Queensborough Community College
DEPARTMENT:
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Year: 2014- 2015
MUSIC
A. DEPARTMENT SERVICES/ACTIVITIES REPORT IN 2014-15
1.
Department-sponsored services (fall and spring semesters combined)
Area of Service
Number Served
OPEN RECORDING STUDIO HOURS.
The Music Department offers monitored access to its primary recording studio facility (HB 16), during hours when
no classes are scheduled in it. This room is open to students currently enrolled in one of the two studio
recording courses (MP 103 and MP 205), who need additional studio time for recording vocalists, instrumentalists,
and ensembles. The room is open approximately 30 hours each week, during the 15-week duration of both Fall
and Spring semesters. CLT support is provided to students who need assistance.
100
OPEN DIGITAL AUDIO LAB HOURS.
The Music Department offers monitored access to its primary digital audio computer teaching classroom (H 132)
and to one of its secondary digital audio computer classrooms (HB 26) during hours when no classes are
scheduled in them. The rooms are open to all students taking courses in the Department's MP2 curriculum.
The rooms are open approximately 35 hours each week, during the 15-week duration of both Fall and Spring
semesters. CLT support is provided to students who experience technical difficulties, or who need assistance
with log-in procedures.
350
TUTORING.
The Music Department offers tutoring services, provided by advanced music students, for all students enrolled
in MU 208, MU 209, MU 211, MU 241 and MU 312. Five student tutors provide approximately 20 hours
of available tutoring per week, during the 15-week duration of both Fall and Spring semesters. The hours are
spread out through the entire week, with hours available at some time during each day, Monday through Friday.
350
OPEN PIANO LAB PRACTICE ROOMS.
The Music Department offers monitored access to its piano keyboard classrooms (H 117, H 139 and HB 26) for
380
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Year: 2014- 2015
use by all students enrolled in the Department's Musicianship, Music Theory, and Piano classes. Students
provide their own headphones and can practice undisturbed and without disturbing others. These rooms are
open approximately 20 hours per week, during the 15-week duration of both Fall and Spring semesters. The
hours are spread out through the entire week, with hours available at some time during each day, Monday
through Friday.
SUPPORT OF MUSIC SOCIETY (QSA-SPONSORED MUSIC CLUB).
The Music Department offers support to the Music Society, which is an official student club sponsored by the
Queensborough Student Association. The Department provides a full-time faculty member (Dr. Steven Dahlke),
who serves as the club's advisor. The Department provides recording and performance equipment for Music
Society events throughout the year, and it provides CLT support where necessary. The Department provides for
the use of available classroom and rehearsal space during Club Hours, and the Society meets weekly in rooms H
110 and HB 26. The Department's office staff provide clerical support when necessary.
2.
200
Department-sponsored faculty/staff development activities
Type of Activity and Topic
Student Convocation I (Music Dept. Faculty-mentored student public performances)
“Careers in Music Seminar” (Panel discussion, moderated by Lecturer Ernie Jackson)
Faculty Recital (Dr. Neeraj Mehta, Assistant Professor; Dr. Jonathan Ovalle, Guest,
Assistant Professor, University of Michigan): PERCUNOVA Percussion Duo
Student Convocation II (Music Dept. Faculty-mentored student public performances)
Whirlwinds Woodwind Quintet, Guest Artists in Performance with works by Samuel
Barber, Irving Fine and John Harbison
Faculty Recital (Dr. Mirna Lekic, Substitute Assistant Professor; with Caroline
Borderies and Christian Barthod, Puppeteers): Claude Debussy’s The Toy Box
QCC Student Percussion Ensemble (led by Dr. Neeraj Mehta, Assistant Professor) in
performance
QCC Student Instrumental and Vocal Ensemble (led by Dr. Joanne Chang, Assistant
Professor) in performance
QCC QSA Music Society presents: “Walk to Aspire Fundraiser Concert” (led by Dr.
Steven Dahlke, Assistant Professor and Music Society Advisor) featuring student
performances of a wide variety
Date
Oct. 8, 2014
Oct. 15, 2014
Oct. 22, 2014
Number Attending
50
40
100
Oct. 29, 2014
Nov. 5, 2014
60
60
Nov. 12, 2014
75
Nov. 19, 2014
100
Nov. 26, 2014
60
Dec. 3, 2014
150
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
QCC Chorus, Pop Choir and Voice Classes (led by Dr. Steven Dahlke, Assistant
Professor), Annual Holiday Concert, “Songs of the Season”
QCC Jazz Ensemble (led by Mr. Ernie Jackson, Lecturer) in performance
Student Convocation I (Music Dept. Faculty-mentored student public performances)
Euterpe String Quartet, Guest Artists in Performance (including Dr. Joanne Chang,
Assistant Professor and Amy Camus, Adjunct Assistant Professor) with works by
Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Brahms
“Guitars for Everybody – Part VI” Student and faculty guitar and ensemble
performances, led by Mr. Ernie Jackson, Lecturer
Faculty Recital, performances by a mixed group of QCC faculty (Dr. Charles
Neuman, Associate Professor, Physics Dept.; Dr. Joanne Chang, Assistant Professor,
Music Dept.; Dr. Neeraj Mehta, Assistant Professor, Music Dept.; Dr. Bjorn
Berkhout, Assistant Professor, Music Dept.; Dr. Mirna Lekic, Substitute Assistant
Professor, Music Dept.; Mr. Ernie Jackson, Lecturer, Music Dept.)
Grammy-Award winning Artist, Arturo O’Farrill, and the Afro-Latin Jazz Quartet in
Performance
QCC Student Instrumental and Vocal Ensemble (led by Dr. Joanne Chang, Assistant
Professor) and QCC Student Percussion Ensemble (led by Dr. Neeraj Mehta,
Assistant Professor) in performance
QCC Student Jazz Ensemble (led by Mr. Ernie Jackson, Lecturer) in performance
Student Convocation II (Music Dept. Faculty-mentored student public performances)
QCC Chorus, Pop Choir and Voice Classes (led by Dr. Steven Dahlke, Assistant
Professor), Annual Spring Concert, “Sing into Spring!”
“Queens Music Fest II,” an annual music festival, hosted by the Queens Symphonic
Band (led by Dr. Bernie Rose, adjunct Assistant Professor), featuring the In
Performance Music Workshop Jazz Ensemble (led by Sean King), the Jackson
Heights Orchestra (led by Pat Glunt) and the New York Laureate Orchestra (led by
Kyoungsoo Kim) in performance
QCC QSA Music Society, student performances (supervised by Dr. Steven Dahlke,
Music Society advisor and Assistant Professor)
“Ensemble 365,” a chamber group comprised of cello, flute, piano, violin and
soprano (including Dr. Mirna Lekic, Substitute Assistant Professor)
Year: 2014- 2015
Dec. 6, 2014
100
Dec. 10, 2014
March 11, 2015
March 18, 2015
65
50
75
March 25, 2015
100
April 1, 2015
75
April 15, 2015
150
April 22, 2015
90
April 22, 2015
April 29, 2015
May 2, 2015
125
50
125
May 2, 2015
250
May 6, 2015
100
May 13, 2015
60
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Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Queensborough Community College
Year: 2014- 2015
B. COURSE CHANGES IN 2014-15
New, revised,
or deleted
Revised
Course
number
MU 381
Course title
Class Instruction in Percussion I
Semester
approved
Spring 2015
Revised
MU 382
Class Instruction in Percussion II
Spring 2015
Revised
MU 451, 452,
453, 454
MU 471, 472,
473, 474
Instrumental and Vocal Ensemble
Spring 2015
Percussion Ensemble
Spring 2015
Revised
Comments
Co-requisite (MU 208, MU 209, or
satisfactory score on the Music
Placement test) was removed
Co-requisite (MU 208, MU 209, or
satisfactory score on the Music
Placement test) was removed
Changed from 2 studio hours to 3
studio hours
Changed from 2 studio hours to 3
studio hours
C. PROGRAM CHANGES IN 2014-15
Program
Program change*
Effective Date
(Semester and year)
Comments
NONE
*Key: (a)=initiated, (b)=closed, (c)=renamed, (d)=modified
D. DEPARTMENT CHANGES IN 2014-15
Type
Personnel
Personnel
Personnel
Description of Change
Retirement, Dr. Joseph Nagler,
Professor
Retirement, Mr. Jeffrey Hest,
Associate Professor
Search for new tenure-track
Assistant Professor (Piano)
Reason for Change
Date/Semester
Chose to retire
Fall 2014
Evaluation of Change*
NA
Chose to retire
Fall 2014
NA
Open line due to
retirement
Spring 2015 search,
Fall 2015 start
Dr. Mirna Lekic hired as
full-time Assistant
Professor (tenure track)
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Queensborough Community College
Personnel
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Search for new tenure-track
Assistant Professor (Jazz
Studies)
Open line due to
retirement
Spring 2015 search,
Fall 2015 start
Year: 2014- 2015
Dr. Scott Litroff hired as
full-time Assistant
Professor (tenure track)
*Please note that, if change has been too recent to evaluate, you may indicate NA.
Type of change
Personnel or organizational change
Facilities/space
Equipment
Other
MENU
Description
New hires, retirees, resignations, promotions, department name changes, etc.
Renovations or development of office space or new facilities (i.e., computer laboratories)
Acquisition of new or disposition of old equipment
Other changes affecting the department not included above and including interactions with other departments
E. DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT IN 2014-15
1.
Departmental procedures for conducting assessment
The fundamental elements of standard 14 (assessment of student learning) of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education include:
clearly articulated statements of expected student learning outcomes…at all levels (institution, degree/program, course) and for all
programs that aim to foster student learning and development; a documented, organized, and sustained assessment process to evaluate and
improve student learning; evidence that student learning assessment information is shared and discussed with appropriate constituents and
is used to improve teaching and learning.
Describe below the department’s ongoing procedures for assessing student learning and using assessment results to improve
teaching and learning. In your description, please explain how the department fulfills each of the Middle States
fundamental elements above.
Department conducted assessment in several courses during the 2014-2015 academic year. All assessments utilized QCC
templates, which fulfill all of the Middle States fundamental elements listed above.
1. Clearly articulated statements of expected student learning outcomes at all levels (institution, degree/program,
course) and for all programs that aim to foster student learning and development. Music Department procedures: All course
syllabuses utilize the QCC Course Syllabus template and the QCC Course Outline template (found on the QCC website,
Assessment- -Academic Program Review--Templates and Guidelines), which insures that all Music courses clearly spell out
expected student learning outcomes within a class and within one of the two degree programs in the Music Department.
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Year: 2014- 2015
2. A documented, organized, and sustained assessment process to evaluate and improve student learning. Music Department
procedures: The Department Chairperson makes assessment assignments for all full-time faculty. Full-time faculty perform an
assessment exercise in at least one course each semester (usually more than one). Faculty coordinators have been created in
different areas (e.g., Musicianship and Music Theory, Piano, Music Technology) who draft assessment protocols to be used by
all faculty (full-time and adjunct) in courses with multiple sections. In addition, all faculty have access to the Assessment
Handbook and all faculty have been given instruction in the use of the Assessment website, found on the QCC homepage.
Finally, subcommittees of Music Department faculty have been formed to establish uniform expected student learning
outcomes in all Music Department courses.
3. Evidence that student learning assessment information is shared and discussed with appropriate constituents and is used to
improve teaching and learning. Music Department procedures: One Music Department faculty meeting each semester is
devoted to assessment. At these meetings, faculty share their experiences with all stages of the assessment process (from the
development of rubrics to the interpretation of results). The Department Chairperson receives all copies of assessment reports
done by individual faculty members and reports summary results to all faculty at department meetings. Finally, select faculty
members participate in the VAPA faculty cohort for assessment (joining colleagues in Art and Design, Speech Communication
and Theater Arts, and Dance) and report their work and experiences to their colleagues at faculty meetings. Finally, Music
Department subcommittees will begin to develop instructional materials, including information designed to assist all faculty in
improving teaching and student learning, which will be disseminated to all faculty.
Courses assessed in 2014-2015:
Participation in QCC General Education Assessment Project
See 3b. below
2a.
Departmental participation in self-study/program review during 2014-2015, if applicable Not applicable
2b.
Program review follow-up (from 2013-14 to 2014-15) Not applicable
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Queensborough Community College
3a.
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Year: 2014- 2015
Course assessment follow-up (from 2013-14 to 2014-15)
Course(s)
assessed from
previous year
Action plan from previous year
Evaluation of
Results
Follow-up
MP 102
The assignment shows how students in this major have untrained ears for sophisticated
music production. Using a timeline to show how music travels from start to finish has
been very effective in the class. This assignment is also a part of the final original
composition project at the end of the semester. The only change or addition I have
begun to include is to require that the students use colored highlighter markers to
indicate repeated sections and new events for an easier graphical study.
The assignment shows the unfamiliarity students have with the concepts and building
blocks of synthesis, sampling, and sound design. Using Reaktor 5 software for synthesis
and sound design creation was the missing link as it provided the structure to build
sound generators from start to finish inside the computer. This assignment was the final
project the end of the semester. The only change or addition I have begun to include is
to bring outside professionals in the industry and in job training to critique the demo
reels presented for consideration.
Satisfactory
TBD
Satisfactory
TBD
MP 204
3b.
Course assessment: current year
Course(s)
assessed
Relevant General Educational
Outcomes
MU 110
Outcome #1 — Effective
communication through reading,
writing, listening, and speaking.
Outcome #2 — Analytic Reasoning
MU 180
Outcome #1 — Effective
communication through reading,
writing, listening, and speaking.
Outcome #2 — Analytic Reasoning
Relevant Curricular
Outcomes
Evaluation of Assessment Results
Action plan
Assignment clearly states how to
TBD
respond appropriately (specific
format, content, organization of
paper) giving student clear,
specific instructions and goals.
Well-structured, easy to score
TBD
using the rubric: clear instruction,
writing artifacts appropriate to the
rubric.
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Year: 2014- 2015
4.
Results of certification examinations, employer and alumni surveys, student surveys, advisory board
recommendations (if applicable, please use the table below) Not applicable
5.
Other assessment activity (if applicable)
Music Production Advisory Board meeting took place on April 29, 2015. A summary of the meeting, along with
recommendations and an action plan, will be appended to this report in September 2015.
F. DEPARTMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
1.
Goals/objectives for 2014-2015
(Please indicate [Yes or No] if the objectives were part of the College’s Strategic Plan for 2014-2015.)
Departmental goals/objectives 2014/2015
Achieve certification and accreditation of our
two degree programs (A.S. in Visual and
Performing Arts, Music Concentration; A.A.S.
in Music Production) by the National
Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
Strategic
Plan Y/N
Yes
Evaluation of achievement
Substantial progress has been made. A new
degree program to meet NASM standards is
near completion. Renumbering proposal of all
current and new courses has been drafted.
Potential implementation of private instruction
in all instruments and voice has been worked
out. Facilities have been studied and
recommendations are forthcoming. Plans have
been made for a NASM-sponsored consultative
visit by Dr. Eric Unruh (Dean, School of Fine
Arts and Humanities, Casper College,
Wyoming) to take place in November, 2015.
Plans have been made for the NASM team site
visit to occur in Spring 2017.
Resulting
action plan
Continue
work, see
below.
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Queensborough Community College
2.
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Year: 2014- 2015
Goals/objectives for 2015-2016
(Explain how these goals/objectives align with the College’s goals and Strategic Plan for 2015-2016)
Departmental goals/objectives 2015-2016
Continue work toward accreditation of our two
degree programs (A.S. in Visual and Performing
Arts, Music Concentration; A.A.S. in Music
Production) by the National Association of
Schools of Music (NASM).
Continue our participation in General Education
Assessment project sponsored by the General
Education Assessment Task Force
Mission/
Strategic Plan
Yes
Yes
Planned method of evaluation
1. Consultative visit by Dr. Eric Unruh (Dean, School
of Fine Arts and Humanities, Casper College,
Wyoming) will take place in November, 2015.
2. Continue work on degree program revision.
3. Continue work on new course development for new
degree program.
4. Continue work on current course revision for new
degree program.
5. Continue work on development of private
instruction in all instruments and voice as part of
new degree program.
6. Continue work on developing facility changes and
improvements, as part of anticipated accreditation
agency recommendations.
7. Creation of stand-alone Music degree (A.S.) under
the VAPA academy.
1. Increase the number of music courses participating
in evaluation.
2. Apply developed rubrics to assessment projects
throughout department courses.
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