Course

Class Brass

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
Music
Course Code
MUSC 1163
Credits
2.00
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
20
Method(s) Of Instruction
Tutorial
Typically Offered
Fall

Overview

Course Description
Students will receive instruction on the trumpet, trombone, French horn, euphonium and tuba, in preparation for effective teaching of instrumental music. Those interested in composition or simply wanting to expand their knowledge of brass instrument theory and playing techniques will also find this course useful.
Course Content

Through lectures, demonstrations and group practice, students will become familiar with the most common brass instruments: the trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba. Students will be issued brass instruments from the College’s collection, and will be taught basic playing techniques on three of these five instruments. This will include instruction on proper playing position, breathing, embouchure, articulation, fingering / slide positions, tone and intonation. Students will also be expected to understand basic maintenance of brass instruments, and will be expected to clean and lubricate the instruments they have borrowed before returning them.

As it is impossible to become proficient on a number of brass instruments in a single semester, students will be expected to understand theoretical concepts that go beyond their personal playing abilities. Understanding the limitations and possibilities of the instruments will be valuable later on, therefore the written tests will evaluate the student’s understanding of this information.

Learning Activities

Students will form a brass ensemble, consisting of trumpets, French horns, trombones, euphoniums and tubas. The instructor will demonstrate proper playing techniques on all instruments, and will lecture on theoretical concepts that go beyond the playing abilities of the students.

Means of Assessment
Playing test #1 (trumpet) 15%
Written midterm 25%
Playing test #2 (horn, trombone, euphonium or tuba) 15%
Playing test #3 (horn, trombone, euphonium or tuba) 15%
Written final 30%
Total   100%

*NB. In a performing group, regular attendance is vital to the learning of ensemble skills and the achievement of high performance standards. Absences affect every member of the ensemble; therefore 5% of the final mark will be deducted for each unexcused absence, to a maximum of 30%. Excused absences will include illness and urgent family or personal matters.

All evaluation components must be completed in order to achieve a passing grade.

Learning Outcomes

This class has been designed primarily for those students who wish to pursue a career in instrumental teaching in the elementary or secondary schools. Those interested in composition or simply wanting to expand their knowledge of brass instrument theory and playing techniques will also find this course useful.

The successful student will learn to perform simple melodies on three brass instruments, and will become familiar with fingering, tone production, theoretical concepts, and specific playing techniques of all common brass instruments.

Textbook Materials

A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided on the Instructor’s Course Outline, which is available to students at the beginning of each semester.

Requisites

Prerequisites

Acceptance to University Transfer Music Program or permission of instructor 

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for MUSC 1163
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU MUSI 1XXX (2)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) No credit
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU MUSI 1XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU MUSI 1XX (2)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) DOUG MUSC 1163 (2) & DOUG MUSC 1164 (2) = UBCV MUSC_V 112 (2)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) No credit
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC MUS 1XX (1)

Course Offerings

Summer 2024