Music Appreciation (MUSI 1306)

Course Syllabus HCC Academic Discipline: MusicCourse Title: Music AppreciationCourse Rubric and number: MUSI 1306-0087Course CRN: 36836Semester Term: Summer 2010Campus and Room Location with Days and Times: West Loop Center, room C244; Monday through Thursday, 12:00pm-2:30pmCourse Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 3Course contact hours per semester:  Course length: 1st summer, 5 weeks, June 7-July 11, 2010Type of Instruction:  Lecture
Instructor: Prof. Michael Walsh, Adjunct Professor of MusicContact Information: Phone: 713-718-6360, Fine Arts Department Secretary, Southwest CampusEmail: [email protected] Scheduled Office Hours: Please email me or see me in person after class to schedule a meeting time, if needed.
Course Description A foundation course in understanding and enjoyment of music through the use of recorded music and song literature. MUSI 1306 offers a study of music as an art form, with particular emphasis on developments within the western tradition over the past 2000 years. The primary mode for learning will be that of listening. Elements of music and analysis of music form and how they relate to compositional technique are explored.
Course Prerequisites:Open to all students (Core Curriculum Course)
Course Goal:  To enrich the student through exposure to the processes and repertoire of many different kinds of music; to aid the student in developing an awareness of, and sensitivity to, music in a variety of forms, representing a variety of cultures and eras; to foster, without influencing, student appreciation of music, based on an expanded and heightened awareness of music in society, past and present.
Course Student Learning Outcomes:To increase student knowledge of basic theoretical aspects of music that can be aurally observed, without requisite technical training and mastery. The knowledge will allow students to differentiate the various eras of music, such as Medieval, Classical, 20th Century, et cetera; to engage the student in relating learning from this course to his/her ‘preferred’ music.
Course Student Learning Objectives: As we study music as an art form throughout history, it is my desire that each student begins to appreciate and understand how music enhances, shapes, and informs mankind’s experience as a sentient being. The text and accompanying compact discs will be our guide as we study a variety of musical forms from antiquity to present day.
Core Curriculum:This course fulfills the following core intellectual competencies: reading, writing, speaking, listening, critical thinking and computer literacy. A variety of academic experiences are used to develop these competencies.

HCC Calendar:Per specific SemesterClasses Begin June 7, 2010Last day for drop/add June 8, 2010Holidays and Breaks July 5, 2010- Independence Day HolidayLast day to file for graduation June 15, 2010Last day to drop classes with a grade of W June 30, 2010Instruction ends July 6, 2010Final examination July 7, 2010, 12:00pm


Date Lectures / Topics  / Exams

06/07 Introduction to course; review of syllabus06/08-06/09 Discuss pages 1-7806/10 Brief review. EXAM I. Elements of Music0614-06/16 Discuss pages 79-12206/17 Brief review. EXAM II. Medieval and Renaissance06/21-06/23 Discuss pages 123-27006/24 Brief review. Exam III. Baroque and Classical06/28-06/30 Discuss pages 271-468. 07/01 Brief review. EXAM IV. Romantic and 20th Century (Report papers due)07/06 Discuss 469-59707/07 Brief review. FINAL EXAM
Please remember that this syllabus is subject to change. All changes will be documented by the instructor.


Instructional Methods: Methods of instruction may include: lectures, readings from textbooks, musical score listening presentations, and in-class critiques. 
Student Assignments: Students are required to attend a live concert performance approved by the instructor, and type a 1-2 page report about the concert including elements discussed during the class. Critique the performance, addressing issues of technique, repertoire, musicality, and entertainment value. This report, along with the program of the concert is to be turned in by Thursday, July 1, 2010. Assignments may include: written critical responses, group projects, exams, various assigned readings from textbooks; mandatory discussions based on various topics related to music appreciation; debates; writing papers including essays, analyses, reviews, research, comparing and contrasting artistic theories and perspectives; presentations; group and/or individual projects for extra credit.
Student Assessments: Class participation, attentiveness, responsiveness, and inquisitiveness on the part of the student will be evaluated subjectively by the instructor throughout the five-week semester. Evidence of basic preparation for each session will be noted. These factors will be considered and assessed, and an appropriate score for this category will be determined. Methods of Assessment/Evaluation may include: Tests which include: definitions, matching, multiple choice, true/false, short answer, brief essay, lists; writing assignments, in-class discussions and/or critiques; written papers including critiques, essays, analyses, reviews, research, comparing and contrasting artistic or design theories and perspectives; presentations; group and/or individual projects for extra credit.
Instructional Materials:Roger Kamien: Music: An Appreciation, 9th edition, 2008, McGraw-Hill Publishing, ISBN: 978-0-07-352656-0. Please note: CD’s of musical excerpts used in this course are to be regarded as optional but are strongly encouraged. The student choosing not to purchase CD’s is still responsible for all listening assignments related to class preparation and testing. Students may borrow CD’s from Professor Walsh for on-site study on a case-by-case basis.
HCC Policy Statement: Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
If you have any questions, please contact the Disability Counselor at your college or the District Disability Office at 713-718-5165 or the Southwest College Counselor: Dr. Becky Hauri at 713-718-7909.
To visit the ADA Web site, log on to www.hccs.edu, Click Future StudentsScroll down the page and click on the words Disability Information. http://www.hccs.edu/hccs/future-students/disability-services


HCC Policy Statement: Academic Honesty 
You are expected to be familiar with the College's Policy on Academic Honesty, found in the catalog and student handbook. Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by College System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty.
“Scholastic dishonesty” includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
Cheating on a test includes:• Copying from another student’s test paper;• Using materials during a test that are not authorized by the person giving the test;• Collaborating with another student during a test without authority;• Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the contents of a test that has not bee administered;• Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one’s own written work offered for credit.
Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work offered for credit.
Violations: Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of “0” or “F” on the particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal from the College System. A recommendation for suspension or expulsion will be referred to the College Dean of Student Development for disciplinary disposition.
Students who wish to appeal a grade penalty should notify the instructional supervisor within 30 working days of the incident. A standing committee appointed by the College Dean of Instruction (Academic or Workforce) will convene to sustain, reduce, or reverse the grade penalty. The committee will be composed of two students, two faculty members, and one instructional administrator. A majority vote will decide the grade appeal and is final.

Official HCC Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend classes regularly. Students are responsible for material covered during their absences, and it is the student’s responsibility to consult with instructors for makeup assignments. Class attendance is checked daily by the instructor.
Although it is the responsibility of the student to drop a course for non-attendance, the instructor has the authority to drop a student for excessive absences. 
A student may be dropped from a course for absenteeism after the student has accumulated absences in excess of 12.5 percent of the hours of instruction (including lecture and laboratory time).For example: For a three credit-hour lecture class meeting three hours per week (48 hours of instruction), a student may be dropped after six hours of absences. 
Administrative drops are at the discretion of the instructor. If you are doing poorly in the class, but you have not contacted your professor to ask for help, and you have not withdrawn by the official withdrawal date, it will result in you receiving a grade of “F” in the course
NOTE:  LAST DAY FOR STUDENT/ADMINISTRATIVE DROP THIS SEMESTER:JUNE 30, 2010
Course Withdrawals-First Time Freshmen Students-Fall 2007 and Later: Effective 2007, section 51.907 of the Texas Education Code applies to first-time in college freshman students who enroll in a Texas public institution of higher education in the fall semester of 2007 or thereafter. High school students currently enrolled in HCC Dual Credit and Early College are waived from this requirement until they graduate from high school.
Based on this law, HCC or any other Texas Public institution of higher education may not permit students to drop after the official day of record more than six college level credit courses for unacceptable reasons during their entire undergraduate career.
Course Withdrawals:Be sure you understand HCC policies about dropping a course. It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw officially from a course and prevent an “F” from appearing on the transcript. If you feel that you cannot complete this course, you will need to withdraw from the course prior to the final date of withdrawal.   Before, you withdraw from your course; please take the time to meet with the instructor to discuss why you feel it is necessary to do so. The instructor may be able to provide you with suggestions that would enable you to complete the course.  Your success is very important
If you plan on withdrawing from your class, you MUST contact a HCC counselor or your professor prior to withdrawing (dropping) the class for approval and this must be done PRIOR to the withdrawal deadline to receive a “W” on your transcript.  **Final withdrawal deadlines vary each semester and/or depending on class length, please visit the online registration calendars, HCC schedule of classes and catalog, any HCC Registration Office, or any HCC counselor to determine class withdrawal deadlines.  Remember to allow a 24-hour response time when communicating via email and/or telephone with a professor and/or counselor.  Do not submit a request to discuss withdrawal options less than a day before the deadline.  If you do not withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade that you are making in the class as your final grade
Early Alert Program:To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by which your professor may “alert” you and HCC counselors that you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance.  It is your responsibility to visit with your professor or a counselor to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be available to assist you – online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your academic performance.
Repeat Course Fee:  The State of Texas encourages students to complete college without having to repeat failed classes.  To increase student success, students who repeat the same course more than twice, are required to pay extra tuition.  The purpose of this extra tuition fee is to encourage students to pass their courses and to graduate. Effective fall 2006, HCC will charge a higher tuition rate to students registering the third or subsequent time for a course. If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer with your instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework, test taking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available.
Individual Instructor’s Requirements Statement     
As your Instructor, it is my responsibility to:• Provide the grading scale and detailed grading formula explaining how student grades are to be derived• Facilitate an effective learning environment through class activities and discussions• Provide a clear description of any special projects or assignments• Inform students of policies such as attendance, withdrawal, tardiness and make up• Provide the course outline and class calendar which will include a description of any special projects or assignments• Arrange to meet with individual students before and after class as required
To be successful in this class, it is the student’s responsibility to:• Attend class and participate in class discussions and activities• Read and comprehend the textbook• Complete the required assignments and exams• Ask for help when there is a question or problem• Keep copies of all paperwork, including this syllabus, handouts and all assignments
HCC Grading Information:
Grading percentile: the official HCC grading rubric is as follows:
90–100 percent A Exceptionally fine work; superior in presentation, visual observation, comprehension and participation80–89 percent B Above average work; superior in one or two areas70–79 percent C Average work; good, unexceptional participation60–69 percent D Below average work; noticeably weak with minimal participationBelow 60 percent F Clearly deficient in presentation, style and content with a lack of participation
The grade of "I" (Incomplete) is conditional. It will only be assigned if at least 80% of the course work is completed. Students receiving an "I," must make an arrangement with the instructor in writing to complete the course work within six months. After the deadline, the "I" becomes an "F." All "I" designations must be changed to grades prior to graduation. Changed grades will appear on student record as "I"/Grade (example: "I/A").
The grade of "W" (Withdrawal) appears on grade reports when students withdraw from a class by the drop deadline. Instructors have the option of dropping students up to the deadline. After the deadline, instructors do not have that option — not even when entering final grades.
Instructor Grading Criteria:  
Homework, assignments and projects will be evaluated according to the following criteria:• Adherence to all specific assignment guidelines/content requirements.• Adherence to deadlines.• Level of technical difficulty attempted and achieved. More sophisticated work may receive higher scores.• Creativity and Originality: Solving the assignments in an imaginative and unique way may lead to a higher score.• Honesty: Submit your own work. 
Instructor’s Final Grading Legend:
There will be a total of five exams given: four major exams and the final cumulative exam. The lowest grade of all the exams will be dropped, and the remaining four exam grades will be averaged. If the first four exam grades of a student average above a 95%, the final exam may be exempt by the student. The final grade will consist of the following:• Writing Assignment (Concert Program report): 10% • Student preparation and participation: 10%• Average of remaining four exam grades: 80% • Total: 100%
Other Information:
Cell phones and other digital devices must be turned off and stored out of sight during class. Please treat others in the class as you would like to be treated in return (the Golden Rule). It is imperative that you be respectful of those around you. Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part. Do not hesitate to ask questions- it is how we learn. What you will learn in this class is in direct relation to how much you apply yourself. There is a lot of material to cover in five short weeks, so preparation will be crucial. Make sure you have read the proper selections for each week. Procrastination will get you nowhere. Preparation will give you peace of mind.