MUS 1132: Basic Skills of Music II, section 002
Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-9:20, 2.03.08 ARTS
Dr. David Heuser Office: 3.02.20 ARTS
Office Phone: 458-5321
email: mailto:david.heuser@utsa.edu  
Office Hours: TBA or by appointment

Required Textbooks and Materials (always bring to class):

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

Goals of the Course

After successfully completing this course, the student should be able to part write diatonic triads and 7th chords, in all inversions, with non-chord tones. The student should also be able to identify diatonic triads, some 7th chords, non-chord tones and cadences in music analysis. The student should also be able to harmonize simple melody lines, write in simple piano styles, and have a basic understanding of phrases and period structures.

Grading and course policies

Final grades will be determined on the following basis:

 

Homework

25%

 

Regular exams (3 @ 15% each)

45%

 

Final Exam

20%

 

Projects

5%

 

Pop Quizzes

5%

 

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.

Communication: If you need to contact me, there are a number of ways to do it. I am usually in my office, and will often be available to see students outside of posted office hours. If my door is closed, please check the schedule next to my door before knocking to make sure you are not interrupting a lesson or lunch. You can also reach me via my office phone and email, which are listed above and on the web (http://music.utsa.edu/Faculty/heuser/index.html). Emails should be courteous and formal, with proper spelling, capitalization, etc., and with a subject line that clearly states the purpose of the message. Ambiguous subject lines may result in an email being deleted as suspected spam. All Music Department faculty also have mailboxes located in the music office (3.01.58). If you would like to put something in my mailbox, give it to the office staff and ask them to place it there. If you have a concern, problem, question, issue or whatever, the best thing you can do is talk to me about it. Stay in touch!

 

*In order to pass Music 1132 a passing grade must be made on the final exam*

 

Basic Skills II Schedule (subject to change)

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, January 16, 18

Cancelled due to icy weather

 

 

Week 2, January 23, 25

Kostka/Payne: Chapters 1-5 Review

 

 

Week 3, January 30, February 1

Kostka/Payne: Chapter 6: Root Position Part Writing

 

 

Week 4, February  6, 8

Test #1, Tuesday, February 6

 

Kostka/Payne: Chapter 7: Harmonic Progression

(note: choir tour week)

 

 

Week 5, February 13, 15

Harmonic Progression continued

 

Kostka/Payne: Chapter 8: Triads in First Inversion

 

 

Week 6, February 20, 22

Kostka/Payne: Chapter 9: Triads in Second Inversion

 

 

Week 7, February 27, March 1

Continue with chapters 7-9

Writing Project

 

 

Week 8, March 6, 8

Test #2, Thursday, March 8

 

 

 

Spring break - March 13-15

 

Week 9, March 20, 22

Kostka/Payne: Chapter 11 & 12: Non-Chord Tones

 

Week 10, March 27, 29

Non-Chord Tones continued

 

 

Week 11, April 3, 5

Test #3: Tuesday, April 5
Kostka/Payne: Chapter 13-15: 7th Chords

 

 

Week 12, April 10, 12

7th Chords continued

Arranging project

 

 

Week 13, April 17, 19

Chapter 10: Cadences, Phrases, Periods

 

 

Week 14, April 24, 26

Phrases and Periods continued

Preview of Basic III and beyond

 

 

Week 15, May 1 (Tuesday only)

Review for exam

 

Final Exam: 7:30AM-10:15AM, Thursday May 10, 2007

 

Useful web sites:

http://www.musictheory.net/index.html (choose “lessons”)

http://www.teoria.com/tutorials/index.htm

http://www.musictheory.halifax.ns.ca/lessons.html

http://www.smu.edu/totw/toc.htm