Course
Discontinued
No
Course code
MUSC 1201
Descriptive
Materials of Music II
Department
Music
Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
Yes
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
25
Contact hours
4 hours per week
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Learning activities
Lectures will include explanation of material by the instructor and practice by the student in the form of exercises.
Course description
Continuation of the study of the materials of tonal music. Comprehensive analysis of short pieces in a variety of classical and popular forms. Introduction to aspects of song writing.
Course content
- Melody: review of tonal scales; introduction to modes and other types of scales such as pentatonic and blues; the role of motive, sequence, and non-chord tones in melodic construction.
- Rhythm: review of simple and compound metres; introduction to additive and asymmetrical metres; the role of syncopation and repetition in rhythmic construction.
- Harmony: continuing study of triads and seventh chords in root position and inversion; basic harmonic progressions and cadences; roman-numeral chord symbols; lead sheet chord symbols.
- Texture and Timbre: techniques for analyzing various types of scores (such as piano, piano/vocal, choral, instrumental ensemble, and orchestral); introduction to transposing instruments and instrumental transcription.
- Structure: continuing study of phrase and period structures; simple instrumental forms; song forms such as strophic, through-composed, 12-bar blues, 16-bar and 32-bar popular song forms.
- Song writing: basic aspects of melodic and rhythmic organization, harmonic structure, text setting, and accompaniment; short compositional exercises.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the successful student should be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of the resources of diatonic harmony, structural units and small forms, and the basic components of song, as represented in the following tasks:
- Provide a harmonic analysis of a given passage of music.
- Provide a structural analysis of a given passage of music.
- Provide written answers (definitions, explanation, descriptions, etc.) about any area of content.
Means of assessment
| Regular homework checks (minimum of ten) | 10% |
| Assignments and Quizzes (minimum of ten) | 30% |
| Major Tests (minimum of three) | 30% |
| Final Project (song writing or song analysis) | 10% |
| Final Examination | 20% |
Textbook materials
A required text with a variety of score study examples, such as the following:
- Straus, Joseph N. Elements of Music, 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008.
- A required anthology of popular song such as one of the following titles from the Hal-Leonard Paperback Songs series: Broadway Songs, Jazz Standards, The Rock and Roll Collection, Classic Rock, or Pop Rock.
- Supplementary material will be provided to the students as needed.
Prerequisites