Music 125 Music,
the Arts, and Humanity
Syllabus Fall
Dr.
Office hours: M,
W, 12:40 – 1:40 PM, T, Th, 2:15 - 3:45 and by appointment in C215
Email: mramstru@sdccd.edu Office: C215, (619)
338-2220
I. Course Description and Objectives
In this class we will
examine selected musical traditions by taking three general approaches: 1)
critical listening to music 2) culture awareness and 3) politics and ethical
issues related to culture and music. This semester we
will explore aspects of African drumming, Powwow music, Hawaiian music,
Bollywood, Blues, Cuban music, Indian voice drumming, and Irish music. We will
learn basic musical concepts to assist in describing and communicating the
experience of listening to music. We will develop an appreciation of music as
an activity with social, political, and artistic functions. These analytical
tools will help students define their own identity through musical and cultural
practices. We will examine how music is used, how meaning is created, and how
music helps to define community. The course will employ lectures, videos,
audio, and presentations by local artists.
II. Course Materials Assigned readings are drawn from many sources so there is a class reader
which should be brought to every class.
III. Attendance
and Participation Active participation requires adequate preparation. Therefore read
assigned materials before class to develop your own assessment of the readings.
Careful preparation will improve the quality of class discussions. We are
learning about music communities and we will raise questions, explore ideas,
and express personal beliefs. Class discussions should be informed and
respectful. Each student will be required to do at least three 5 minute
presentations on the reading materials. Presentations will be assigned in
class. I will take attendance at the
beginning of every class. You get 2 points every day for attendance and
participation, less if you are tardy, unprepared, disruptive, or leave early.
If you are tardy, it is your responsibility to let me know you are here at the
end of class. Students will be regularly asked to show their work by putting it
on the board for the class to critique.
IV. Exams We will have two
cumulative written tests, a midterm and a final. Each will consist of three
sections. One section will evaluate the understanding of topics discussed in
lectures and reading materials. In the second section students identify
listening assignments by recognizing pieces, musicians, communities, and
instruments. In the third section students will demonstrate critical listening
by their written response to new music.
V. Writing Assignments All
writing assignments are due before the class in which they are due. Leave time
to proofread your work to catch careless mistakes. Errors in spelling and grammar are out of
place in college-level work. Writing must be neat and no special presentation
is needed: white paper with a staple is fine.
VI. Concert attendance and reports
Students are required to attend two performances from the list of
acceptable concerts. In your concert report include the concert date, location,
venue, group/ensemble/orchestra, instruments, and musicians. Include conductor
and soloists names if they have them, names of pieces and composers, community
or tradition, and any other details of the performance that are relevant. Most
importantly, write about your experience of the concert. What you liked or
thought was well executed, what you might not have liked or thought could have
been done differently, and general impressions or observations about the music.
Write soon after, or during the event. Always relate what you heard and saw to
specific events in the music, as discussed in class. Reports will be graded on
the depth of understanding, relating aspects of the music and culture to what
you have heard. Concert reports must be typed using 12-point font,
double-spacing, 1” margins, and it should be printed using adequate printer
toner.
VII.
Late Policy and
missed work Assignments may be turned in late; however, the grade
will be marked down one letter grade for every two days that it is late. The
lowest grade may be dropped excluding the midterm and final.
VII. Grading
Writing assignments (five small writing assignments) .................................. 20%
Attendance and participation (3 presentations of reading materials)............ 20%
Midterm......................................................................................................... 20%
Final............................................................................................................... 25%
Concert attendance and reports (two concert reports).................................. 15%
IX. Notify instructor: Students with a
verified disability may be entitled to appropriate academic accommodations.
Please contact your instructor and/or the Disabled Students Program Office for
further information within the first two weeks of class.
X. Absences: If you miss class for any reason,
you are responsible for missed work, turning in papers on time, and finding out
what happened. I will not redo lectures during office hours. Get
together with fellow students to share lecture notes. If you are absent more
than 4 times, you may be dropped from the class. If you wish to be reinstated
you must come and talk to me.
XI. Office hours: Many students never go
and see their professor during office hours, even if they are having problems.
I am here to help you succeed and want you to succeed. If you are having
problems, please see me and together we will find a solution.
(pet peeveà) Don’t come to me and ask “I was absent yesterday. What did I miss?” Do
talk to your fellow students, share lecture notes, do the assignment and then
come to me and ask “I have difficulty with problems 6-20 on page 28.” Be
specific about questions. Students are always welcome to stop by during office
hours to have tea, share thoughts and show off their musical talents.
XII. Student
Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to: 1.
Define terminology that describes the musical elements of expressive art forms.
2. Differentiate, through the use of critical thinking, technical thought from
non-technical thought. 3. Identify the elements of a performance. 4. Identify,
by culture, a variety of diverse artistic pieces and styles. 5. Critique
cultural bias and ethnocentrism in artistic presentations. 7. Recall and apply concepts introduced in
lecture and reading assignments as they relate to in-class presentations and
activities. 8. Identify elements of
performance and test anxiety.
Student Contact List: During the first
week of class a student support list will created with student contact
information - inclusion on the list is voluntary. If you choose to be
included you can be contacted by other students for missed information and if
you are absent you may contact anyone on the list.
Important
Dates: Last day to drop without a W is Friday September 4. Last
day to withdraw is Friday October 30. Last day of fall semester is Saturday
December 19.
- It is the student’s responsibility to drop all classes in which
he/she is no longer attending.
- It is the instructor’s discretion to drop a student due to
excessive absences.
- Students enrolled in a class beyond the withdrawal deadline, will
receive a grade.
Please keep this syllabus as a reference
throughout the semester. The syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of
the instructor. You are responsible for any changes that are announced in class.