MUL 101 – 750 – Introduction to Music, Blended Course
Patrick Imsand
Fall Semester 2014
phone: 460-6694
LPAC 1101
email:pkimsand@southalabama.edu
10:10 - 12:40 W
LPAC 1230
Office Hours: by appointment
Textbook, Materials, Resources
Text: The Enjoyment of Music, 11th edition, shorter, ebook, by Machlis/Forney, pub.
W.W. Norton. Musical examples are available online in StudySpace, found at the site
listed below.
Course Websites: www.wwnorton.com/enjoy
SAKAI registration and login:
https://jagmail.usouthal.edu/cgi-bin/CA/sakaipw/sakaipw.cgi,
http://ecampus.southalabama.edu/xsl-portal
Course Description
Music, what it is and how to listen to it; basic materials of music and great style periods
of music literature in the Western World. Attendance at approved concerts is required.
Objectives
This course provides a basic understanding of the language and cultural heritage of
Western art music through guided listening, reading, discussion, and concert attendance.
These activities are designed to increase the student’s ability to listen to all styles of
music with increased perception, expose the student to a variety of musical experiences,
and develop an appreciation for Western music culture. Students will be able to
demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of artistic and literary endeavors.
Attendance
Since this is a blended/online course, students will largely work independently at
assigned tasks online. However, there will be mandatory class attendance for
examinations and highly suggested in-class review/discussion sessions the week before
exams. If these examination sessions are missed, students must present documentation of
the appropriate excuse to be allowed to make-up the examinations. All make-up exams
will be scheduled at the convenience of the course instructor. In addition, students will
be required to attend four concerts during the course of the semester. Though the class
does not meet each week, students are expected to spend the scheduled class time each
week to complete online quizzes, read course material, write concert reports, and listen to
required musical examples. Students who do not attend class regularly, and fail to submit
the required course assignments and exams will receive an F*. You may wish to review
the "Attendance and Absences Policy", in the Undergraduate Academic Policies and
Procedures section, (p 30) in the Undergraduate and Graduate Bulletin.
Exams
Three exams and the final exam will be given in class. Study guides will be distributed
before each exam. Exams will include multiple choice, matching, short answer, and aural
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identification of musical examples studied in the class. In addition, online quizzes will be
taken on assigned reading and listening materials. Students will have several attempts to
complete these successfully before grades are submitted to the instructor. The quizzes
will be taken in the StudySpace website and submitted to the Instructor. The Norton
Grade-book allows students to keep up with quizzes submitted, along with quiz grades.
Test dates are provided in the attached schedule. Please plan to be in class for exams.
Make-up exams are difficult for all concerned. If you know in advance that you will be
unable to attend class on the day of an exam, a time may be arranged with the instructor
to take it in advance. If you miss due to an illness or other emergency, a doctor’s excuse
or other documentation must be presented. Make-up exams will be scheduled at the
instructor’s convenience and will be more difficult than the regular test. Missed
make-ups will be graded as “zero.”
Live Performance Attendance
Attendance at four live performances is required during the semester. Attendance at
these concerts and the written work regarding them will constitute 20% of your grade.
Each report will be worth 50 points. You must do the following: 1. attend the entire
program, 2. Attach a printed program from the event to the back of your report, 3. Report
on the program as if you were describing it to a musician or informed listener in another
location, and 4. Comment about the music almost exclusively. (Use the Concert Report
Tips sheet for guidelines.) Use correct spelling and grammar. Reports must be done on
a word processor or typed. Font should be similar to 12 point Helvetica or Times, 2
pages double-spaced. Please staple the entire package before submitting.
Concert report due dates: September 17, October 8, November 12, and Dec 8
These concerts must be considered “classical” in nature, and may include orchestra
concerts, opera, band concerts, choir concerts, musicals, church concerts, classic jazz
programs and recitals. It must be a live performance and must be considered a “concert”
as opposed to entertainment at a social function or bar. A list of appropriate
performances will be posted in the classroom and throughout the LPAC during the
semester. If you have any questions about what is appropriate, or wish to attend a concert
not on the list, check with the instructor first.
All reports turned in “on time” will be graded and returned with a chance to rewrite for
full credit. All rewrites are due at the next concert report due date. Any reports handed
in after their due dates will be subject to the grade merited with no opportunity for a
rewrite. Any reports handed in more than 7 calendar days late will be subject to a
25% grade reduction, but note that all reports will be accepted as late as the final.
Without exception, all reports, including rewrites and late papers are absolutely due
the final exam. (Of course, any reports may be turned in earlier than their due dates!)
MUL 101 – Introduction to Music, 3
Course Grading Rubric
Grades will be based on the following scale:
Exam #1 – 100
Exam #2 – 120
Exam #3 – 120
Final exam – 60
Online Chapter and Listening Quizzes – 400
Concert Reports (4@50) – 200
Imsand
900+ = A
800+ = B
700+ = C
600+ = D
599 or below = F
TOTAL FOR SEMESTER = 1000
Tentative Schedule
Due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, this schedule may be modified with
appropriate advance notice given via your jaguar1 email account. Please check this
account regularly as ALL course communications will be handled through this email
account only. In addition to the weekly reading, you are responsible for the web quizzes on
reading and listening materials for each chapter. Specific requirements and due dates for
these quizzes will be listed online.
The classes will meet on the days listed in bold type.
Week Class Date Topics Covered
Chapters Assigned
1 Aug 20
Introduction, syllabus, procedures, Elements of music
Prelude 1, 1-6
2 Aug 27
Instruments, Ensembles, Styles
3 Sep 3
Middle Ages and Renaissance
Prelude 2, 12-15
4 Sep 10
Baroque Style, Vocal and Instrumental music
Prelude 3, 16-20
5 Sep 17
Exam #1, Baroque Vocal and Instrumental music cont.
6 Sep 24
Classicism Musical Forms, Chamber Music
7 Oct 1
Review, Symphony, Concerto, Sonata, Vocal Forms
8 Oct 8
Exam #2, Romanticism, Art Song, Piano Pieces
9 Oct 15
Romantic Program Music
7-11
16-20
Prelude 4, 21-22
23-26
Prelude 5, 27-28
30-31
MUL 101 – Introduction to Music, 4
10 Oct 22
11 Oct 29
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Romantic Absolute Music
Review, Romantic Opera, Ballet, Late Romantic Opera
31
32-34
11 Nov 5
Exam #3, Impressionism, 20th Century Elements
12 Nov 12
20th Century European mainstream, Nationalism
13 Nov 19
Film Music, Current Trends, Minimalism
14 Dec 3
Final Exam Review
Prelude 6, 35-36
37-39
42,44,46,47
15 Monday Dec 8, 10:30 - 12:30 Final Exam
Changes in Course Requirements
Since all classes do not progress at the same rate, the instructor may wish to modify the
above requirements or their timing as circumstances dictate. For example, the instructor
may wish to change the number and frequency of exams, or the number and sequence of
assignments. However, the students must be given adequate notification. Moreover,
there may be non-typical classes for which these requirements are not strictly applicable
in each instance and may need modification. If such modification is needed, it must be in
writing and conform to the spirit of this policy statement.
Students with Disabilities
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with bona fide
disabilities will be afforded reasonable accommodation. The Office of Special Student
Services will certify a disability and advise faculty members of reasonable
accommodations. If you have a specific disability that qualifies you for academic
accommodations, please notify me and provide certification from the Office of Special
Student Services. OSSS is located at 5828 Old Shell Road at Jaguar Drive, (251-4607212).
Academic Disruption Policy
The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Academic Disruption is found in
The Lowdown, the student handbook.
http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicdisruption.shtml: Disruptive academic
behavior is defined as individual or group conduct that interrupts or interferes with any
educational activity or environment, infringes upon the rights and privileges of others,
results in or threatens the destruction of property and/or is otherwise prejudicial to the
maintenance of order in an academic environment. Cell phones may not be used in class
that in any way is distracting to the instructor or other students. If a repeated class
disruption occurs, appropriate action will be taken according USA Academic Disruption
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Policy. Laptops and video/audio recording devices may only be used in class with
permission of the instructor. Students are expected to be cordial, courteous, and
respectful of faculty members and fellow students.
Student Academic Conduct Policy
The University of South Alabama's policy regarding Student Academic Conduct Policy is
found in The Lowdown:
http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicmisconductpolicy.shtml.
The University of South Alabama is a community of scholars in which the ideals of
freedom of inquiry, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of
individual are sustained. The University is committed to supporting the exercise of any
right guaranteed to individuals by the Constitution and the Code of Alabama and to
educating students relative to their responsibilities. Students who do not adhere to the
Student Academic Conduct Policy will be penalized as appropriate found in The
Lowdown. Students enrolled in online courses are expected to adhere to the Academic
Conduct Policy. In particular, students are expected to complete their own coursework
and not provide unauthorized information or materials to another student. Students may
learn about the meaning of plagiarism and how to avoid it at the following link:
http://www.southalabama.edu/univlib/instruction/plagiarismforstudents.html.
JagAlert
In all 100 or 200 level courses including MUL 101, students who are not performing up
to satisfactory standards, (passing) will be notified through JagAlert. After the first Exam
is taken, and the chapter quizzes up to the first exam are completed, students with
unsatisfactory grades will be notified through JagAlert.
Online writing Support
The University of South Alabama provides online writing tutorial services through
SMARTHINKING, an online tutoring service. SMARTHINKING is available at:
http//services.smarthinking.com. Information about the University Writing Center and
Online Writing Lab can be found online at:
http//www.southalabama.edu/univlib/instruction/antiplagiarism/writinghelp.html