Syllabus: MU 1101 Introduction to Music Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

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1 Syllabus: MU 1101 Introduction to Music Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Instructor: Office: Office phone: Web: Term: Fall 2010 Credits: Mode: Dr. David B. Wetzel Associate Professor of Music Clarinet; Music Business & Technology (preferred method of communication) Butler Music Center, G (leave a detailed voice mail) (fulfills the General Education core requirement for Fine Arts ) Hybrid (Classroom + Online) Class Meetings: Lecture, 9:30 am, Butler 163; Online via Desire2Learn Course Description From the MU Course Catalog: Studies principal vocal and instrumental forms and media. Surveys important compositions from the early Baroque to the present. What this course is really all about: We will indeed study the principal vocal and instrumental forms and media as well as important compositions from the early Baroque to the present, but we will do so in a way that is a bit different from the usual Music Appreciation course. This is not a History of Western Music class. This class also does not cover Jazz, pop, rock n roll, Latin, hip hop, R&B, Bluegrass, country, or any of the other popular forms found in the genre menu of the itunes store. Nor will this course teach you to read music or play an instrument. It is entirely devoted to explaining the Western Classical Tradition commonly known simply as classical music (more than just another menu item in itunes, by the way). Classical music is not (always) boring, or meant for relaxation, or for the background at high-class tea parties. It covers the full range of human emotion and experience from sublime beauty to terrifying rage despair, hope, longing intimacy, grandeur you name it. The classical tradition is a tradition of making and performing and preserving music that stretches back over a thousand years and is alive and well today. It began in Europe, but it is now practiced worldwide, drawing from the ideas and cultures of every corner of the globe. It s not just for rich people, and it s not just for your grandparents. This music is for you, if you listen carefully. Course Organization First of all, most music appreciation courses are taught in the framework of a succession of musical periods (Renaissance, Baroque, Classic, Romantic, Modern ) as typified by a series of great composers and their representative works. I m not throwing all that out, but we are doing away with the chronological organization (we will still cover historical periods, but they won t be the primary focus). Instead, we will start the way most musicians do: with an instrument or ensemble and a piece of familiar music. From there, we will explore its various parts and implications, viewing it within its genre, from the perspective of its performers, in its historical

2 context, and in its relation to other works of its type across history, geography, nationality, and style. Therefore, the organization of the course will be principally by form or genre. First we will cover the symphony (both the genre and the ensemble) and other orchestral forms, with plenty of additional discussion of basics (musical vocabulary, cast of characters, concert etiquette and conventions, etc). The remaining topics are vocal & choral music, opera, and chamber music. Within each form or genre, we will examine a handful of representative works that show how each basic form endures through multiple historical periods, compositional styles, and societal uses. Once we have a basic concept of the forms of classical music, we will go back to some favorites and examine them in their historical context. Because this course is taught partially online, we will use this as an opportunity to survey various methods for accessing music for listening and information about music in an online environment. Some of the services we will look at include itunes, Rhapsody, Pandora, AmazonMp3, You Tube, and more. All listening examples will be available for free as streaming media through the Alexander Street Press Classical Music Library (via MU North Hall Library online databases) or through the library s Electronic Audio Reserves (EAR). We will also keep an eye (and ear) out for live listening opportunities in our local community (or at least within driving distance!). Course Goals What is the purpose of this course? Introduce students to the western classical tradition in music: its principal forms, history, literature, aesthetics, and culture Explore the meaning and relevance of the classical tradition to contemporary society Become acquainted with organizations, events, venues, media, and new technologies for the dissemination of classical music Develop an overall appreciation for music as a fine art and as a living tradition rooted in the foundations of western culture Course Objectives What will we do in this course? Listen to musical examples representing multiple genres, styles, historical periods, instrumentations, and composers. Discuss topics presented in the course with peers in a moderated online forum Research topics that expand student learning beyond the required introductory materials Read about music and musicians through a variety of primary and secondary sources Explore new ways of listening, learning about, and accessing music through live events as well as traditional and online media Student Learning Outcomes By the end of this course, you will have studied the western classical tradition as it has developed over the last five hundred years or so and as it is practiced today. You will not be an expert on classical music just because you took this class, but you should be well equipped for further exploration and life-long learning. As a General Education course within the 16-credit block of Core Courses, this course fulfils the following general education outcome: Knowledge of at least one of the varying forms of artistic expression. However, your personal learning outcomes should go much further. Upon completion of this course you should be able to: Recognize and describe the principal genres and forms of Western classical music Identify the principal historical periods of classical music 2

3 Identify and describe the principal roles of modern classical musicians Differentiate among standard classical performing groups Name and recognize representative works from a variety of periods, styles, and genres Identify and describe instruments of the orchestra Locate and evaluate recordings of classical music Locate and evaluate venues and opportunities for live listening through local concert performances and recitals Find reputable information online and in print regarding classical music Discuss the role of classical music in relation to the other fine and performing arts Discuss the role of classical music in relation to western culture, both historically and in contemporary settings Materials and Requirements Required Reading and Listening Materials. There is no required textbook for this course. Yes, that s right; all readings will be available online for FREE. Reading assignments and links will be posted online in the "Topics & Readings" and External Links areas of the web site. A few listening examples may be posted on the web site in MIDI and MP3 format. The rest of the required listening examples will be available on EAR (Electronic Audio Reserves) or the Alexander Street Press Classical Music Library through the MU North Hall Library ( A few listening examples will be drawn from free music streaming/download web sites. Links will also be available for the (optional) purchase of CDs or downloadable tracks. Required Online Access. Mansfield University uses a system called "Desire2Learn" for its online classes. Users of this system (faculty and students) must have a D2L account. To access online classes, you must log in to Desire2Learn with your campus services user name and password. Once you log in, you will see a list of links to the classes you are taking. To enter a particular online class, follow the appropriate link. Desire2Learn classes at MU can be accessed from the MU home page: System Requirements. To participate in this class you will need access to a computer with the following: Reliable Internet access (dialup/cable modem/dsl, computer lab, or other Local Area Network (LAN)). The faster, the better if you only have a slow (e.g., dialup) connection, some materials may be difficult to access. A web browser such as Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox, Opera, or Safari A sound card with speakers and/or headphones (on most computers, this is built in) A media player browser plug-in such as Flash, Windows Media Player, or QuickTime capable of playing back MIDI, Flash, and MP3 files. If you can watch videos on YouTube, you are probably all set. There is no specific browser/os requirement. I spend a lot of time testing on both my Mac (OS 10.6, Safari/Firefox/IE) and on my PC (Windows XP, Safari/Netscape/IE). I make a point of avoiding platform-specific tools. Let me know ASAP if you experience technical difficulty. Strategies for successful online learning Online learning is not magic. It takes time and discipline to successfully complete an online course because you must do all of the work on your own. This class will feature a single class meeting each week, but the majority of your work will be independent. Many first-time online learners seem to be under the impression that taking an online class means that they can get credit while taking a lot of time off. In fact, an online class may take more work and time than 3

4 a traditional class. The advantage of online learning is that the time you devote to the class is flexible. However, "flexible" is not the same as "optional." Time management. Prepare to spend at least the same amount of time on this class each week as you would in a traditional class. In a fourteen-week semester, that should be around nine hours per week (three in class, six for reading and homework). Your 9 hours per week this semester will include one hour in class, and the other eight hours logging in, doing the reading, listening, discussion board participation, Internet research, quizzes, and short research assignments. Your mileage may vary. Set aside regular times each week to do this, so you don't fall behind. Stuff happens. Home computer problems are not an acceptable excuse for falling behind in this course. Have a backup plan. If your computer crashes, or you have problems with Internet service from home, find an alternate way of accessing course materials. There is no reason you absolutely have to use your own computer to complete this course. Libraries, campus computer labs, or a friend's house all offer alternate resources for getting online in order to access this course and its materials. If, however, you are having extreme difficulty accessing the course, for whatever reason, let me know as soon as possible, before late assignments begin to affect your grade. Please do everything you can to give this class a place in your weekly routine. Your regular participation is critical to the success of the class. Please do not assume you can merely drop in for the exams. If you have a full-time job, family obligations, an overload of classes, or other heavy obligations, please consider how you will balance these before the term gets underway. Also, please get in the habit of backing up all your work, as you work. There are many options (flash drives, Desire2Learn locker, etc.). Please use these resources before resorting to the digital equivalent of the old dog ate my homework excuse. How to fail this course. The best way to fail this course is to stop logging in and to neglect to do the homework. Skipping the lectures is also a good way to fail (four or more unexcused absences fails the course!). I will try to students that seem to be in danger of failing on these grounds. If you re having trouble, stay in touch. I won t think less of you if you find that you are overwhelmed and need an exit strategy. Remember that the university has policies on dropping or withdrawing from a course. The deadlines are pretty firm, so if you need to bail out, do so on time to avoid a nasty F on your transcript. Course Policies Communication. If you me, please use your Mansfield University account. Be sure to include something useful and specific on the subject line (not just question or music class ). Keep in mind that many questions related to the course are better asked on the General Questions discussion board in Desire2Learn (so the rest of the class might benefit or even help you out). If necessary, call my office phone (and most likely leave a message): Participation & Attendance. You will be expected to keep up with assignment deadlines and weekly discussion board assignments. Late assignments (submitted within one week of the due date) will be subject to a reduction of one letter grade. You only have to show up once per week in person (Wednesday morning lectures). Unexcused absences from lectures may have severe consequences for your final grade (see Grading, below). However, you still have to log in to the class regularly, read the assignments, and do the homework. I am tracking your visits to each area of this course web site, so I will know if you have been actively checking out the readings or not. Discussion Board participation takes place throughout each week and cannot be crammed in at the end. Texting (and other electronic communication) during class is strictly prohibited and may result in an unexcused absence. 4

5 Late Homework and Make-up Exams. In special circumstances (approved by the instructor) you may be able to turn in homework late. Late homework will be subject to a reduction in letter grade. In general, homework will not be accepted more than two weeks past the due date. The listening quizzes, midterm, and final exams are open-book/open-note online exams. You will complete and submit them at your own pace. You may even save your exam in progress and return to it later, so there is no need to do the exam in one sitting. Therefore, I don't expect you to need any special allowances for make up exams. If your computer has crashed, you can use a library computer, Internet cafe, friend's computer, or whatever. You will have plenty of time to finish the exam and submit it by the posted deadline. However, there are sometimes circumstances beyond your control. Contact me ASAP if there is a REALLY GOOD REASON why you can't finish the exams on time. THERE ARE NO EXEMPTIONS FROM THE FINAL EXAM. Grading Whenever writing, research, and critical thinking skills are involved, I award letter grades according to the following criteria: Letter % GP Criteria A % 4.0 Exemplary. Well-prepared, creative, insightful, and thorough; Well-written, A % 3.7 with good use of sources (properly cited) B % 3.3 Good. Demonstrates basic competence and understanding of the material, B 84 87% 3.0 perhaps with minor flaws; Occasional awkward phrasing or unclear B % 2.7 passages; questionable word-usage/grammar; minimal citations or supporting evidence C % 2.3 C 74 77% 2.0 C % 1.7 D % 1.3 D 64 67% 1.0 D % 0.7 Fair. Demonstrates a less-than-firm grasp of the material; missing elements; multiple technical errors; grammatical/spelling errors; minimal use of sources or inappropriate citations; uninspired Poor. Demonstrates a lack of effort or understanding of the material. Multiple errors, missing elements, or failure to follow assignment instructions F < 60% 0.0 Fail. Missing, incomplete, plagiarized, clueless or incoherent Grade weights. Grades will be awarded for short research assignments, class participation (via the online discussion forum), quizzes, and exams (midterm and final). Assignments are weighted as follows: Short Assignments, 25% Discussion participation, 25% Lecture Attendance, 5% Listening Quizzes, 25% Midterm Exam, 10% Final Exam, 10% Attendance. Each unexcused absence from the weekly lecture will lower your attendance grade by one full letter. A grade of F in this category (four or more unexcused absences) will result in a failing grade for the course! Extra credit. In special circumstances (approved by the instructor) you may be able to make up for lost points on assignments with extra credit homework or do-overs. These will be assigned and approved on a case-by-case basis. In general, work that receives a grade of B- or above will not be eligible for make-up or do-over credit. Also, homework that was not turned in on time (see Late Homework, above) will not be eligible for do-over or extra credit exemptions. 5

6 Final grades. Final grades are based on the scores given throughout the term and the relative weights of each assignment. Generally, the grade shown in Desire2Learn (when all is said and done) will be the final grade you receive in the course. However, I reserve the right to adjust a final grade up or down by as much as one full grade level in response to the students overall professionalism (or lack thereof), effort (or lack thereof), and engagement (or lack thereof) with the course materials and fellow students. A grade of F for lecture attendance (4 or more unexcused absences) will result in an F for the course! Academic integrity. As stated in the MU course catalog (under policies ): Students are expected to do their own academic work. Dishonesty in academic work, including cheating, academic misconduct, fabrication, or plagiarism is unacceptable. Faculty are expected to instruct students in ways of avoiding these forms of academic dishonesty. Faculty are also responsible for assessing and reporting all charges of academic dishonesty to the Office of the Provost. The student handbook, The Mountie Manual for upperclassmen, or The Student Planner for freshmen, outlines the procedures faculty will use to initiate disciplinary action in cases of academic dishonesty. Faculty are responsible for informing students of course evaluation criteria, for adherence to the stated criteria, and for determining grades in a fair and equitable manner. If a student charges that a faculty member has discharged professional duties in an improper, arbitrary, discriminatory, or otherwise unjustified manner, the complaint will be considered by the procedures outlined in The Mountie Manual for upperclassmen or The Student Planner for freshmen. ( Exceptionalities. Any students with documented psychological or learning disorders or other significant medical conditions that may affect their learning should work with Mr. William Chabala in our Counseling Center (143 South Hall/ Phone: ; wchabala@mansfield.edu) to provide me with an appropriate letter so that I may serve their particular needs more effectively. If you have an exceptionality that requires class or testing accommodations, Mr. Chabala will work with us to identify and implement appropriate interventions. Course Content: Main topics (Learning Units): 1. Orientation to the classical tradition 2. Principal Forms and Genres: Symphony; Concerto; Program Music; Art Song; Choral Music; Opera; Chamber Music Other topics to be addressed along the way: Elements of music: melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre and form Instruments and Voices The relationships between composers, performers, and listeners Basic musical terminology 3. Historical Periods and Styles: Renaissance & Baroque; Classic; Romantic; 20 th Century Modernism ; Music and Musicians in the 21 st Century Influence of Jazz and popular music on the classical tradition Current performers, composers, ensembles, orchestras, and groups The impact of technology on music in the Information Age 6