North Arkansas College
Course Syllabus for Music Appreciation
1.
Course Identification
Course Name: (MUS 1003) Music Appreciation
Credit Hours: 3
Meeting Times: Online Study
Instructor: Reece Conrad
Office Location: M162 - Office Hours: By Appointment
Email: rconrad@northark.edu
2.
Catalog Course Description
This course surveys Music history, with emphasis on hearing and discussing Western Art
Music. You will examine cultural trends and major composers throughout history by
studying musical selections for voice and common orchestral instruments. You will also
learn the terminology needed to discuss musical works in an intelligent manner.
Attendance at live concerts and selective Internet listening is highly encouraged.
3.
Rationale for Course
Music is a part of everyday life for all human beings. Studying about the fundamentals
of music and tracing its development throughout history helps us understand and
appreciate the art of Music to a fuller extent. Music appreciation is one of the educational
core classes and is transferable to other colleges.
4.
Audience for Course
Music Appreciation is open to any Northark student. There are no pre-requisites.
5.
General Course Goals
Apply critical thinking and problem solving skills across disciplines.
Apply life skills in areas such as teamwork, interpersonal relationships, ethics,
and study habits.
Communicate clearly in written or oral formats.
Use technology appropriate for learning.
Discuss issues of a diverse global society.
Demonstrate math and/or statistical skills.
6.
Specific Course Outcomes/Objectives/Competencies
By the end of the semester students will be able to:
Identify different instruments and sections of the orchestra
Identify various compositions of music
Identify different styles of music
Identify various musical vocabulary terms
Understand the uniqueness and importance of various composers throughout
different periods of history
7.
Resources Needed for the Course (REQUIRED MATERIALS)
Personal computer: The student is expected to have access to a computer with
these system requirements. If you have any problems with your computer, ie,
computer crashes, internet goes down, or etc., it is your responsibility to have a
backup plan.
Email Account: A Northark email account was issued to you automatically when
you enrolled in your classes. To access your email, navigate to Northark’s Web
site at www.northark.edu.
Textbook: Kamien, Roger. Music: An Appreciation, Eighth Brief Edition.
McGraw-Hill, New York, N.Y. 2014.
Download Access Card for “Connect”
8.
Resources Available for the Course
Computer access is available in the library. The library is open from 7:30 a.m. to
9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m - 5 p.m Fridays and 8am until 2pm on
Saturdays. There are also computer labs in rooms M101, M102, M103, M111D,
M150, A106, B206-209, N110, and N114. All south campus labs are open when
the building is open. North campus labs usually close at 5 p.m. You can doublecheck lab hours outside of room B202 (Mary Bausch’s office).
9.
Instructional/Teaching Methods
Online video lectures and demonstrations from the instructor
Audial and Visual demonstrations of musical material
Instructor-lead online forum discussions
10.
Other Student Responsibilities
When in doubt, email me! If you have any questions or issues with an
assignment, PLEASE get in contact with me ASAP.
11.
Course Evaluation (Grading) Procedures
1. Weekly Quizzes and Short Answer Assignments
For each week, I will post an assignment with instructions and a due date/time.
Assignments will require you to read the text material and listen to the materials that
accompany your text. The average of your weekly assignments will account for 60%
of your final grade.
2. Discussion Forum Assignments
Throughout the semester you will be asked to participate in discussion forums to discuss
listening material from the textbook and external websites like Youtube. The average of
your discussion forum assignments will account for 40% of your final grade.
FINAL GRADE BREAKDOWN
o Weekly Written Assignments:
o Discussion Forum:
60%
40%
EXTRA CREDIT
You can earn limited extra credit in this course by attending an approved classical music
concert and completing a short written assignment. Please see me if you are interested in
earning extra credit.
The following grading scale will be used in this class:
A=100%-90%
B=89%-80%
C=79%-70%
D=69%-60%
F=59% and below
12.
Attendance Policy
Since this is an online course, no attendance is required. You must complete all
assignments before their due date.
13.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty, as defined in the Student Handbook, will not be tolerated. Any
form of academic dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism, test tampering, and
facilitating academic dishonesty, will be reported and will result in disciplinary action.
Please consult the Student Handbook for information on how to resolve disciplinary
action.
14.
Provision for Changing the Syllabus
The syllabus is always subject to change. In the event of a change, I will hand out an
addendum to the syllabus in class.
15.
Accommodations for Students with Special Needs:
ADA statement: North Arkansas College complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students with disabilities
who need special accommodations should make their requests in the following way: (1)
talk to the instructor after class or during office hours about their disability or special
need related to classroom work; and/or (2) contact Special Services in Room M154H and
ask to speak to Kim Brecklein.