University of South Alabama
Applied Horn Syllabus
Course: MUB 161/162/261/262/361/362/461/462/463
Section: 101
Term: Fall 2014
Course Format: Web enhanced
Instructor
Jodi Graham Wood
Laidlaw Performing Arts Center, Room 1150
Office phone: 251-460-7821
Home phone: 251-631-3708
Cell phone: 251-533-0845
Email: jgwood@southalabama.edu
Office Hours: By appointment
Course Deseription
This course involves the private study of horn.
Course Goals and Objectives
The primary goal of this course is to provide individual instruction in horn performance. The objective of MUB 262
is to master the technical and musical skills required for successful completion of the Upper Division/Barrier Exam,
typically done at the end of the fourth semester of study. Those skills include all of the major and
natural/harmonic/melodic minor scales and arpeggios (including dominant 7th and diminished 7th) from memory; two
accompanied solos (excerpts) in contrasting styles; and sightreading – all while exhibiting a standard of
musicianship that the faculty associates with upper-division applied study. The objective of MUB 362/463 is to
further technical and musical mastery of the instrument while preparing literature for student recitals.
Course Materials
Study materials will be selected from a wide variety of method books and solo, chamber, and orchestral repertoire.
Students are expected to obtain and bring all recommended music/method books needed for each lesson. The
acquisition of assigned music is the responsibility of each student and must be done by the second week of classes. It
is not legal to copy copyrighted music, and students are expected to purchase their own method books and solos as
assigned. It is highly recommended that each student own and use a metronome and tuner. A student must keep his
or her instrument in top playing condition and should have it checked at least once a year by a good repair
technician. It is also highly recommended that the student obtain and maintain insurance for his or her instrument (or
for one borrowed from the university).
Attendance
Due to the individual nature of this instruction, prompt attendance is of the utmost importance. If a lesson is missed
due to illness or documented emergency, the instructor must be notified as soon as possible, and a make-up lesson
will be scheduled. If advance notice is given for missing a lesson, a make-up can be scheduled as soon as possible.
Unexcused absences will be graded as “F” and will not be made up. More than two unexcused absences may
result in a failing grade for the course, and an “F*” grade may be given if the student stays enrolled in the
course and fails to appear at lessons after week 2. Due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, the lesson
schedule may need to be modified with appropriate advance notice given to the student.
Grading
Evaluation for grading will be based on the following:
48% - Lesson Attendance and Preparation
30% - Performance in End-of-Semester Juries
10% - Performance on Technique Jury
20% - Performance on Final Jury
7% - Performance on Mid-Term Exam
10% - Recital Class Performance
5% - Concert Attendance
Lesson Attendance and Preparation – 48%
The student is expected to attend and be well prepared for each lesson scheduled.
The student must come to all lessons on time with: 1) all appropriate materials, 2) a satisfactory instrument in
excellent playing condition, and 3) all assigned music and method books. The student must arrive having warmed up
immediately prior to the lesson. Failure to do so inhibits the student’s ability to perform and learn at an optimum
level and is grounds for dismissal from the lesson. A 1-credit course requires a minimum of 30 minutes of practice
per day; a 2-credit course requires a minimum of 1-2 hours of practice per day; and a 3-credit course requires a
minimum of 2-3 hours of practice per day. Truly satisfactory achievement and development, however, are best
attained by practicing double the above minimum requirements.
Grades are recorded for every lesson, and the student is always welcome to check on his or her grade at any time
during the semester. Grades are based on performance, progress/improvement, effort, and attitude. As these terms
can be rather subjective, it is in the student’s best interest to know his or her grades as the semester progresses. Any
student who is clearly unprepared for his or her lesson may be excused immediately, and that lesson will be
graded as failing.
Lesson Grading Guidelines
A = Exceptional progress, always prepared
B = Good progress, usually well prepared
C = Some progress, inconsistent preparation
D = Little progress, rarely prepared
F = No progress, never prepared
Further definition of grading (as it applies to lessons):
A = A thoroughly prepared lesson on the assigned material, with evidence of extensive practice.
Assigned lesson material is played nearly perfect and performed musically. “Nearly perfect”
means that the student knows the music sufficiently well that notes and rhythms are not a
problem and that the student has made a thoughtful effort to perform the piece musically.
B = An adequately prepared lesson, with evidence of substantial practice on the assigned material.
Lesson material is played well, with minor flaws, but lacks polish.
C = A somewhat prepared lesson, with evidence of moderate practice on the assigned material. Lesson
material is played moderately well, but with consistent note and rhythm problems.
D = A lesson not well prepared, with evidence that some practice has taken place on the assigned
material. Lesson material is played rather poorly.
F = A lesson not prepared at all. Evidence that little or no practice has taken place on the assigned
material.
Repertoire Juries – 20%
At the end of the semester, each student will perform for a jury of wind and percussion faculty members. The
Repertoire Jury will consist of solo material studied throughout the semester, as well as sightreading.
Technical Jury – 10%
The Technical Jury will consist of scales and arpeggios in all keys, from memory, according to the following
schedule:
• Semester 1 – all major scales and arpeggios; all major scales in thirds; two-octave chromatic scale
• Semester 2 – all natural minor scales and minor arpeggios; all natural minor scales in thirds; two-octave
chromatic scale
• Semester 3 – all harmonic minor scales and dominant 7th arpeggios; all harmonic minor scales in thirds;
two-octave chromatic scale
• Semester 4 (Upper Division/Barrier Exam – see below) – all melodic minor scales and diminished 7th
arpeggios; all melodic minor scales in thirds; any of the material required in semesters 1, 2, or 3, as
requested from the faculty; two-octave chromatic scale
• Semester 5 – all whole tone scales (2), diminished scales-WH and HW (6), Blues scales (12), and
augmented arpeggios (4); two-octave chromatic scale
• Semester 6 – all Dorian and Mixolydian scales and minor 7th arpeggios; two-octave chromatic scale
Tempo: These scales and arpeggios must be played in eighth notes at a metronome marking of quarter note = 120.
All Technical Juries, with the exception of Semester 4, the Upper-Division/Barrier Exam, will be performed via
video, according to the following instructions. The Upper-Division/Barrier Exam will be performed live before a
panel of faculty.
Video Instructions
• Each student must create an unedited video of his/her required scales & arpeggios.
• The student may use a metronome during the video to play the scales and arpeggios at the assigned tempo.
• Any pause between consecutive scales or arpeggios must be no longer than six (6) seconds.
• All videos must be no more than 12 minutes in total length. Any video that exceeds this time limit will be
immediately rejected and given a failing grade.
• Students must perform all keys & patterns in either circle or chromatic order.
• All patterns must be performed from memory. The video picture should show clearly that no music is being
used.
• A student may record his or her video as many times as necessary to produce an acceptable result. However, no
editing within a video will be allowed.
• The video must be uploaded either to the student’s YouTube account or to an assigned account, after which the
student must email the web link URL for the video to his or her applied professor Late submissions will result
in a lowered grade.
• The members of the wind and percussion faculty will then observe and grade the technique jury video.
Upper Division/Barrier Exam
At the end of the second year of study at the 200 level, the student will be required to pass the Upper
Division/Barrier audition for the faculty jury in order to proceed to 300-level applied study. Students are expected to
do the following on this exam:
Technical portion
1. Perform all major and natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales; major, minor, dominant 7th, and
diminished 7th arpeggios - all from memory.
2. Perform all major and minor scales in thirds, as per the requirements of the individual instructor - all from
memory.
3. Perform a chromatic scale covering the range of the instrument.
Repertoire portion
1. Present a list of etudes and solo repertoire studied that semester.
2. Perform two solos (or excerpts) in contrasting styles, at least one of which should be accompanied.
3. Sight-read a selection chosen by the committee.
4. Exhibit a standard of musicianship that the faculty associates with upper-division applied study.
Mid-Term Exam – 7%
Each horn student will perform a mid-semester technique exam during his or her lesson. This exam will cover the
same scales and arpeggios as the end-of-semester Technique Jury.
Recital Class Performance – 10%
Performing before a live audience is an important and invaluable learning experience, and each student will do so at
least once a semester.
Concert Attendance – 5%
All horn students will be expected to attend all on-campus recitals and special events that feature other horn
players.
Policy on Make-up Examinations
Make-up examinations are not given except in extraordinary cases of unavoidable emergency. If the student has a
legitimate circumstance preventing him or her from performing a given exam at the appropriate time, the instructor
must be notified either before the exam or within 24 hours afterward for consideration.
Changes in Course Requirements
Not all classes progress at the same rate. Thus, course requirements may have to be modified as circumstances
dictate. The student will be given written notice if the course requirements need to be changed.
Academic Disruption Policy
The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Academic Disruption is found in The Lowdown, the student
handbook. 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.
Students are expected to be cordial, courteous and respectful of faculty members and fellow students at all times.
Student Academic Conduct Policy
The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Student Academic Conduct Policy is found in The Lowdown.
www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicconductpolicy.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 the 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 are expected to complete their own coursework, not to misrepresent their work, and not to provide
unauthorized information or materials to another student. Any student found to be in violation of this policy will be
reported to the appropriate university officials, and the student will receive a failing grade for the work at hand.
Students with Disabilities
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with bona fide disabilities will be afforded
reasonable accommodations. The Office of Special Student Services (OSSS) 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 the instructor/professor and provide certification from the Office of Special Student
Services. OSSS is located at 5828 Old Shell Road at Jaguar Drive, (251-460-7212).
JagSuccess
JagSuccess is a program intended to help students be successful in 100-200 level courses. If you are not doing well,
you will receive an email instructing you to see your professor, along with instructions to access an online tutorial
intended to help with common problems affecting academic performance. Watch for this email during the eighth
week of the semester.