MUS 121 Music Theory and Skills                                                          MFA 114

Spring 2001                                                                             MWF 10:00 - 10:50 am

Instructor:             Dr. Rick Davies

Office:                  MFA 225

Telephone:            564-2471

Email:                    rick.davies@plattsburgh.edu

Office Hours:         MW 11:00 - 12:00 and by appointment

Prerequisite:            Successful completion of MUS 120 or satisfactory score on proficiency test administered by instructor.

Required Materials

Ottman, Robert W.  Elementary Harmony.  Fifth edition.  Englewood Cliffs:

Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1998. CD included.

Ottman, Robert W.  Workbook for Elementary Harmony.  Fifth edition.  Englewood 

            Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1998. CD included.

Music staff paper, pencils, ruler, eraser.

Computer programs in library computer center.

Objectives

This course continues work in the tonal system and the principles of form in music.  The course will continue development of keyboard and sight singing.  Students will approach the theory work through listening, analysis, discussion, composition, and performance.  The course objectives are:

1.                  To establish a strong foundation in fundamentals of music through drill and practice;

2.                  To develop diatonic voice leading skills for two- through four-part writing, using short exercises and examples;

3.                  To focus on listening through systematic aural analysis; and

4.                  To begin study of form in music.

This course consists of two components: theory and aural skills.  The textbook will focus on the written music theory principles described in the objectives above.  The aural skills component is designed to develop the acuity of your musical ear, improving your ability not only to recognize, distinguish, and remember musical events, but also to translate sounds into notation, and vice versa.  This process is slow, but with steady and regular practice, the skills will come that are essential to any fine musician.

Attendance

DO NOT MISS CLASS.  Your absence will affect your ability to master the material and will handicap class discussion and performance.  Your absences will be considered excused in the case of illness or emergency and only when the instructor is notified in advance.  Either speak with me or leave a message on my voicemail.  No quizzes or examinations will be rescheduled because of unexcused absences.  Excessive absences may adversely affect your final grade.

Expectations

All students must document their use of the computer theory and ear training programs for a minimum of 2 hours weekly.  These programs are drill exercises, which supplement class activities and other homework assignments.  A short, but regularly scheduled, daily session of individual practice combined with one or two longer weekly meetings with a study group is recommended.  In-class drills and assignments will be given regularly.

Grading

The final grade will be based upon the following criteria:

1.                  Daily classwork and homework             40%

2.                  Quizzes (written and performed)             25%

3.                  Tests (written and performed)                   15%

4.                  Final Examination                             20%

The lowest grade in categories 1 and 2 above will be dropped.

It is vital that daily assignments be completed submitted on time.  Late homework will not be accepted on or after the day that graded assignments are returned.  There will be no makeup work, except in the event of an extreme emergency.  In-class assignments cannot be made up.  If you miss a class, you are responsible for homework that is assigned that day.  You should get the assignment from the instructor or a reliable member of the class.  All assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the designated day.  All written work should be done in pencil.

 This page was last updated on February 14, 2001