Los Angeles Valley College MUS 200: INTRO TO MUSIC THEORY FALL 2016 Tuesday/Thursday, 8:15am - 10:40am, M112 Timothy Herscovitch, professor E-mail and Phone: herscota@gmail.com / (818) 947-2346 (office) This is the entry-level course for Music Majors. It is an accelerated course in music theory, including: musical notation, basic rhythms, major and minor scales, keys, intervals, chords, beginning sightsinging and ear training.
Course Objectives A. Write and recognize visually: clefs and pitches on the staff; whole steps and half steps; enharmonic equivalents B. Construct and recognize all diatonic intervals (simple and compound) above and below a given note, and be able to invert simple intervals C. Construct and recognize all major and minor scales and key signatures D. Recognize all triads (major, minor, augmented, diminished) in root position and inversion, and construct root position triads above a given note E. Define basic music and performance terminology F. Read notes in treble, bass, and C clefs G. Perform intermediate-level rhythmic exercises in simple and compound meters with beat division and subdivision H. Perform rhythmic dictation (simple and compound meters with beat division) I. Sing scales and simple melodies using solfeggio J. Perform simple melodic dictation (mostly step-wise motion, simple and compound meters) K. Aurally identify simple intervals L. Aurally identify triads Course Student Learning Outcome Students will demonstrate fluency in beginning music theory, and will demonstrate beginning-level aural skills. Required Materials Introductory Musicianship, Lynn 2012 (textbook available in LAVC Bookstore) Several pencils with erasers (not pens!), blank staff paper (or Musician s Notebook ), access to a computer with internet, the LAVC portal, and your LAVC student e-mail address. Attendance and Homework This class is based around rigorous daily practice of musical skills. Missing class will leave you at a serious disadvantage, both in terms of your progression as a musician as well as your grade in the class. If you are absent, you are responsible for obtaining class notes and homework assignments. Missed assignments, quizzes, and exams count as a ZERO. The instructor strictly adheres to the attendance policy of LAVC and has the right to exclude a student based on this policy.
Engrade.com You will be given access to your own password-protected student page on Engrade.com. Here, you will be able to see your grades as soon as they are entered into the course grade book, allowing you to keep tabs on your point totals and easily communicate with the Professor. Assignments, Quizzes, and Exams There will be many assignments and quizzes throughout the semester. Exam dates are listed on the Course Schedule (last page of the syllabus). Quizzes (worth fewer points) will be administered frequently and at the professor s discretion. Make-up exams are given only at the discretion of the Professor, and require a valid physician's note. Quizzes cannot be made up (attendance is very important)! Grading Scale (Percentage) 100-90 = A 89-80 = B 79-70 = C 69-60 = D 59 0 = F Academic Integrity Academic dishonesty is NOT tolerated in this or ANY other course at LAVC. Anyone found to be plagiarizing or cheating (such as copying, giving answers, using crib sheets, etc) will (1) receive a zero (fail) on the assignment, quiz, or exam, and (2) be referred to the Dean of Students for further disciplinary action, following due process. For further information, visit the Writing Center website: www.lavc.edu/wcweb/plagiarism.html
Classroom Conduct A student enrolling in one of the Los Angeles Community Colleges may rightfully expect that the faculty and administrators will maintain an environment in which there is freedom to learn. As members of the college community, students are encouraged to develop the capacity for critical thinking, to engage in an independent search for knowledge, and to practice professionalism in the field they wish to pursue. Please show respect for the learning environment by arriving on time and silencing your cell phone before coming into the classroom. Disruptive or disrespectful students may be asked to leave. In addition, student conduct must conform to District and college rules and regulations, which can be found in the course catalog. Statement for Access Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability can obtain a letter for approved accommodations from Services for Students with Disabilities (and should do so in a timely manner). SSD is located in SSA 175 and can be reached at (818) 947-2681. Their TTY number is (818) 947-2680.
COURSE SCHEDULE This tentative course schedule is an overview of the planned topics and activities for our semester (subject to change at the Professor's discretion). IMPORTANT: This course is not as linear as the schedule implies. We will constantly be reviewing prior concepts, and adjusting the course pace as necessary. This is only a broad outline of the topics covered in MUS 200. WEEK TOPICS NOTES 1 Getting Acquainted, Intro to Sound 2 Notation of Pitch, Reading Different Clefs 3 Notation of Rhythm, Intro to Meters 4 Review: Terms, Pitch, Rhythm, Clefs, Meters 5 Key Signatures, Intro to Intervals 6 Identification and Construction of Intervals 7 Intro to Solfege 8 Triads (Construct & Identify) REVIEW FOR MIDTERM 9 MIDTERM 10 More work with Triads and Ear Training 11 Figured Bass, Scale Degrees 12 Principles of Four-Part Diatonic Harmony 13 Sight Singing and Solfege NO CLASS 11/24 14 Rhythmic Dictation & Skill Reinforcement 15 Melodic Dictation & Skill Reinforcement 16 Seventh Chords, Non Chord Tones REVIEW FOR FINAL FINAL FINAL EXAM: THURSDAY DECEMBER 15th 8am-10am FINAL EXAM I was obliged to be industrious. Whoever is equally industrious will succeed equally well. - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)