BASIC MUSICIANSHIP LAB I
MUSIC 1176
sample syllabus

Two classroom hours/week
Ed Jacobs; Fletcher 302; 328-4280 JacobsE@ecu.edu
Office Hours: M-Th, 8:00-9:00 a.m. (changes each semester; check office door for hours), by appt., or whenever the office door is open.

         The aim of this course is to further develop your ‘musical literacy’, i.e., musicianship tools necessary for intelligent and critical listening, thinking, and performing. There are no tricks to achieving this goal; an awareness of the ways in which musical ideas unfold can only be brought about through practiced, active, conscious listening.

    Classroom attendance and participation is essential. You will be guided in the continuing development of your musical skills through a variety of classroom exercises and homework assignments. Consistent, active classroom participation and conscientious completion of homework assignments is the best way to succeed in developing these skills. There are two vitally important activities in this class: Always consider your ears to be your primary tool, and never stop asking questions about what you hear. Furthermore, never hesitate to inquire about something which is unclear to you, the only ‘stupid’ questions are the ones that are never asked.

    In addition to work in the classroom, you will be required to use an ear-training computer program, Practica Musica, to develop skills which require constant drill.  Skills such as interval and scale identification, rhythmic, melodic and harmonic dictation, etc., are best improved through regular practice.  This program is available for use in the Computer Lab in the Rm. 269, and I strongly suggest that you make a habit of using this program for 20 minutes each day.

    At the conclusion of this semester, your ears will be smarter: As your musical awareness (of the basic rhythmic, melodic, contrapuntal, harmonic, motivic, and formal principles of music you listen to, perform, write about, etc.) grows, you will find that you address all music with greater sensitivity and awareness. The skills you develop in this class (and all Musicianship classes) are vital to success in your pursuit of any musical activity.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Regular prompt attendance and class participation are strictly required. You are permitted two unexcused absences. Only medical and Official School of Music Off-Campus Performances and Tours will excuse absence.  Each unexcused absence, beyond two, will reduce your final grade by 5 points (i.e., half-letter grade).

2. Completion of all assignments.  Please be aware that late assignments are not accepted: they may be corrected, but will be graded as Fs.

3. Five quizzes and a final exam.

GRADES

Your grade will be based on many components, roughly weighted as follows:

Attendance, Class Participation	10%
Prepared assignments	20%
Transcription assignments	15%
Quizzes (see dates on schedule)	40% (8% each)
Final Exam (Dec. 5&10)	20%

Grading is on a standard scale

> 90% = A
> 80% = B
> 70% = C
> 60% = D
< 60% = F

HOW TO GET HELP, OR OFFICE HOURS

M-Th, 8:00-9:00 a.m. (changes each semester; check office door for hours), by appointment, or whenever the office door is open: 302 Fletcher Music Center; 328-4280; E-mail address is JacobsE@ecu.edu. If you need help and want to reach me, don't ever be shy, that's why I'm here.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Ottman, Robert.  Music for Sight-Singing, New York: W. W. Norton, 1997 (available in bookstore).

MacGamut, an ear-training computer program available in bookstore.

     Also, always bring some music manuscript and a few good pencils/erasers to class.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

PREPARED SINGING

For every class, in addition to daily warm-up exercises, you will be assigned passages (from the Ottman book) to be sung—with correct rhythm, pitch, conducting pattern, and solfège syllables—at the next class. You will be asked to sing these alone, in groups of varying sizes, or as a class.

TRANSCRIPTIONS

    One of the best ways to improve one’s ‘ear’ while gaining insight into characteristics of varying styles of music is through the act of transcription. There will be three such transcriptions to complete for this class. In essence, these transcriptions are 'long-term' dictation assignments. The transcription you hand in (needless to say, you should also hand in a copy of the recording you transcribed) will be graded based upon its accuracy, notational correctness, and legibility.
    Since the process of transcription is an arduous one, you must be careful in choosing a piece, or section of a piece, to work on. You will be listening to this music repeatedly, so you should choose something that you truly enjoy, something that you would like to 'figure out,' and something appropriate to your skill level. I would suggest a popular song, a show tune, or a jazz standard, though you may think of something more suitable to your tastes.
    Your first transcription is to be handed in on September 19. Believe me, this assignment can not be completed in a few days, and September 19 will come sooner than you can imagine. (Please take my word for it, don't neglect this assignment.) Begin thinking NOW about what you'd like to work on transcribing, and see me about your choice (you MUST bring me a recording of the work you'll be transcribing!) no later than September 5. Do not start your transcription work until I have okayed your choice.
    [Oh, in case it isn't obvious, if you should choose a tune whose sheet music is readily available, your assignment will be found within the parts that aren't notated, i.e. improvised solos . . . why do you think I have to okay it?]

TYPICAL CLASSROOM EXERCISES

   Warm-up singing
    Improvisation of melodies and rhythms
    Harmonization of melodies
    Individual and group sight-singing
    Rhythmic, melodic, harmonic dictation

QUIZZES/FINAL EXAM

    All quizzes, and the final exam, will consist of some (quizzes), or all (final exam) of the following: prepared singing, sight-singing, and dictation of melodies, rhythms and chord progressions. Each dictation excerpt will be played four (4) times, with two minutes between each playing.
    Strategies for taking dictation will be a constant topic of discussion for us in class, so don't worry if this sounds incredibly difficult right now. We will spend plenty of class time practicing this skill, and you'll also have two practice quizzes before the 'real' ones kick in. By the time the quizzes come along you'll know what to expect, and how to go about it.

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COURSE OUTLINE AND PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE: to be adapted as necessary