Syllabus: MUS 216 – Ear Training I – Fall 2015
Course Information
Meeting Time and Location
Tuesday/Thursday, 9:00-9:50
Music B, Room 203A
Contact Information
Professor: Elizabeth Medina-Gray
Email: Elizabeth.Medina-Gray@humboldt.edu
Office Phone: (707) 826-5448
Office: Music A, Room 107
Office hours: Tuesday and Friday, 2:00-3:00 PM. Additional times by appointment.
The best way to contact me is by email or by coming to my office hours. I will respond to emails
promptly whenever possible, but I will not answer emails after 9:00 PM. Before contacting me
please be sure to read the syllabus, which has answers to a number of common questions.
Feel free to stop by my office any time my door is open (if my door is closed at non-office-hour
times I am probably grading, preparing classes, etc., so please do not disturb). I am happy to
discuss anything covered in class, to offer strategies for working on particular skills, etc.
However, I will NOT re-teach material covered in class on a day you were absent; it is your
responsibility to get notes from a classmate.
Textbook and Required Materials
Rogers and Ottman: Music for Sight Singing, 9th edition
Manuscript Paper
Pencil (no pen, please)
Binder or folder for collecting scores handed out in class
Classroom Conduct
Class will begin on time, so arrive a few minutes before the beginning of class. Please silence all
cell phones, and put them away for the duration of the class. If you need to leave class
temporarily for any reason, please do so without asking, as quietly as possible.
Pre- and Co-Requisites
In order to successfully understand the Ear Training I material, you must also be enrolled in
Theory I. In addition, you should be enrolled in a piano class. If you have great difficulty with
singing, you should also be singing in a choir.
Course Description
The aim of this course is to develop skill in the aural comprehension of music. We will approach
the task from several angles, including performance of rhythms, melodies, and keyboard
exercises as well as dictation of rhythms, melodies, and harmonic elements.
In Ear Training I, we will work specifically on:
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
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Major and minor scales, melodies containing stepwise motion and leaps within the
tonic triad
Rhythms with divisions of the beat in simple and compound meters
Intervals, triads, and seventh chords
Student Learning Outcomes
HSU SLOs
HSU graduates will have demonstrated:
 Effective communication through written and oral modes.
 Critical and creative thinking skills in acquiring a broad base of knowledge and
applying it to complex issues.
 Competence in a major area of study.
 Appreciation for and understanding of an expanded world perspective by engaging
respectfully with a diverse range of individuals, communities and viewpoints.
HSU graduates will be prepared to:
 Succeed in their chosen careers.
 Take responsibility for identifying personal goals and practicing lifelong learning.
 Pursue social justice, promote environmental responsibility, and improve economic
conditions in their workplaces and communities.
Music Department SLOs
This course will contribute to your acquisition of skills and knowledge relevant to these Music
Department (and National Association of Schools of Music) Learning Outcomes:
 Students will demonstrate the ability to hear, identify, and work conceptually with the
elements of music – rhythm, melody, harmony, and structure.
 Students will demonstrate familiarity with, and an ability to perform a wide selection
of musical literature representing principal eras, genres, and cultural sources.
 Students will demonstrate ability in performing areas appropriate to the student’s
needs, interests, and degree path.
Course-level SLOs
 Students will be able to audiate melodies and rhythms that use any of the following:
scale fragments, leaps from the tonic triad, and division of the beat in simple and
compound meters.
 Students will be able to hear and notate melodies and rhythms using any of the
following: scale fragments, leaps from the tonic triad, and division of the beat in
simple and compound meters.
 Students will be able to aurally identify scales, intervals, triads, and 7th chords.
 Students will be able to construct scales, intervals, and triads on the piano.
Course Requirements and Grading
Weekly Prepared Melodies and Rhythms
Nearly every week, you will be assigned a few select melodies and rhythms from the textbook to
prepare at home, and I will then ask each student to perform one of the assigned exercises in
class. I will decide before arriving at class who I will ask to perform each exercise, but I will not
reveal beforehand which exercise I am going to ask you to perform. Performances will be graded
on a credit/no credit basis (1 point = you were able to perform the exercise; 0 points = you were
not able to perform the exercise). The purpose of these assignments is to encourage you to
regularly practice the associated skills and to monitor your progress. Unless indicated otherwise,
you will sing melodies with scale degree numbers while conducting, and you will perform
rhythms with Gordon syllables while conducting.
Keyboard Exercises
Assigned keyboard exercises are to be performed for me in my office or at the end of class (as
time allows) by 4:00 PM on the assigned due date. Early performances are encouraged.
Keyboard exercises will be graded on a credit (1 point)/no credit (0 points) basis. In preparing
and performing keyboard exercises for this class, accuracy and the ability to think through the
exercise is more important than playing quickly or in time.
Individual Assessments
In lieu of class time on Tuesday, September 22, Tuesday, November 3, and Thursday, December
10, each student will meet with me for a brief individual assessment. For these assessments, you
will perform a prepared melody and a prepared rhythm (assigned in advance), as well as a new
melody and a new rhythm at sight. Each component will be graded as follows: 0 points = no
pass, 0.85 points = pass with some errors that you are able to fix, 1 point = pass with excellent
and fluent command of the material (minimum of one small error and no restarts). Individual
assessments can only be made up if you discuss this with me well in advance.
Weekly Dictations
Graded dictations will take place in class nearly every week. Each dictation will consist of one or
more of the following components: rhythm, melody, and harmonic elements (intervals, triads,
seventh chords). Dictations will take place at the beginning of class. If you are not in class when
a dictation is given, you will receive a grade of 0 for each missed component. Each component
of each dictation will be graded out of 10 points.
Final Dictation Exam
A final dictation exam will take place during the scheduled final exam time: Tuesday, December
15, 8:00-9:50 AM. The exam will consist of multiple instances each of the following
components: rhythm, melody, and harmonic elements (intervals, triads, seventh chords). Each
component will be graded out of 10 points.
Final Grade Calculation
Performances: 50%
Scores for weekly prepared melodies and rhythms, keyboard exercises, and individual
assessment exercises will be averaged together to yield this portion of the overall grade.
In order to pass the course, in addition to achieving a passing grade overall, you must pass at
least 50% of all graded exercises in each performance component: melody, rhythm, and
keyboard skills.
Dictations: 50%
Scores for all components in weekly dictations and the final dictation exam will be averaged together to
yield this portion of the overall grade.
In order to pass the course, in addition to achieving a passing grade overall, you must earn at
least a 50% average in each dictation component: melody, rhythm, and harmonic elements.
Letter Grades are calculated as follows:
A=93%-100%
A-=90%-92%
B-=80%-82%
C+=77%-79%
D+=67%-69%
D=60%-66%
B+=87%-89%
C=73%-76%
F=below 60%
B=83%-86%
C-=70%-72%
Attendance
I expect that you will attend every class and will arrive on time. If you are not in class, you miss
part of your education. Moreover, since you will be graded on something nearly every class day,
your best strategy for passing the course will be to prepare for and attend every class. If you are
not in class, you will receive a 0 for any graded activities you miss that day. (However, see the
lateness/redo policy below, and you may perform prepared melodies and rhythms or take
dictations early if necessary.) If you must be absent, you are responsible for getting notes from a
classmate and getting any handouts or assignments from Moodle.
Lateness/Redo Policy
Each student is allowed a maximum of three late/redo passes during the semester, with which
certain work can be made up in my office before the next class period after the original due date.
Late/redo passes can be used in any of the following ways:
 To make up a prepared melody or rhythm (of my choosing) from a day on which you
were absent or late
 To make up or redo a prepared melody or rhythm I asked you to perform in class that you
did not prepare or did not pass
 To make up a weekly dictation from a day on which you were absent or late
 To make up a keyboard exercise that you did not perform by the day it was due
 To redo a keyboard exercise that you did not pass
After three late passes have been used, or after the next class period has arrived, you will not be
able to make up or redo work. Late passes cannot be used to redo dictations you already did, or
to make up or redo individual assessments or the dictation exam.
If you are absent, you are responsible for setting up a time to make up any missed work with a
late pass. Come to my next office hours ready to make up the work; or if that time doesn’t work
for you, email me to schedule an alternate time. In your email, say that you would like to use a
late pass to make up the work you missed, and provide some times when you would be available
to meet with me. I will not track you down if you are absent (unless this becomes a repeating
issue).
Advice and Resources
Ear training skills develop slowly, and only with constant practice. You should set aside 15-30
minutes of practice time every day. Cramming will not help in this course. Your daily practice
should include singing several melodies or scales, at least one keyboard exercise, and at least one
rhythmic exercise. Practicing these performance components will also reinforce your dictation
skills. You are encouraged to practice with other students from the class, as group practice can be
very helpful. Additionally, a number of websites offer free ear training practice. The following
websites offer practice with chords, scales, and intervals: http://musictheory.net,
http://www.good-ear.com, and http://www.earmaster.com/intervalsongs.
Incompletes
A grade of incomplete will be given only if the following conditions are met: 1) Near the end of
the semester a severe illness or other catastrophe makes completing the semester’s coursework
impossible. 2) You request a grade of incomplete as soon as you realize that you will be unable
to complete your coursework. 3) You are passing the course when you request the incomplete.
Course Schedule
Due dates for prepared melodies/rhythms and keyboard assignments are subject to change with
fair notice.
Unit I: Major and minor scales, stepwise
melodies, scale degrees, simple meters
Week 1
Aug. 25
Aug. 27
Week 11
Nov. 3 Individual Assessment #2
Nov. 5 Dictation 10
Keyboard 5 due
Keyboard 1 due
Week 4
Sep. 15 Prepared M/R 3
Sep. 17 Dictation 3
Week 5
Sep. 22 Individual Assessment #1
Sep. 24 Dictation 4
Keyboard 2 due
Unit II: Melodies with leaps from the tonic
triad, diatonic intervals, compound meters
Week 8
Oct. 13 Prepared M/R 6
Oct. 15 Dictation 7
Unit III: Continued leaping melodies, triads
and seventh chords, additional simple and
compound meters
Week 12
Nov. 10 Prepared M/R 9
Nov. 12 Dictation 11
Week 13
Nov. 17 Prepared M/R 10
Nov. 19 Dictation 12
Keyboard 6 due
**Fall Break**
Week 14
Dec. 1 Prepared M/R 11
Dec. 3 Dictation 13
Week 6
Sep. 29 Prepared M/R 4
Oct. 1
Dictation 5
Week 7
Oct. 6
Prepared M/R 5
Oct. 8
Dictation 6
Keyboard 4 due
Week 10
Oct. 27 Prepared M/R 8
Oct. 29 Dictation 9
Week 2
Sep. 1
Prepared M/R 1
Sep. 3
Dictation 1
Week 3
Sep. 8
Prepared M/R 2
Sep. 10 Dictation 2
Week 9
Oct. 20 Prepared M/R 7
Oct. 22 Dictation 8
Keyboard 3 due
Week 15
Dec. 8
Keyboard 7 due
Dec. 10 Individual Assessment #3
Final Dictation Exam
Dec. 15, 8:00-9:50
Other Information
Students with Disabilities
Persons who wish to request disability-related accommodations should contact the Student
Disability Resource Center in the Learning Commons, Lower Library, 826-4678 (voice) or 8265392 (TDD). Some accommodations may take up to several weeks to arrange.
http://www.humboldt.edu/disability/
Add/Drop policy
Students are responsible for knowing the University policy, procedures, and schedule for
dropping or adding classes.
http://pine.humboldt.edu/registrar/students/regulations/schedadjust.html
Emergency evacuation
Please review the evacuation plan for the classroom (posted on the orange signs), and review
http://www.humboldt.edu/emergencymgmtprogram/evacuation_procedures.php for information
on campus Emergency Procedures. During an emergency, information on campus conditions can
be found at: 826-INFO or www.humboldt.edu/emergency
Academic honesty
Students are responsible for knowing policy regarding academic honesty:
http://www2.humboldt.edu/studentrights/academic-honesty or
http://pine.humboldt.edu/registrar/catalog/
Attendance and disruptive behavior
Students are responsible for knowing policy regarding attendance and disruptive behavior:
http://www2.humboldt.edu/studentrights/attendance-behavior