Exploring Music 0812 section 2. Gen Ed Arts
Fall 2013
MWF 11-11:50
Tyler 0B004
Dr Lindsay Weightman. Office: 124 Presser. Office hours: MWF 8-9am, 1-2pm
lindsay.weightman@temple.edu
TA: Ephraim Schafli. es705@cairn.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Why do we enjoy listening to music? Besides our own enjoyment, what is the purpose of music---not
only for us today, but also throughout history? Why is music important enough to humans that it
exists in every culture on earth, regardless of time or place? How has Western music developed over
the centuries? What can music tell us about ourselves?
What words should you use to describe the music you are hearing? This course will help students
explore these and other questions through surveying the history of musical development in the west
- we will concentrate primarily on the classical music tradition. Students will be given the tools to
learn to listen to music on an advanced level and engage in discussions based on topics related to
music, history, and society. Classroom time will focus on lectures, group discussions, and activities to
enhance and reinforce concepts.
Absolutely no previous formal musical training or experience is required to take this class. All you
need is a love of music, an open mind and an interest in expanding your musical horizons.
COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Understand and be able to discuss the basic elements of music.
Discuss the musical characteristics of known and unknown pieces of music using proper vocabulary.
Locate performances, music, and information about music and musicians using various research
tools and online methods.
Place musical examples into a stylistic period or style based on its musical characteristics.
Understand the importance of music and the arts to a society and its culture.
REQUIRED E-TEXTBOOK, RECORDINGS, WEBSITE RESOURCES and CLICKER
Forney, Kristine and Machlis, Joseph. The Enjoyment of Music. Shorter 11 th Ed. New York: Norton.
Purchase this version:
Ebook Folder with Study Space Plus. ISBN 978-0-393-12013-4
COMPUTER USERS (pc or mac): If you are going to access this from your computer the above package
is available for you to purchase at the Temple bookstore. It includes the online version of the
textbook with access to streaming audio/video of all recordings plus many website resources that
will help you to understand the concepts covered during the semester. This price for this version is
about $40.
IMPORTANT: FOR IPAD USERS. THE VERSION AVAILABLE AT THE BOOKSTORE IS FLASH-BASED
WHICH IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH IPAD. YOU WILL NEED TO DONWLOAD IT INSTEAD FROM
INKLING:
https://www.inkling.com/store/book/the-enjoyment-of-music-kristine-forney-11th/
The price for this version is about $70.
In addition you are required to purchase a clicker from the bookstore or from
store.turningtechnologies.com (about $32) for use in answering multiple-choice questions in class.
Points will not be deducted for incorrect answers, neither will clickers be used to monitor attendance
(the TA will do this separately), so do not give your clicker to someone else if you will not be in
class. Please bring your clicker every day-they will be used in most classes to gauge understanding of
reading material, support class discussions, provide understanding of new concepts and to review
concepts of previously taught material. Please note: if you do not participate regularly in clicker
question activities your grade will be reduced in proportion to your level of non-participation.
GRADING
Your grade will be calculated as follows:
Attendance and participation (10%)
Tests (50%) 5 at 10% each (there are 6 tests given, the lowest grade will be dropped)
Final (20%)
Concert Report: Proposal (5%) Report (10%)
Connect your playlist (5%)
Grades for all assignments will be posted on Blackboard, so check your grades frequently and notify
me immediately of any discrepancies or errors.
ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION
Since the lectures will go beyond the scope of the book, class attendance is vital. If you must miss a
class, get notes from a classmate. Barring documented extenuating circumstances more than five (5)
class absences will result in a lower final grade, one point for every missed class. The participation
grade will be based on the student’s perceived level of preparedness for class and assessed by
students’ engagement in discussions, ability to answer questions, participation in activities and
clicker questions, and contribution of insightful or relevant comments regarding assignments.
THE USE OF CELL PHONES IS NOT PERMITTED DURING CLASS TIME. You may use a computer or
tablet to take notes but any unauthorized electronic activity or engaging in private conversations especially while listening to music or watching videos - will result in being marked absent for that
day’s attendance.
TESTS
Listening identification, definitions of terms, recognition of musical concepts/styles. Based on
material covered in both the textbook and class lectures.
Powerpoint slides used in class will be posted on blackboard each week. Please note: the slides only
highlight the main point-they do not contain all of the details covered, so you must also attend class
to take notes from the lectures/discussions/musical demonstrations.
There will be 6 tests given, 10% each. Only 5 of those grades count (the lowest grade will be
dropped). If you miss a test you MAY NOT make it up at another time.
Everyone must be present for the final on Dec 9.
Tests will be held only on the following dates during class time:
1) Music Fundamentals: Sept 6;
2) Middle Ages and Renaissance: Sept 20;
3) Baroque: Oct 4;
4) Classical: Oct 18;
5) Romantic: Nov 1;
6) The 20th century. Modernism: Nov 15
FINAL
11am class: Friday Dec 9, 10:30-12:30.
A listening identification test of all the music studied during the semester.
CONCERT REPORT PROPOSAL.
1 page, due before the performance date. Submit it online through blackboard.
Designed to improve your information literacy skills and prepare you as an informed listener for the
music that you will hear.
a) Choose a classical music performance to attend (a list of suitable concerts will be posted on
Blackboard) and list the venue, date, program and performers (eg Kimmel Center; Sept 25;
Beethoven- Overture to Fidelio, Mozart -Piano Concerto #21, Brahms-Symphony #3; Philadelphia
Orchestra).
b) Pick a piece of music from the performance and find relevant information about the music and/or
the composer from the following types of source (links to likely sources will be posted on
Blackboard):
1 article from a dictionary or encyclopedia (not Wikipedia please)
1 chapter in a book (if this is not an online book you will need to go to the library to read it)
1 peer-reviewed journal article (you may not use reviews of previous performances or recordings)
c) Read the information that you have gathered.
d) List the 3 sources in correct bibliographic format- use APA, MLA or Chicago.
e) Explain briefly why these 3 sources are relevant to the piece of music in question.
CONCERT REPORT. Submit it online through blackboard.
Cover page and 2 written pages (approx. 600 words), Times New Roman, 12 point, double spaced,
due within 2 weeks of attending the concert. Please let me know if you are not able to finish it within
the 2 weeks.
a) Start with a cover page listing your name and the venue, date, program and performers of the
concert.
b) Write a review of the concert as though you were writing to a friend who knows nothing about
classical music. How would you recount the experience so that you could bring it to life for your
friend, and so that they could understand what classical music entails? How is it similar or different
from the music that you and your friend normally listen to?
You will not be able to cover every aspect of the performance in 2 pages so pick a few interesting
details as topics for discussion (eg if there is a conductor, what effect is he having on the players?
What time period is each piece from? What do you expect from a Romantic, Impressionist, Baroque
piece of music? What effect does the surroundings-the building, concert hall, the way people dresshave on the experience?) Your writing should show that you have reflected thoughtfully on the event
and can use aspects of the musical knowledge that you have acquired during the semester to
demonstrate use of advanced listening skills in a practical setting.
You may include your personal opinion of the experience as long as you can explain your reactions.
If you are attending an opera, don’t use the whole paper to explain the story-a good paper includes
your own personal analysis of the performance-and be sure to talk about the music and how it
enhances the telling of a story, not just the visual aspects of the performance.
Don’t make a list of the instruments used unless there is something important to point out about
them.
You only have 2 pages so make every word count. Don’t give information that could be found using a
textbook unless you have something interesting to point out. Remember your job is to write about
the music-recount specific examples of musical events that stuck in your mind. Bring it to life for your
reader. Use the music vocabulary that you learned in class.
CONNECT YOUR PLAYLIST
For 10 weeks of the semester 2 vocabulary terms will be announced and 8 students per week (4 for
each vocabulary term) will volunteer to complete a “Connect Your Playlist” assignment according to
the following guidelines:
After you are assigned a vocabulary term you will be given a few days to search for musical examples
from your own popular music library. You will post your example on the Blackboard discussion
forum “Connect Your Playlist: Vocabulary Terms and Examples” by 6pm the night before it is due. In
your post you will: define the term; provide a link to a musical example that exemplifies the term;
write a brief description of how the term is heard in the example; post the exact time markers for
when to start and stop each piece.
In class the day after the posts, two students will be selected to briefly (2 minutes) present their
piece to the class to help reinforce vocabulary terms and concepts for all students. If you do not post
on time or are not present in class that day you will forfeit your grade for this assignment. All
Blackboard posts will be available to the whole class-use them to help study for tests.
COURSE SCHEDULE
You are responsible for reading the chapters outlined below and listening to the recordings (follow
along with the listening guides in Study Space Plus) before we study them in class.
Aug 26-Sept 4 Music Fundamentals
Read Part 1: Prelude 1 and Chapters 1-11, listen to recordings. Test 1, Sept 6.
Sept 9-18 The Middle Ages and Renaissance
Read Part 2: Prelude 2 and Chapters 12-15, listen to recordings. Test 2, Sept 20
Sept 23-Oct 2 Baroque
Read Part 3: Prelude 3 and Chapters 16-20, listen to recordings. Test 3, Oct 4
Oct 7-16 Classical
Read Part 4: Prelude 4 and Chapters 21-26, listen to recordings. Test 4, Oct 18
Oct 21-30 Romantic
Read Part 5: Prelude 5 and Chapters 27-33, listen to recordings. Test 5, Nov 1
Nov 4-13 Modernism
Read Part 6: Prelude 6 and Chapters 34-39, listen to recordings. Test 6, Nov 15
Nov 18-Dec 4. Popular Music and post World War II Classical music
Read Part 7 and 8: Preludes 7 and 8 and Chapters 41-47, listen to recordings.
Final: Friday Dec 9, 10:30-12:30.
Disabilities Accommodations:
Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability
should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs as soon as possible but preferably
within the first two weeks of class. In addition, please contact Disabilities Resources Services
at 100 Ritter Annex to coordinate reasonable accommodations. The Disabilities Resources
and Services (DRS) is the office that determines appropriate accommodations. This office
bases that decision upon documentation collect from the student with a disability, the
student’s functional limitations, established guidelines and appropriate practice at Temple
University. The DRS phone number is 215.204.1280.
Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities:
Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The
University policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy #
03.70.02) can be accessed with this link:
http://policies.temple.edu/getdoc.asp?policy_no=03.70.02
Academic Integrity:
Those giving the instructor reason to believe that the TU Student Code of Conduct has been
violated will be subject to University Sanctions. Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct
and Disciplinary Procedures for more information:
http://www.temple.edu/bulletin/Responsibilities_rights/responsibilities/responsibilities.sht
m#honesty