Music 110: Introduction to the Elements of Music Fall 2008 Syllabus Instructor: Colleen Potter Monday and Wednesday, 9am to 10:15am Email: colleen.potter@yale.edu WLH 210 Mailbox: 143 Elm Street Office hours by appointment COURSE OVERVIEW Intended for those with no prior experience reading music, this course aims to develop a practical and humanistic understanding of the fundamental building blocks of music (notation, rhythm, scales, keys, chords, melodies, cadences). Course objectives include attaining literacy at reading written musical notation and scores, singing melodies and more complex four-part vocal works from a score, learning to intelligently analyze and articulate musical ideas, and further appreciating music's unique aural, temporal, and aesthetic qualities. Intensive in-class drilling and practicing will accompany regular readings and assignments from Joseph Straus, Elements of Music (2nd edition), which is available for purchase at Foundry Music, 102 Audubon Street. Occasional readings in areas of humanistic, historical, and aesthetic concern will introduce supplementary musical topics for consideration. REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS, TO BE BROUGHT TO EACH CLASS: Joseph N. Straus, Elements of Music, 2 nd edition Music manuscript paper, 8.5 x 11 Pencils Any handouts from class GRADING BREAKDOWN AND POLICIES Homework assignments 20% Sight-singing and group projects 10% Quizzes (9/15, 10/8, 11/10, 11/19) 10% Notation exam (9/22) 5% Midterm (10/22) 10% Final (12/3 & two other parts) 20% Attendance and participation 25% Homework, attendance, and participation together comprise 45% of your grade for this class. Excessive tardiness and absences will not be tolerated, and will negatively affect your grade as well as your performance in this class, since learning music involves hands-on practice that is best done during classroom meetings. It is in your best interest to turn in the homework completed and on time. Late homework assignments will not be graded. Quizzes, the notation exam, the midterm, and the final will generally not be made up without a Dean's Excuse. A NOTE ON EXAMINATIONS The midterm exam will be given in-class. It is cumulative and will involve written problem-solving and aural tests and dictations. The final exam will be administered in three parts: an in-class examination, a written take-home examination, and individual appointments to sing prepared melodies, sight-sing unfamiliar passages, and play assigned chord progressions on the piano.
WEEK 1: 9/3 Introduction to pitched musical notation: the staff, treble clef, and keyboard 1) Read Straus chapter 1, lessons 1-3 and complete accompanying exercises 2) Read chapter 2, lessons 6-7 WEEK 2: 9/8 Introduction to rhythmic notation: durational values, common time, and conducting patterns Beethoven, String Quartet #4 1) Complete exercises in Straus for lessons 6-7 2) Read chapter 1, lessons 4-5, and chapter 2, lessons 8-10 9/10 Bass clef and the grand staff; ties, duple meter, tempo; introduction to subdivision and syncopation 1) Complete exercises in Straus for lessons 4-5 and 8-10 2) Read chapter 2, lessons 11-13 WEEK 3: 9/15 QUIZ #1 Introduction to triple and compound meter; syncopation; poetry and music Chopin, Etude 1) Complete exercises in Straus for lessons 11-13 2) Read chapter 2 supplement 9/17 Review for notation exam; continuation of compound meters and triplets Schubert, "Gloria" from Mass in G Study for Notation Exam WEEK 4: 9/22 NOTATION EXAM Introduction and preparation of Cage, Quartet 1) Practice Cage Quartet 2) Supplementary reading #1: Roger Scruton, Aesthetics of Music, ch. 1 9/24 Discussion of supplementary reading #1 In-class rehearsal of Cage Quartet 1) Practice Cage Quartet 2) Read Straus chapter 3, lessons 14-15
WEEK 5: 9/29 In-class performance of Cage Introduction to major scales, scale degrees, diatonic intervals, and the circle of fifths. More on text-setting with melodic considerations 1) Complete exercises for lessons 14-15 2) Read Straus chapter 3, lessons 16-17 3) Text-setting assignment 10/1 More on major keys; introduction to minor mode 1) Complete activities for lessons 16-17 2) Read chapter 3, lessons 18-20 3) Melodies to prepare for in-class singing on 10/6 WEEK 6: 10/6 Minor keys, circle of 5ths in minor, different minor modes, and transposition 1) Complete exercises for lessons 18-20 2) Study for quiz 10/8 QUIZ #2: Major and minor keys, transpositions, and the minor mode 1)Read Straus chapter 3, lessons 21-24 2) Supplementary reading #2 from Zuckerkandl, The Sense of Music WEEK 7: 10/13 Discussion of supplementary reading #2 Introduction to harmonic and melodic intervals by size and quality "America" 1) Read lessons 25-26 2) Complete exercises for lessons 21-24 3) National anthem assignment 10/15 Singing and discussion of national anthems, intervals Diatonic intervals in major and minor scales Revisiting transposition and the circle of 5ths 1) Complete exercises for lessons 25-26 2) Prepare duets for in-class performance on 10/20
WEEK 8: 10/20 Midterm Review Bach WTC 1 Mahler Symphony 1, mvt 3 Study for midterm! 10/22 Midterm examination Read Straus chapter 5, lessons 27-28. WEEK 9: 10/27 Introduction to types of triads (major, minor, diminished, augmented) and their inversions [Straus 27-28] 1) Practice Janequin, Missa "la bataille" (ongoing) 2) Selected exercises from Straus 27-30 10/29 Triads in major and minor keys [Straus 29-30] Practicing Janequin 1) Janequin triad assignment 2) Seventh Chords assignment from Snell WEEK 10: 11/3 Seventh Chords #1: V7's, inversions, score analysis [Straus 31] Introduction to cadence types [keyboard cadence handout] Practicing Janequin 1) Selected exercises from Straus 31 2) Supplementary reading #3 from Strunk on text and affect in music 11/5 Discussion of supplementary reading #3 Madrigalism, text-setting, and Dido's Lament Seventh Chords #2 [Straus chapter 5 supplement] Review for quiz 1) Study for quiz 2) Practice Janequin for performance in class on 11/10 WEEK 11: 11/10 Quiz #3: Triads, 7ths, inversions [Straus 32] Performance of Janequin in-class Practicing chords and cadences on the piano Introduction to Bach chorales and final singing project 1) Selected exercises from Straus 32-35
2) Cadence worksheet 11/12 Pre-dominants (IV), tonic, and dominant [Straus 33-35]; Cadences Introduction to non-chord tones and harmonic progressions Practicing Bach chorale 1) Practicing Bach 2) Bach chorale worksheet for discussion on 11/17 WEEK 12: 11/17 Phrases and Cadences [Straus 35] More harmonic elements: ii and vii, cadential 6/4, temporary tonicization Review for quiz 1) Study for quiz 2) Practice Bach 11/19 Quiz #4: Cadence types Rehearsing Bach Practice Bach for in-class performance, 12/1 WEEK 13: 12/1 Perform Bach chorale Review session for final exam 12/3 In-class final exam: dictation and written theory