MUTH 2130 - Aural Skills IV

Southern Methodist University
Meadows School of the Arts
Division of Music

MUTH 2130 - Aural Skills IV – Spring, 2009 (Letter Grade)
M F 9:00 - 9:50 a.m. - Room 1040
Dr. Robert Frank - OFAC 2018 - Office Phone: (214) 768-2142
http:faculty.smu.edu/robfrank
Office Hours: as posted or by appointment: email Dr. Frank

Required Texts:

§ Ottman, Music for Sight Singing (current edition used last semester)

§ Other Materials: 8 1/2 x 11 music staff paper, pencils, etc.

§ On line Dictation Materials at: http://www.smu.edu/musictheory/

You should also be enrolled in MUTH 2230 at this time. See me if you are not.

Overview of the Course:

MUTH 2130 is the final semester of the Aural Skills sequence. The objective of the course is to develop and enhance musicianship through the production, perception, and identification of rhythm, melody, and harmony. This will be in the form of in-class and private singing, dictation, practice and drill. Examples will be drawn from the text, the musical repertoire, and other sources.

Course Requirements, Expectations, and Policies:

The class will meet Mondays and Fridays during regular school days. There will be approximately four dictation tests and may be additional quizzes throughout the semester to monitor progress, however daily practice is necessary in order to succeed. Students are urged to schedule specific daily practice times in order to best master the skills this course will cover. Four sight singing exams will be on or about: Feb. 13, March 20, April 17, and at the final exam (May 8). Each will cover materials covered in class to that point and are accumulative. Dictation exams (3-4) will be announced in class at least one week in advance. The final dictation exam will be given during the first hour of the final exam time, May 8. Sight singing exams will be by individual appointment during available sign-up times (which may be outside of normal class times, pending student's scheduling) on the day of the exam. Homework is due at the beginning of class and late homework will not be accepted except under extenuating circumstances, at the discretion of the instructor.

Class begins promptly at 9:00 AM. Attendance is taken at 9:05 and directly affects your grade. Excused absences require a legitimate excuse and notification by leaving a message on my voice mail or in the main music office no later than 30 minutes before class, or by turning in a legitimate written excuse from your appropriate medical, legal, clergical, or university authority within one week of an absence. Pop-quizes, dictation homework, exams, and in-class singing grades during unexcused absences normally will not be allowed to be made up. It is solely the student's responsibility to obtain all materials, information, assignments from all missed classes, excused or not ,or to schedule make-up quizzes prior to, or within one week following, excused absences. If there are any extenuating circumstances or special needs that I should be aware of, please feel free to see me at any time. Cell phones must be turned off during class except for emergencies (please inform instructor).

Please do not hesitate to see me in or out of class regarding anything that may interfere with your learning and successful completion of this course. The theory department has graduate assistants that are available to help tutor this class. You are also always welcome to see me with questions during my office hours (posted on my door or web site following scheduling of private lessons) or by appointment. Please ask if there is a question.

SMU Course Policies:

Disability Accommodations: Students needing academic accommodations for a disability must first contact Ms. Rebecca Marin, Coordinator, Services for Students with Disabilities (214-768-4557) to verify the disability and establish eligibility for accommodations. They should then schedule an appointment with the professor to make appropriate arrangements. (See University Policy No. 2.4.) 

Religious Observance: Religiously observant students wishing to be absent on holidays that require missing class should notify their professors in writing at the beginning of the semester, and should discuss with them, in advance, acceptable ways of making up any work missed because of the absence. (See University Policy No. 1.9.) 

Excused Absences for University Extracurricular Activities: Students participating in an officially sanctioned, scheduled University extracurricular activity should be given the opportunity to make up class assignments or other graded assignments missed as a result of their participation. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements with the instructor prior to any missed scheduled examination or other missed assignment for making up the work. (University Undergraduate Catalogue) All policies in the Division of Music Handbook apply.

Assessment:

Final Grades are derived from a weighted-percentage point system:

· Class Participation 10%

· Homework and assignments: 20%

· Sight Singing Tests (4) 40%

· Dictation Tests (4) 30%

Attendance Policy:

· All unexcused absences beyond 2 will lower your final grade by 2 points (1 point = 1%)

· Late arrivals (after 9:05 AM) beyond 2 will lower your final grade by 1 point

· After 4 consecutive unexcused absences, you may be dropped from the course without notice or appeal.

Assessment of in-class participation is solely at the discretion of the instructor without appeal, and requires you to sing to be heard, contribute positively to the classroom discussions, and behave in a non-disruptive manner. Disruptive behavior will receive one warning after which the student may be dropped immediately without appeal for subsequent repeat offences. Dictation homework and exams will be graded on a point system assessing contextual and/or specific accuracy. Sight Singing exams will be assessed on a point system by the instructor for overall and specific accuracy of given pitch, rhythm, intonation, and if applicable, dynamics and conducting ability. Tone quality is not assessed.