South Texas College
Division of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Visual Arts and Music
Music Appreciation MUSI 1306 Master Syllabus
Fall 2011
Chair’s Information:
Name of Chair: Phyllis L. Evans
Office: Pecan Campus, Building B-118
Telephone: (956) 872-2668
Fax: (956) 872-2505
E-mail: pevans@southtexascollege.edu
Course Information:
Course Name: Music Appreciation
Course Number: MUSI 1306
Course Description:
1. This course introduces the student to the elements, forms, and stylistic eras in music through the study
of cultural periods, major composers, and music elements.
2. Prerequisite: Passage of the reading section of the THEA test or completion of Reading 8- with a
grade of “C” or better.
Program Learning Outcomes:
This course satisfies the Visual or Performing Arts requirements of the core curriculum.
Course Learning Outcomes:
• Understand the purposes and functions of music; recognize artistic styles and periods; and
identify genres of music;
• Comprehend the definition(s) of music; its role in culture/society, and the purposes and
functions of music;
• Evaluate live performances using the elements and principles of music, artistic styles and
periods, genres of music, and formal structure;
• Formulate own personal opinions to individual performances;
• Understand the meaning of appreciation, aesthetics, perception and awareness and can apply
these definitions to music;
• Articulate how these competencies address culture and intercultural themes.
Departmental Outcomes for Music Courses:
• Understand the purposes and functions of music; recognize artistic styles and periods; and
identify genres of music;
• Comprehend the definition(s) of music; its role in culture/society, and the purposes and
functions of music;
• Evaluate live performances using the elements and principles of music, artistic styles and
periods, genres of music, and formal structure;
• Formulate own personal opinions to individual performances;
• Understand the meaning of appreciation, aesthetics, perception and awareness and can apply
these definitions to music;
• Articulate how these competencies address culture and intercultural themes.
Exemplary Educational Objectives for Core Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts
Component of the Core Curriculum:
• To demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.
• To understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within an historical
and social context.
• To respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
• To engage in the creative process or interpretive performance and comprehend the physical
and intellectual demands required of the author or visual or performing artist.
• To articulate and informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.
• To develop an appreciation for the aesthetic principles that guide or govern the humanities
and arts.
• To demonstrate knowledge of the influence of literature, philosophy, and/or the arts on
intercultural experiences.
Intellectual Competencies:
• READING: Reading at the college level means the ability to analyze and interpret a variety of
printed materials—books, articles, and documents. A core curriculum should offer students the
opportunity to master both general methods of analyzing printed materials and specific methods
for analyzing the subject matter of individual disciplines. Class assignments will include readings
from a variety of printed materials such as books, text, journals, newspapers, and/or other sources
of written information. Through these readings, students will analyze the written material as it
pertains to the disciplines of Visual Arts and/or Music.
• WRITING: Competency in writing is the ability to produce clear, correct, and coherent prose
adapted to purpose, occasion, and audience. Although correct grammar, spelling, and
punctuation are each a sine qua non in any composition, they do not automatically ensure that the
composition itself makes sense or that the writer has much of anything to say. Students need to
be familiar with the writing process including how to discover a topic and how to develop and
organize it, how to phrase it effectively for their audience. These abilities can be acquired only
through practice and reflection. Class assignments will include writing critiques, reaction papers,
and/or
research reports. Through these writings students will produce clear, correct, and coherent prose
as it pertains to the disciplines of Visual Arts and Music. In the practice and reflection required
for these writings, students will discover a topic, and develop and organize it effectively for an
appropriate Visual Arts and/or Music Audience.
• COMPUTER LITERACY: Computer literacy at the college level means the ability to use
computer-based technology in communicating, solving problems, and acquiring information.
Core-educated students should have an understanding of the limits, problems, and possibilities
associated with the use of technology, and should have the tools necessary to evaluate and learn
new technologies as they become available. : Students will be required to research topics via the
Internet and write reports using a word-processing program. They may also be required to utilize
PowerPoint, or other graphics program in order to develop computer literacy as it pertains to the
disciplines of Visual Arts and/or Music.
• SPEAKING: Competence in speaking is the ability to communicate orally in clear, coherent, and
persuasive language appropriate to purpose, occasion, and audience. Developing this competency
includes acquiring poise and developing control of the language through experience in making
presentations to small groups, to large groups, and through the media. Class assignments will
include speaking presentations and small group
discussion. Through critiques, formal oral presentations, and/or informal group discussions,
students will communicate orally in clear, coherent, and persuasive language as it pertains to the
disciplines of Visual Arts and/or Music.
• LISTENING: Listening at the college level means the ability to analyze and interpret various
forms of spoken communication. Students will be expected to analyze and interpret various forms
of spoken, artistic, and/or musical communication. Students may be asked to listen to lectures,
guest speakers, media presentations, musical and artistic sound arrangements, and/or other forms
of auditory communication. Class assignments will include quizzes, exams, and/or reaction
papers to assess the students’ skills in listening as it pertains to the disciplines of Visual Arts
and/or Music.
• CRITICAL THINKING: Critical thinking embraces methods for applying both qualitative and
quantitative skills analytically and creatively to subject matter in order to evaluate arguments and
to construct alternatives strategies. Problem solving is one of the applications of critical thinking,
used to address an identified task. Students are asked to solve problems creatively, make value
judgments and/or evaluate aesthetic experiences as they pertain to the disciplines of Visual Arts
and/or Music. Various forms of assessment, such as written reactions to artistic and/or musical
productions, creation of artistic works in which a creative solution is found to a specific problem,
and/or the performance or creation of a musical piece will be used to encourage critical thinking
and analysis.
Perspectives:
Perspective 1: The subject of cultural/gender communication will be taught and students will
learn and understand their relationship to the larger world and the responsibilities of living in
a culturally and ethnically diversified world. This complies with Perspective 1 of the South
Texas College Institutional Effectiveness Plan: “Establish broad and multiple perspectives
on the individual in relationship to the larger society and world in which he or she lives, and
to understand the responsibilities of living in a culturally and ethnically diversified world.”
•
Perspective 2: Deadlines for assignments and attendance policies will be strictly enforced to
encourage students to actively participate and maintain a sense of personal responsibility.
Lectures, assignments, and group discussion will stimulate a capacity to discuss and reflect
upon individual, political, economic, and social aspects of life as they pertain to the discipline
of Visual Arts and/or Music in order to understand ways in which to be a responsible member
of society. This complies with Perspective 2 of the South Texas College Institutional
Effectiveness Plan: “Stimulate a capacity to discuss and reflect upon individual, political,
economic, and social aspects of life in order to understand ways in which to be a responsible
member of society.”
•
Perspective 4: Students will use computers in research of topics and will become aware of the
advances in computer mediated communication and the role technology has taken in
expanding the communication media. This complies with Perspective 4 of the South Texas
College Effectiveness Plan: “Develop a capacity to use knowledge of how technology and
science affect their lives.”
•
Perspective 5: Students will demonstrate ethical behavior through active group participation,
avoidance of plagiarism and cheating by copying and/or distributing other students’ work or
instructors’ exams and assignments. This complies with Perspective 5 of the South Texas
College Effectiveness Plan: “Develop personal values for ethical behavior.”
•
Perspective 6: Through lectures, assignments, and group discussions, students will develop
the ability to make aesthetic judgments as they pertain to the disciplines of Visual Arts and/or
Music. This complies with Perspective 6 of the South Texas College Institutional
Effectiveness Plan: “Develop the ability to make aesthetic judgments.”
•
Perspective 8: Through lectures, assignments, and group discussions, students will integrate
knowledge and understand the interrelationships of the arts and/or music and all other
scholarly disciplines. This complies with Perspective 8 of the South Texas College
Institutional Effectiveness Plan: “Integrate knowledge and understand the interrelationships
of the scholarly disciplines.”
Instructor Outcomes:
Each instructor will personalize the content of his/her course as he/she sees fit.
Departmental Course Requirements:
Information Pending.
Evaluation Methods and Grading Criteria:
• Evaluation Method:
Each instructor will evaluate course objectives by utilizing a combination of assignments
including some or all but not limited to the following: oral assignments, written assignments, inclass quizzes/examinations, oral presentations/discussions, classroom activities, creative
artistic/musical projects/performances. This will provide students with the opportunity to display
their level of understanding of the learning outcomes in several manners.
• Grading Criteria:
Each instructor will have at his/her discretion the ability to combine the admixture to evaluate
each student performance. Each instructor will have at his/her discretion the ability to apply
grading criteria to the various assessment instruments as he/she sees fit.
Required Textbook and Resources:
• Textbook – Listening to Music, Fifth Edition, Craig Wright.
• STC Library – Library resources should be utilized to support study. The library is located in
Building “C”, Pecan Campus.
Developmental Studies Policy Statement:
The College’s Developmental Education Plan requires students who have not met the college-level
placement standard on an approved assessment instrument in reading, writing, and/or mathematics to
enroll in Developmental Studies courses including College Success. Failure to attend these required
classes may result in the student's withdrawal from ALL college courses.
Statement of Equal Opportunity: No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits
of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored or conducted by South Texas
College on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability.
Alternative Format Statement: This document is available in an alternative format upon request by
calling (956) 872-2503.
ADA Statement: Individuals with disabilities requiring assistance or access to receive services should
contact disABILITY Support Services at (956) 872-2173.
Proposed Course Schedule:
Each instructor will provide a calendar or weekly schedule that indicates what topics, assignments,
readings, assessments, etc. will be covered each week.