MUAG 5850.002 MUAG 3870.001
Fall 2014
Course orientation - Syllabus
Dennis W. Fisher
Office Murchison Performing Arts Center Annex – Room 110A
Office phone - 565-3737
dennis.fisher@unt.edu
Attendance policy
Regular and punctual class attendance is expected. Absences will result in a lowering of
the final grade as follows:
1no affect
2-3
reduction of 1 letter grade
4-5
reduction of 2 letter grades
6+
grade of WF if withdrawal requested (or) final grade of F
Tardies accumulate to absences at the rate of 2 tardies equal 1 absence. Absence from
class on a pre-assigned conducting day will result in the student being passed over for that
conducting sequence, with a grade of 0 or no credit. The instructor, in advance of the
absence must approve exceptions. The opportunity to make up a missed conducting
assignment will be at the discretion of the instructor and will be rare.
Pre-requisites
MUAG 3800 or transfer equivalent, as determined by the conducting faculty.
MUTH 1380/1480/1390/1490/2380/2480/2390/2490
Successful completion of the qualifying entrance examination for MUAG 3870
Concurrent enrollment
MULB 1806, MULB 1807, MULB 1813 or MULB 5173.500, 501, 502
Information transmission
From time to time, I will send information regarding course assignments, meetings,
handouts or other miscellaneous items by the email system through MyUnt. This will
automatically go to your MyUNT email account unless you have arranged to have them
forwarded to another email address. It is the students’ responsibility to monitor these
emails on a regular basis for pertinent information.
Grades
Grades will consist of written transposition assignments, exams, demonstration of
conducting skills through regular class assignments, and concert attendance. Failure to
turn in written assignments when due will result in a 10% penalty per calendar day.
Assignments will not be accepted after the FOURTH (4th) calendar day.
Concert observation and review requirements
Each student must attend a minimum of THREE (3) conducted concert performances of
which the student is not a member. In order to receive credit for concert attendance, the
student must submit a written observation report along with a program of the concert. All
reports must be typed. Failure to complete this requirement will result in the reduction of
the final grade by one (1) letter grade. Concert reports are due as follows:
Concert report 1:
Concert report 2:
Concert report 3:
no later than Tuesday, September 30, 2014
no later than Tuesday, October 28, 2014
no later than Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Required Wind Studies Concerts:
September 18, 2014 7:30 pm
September 25, 2014 7:30 pm
October 8, 2014
7:30 pm
October 23, 2014
7:30 pm
November 10, 2014 7:30 pm
November 6, 2014
7:30 pm
November 19, 2014 7:30 pm
November 20, 2014 7:30 pm
Symphonic Band
Wind Symphony
Concert Bands
Symphonic Band
Brass Band
Wind Symphony
Concert Bands
Sym Band/ WS
Winspear Hall
Winspear Hall
Winspear Hall
Winspear Hall
Winspear Hall
Winspear Hall
Winspear Hall
Winspear Hall
Extra credit
Limited extra credit may be earned through the following means:
a.
Observation of rehearsals - These must be conducted rehearsals of a
major performance lab of which the student is not a regular member. In
order to receive extra credit, the student must observe one full rehearsal
and submit a written evaluation report of the rehearsal. FIVE (5) extra
credit points may be earned for each rehearsal observed.
b.
Additional concert attendance - Students may earn FIVE (5) additional
extra credit points for attending conducted performances in addition to the
required minimum of THREE (3). Requirements for qualifying for this
extra credit will be the same as requirements for concert attendance.
c.
Student conducting on a performance - These may be any performance
that the student actually conducts; i.e. an ensemble on a student recital, an
ensemble at a community or church function, or any other approved
ensemble performance. In order to receive extra credit, the student must
receive advanced approval of the event and submit a printed program or
equivalent. Extra credit points available - TEN (10) per performance.
Office of Disability Accommodation
The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students
with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of
Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the
ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a
private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request
accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be
provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note
that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must
meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional
information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at
http://www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323.
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (Undergraduates)
A student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue to receive
financial aid. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in addition to
successfully completing a required number of credit hours based on total registered hours
per term. Students cannot exceed attempted credit hours above 150% of their required
degree plan. If a student does not maintain the required standards, the student may lose
their financial aid eligibility.
If at any point you consider dropping this or any other course, please be advised that the
decision to do so may have the potential to affect your current and future financial aid
eligibility. Please visit http://financialaid.unt.edu/satisfactory-academic-progressrequirements for more information about financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress. It
may be wise for you to schedule a meeting with an academic advisor in your college or
visit the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office to discuss dropping a course being
doing so.
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (Graduates)
A student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue to receive
financial aid. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in addition to
successfully completing a required number of credit hours based on total registered hours
per term. Students cannot exceed maximum timeframes established based on the
published length of the graduate program. If a student does not maintain the required
standards, the student may lose their financial aid eligibility.
If at any point you consider dropping this or any other course, please be advised that the
decision to do so may have the potential to affect your current and future financial aid
eligibility. Please visit http://financialaid.unt.edu/satisfactory-academic-progressrequirements for more information about financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress. It
may be wise for you to schedule a meeting with an academic advisor in your college or
visit the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office to discuss dropping a course being
doing so.
Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is defined in the UNT Policy on Student Standards for Academic
Integrity. Any suspected case of Academic Dishonesty will be handled in accordance
with the University Policy and procedures. Possible academic penalties range from a
verbal or written admonition to a grade of “F” in the course. Further sanctions may apply
to incidents involving major violations. You will find the policy and procedures at:
http://vpaa.unt.edu/academic-integrity.htm.
Student Behavior in the Classroom
Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other
students’ opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in
any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be
directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for
Student Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether the student’s conduct violated
the Code of Student Conduct. The university’s expectations for student conduct apply to
all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion
groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at www.unt.edu/csrr.
Semester Drop Dates:
Students who wish to drop a course before the census date (12th class day during long
semesters) may do so without instructor permission; they may do so online by visiting
my.unt.edu or in person at the Registrar’s Office (in the Eagle Student Services Building).
After the 12th class day, students must first receive written permission from the
instructor, prior to dropping a course.
For further information, please visit
http://registrar.unt.edu/registration/dropping-class.
Retention and Privacy of Student Records:
Student records are private. While students have a right to review their own records (e.g.,
exams, papers, etc.), instructors should not discuss a student’s grades with other
individuals without verifying that the student has waived his or her educational privacy
rights under FERPA.
The instructor of record should maintain all course records for at
least one calendar year; the grade book should be maintained in the department for a
period of five years. The disposal of student educational records should be done in a
secure way, after the appropriate time period has passed. Department administrative staff
can provide information about secure, bulk shredding of documents.
Electronic devices in the classroom
Students may not bring activated electronic communication devices to class or use them
in the class period. This includes, but is not limited to, cellular telephones, picture
phones, laptop computers, electronic tablets and other personal paging devices.
Tape recording of class lectures is permitted, with permission. Students are prohibited
from posting any lecture or portion of any lecture on YouTube or other public social
media.
Class materials
Course packet
The Modern Conductor - Elizabeth Green, 6th or 7th edition
Conducting baton - 12” or 14” only
8 1/2 X 11-manuscript paper for transposition assignments
2gb flash drive for video recording of conducting practicum
Your primary instrument, or secondary as assigned by the conducting faculty
Scores as assigned
Supplemental, strongly encouraged
Talent is Never Enough by John C. Maxwell
Thomas Nelson, Inc. 2007
Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John C. Maxwell
Thomas Nelson, Inc. 2011
Master Conductors: A legacy of wisdom
Featuring Mark Hindsley, Frederick Fennell, and William Revelli
DVD production
GIA Publications, 2006
Master Conductors: The Art of the March
Featuring Mark Hindsley, Frederick Fennell, and William Revelli
GIA Publications 2007
MUAG 3870/5850
1.
COURSE ORIENTATION
a.
Absence and grading policy
b.
Resource materials
c.
General information
2.
TRANSPOSITIONS AND PART SINGING
a.
Review of fundamentals of transposition
b.
Transpositions from concert to written pitch
c.
Transpositions from written to concert pitch
d.
Mixed transpositions
e.
Singing transpositions
f.
Application to score reading and recognition
3.
FUNDAMENTALS OF CONDUCTING
a.
Posture
b.
Baton grip
c.
Conducting plane
d.
Hand/arm relationship
e.
Basic conducting patterns and cueing
4.
MECHANICS OF CONDUCTING
a.
Baton technique
b.
Left/right hand independence
c.
Cueing
d.
Non-verbal communication
e.
Odd meter/mixed meter
f.
Stylistic considerations
5.
TERMINOLOGY
a.
General terms for the conductor
b.
Foreign names and terms
6.
SCORE PREPARATION AND SCORE READING
a.
Types of scores
b.
Preparation of the score for rehearsal
c.
Preparation of the score for conducting
d.
Tips for score reading
e.
Organization of the score
f.
Analyzing the score
7.
MUSICIANSHIP
a.
b.
c.
8.
Transferring musicianship to the baton
Musical conducting
Making musical decisions
REHEARSAL TECHNIQUES
a.
Score preparation
b.
Error detection/problem identification
c.
Economizing rehearsal time through good conducting techniques
9.
CONDUCTING PRACTICUM
As a part of the conducting practicum, there will be a number of opportunities to
conduct. In order that each member of the class has the best opportunities, it is essential
that performance participation by each member of the class be the norm. Failure to
participate as a performer for other class members will be treated as an absence.
As stated previously, non-attendance in class on the date when a conducting practicum is
assigned will result in the student missing that round of the conducting sequence
10.
SELF EVALUATIONS
Each student is required to fill out a self evaluation based on observation of their
video recording. This self evaluation is due at the next regular class period
following conducting. Students will not be allowed to conduct on subsequent
conducting rounds until previous evaluations are completed and submitted. A
missed conducting assignment, whether for absence or for failure to complete the
previous self-evaluation will be treated as an absence.
MUAG 3870/5850
Concert and rehearsal observation guidelines
As a part of the observation component for MUAG 3870/5850, you are expected to
observe conducted performances and rehearsals. The observation review must be typed
and in narrative format. The following guidelines are established in order to guide you
towards observation of specific areas and to respond accordingly. When writing the
summary, address these areas:
For Rehearsals:
a.
How does the conductor prepare tempo?
b.
How does the conductor prepare style?
c.
In what ways does the conductor cue individual instruments/sections?
d.
What does the conductor do to indicate stylistic consistency?
e.
In what does the conductor express musical nuances to the ensemble?
f.
Other musical/mechanical observations
For Concerts:
a.
Stage deportment
How does the conductor enter the stage?
How does the conductor acknowledge the audience and the performers?
What does the conductor do between movements of a work?
How does the conductor acknowledge soloists or featured sections?
How does the conductor acknowledge the entire ensemble?
How does the conductor leave the stage?
Other
b.
In what ways does the conductor enable the musical performance?
Through the mechanics of conducting
Through the musicianship of conducting
c.
How does the conductor visibly communicate style and musicianship to
the ensemble?
d.
Does the conductor communicate confidence to the ensemble?
e.
Other general observations
Concert report 1:
Concert report 2:
Concert report 3:
no later than Tuesday, September 30, 2014
no later than Tuesday, October 28, 2014
no later than Tuesday, November 25, 2014