Advanced Theory Syllabus for 2017-2018
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Course Information

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

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

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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-2212-001 Advanced Theory

Prerequisites

Corequisite: MUSI 2117

Course Description

Advanced harmony part writing and keyboard analysis and writing of more advanced tonal harmony including chromaticism and extended tertian structures. Introduction to 20th century compositional procedures and survey of the traditional large forms of composition.  Correlated study at the keyboard.

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

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact your advisor, the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(2 sem hrs; 2 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: Spencer, Peter and Bennett, Barbara. The Practice of Harmony, 6^th Edition. Prentice Hall, 2011:ISBN-10: 0205717195  ISBN-13:  9780205717194

Supplies

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

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Continuation of music theory principles taught in elementary theory (freshman theory), with an emphasis on common practice harmonic language, musical form, chromatic harmonies, and style characteristics of the Baroque period through the Twentieth Century.

Student Performance

STUDENT PERFORMANCE/LEARNING OUTCOMES: After studying the materials presented in this course of study, the student should be able to do the following:

A. Be able to identify keys, tonality and/or modality by understanding the function of various notes and chords.

B. Be able to identify harmonic treatment in the historical time periods from the Classical period to the Twentieth Century.

C. Gain an understanding of chromatic chords, including Neapolitan 6ths, Augmented 6ths, and altered dominants.

D. Gain an understanding of extended diatonic chords, including 9^th, 11^th, and 13^th chords.

E. Be able to identify and understand the construction of the following musical forms: sonata-allegro, rondo, sonata-rondo, and variation.

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

Students will be courteous, professional, and respectful when addressing a Professor/Instructor as well as his or her peers.  

The use of cell phones during class time will NOT be permitted under any circumstances.  Likewise, laptop computers and other personal devices should be used only as would generally be considered beneficial to learning and study, with recreational and social use falling well outside these constructs unless specifically allowed by the instructor.  The instructor reserves the right to confiscate any device, electronic or otherwise, should it prove to be a distraction to the student or class in general, and a repeated offense will result in an automatic failing grade for the course.

Students will submit all assignments at the start of the class period on the date due.  The Instructor reserves the right to lower (at a rate of one letter grade per 24 hour period) the grade of any assignment turned in late.  “My computer crashed” is not an acceptable excuse.  Nearly all such “emergencies” can be avoided by planning ahead, starting, and completing work well in advance of the posted due date.  Any request for extension on the due-date of an assignment must be submitted in writing 48 hours in advance of the date in question.

 

Grading Criteria

GRADING CRITERIA/GRADE SCALE:

Syllabus Quiz 5%

Mid-Term Exam 25%

Final Exam 25%

Composition Project 15%

Class Presentation  10%

Class Preparation, Participation, and Quizzes  20%

Attendance is addressed below and will significantly impact grade.  Grade deductions will be applied after all other credit has been calculated. 

Homework is required for in-class discussions.  If homework is not completed on a daily basis, the instructor reserves the right to lower the student’s final grade.

Final Grade is based on the following scale:

A= 90-100%

B= 80-89%

C= 70-79%

D= 60-69%

F= Below 60%

Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement; therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. Any request for excused absence (subject to approval of instructor) must be made at least 48 hours IN ADVANCE of the class period missed, and must include proper written documentation for consideration of the excuse in question (legal documentation confirming absence, such as doctor’s note, court order, funeral program, etc. should be provided at the following class meeting). You will be responsible for completing any in-class assignments IN ADVANCE of the class period missed. NO MORE THAN TWO EXCUSED ABSENCES WILL BE ALLOWED without penalty (unless there is a documented emergency, which will be dealt with on an individual basis).  

Unexcused absences, being late to class, and leaving class early will not be tolerated and will lower your grade.  A minimum subtraction of 1/3 of a letter grade will be deducted for all unexcused absences.  After 6 infractions, the instructor reserves the right to fail the student.

Students are expected to figure the final examination time for this class into their respective schedules.  You are responsible for that time and should treat it as any other class period (prompt and full attendance).  Plan ahead and accordingly. 

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.

Calendar

Additional Information

REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS: There will be two major exams (Mid-Term and Final Exam) and occasional quizzes. The Final Exam will be held on the date found in the syllabus calendar, which does not necessarily align with the AC exam schedule.  The Exam will be comprehensive, as Music Theory builds on itself.

 

COMPOSITION PROJECT: Students will compose, notate, analyze, describe, and present a short musical work in the macro-form of "Theme and Variations."  The theme may or may not be original, but all variations must derive in some way from the material presented in the theme.  No fewer than five (5) variations will be written.  Each variation will be approximately 1-2 pages (15-50 measures, 30-120 seconds) and will be composed using a different compositional technique or recognized musical form that has been encountered in the Advanced Theory sequence.  Two individual meetings with the instructor will be scheduled to discuss the student’s composition project and presentation preparations.  All project material must be submitted by the due date.  

The following additional compositional guidelines must be met:

- At least three (3) major musical periods must be represented in the student's choice of forms/techniques.

- The composition will be written either for piano or for SATB choir.  

- The composition will explore multiple key areas and/or modes and will incorporate both traditional and non-traditional harmony.

- The composition will be cleanly notated using Finale software, and each page will be well-formatted.

- Each variation will have its own title and tempo indication, and measures will be numbered.  

- The work as a whole will have a single title (traditional or creative), which will be included at the top of the Theme.  

The following guidelines for submission and presentation must be met:

- The score will be submitted to the instructor in Finale, pdf, and hard-copy format at the start of the class on the due date.

- Each movement (including the theme and each variation) will be analyzed by the student on the printed copy of the score.

- A short but detailed description (3-5 pages) of the techniques used in writing each variation will be provided in pdf and hard-copy format along with the score itself.  

- The student will present his or her final composition in class and will arrange for excerpts of the work to be performed by colleagues or faculty (or electronically) as part of that presentation.  The student should provide hard copies of the entire work to his or her classmates, or alternatively may use the projector to show the score to the class.  The student will describe the composition as it stands, explain his or her compositional process and decision-making, and leave time for questions from the classroom.  

Failure to adhere to these instructions will result in an automatic loss of one letter grade per item.

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Plagiarism and/or cheating on any level will not be tolerated (you will fail). Textbooks or notes cannot be used for examinations, and all work submitted is given to the Instructor with the assertion that the work (research, etc.) was completed by the student herself or himself.  Please always ask if you are at all unclear regarding proper use of information or resources in a given situation.  We are here to help each other, but stealing another’s ideas is absolutely unacceptable and will be dealt with accordingly.

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!

DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves the right to alter the syllabus based on the instructor's continuing evaluation of the course and class progress.  Students will be alerted to changes made.