Syllabus
Music Fundamentals

Music Fundamentals

MUSI-1301

Fall 2010
08/23/2010 - 12/12/2010

Course Information

Section 012
Lecture
MW 15:30 - 16:50
RRC1 1314.00
Sharon Davis

Office Hours

  • T Th
    9:00am - 11:00am
    office hours
    This is for the Distance Learning/Online Music Appreciation course
  • W
    2:00pm - 3:00pm
    Round Rock Campus
    This is for the Music fundamentals course that meets on Monday & Wednesday from 3:30pm to 4:50pm

Course Requirements

FINAL GRADE CALCULATION/BREAKDOWN:  The following shows how grades will be calculated based on different sections of the coursework. 

 

 

Portion of Coursework

Percentage of Overall Grade

Daily Assignments & Quizzes

20%

Composition Assignments

20%

Exams

20%

Final

40%

Total

100%

 

Course Description: An introduction to the elements of music, including study of the staff, clefs, key signatures, scales, time signatures, notation, meter and rhythm, major and minor scales, song writing techniques, application of theory of the keyboard.  Additionally, some rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ear training will be incorporated into the course.

 

PREQUISITES: Open to all students.

TEXTBOOKBasic Materials in Music Theory,  by Paul O. Harder – 12thEdition

Required materials– pencils, music staff paper

 

*CLASS SCHEDULE BY WEEKS AND MATERIAL COVERAGE:

 

 

WEEK #

CHAPTER/SECTION COVERAGE in book

1

Course Description & Syllabus

& Chapters 1 & 2

2

Chapters 2 & 3

3

Chapter 4 & 6

4-5

Chapters 4-6

6

Chapters 4-6

7

Chapter 7 & 8  

8

Review & MIDTERM EXAM

9

Chapter 9

10

Chapters 9 & 10 & Composition Assignment #1 (Rhythmic)

11

Chapters 10 & 11

12

Chapters 10 & 11Composition Assignment #2 (Melodic)

13

6 Elements of Music; Elements 1-3

14

6 Elements of Music; Elements 4-6

15

REVIEW

16

FINALS

 

 

*This is best-case scenario.  Instructor will be assessing overall class ability frequently.  The level of class comprehension of the material and development of the required skills may effect the progression of material covered in class.  Some semesters have covered all of the above and more.  Others have only covered as far as the first 11 weeks’ worth of material….the exams will reflect only the material we have covered in class to that testing point.  To stay abreast of the progression, you will need to attend class regularly.

Readings

 

 

 

*CLASS SCHEDULE BY WEEKS AND MATERIAL COVERAGE:

 

 

 

WEEK #

CHAPTER/SECTION COVERAGE in book

1

Course Description & Syllabus

& Chapters 1 & 2

2

Chapters 2 & 3

3

Chapter 4 & 6

4-5

Chapters 4-6

6

Chapters 4-6

7

Chapter 7 & 8  

8

Review & MIDTERM EXAM

9

Chapter 9

10

Chapters 9 & 10 & Composition Assignment #1 (Rhythmic)

11

Chapters 10 & 11

12

Chapters 10 & 11Composition Assignment #2 (Melodic)

13

6 Elements of Music; Elements 1-3

14

6 Elements of Music; Elements 4-6

15

REVIEW

16

FINALS

 

*This is best-case scenario.  Instructor will be assessing overall class ability frequently.  The level of class comprehension of the material and development of the required skills may effect the progression of material covered in class.  Some semesters have covered all of the above and more.  Others have only covered as far as the first 11 weeks’ worth of material….the exams will reflect only the material we have covered in class to that testing point.  To stay abreast of the progression, you will need to attend class regularly. 

Course Subjects

 the student will develop the ability to read and notate pitch and rhythm, be conversant with the basic terminology of music theory, and be aware of concepts necessary for the understanding and enjoyment of western classical music, which include: time classification and time signatures, intervals, the major scale and three forms of the minor scale, key signatures, and triads.

We also have two fun projects during the second half of the semester, these are 1) rhythmic composition and 2) melodic composition.  These two projects give students the opportunity to use the new knowledge of music to create their own compositions...we even perform some of them in class and vote on the best one.  The winner gets extra bonus points!  We always have a bit of fun with these projects.

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

Course objective/OUTCOME:   Upon completion of the course, the student will demonstrate the ability to read and notate pitch and rhythm, be conversant with the basic terminology of music theory, and be aware of concepts necessary for the understanding and enjoyment of western classical music, which include: time classification and time signatures, intervals, the major scale and three forms of the minor scale, key signatures, and triads.