HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
MUSI 1181 – PIANO CLASS I
PIANO LAB – ROOM 216
CLASS NUMBER 76247
INSTRUCTOR: LAURIE LINDEMULDER
REQUIRED TEXT:
Alfred’s Group Piano for Adults by E. L. Lancaster and Kenon D. Renfrow. Chapters 1
through 6.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
MUSI 1181 is for the non-keyboard music major who has little or no keyboard
knowledge or for the student who wishes to take the course as an elective. Each unit will
present new material while integrating concepts already learned from previous chapters.
Theory, improvisation, harmonization, chord progressions, scales, rhythm, sight-reading,
repertoire, technique and ensemble activities are taught “thoroughly and consistently”
through-out the text. Students will acquire a good understanding of functional skills, as
well as keyboard technique and musical style.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
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Attend all classes.
Prepare all written and practice assignments before coming to class
Perform(play) a mid-term and final exam plus written quizzes. Written tests will
be on terminology and definitions studied in class. Only material from the text
will be on any given tests.
Students must attend two (2) musical performances during the semester. One
performance must take place on campus, the other may be off campus. A critique
of the performance and a copy of the program are mandatory and are part of the
final grade.
There will be two or three in-class performances giving the student an opportunity
to present music studied to others and to practice the performances needed to pass
the mid-term and final exam.
SKILLS MASTERED IN MUSI 1181 ARE:
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All major and minor five-finger patterns.
Improvisation, harmonization, transposition and playing by ear.
Sight-read rhythm exercises and simple pieces.
Perform 3 short pieces from the standard teaching repertoire.
Play ensemble pieces in class.
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EXAMS AND GRADING:
All grades are added together and averaged at the end of the semester.
GRADING SCALE:
100 – 90 = A
89 – 80 = B
79 – 70 = C
69 – 60 = D
59 and below = F
EXAM DATES:
Mid-term: M,W
Mid-term: T, Th
Final:
Final:
M, W
T, Th
THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS FOR THE MID-TERM AND FINAL EXAM. If
a student does not take the mid-term or final exam he/she will receive a “0” for that test.
EGLS3 -- Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System
At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is
necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked
to answer a short online survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The
anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and division
chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the
Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term.
CHEATING:
HCCS defines “scholastic dishonesty” as cheating on a test, plagiarism and collusion.
Penalties for academic dishonesty include but are not limited to a “0” on a test or
assignment in question, or an “F” in the course. The student may also be asked to
withdraw from the class.
ATTENDANCE:
It is required. Attendance will be taken starting the second week of class. Each student
is allowed three (3) absences per semester. The student is still responsible for
assignments given during the absence and will need to acquire missed information and to
accomplish the missed work. After a total of six (6) absences, the instructor may
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officially withdraw a student from class since too much information and work will have
been missed to be made up.
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Attendance will be taken approximately 10 minutes into class.
Three (3) tardies equals one (1) absence.
Any student leaving early without speaking to the instructor in advance will be
marked absent.
OFFICE HOURS:
By appointment only.
EMERGENCY:
Please leave a message on my voice mail or at my email address.
713-718-6600
laurie.lindemulder@hccs.edu or in my box in the
Fine Arts office.
SUPPORT SERVICES:
If you need a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, report to Room 102 SJAC or
call 713-718-6164. “Faculty is only authorized to provide accommodations requested by
Disability Support Services.”
INSURANCE:
The Fine Arts Department at HCCS Central strongly advises students to carry some type
of medical insurance to cover any illness or injury both on and off campus. Please speak
with the Fine Arts office to get information regarding a low-cost policy. Under Texas
statute, HCCS is not liable for a student accident or injury.
COUNSELING:
Academic counseling for specific Fine Arts classes and degree plans are available for
Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts and Speech at HCCS. Please speak with someone in
the Fine Arts Office to get the information you are seeking.
Students repeating a course for a third or more times may be given significant increases
in tuition at HCCS and other Texas public colleges and universities. Please ask your
instructor/counselor for advice regarding tutoring or other help if you are giving some
thought to withdrawing from the course or if you are not receiving passing grades.
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WITHDRAWING:
Should you decide to drop this class for any reason, you must speak with someone in the
Fine Arts office. If you simply stop attending class, the computer will automatically give
you an “F” for the course since the instructor will not have a final grade for you.
MUSI 1181 fulfills the following core intellectual competencies: Reading, writing,
speaking, listening and critical thinking.
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