Music Appreciation
Fall 2011 – MWF
Course Syllabus
Professor Michael Billingsley
Office: Lincoln Hall – Room #14
Telephone: (856) 227-7200, ext. 4563
Email Address: mbillingsley@camdencc.edu
Office Hours: Monday, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm and Friday, 12:30 pm –
3:30 pm
Course Objectives
The purpose of this class is to:
 Heighten the experience of listening to music for each participant.
 Develop the participant's ability to communicate an informed opinion about a wide variety of music
These are achieved through constant listening, discussing and revising, performing/rehearsing as a class, creating music via music software,
and in-depth research of music's longstanding history and widespread influences.
Materials
 Notebook
 Pen or Pencil
 "Instrument" (chosen on 9/7 for a grade)
 Access to internet - Mikebillingsley.com – Music Education
– Music Appreciation
 Library Card
 Headphones
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Ticket to a concert from the Approved Concert List (in
Assignment/Grading document)
Course Documents - Print out and bring in Music
Appreciation Assignments/Grading Document,
Garageband Project and Listening Checklists/Narratives
from mikebillingsley.com under Music Education and then
Music Appreciation for a grade on 9/7
Access to all tracks from an assigned album (TBD)
Grading (1000 points)
 In-Class Song Analysis and Performance, 75 points
 Final Project, 250 points
 Garageband Project, 50 points
 Album Critique, 150 points
 Course Documents, Essay, Checklists, Narratives, &
 Concert Review, 125 points
Questions (x12), 25 points each (300 points total)
 Final Reaction, 50 points
(Descriptions of assignments and instructions in their entirety in the Course Assignment/Grading Document on the website.)
Class Schedule - All bold font below signifies graded materials. All assignments detailed on Music Appreciation page.
8/31, Class Overview
9/2, More Overview
9/7, Music (Art) as Expression and Product, Amazing Essays (Amazing Essays Due, Course Documents from website checked for
grade and students will complete Instrument sign up)
9/9, Basics of music – Mood, Melody, Harmony, Rhythm, Texture, Hierarchy and Form
9/12, Pop Checklist Due, Bruno Mars, The Lazy Song
9/14, More on Pop Style, Terms, Texture and Organization
9/16, NPR's, "Project Song" - Looking at how songs are built
9/19, Blues Checklist Due, John Lee Hooker, Hobo Blues
9/21, More on Blues Style (as well as Spiritual/Gospel), Terms, Texture, and Organization
9/23, Choose Song and Analyze
9/26, Country Checklist Due, Everytime You Say Goodbye, Allison Krauss/Sierra Hull
9/28, More on Country Style (as well as the early American sound), Terms, Texture and Organization
9/30, Analysis Day 2 and Begin Rehearsing (your selected instrument required for credit)
10/3, Song Rehearsal Day #1 (your selected instrument required for credit)
10/5, Song Rehearsal Day #2 (your selected instrument required for credit)
10/7, Performance and Recording (your selected instrument required for credit)
10/10, Rock Narrative, Foo Fighters, Everlong
10/12, More on Rock Style (as well as funk and R&B), Terms, Texture and Organization
10/14, GB Demonstration and Project
10/17, Rap Narrative, Tupac, Keep Ya’ Head Up
10/19, More on Rap Style, Terms, Texture and Organization
10/21, Begin Garageband in L20 (need headphones)
10/24, Ambient Narrative Due, Aphex Twin, We are the Music Makers
10/26, More on Ambient Style, Terms, Texture and Organization
10/28, Second Day of Garageband in L20 (need headphones)
10/31, Greg Sandow Questions Due and Discussion
11/2, Classical History and Concert Review Paper Discussion
11/4, Final Day of Garageband in L20 (need headphones)
11/7, Classical Narrative Due, Hilary Hahn, Partita No.2 (Bach) and Jackie Evancho, Nessun Dorma (Puccini)
Garageband Sheets due
11/9, More on Classical Style, Terms, Texture and Organization
11/11, World Narrative Due, Marc Anthony, Contra La Corriente
11/14, More on World Styles, Terms, Texture and Organization
11/16, Jazz Narrative Due, Miles Davis, Walkin' (Live, Germany 1967)
11/18, More on Jazz Style, Terms, Texture and Organization
11/21, Album Reviews and Discussion
11/23, More Album Reviews, Analysis and Discussion
11/28, Album Review Individual Meetings
11/30, Album Review Individual Meetings
12/2, Final Project Discussion and Demonstration
12/5, Listen to Garageband projects and watch performance videos, Album Reviews Due
12/7, Final Project Individual Meetings12
12/9, Final Project Individual Meetings12(I give back Album Reviews)
12/12, Final Project Individual Meetings12
12/14, Final Project Individual Meetings12
12/16, Final Projects Due and my final thoughts
12/19, I give back your Final Projects, Final Reactions Due
1 Concert Reviews (with attached program or ticket stub) are due at your scheduled Individual Meeting
2 On days that you are not scheduled to meet, you should utilize the regular class time to research in the library
Assignment Submission
All assignments are to be handed in to me in class (or my department secretary Mrs. Bobbi Evans in L4A).
I will not take any assignments via email.
Late Assignment Policy
If you miss a class where a checklist, narrative or discussion item is due, you can hand it in within the next two meetings IF you staple
documentation justifying your absence (legal, funeral card, or medical only). Otherwise, I will not accept the assignment late. If you are in
class and do not have the assignment, you cannot hand it in late.
If you miss a class, where a paper or project is due, you can hand it in the very next class without penalty. If you are in class and do not
have it, you can get it to my secretary (Mrs. Bobbi Evans in L4A) that same day by 4:30 p.m. without penalty. Otherwise, it will go down
one letter grade each meeting it is late. I will not take any assignments via email.
Attendance, Tardiness and Early Departures
You'll be permitted three excused/unexcused absences with no questions asked. Also, you'll be permitted two latenesses/early departures
with no questions asked. Each absence or set of latenesses beyond those will lower your final grade one letter grade for each infraction. I
do allow you to make up one absence beyond the three with a paper on a topic chosen by you and approved by me. However, my best
advice is just make sure you come to class
Behavior Issues
Any behavior that disrupts the learning of other students will not be tolerated. Cell phones are to be turned off and put away before
entering class. You will automatically lose five points off your FINAL GRADE if your cell phone rings or you use it in any way during
class time. There is to be no usage whatsoever of cell phones during class unless notified otherwise. Do not text message. not play games.
Turn cell phones off and put them out of sight at all times. It is not o.k. for you to take or make important calls unless prior arrangements
with the instructor have been made.
This class is based off of a balance between lecture and discussion. Talking during lectures or while another classmate has the floor is
unacceptable. Direct any questions you might have to me. Any issues with cell phones, excessive talking, note passing and/or inactive
listening will result in your removal from my classroom. There will be no gray area when it comes to your undivided attention towards
classroom activities and discussion.
In summary, if I see you using a cell phone (in any matter & especially if it rings or you text), sleeping, and/or talking out of place, I will
deduct five points off of your final grade.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a very SERIOUS offense. It’s important that you note any thoughts that aren’t your own in your assignments. If you do not,
you very well might be in violation of our college plagiarism policy and, thus, its penalty. Please see the student handbook for more
information. Any assignments that are plagiarized (not cited/taken from others) will be returned for no grade.