MUS 1112: Basic Skills of Music I

MUS 1112: Basic Skills of Music I, section 001
Instructor: Dr. David Heuser
Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-9:20; Room: 2.03.08 Arts
Office: 3.02.20 - Phone: 458-5321 - email: david.heuser@utsa.edu
Office Hours: TBA or by appointment
Web page: http://music.utsa.edu/electron/basic1.htm

Required Textbooks and Materials (always bring to class):

Stefan Kostka & Dorothy Payne - Tonal Harmony (fifth edition) and Workbook for Tonal Harmony (fifth edition)
Charles Burkhart - Anthology for Musical Analysis (sixth edition)
staff paper, pencils (not pens)

Course Description

Basic Skills I is designed to provide you with a solid and thorough knowledge of the fundamentals of music terminology, notation and theory. By covering the most basic material we hope to fill in any gaps new music students might have in their musical knowledge before moving on to more advanced topics. We hope that this insures all students to opportunity to succeed in the core music theory program.

Goals of the Course

After successfully completing this course, the student should be able to write and identify all scales, intervals, key signatures, and triads. The student should also know Roman Numeral notation for all diatonic triads in major and minor keys and be able to write root position triads in four voices. The student should also have an understanding of rhythm in music, as well as rhythmic notation and terms.

Grading and course policies

Final grades will be determined on the following basis:

	Homework:	25%
	Regular exams (3 @ 15% each)	45%
	Final Exam	20%
	Pop Quizzes:	10%

Attendance and Fundamental Quizzes will also factor into your final grade for the course as described below.

Attendance and punctuality are essential to this course. It will be factored into your grade by the following formula: zero absences will add 2 points to your Final average; 1 absence will add 1 point; each absence after 2 will lower your final grade by 2 points. Two tardies will equal one absence; being late by more than 15 minutes will count as an absence. If a student is absent more than eight times for any reason during the semester, I may, at my discretion, assign a final grade of F for the course.

ALL absences and tardies count. Due to my inability to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate excuses, I choose not to deal with them (excuses, that is). The two absences you are allowed (a week of classes) are expected to be legitimate (why would you not come to class if you were able?). The only exception to this policy would be a case of prolonged forced absence, such as would be caused by a serious injury requiring hospitalization, or the like. In these cases, documentation is required (of course); otherwise, I do not wish to be shown doctor's notes, letters from funeral directors or a mechanic's bill.

I reserve the right to count you as absent or tardy if you habitually (more than twice) come to class without the required materials (textbook, anthology, staff paper, etc.).

Make-up Work: Students are expected to make up all work missed. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get the notes from a classmate and to come to my office to pick up your homework. I am willing to meet with you and discuss the course material only after you have taken appropriate steps to get caught up on your own. Do not make my office your first stop when you are trying to find out what you missed in class.

Quizzes: There are two types of Quizzes. "Pop" quizzes will be short, unannounced and given throughout the semester. I will drop your lowest quiz score. Make-ups will not be given. There will also be three Timed Quizzes on Fundamentals on key signatures, intervals, and triads. For each quiz which you haven't received a grade of at least 80% on, your final grade will be lowered one letter grade. More information about these Fundamental Quizzes is attached.

Homework will be accepted past the day it is due, but not for a grade. Late homework may not always be returned to you in a timely manner.

Exams: Make up exams for scheduled exams will be allowed only if notice is given prior to the scheduled time.

Class Deportment: Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. To assure all students have the opportunity to gain from time spent in class, students are prohibited from engaging in any form of distraction. Inappropriate behavior in the classroom shall result, minimally, in a request to leave the class. Examples of inappropriate behavior include the use of cellular phones or beepers, eating in the classroom, prolonged chattering, excessive tardiness, sleeping, and overt inattentiveness.

Cheating: Cheating in any form will not be tolerated. All infractions will be reported to Student Judicial Affairs and prosecuted to the maximum extent allowed by the university. Any work you hand in is expected to be your work and your work only; claiming someone else’s work as your own is cheating.

If you have a concern, problem, question, issue or whatever, the best thing you can do is talk to me about it

(in person, on the phone or through email). Stay in touch!

*In order to pass Music 1112 a passing grade must be made on the final exam*

Basic Skills I Schedule

Reading for each week should be completed prior to the first class meeting of that week or the day assigned.

You should be prepared to be quizzed on readings.

Week

Topics

Week 1, August 24

Introduction to the course. Overview of the written theory curriculum at UTSA. What’s it all for?

Week 2, August 29, 31

Read: Kostka/Payne Chapter 1: Elements of Pitch, pp. 1-16

Topics: Clefs, Notation, Scales

Week 3, September 5, 7

Topics: Key Signatures and Scale Degrees

Fundamental Quiz #1 (Note Reading) – Tuesday, September 5

Week 4, September 12, 14

Fundamental Quiz #2 (Key Signatures) – Tuesday, September 12

Exam 1 - Thursday, September 14

Week 5, September 19, 21

For Tuesday Read: Kostka/Payne Chapter 1: Elements of Pitch, pp. 17-24

Topic: Intervals

For Thursday Read: Kostka/Payne Chapter 2: Elements of Rhythm

Week 6, September 26, 28

Topics: Rhythm

Fundamental Quiz #3 (Intervals) – Thursday, September 28

Week 7, October 3, 5

Exam 2 – Thursday, October 5

Week 8, October 10, 12

Read: Kostka/Payne Chapter 3: Triads and Seventh Chords, pp. 39-40

Topic: Triads

Week 9, October 17, 19

For Tuesday Read: Kostka/Payne Chapter 3: Triads and Seventh Chords, pp. 41-43

Topic: Seventh chords

For Thursday Read: Kostka/Payne Chapter 3: Triads and Seventh Chords, pp. 44-47

Topics: Inversions of chords and figured bass notation

Fundamental Quiz #4 (Triads) – Thursday, October 19

Week 10, October 24, 26

Read: Kostka/Payne Chapter 3: Triads and Seventh Chords, pp. 47-55

Topics: Lead sheet symbols, other issues with chords

Week 11, October 31, November 2

Exam 3 – Thursday, November 2

Week 12, November 7, 9

Read: Kostka/Payne Chapter 4: Diatonic Chords in Major and Minor Keys

Topics: Roman numerals, diatonic chords

Week 13, November 14, 16

Read: Kostka/Payne Chapter 5: Principles of Voice Leading

Topics: Melodic line, voice leading, writing V(7)-I

Melody writing project assigned

Week 14, November 21

Read: Kostka/Payne Chapter 6: Root Position Part Writing

Topics: Part writing, writing I IV V(7) I

No Class November 23 for Thanksgiving holiday.

Week 15, November 28, 30

Topics: Continue with part writing, review for final exam

Melody writing project due, Thursday, November 30

Final Exam: Thursday, December 7 from 7:30 AM to 10:15 AM.