prohibited during the presentation.

There will be individual meetings scheduled with the Professor and the Student to discuss the student’s research project.  All project material (Paper, Handout, PowerPoint Presentation) must be submitted by the due date (11/12/2016, by 23:59;59 CST).  If not, the Professor reserves the right to cancel any individual meetings with the student and not allow the student to present their project to the class.  Any material that is not complete will be construed as not being turned in, and an “F” will be entered for this grade.

It is the responsibility of the student to thoroughly research and understand both plagiarism and collusionary plagiarism.  Proper documentation and internal references are required.  Please choose one of the following styles: MLA, ABA, CMS, or parenthetical documentation format and adhere to the rules of the chosen style.  No Internet sources may be used as references, unless the instructor approves the site in advance.  Only ask about viable/credible Internet sources.  Also, a College English course, nor a creative writing course, does NOT make the student able to produce viable academic writing, nor does it make the student an expert in academic writing.  Listen to your Professor!  They are here to help you!

The format will be: 12-point Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins, double spaced, footnotes are at 1 inch as well.  No Exceptions!  Deviation from this format will result in a grade of “F.”

QUESTIONS: This syllabus is only an outline of the course of study. If you should have any questions regarding any of the topics mentioned above, I will be happy to discuss them with you. No question is unimportant, and I look forward to working with you. Have a great semester!  Do not speak with the Music Department Chair regarding this course until you have spoken with me regarding your problem(s).

Disclaimer: The instructor reserves the right to alter the syllabus and/or other course content based on the instructor's continuing evaluation of the course.  Students will be alerted to changes made.

Students in this class will not be “given” a grade.  It is the student’s responsibility to “earn” their respective grade for this course.  So, please pay attention to the timeline for this class and all of the due dates for course materials.

This course has a “No Mobile Phone Use/No Web Surfing/Texting/E-mailing, Etc.” policy in effect during the course meeting times.  If a student is caught violating this policy, it will be at the discretion of the Professor as to whether or not the student will be ejected from the course or receive a grade of “F” for the violation.

Plagiarism on any level will not be tolerated, and it is the student’s responsibility to understand the forms of plagiarism including blatant and collusionary.  Cheating is really dumb.  It degrades the cheater and the academic environment.  Just don’t do it!  Also, textbooks, friends, cheat sheets, and the Internet cannot be used for examinations.  The student is only allowed to use his or her own brain for examinations.  Please use academic honesty and integrity when taking examinations and writing papers. Any counts of plagiarism within this course will be given an automatic grade of “F” for the final grade.