AURAL COMPREHENSION
MUSIC 132-01
Instructor: Mark R. Wells
Contact: Performing Arts Department
D 228 Davidson Building
Or
Music Center of South Central Michigan
(269) 963-1911, x 2587
wellsm@kellogg.edu
FALL, 2015
Tuesday/Thursday, 4-4:55PM
Davidson building, Room 214
Office Hours: By appointment (Fridays and Mondays work best)
Course Description and Goals:
Students are required to take MUS 132 concurrently with MUS 130. A sequential course designed to develop
critical listening skills in music reading with special emphasis on ear training (interval identification, basic melodic,
harmonic, and rhythmic dictation) and sight singing. Students will be encouraged to participate in computerassisted instruction for additional assistance. Students will be expected to spend one hour a week outside of
class in the computer lab for computer assisted instruction and practice.
Course Length: One semester, 16 hours of instruction, 1 credit hour.
Text: “The Musician’s Guide to Aural Skills”
-Philips, Clendinning, and Marvin, Vol. 1
Supplemental Materials: Staff paper and a sharp pencil
Study Groups: Students are strongly encouraged to form study groups. Students who do participate in a study
group will undoubtedly profit from the experience and should do better on the sight-singing and ear training exams.
Receiving Credit for Recitals: Each student enrolled in MUS 132 will be required to attend a minimum of four
KCC music recitals/concerts. It is important to remember that, for the purposes of MUS 132, students will not be
awarded credit for recitals in which they perform. The student must give a copy of the concert program/booklet to
the instructor NO LATER than one week following the event. Any programs given past the one week deadline will
not be accepted for credit.
Ear Training: The Computer program entitled AURALIA is used for this class. Students need not buy software
to use Auralia. Students who wish to buy a copy of Auralia for home use should check the following website for
distributors and prices (+ or - $100): www//risingsoftware.com
Course Outcomes and Objectives
Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to sing/play and/or identify:
:
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major, minor, and chromatic scales
any interval, ascending and descending.
major and minor triads in various inversions
melodies in diatonic major and minor modes
Content and Tentative Schedule of Course
Assignments are due at the beginning of each class meeting for which they are assigned. Late work will
not be accepted. The assignments will be graded and returned at the beginning of the following class
meeting when possible.
Unit Examinations: Topics for each exam will be announced in class.
Thursday, August 27thWhat is aural comprehension?
Tuesday, September 1st - Using ears to identify key
The fundamentals of
Meter and Rhythm
Practice AURALIA, Levels 1-4
Thursday, September 3rdTuesday, September 8th-
Thursday, September 10thTuesday, September 15th-
Thursday, September 17th-
Study words: meter, beat,
measure, duple meter,
rhythm, ictus, downbeat,
upbeat, triple meter
How is pitch related to speech? Sing the major and natural
minor
scales from DO to DO
1) Determining the height of pitches
Practice your scales, using the
syllables
2) Scales and scale degrees
Complete exercises 1.3 and 1.4
(whole/half step relationships)
(parts 1 & 2 in your
text)
3) Solmization (use of syllables
Review your scale degrees:
to identify pitches). Learning
1. Tonic
your solfege and symbols
2. Supertonic
3. Mediant
4. Subdominant
5. Dominant
6. Submediant
7. Leading tone (or
Subtonic).
Study words: tonic,
solemnization,
scale degrees, scale, melodic
contour, pitch, sequential
TEST DAY!
SINGING QUIZ #1
1. Major and minor
scale degrees
2. Vocabulary list
Tuesday, September 22nd-
Thursday, September 24thTuesday, September 29th-
Thursday, October 1stTuesday, October 6thThursday, October 8thTuesday, October 13th-
Thursday, October 15thTuesday, October 20st-
Thursday, October 22ndTuesday, October 27th-
How do minor keys function in music? Read Chapter 4 in your
text and
1). Listening to the minor scales and
practice pages 80-84. Be
ready to sing!
Identifying them (natural, melodic,
And harmonic scales).
What are intervals and how do they
work?
1). Identify intervallic relationships
2). Augmented/diminished intervals (???)
IT’S TEST TIME!!!
SINGING QUIZ #2
How does one notate rhythm?
1) Rhythmic values
2) Meter signs
3) Understanding the beams vs.
the flags
4) The augmentation of the dot
5) Rhythmic dictation
The concept of melody
QUIZ
1) Melodic dictation
2) Now add the corresponding
solfege to the transcribed melody
IT’S TEST TIME AGAIN!!!
STUDY FOR THE
Practice AURALIA, levels 5-7
SINGING QUIZ #3
You will be given a piece to sing
at sight
Thursday, October 29Tuesday, November 3rd-
Thursday, November 5thTuesday, November 10th-
Thursday, November 12thTuesday, November 17thThursday, November 19th-
Ways of identifying the key
Study words: enharmonic, circle
of fifths, diatonic collection,
diatonic
1). Finding the tonic pitch
collection, key, key signature,
2) Review the score and seek out
dictation
melodic relationships
3). Beginning and ending pitch
Practice AURALIA, levels 7-10
Understanding the relationships
between intervals and how they
function, both independently
and with its ‘countermelody’
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AURALIA-INTERVALS, all levels
SINGING QUIZ, #4
scales, intervals, melodic
dictation, rhythmic dictation
Tuesday, November 24th-
Review sessions
THANKSGIVING
Tuesday, December 1stThursday, December 3rd-
Review sessions-preparation
for finals. We will cover any
material needed.
Tuesday, December 8th-
Thursday, December 10th-
BREAK
AURALIA-INTERVALS/SCALES
ALL LEVELS
AURALIA- Intervals/
Scales
ALL LEVELS
Review sessions-preparation
for finals. We will cover any
material needed
F I N A L E X A M I N A T I O N:
AURALIA-INTERVALS/SCALES
ALL LEVELS
DICTATION
Receiving Credit for recitals:
Students will receive credit for attending a minimum of FOUR KCC music recital/concerts.
It is important to remember that, for the purposes of Music 132 students will not be given
credit for recitals in which they perform. The student must give a copy of the concert
program to the instructor NO LATER than one week following the event. After the
deadline, credit will not be given for the recital concert.
Methods/Evaluation
Lectures, class participation, attendance in class, participation, and written work.
Grading System
A
AB+
B
B-
94-100
90-93
87-89
84-86
80-83
C+
C
CD+
D
POINT ASSESSMENT:
Quizzes
25%
AURALIA Lab Work
20%
Class Participation
35%
Recital/Concert Attendance 5%
Final Exam
15%
77-79
74-76
70-73
67-69
64-66
DF
60-63
59 and below
It is understood that students will be attending the classes for which they have
signed up (see policy below).
KCC General Policy Statements
1). Kellogg Community College Academic Integrity Statement:
The Kellogg Community College policy on Academic Integrity is spelled out in the student handbook. If it is
suspected that you are cheating, fabricating, facilitating academic dishonesty, or plagiarizing, there may be serious
consequences. The incident will be documented and may be reported to the academic chair and/or program
director for possible disciplinary actions up to and including course, program, or college expulsion.
2). Kellogg Community College Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 Statement:
Kellogg Community College does not discriminate in the admission or treatment of students on the basis of
disability. KCC is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act.
Students with a documented disability are strongly encouraged to speak with the instructor and with the
professional staff at support services (ext. 2624). The college offers many resources, but it is important to take
advantage of them early. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the College and instructors of your needs.
3). Instructor Syllabus Rights Statement:
Information contained in this syllabus was to the best knowledge of the instructor considered correct and complete
when distributed for use at the beginning of the semester. However, this syllabus should not be considered a
contract with Kellogg Community College and any student, nor between the instructor and any student. The
instructor reserves the right, acting within the policies and procedures of Kellogg Community College, to make
changes in the course content or instructional techniques without notice or obligation.
4). Student e-mail: YOU MUST HAVE A FUNCTIONING KCC E-MAIL ADDRESS!
All KCC students are provided with e-mail accounts through the college server. You will be responsible for
checking your KCC e-mail regularly and should be prepared to use KCC e-mail as part of student-college
interaction. For e-mail account information, check the web at
www.kellogg.edu/email/geninfo
5). Cell Phone and Other Electronic Equipment Statement:
CELL PHONES AND PAGERS must be on mute during class. If you must take or return an emergency call,
please go out into the hall to do so.
6). Class conduct and Participation:
Class participation is encouraged. We will follow the College policies regarding Conduct. I expect students to
create an atmosphere of respect. Come prepared with an open attitude that is professional and shows that you are
ready to learn.
7. Food Statement:
Drinks and/or snacks may NOT be brought into the keyboard/computer lab. This rule is strictly
enforced.
8). Attendance policy:
Attendance is a graded component of this class. Missing five or more classes/labs will result in a non-passing grade.
If you miss class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed from other students or the instructor. The
instructor is under no obligation to make up missed assignments or activities with you. In case of tardiness or early
departure, 1 point is deducted for each ten minutes.
9). Homework policy:
Assignments are due at the beginning of the class meeting for which they are assigned. Late work will NOT be
accepted. The assignments will be graded and returned at the beginning of the following class meeting.
10). Withdrawal:
Check with the registrar’s office for the last day to withdraw and receive full refund. It is the student’s responsibility
to obtain this information. If you fail to withdraw from class before the deadline, you will be held accountable for
your end of the semester grade.
SUPPLIMENTAL MATERIALS: Music staff paper in a 3-ring binder. Pencils and a
KCC or other working e-mail account.
NB: THE SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. I WILL DO MY BEST TO
REMAIN ON SCHEDULE AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. YOU ARE EXPECTED TO
WORK ON ALL ASSIGNMENTS WEEKLY. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW
YOURSELF TO GET BEHIND IN YOUR ASSIGNMENTS-I WILL BE
PERIODICALLY CHECKING TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE CURRENT IS THESE
WORKBOOK ASSIGNMENTS. IT IS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT YOU READ THE
ASSIGNED CHAPTER(S) PRIOR TO THE CLASS DISCUSSION. FINALLY, I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE REGULAR APPOINTMENTS WITH ME TO
DISCUSS YOUR PROGRESS. I WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A MID-TERM
GRADE/ASSIGNMENT ASSESSMENT.