Calumet College of St. Joseph

SYLLABUS FOR Music Art Forms

 

 

 

Term: Summer, 2002  (0013) 

Course Number: MFA 255W

Instructor: Mr. Walter Skiba

Office:  Room # 524

Office Phone:  219-473-4270

E-mail:  wskiba@ccsj.edu

Home Phone: (optional) 219-659-2492

Office Hours:  TW—6-7 p.m.

 

Course Time:

Friday, 6:00-10:00P.M.

Saturday, 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.

 

Instructor Background: Education: Bachelor of Arts in speech and theater, St. Joseph’s College Calumet Campus; Master of Arts in Theater, University of Connecticut; Master of Music, Roosevelt University.

Positions at CCSJ:  Associate Professor of speech, music and theater; chairperson, Division of Arts and Sciences.  Length of service: 1971-present.  Regular contributor to the Times—previews and reviews of music and theater events.  Cantor at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.    Activities:  vegetable gardening and swimming.  Residence:  Whiting.  Wife—Mary; children—Frank (21), Jessica (14).

 

Course Description:

The aim of this course is to lay the foundation for an intelligent appreciation of music and its relation to human experience.  The nature and development of music are studied, but primary emphasis is on an aural recognition of the actual music art forms.

 

Textbook:  Hast, Coudery, and Scott.  Exploring the World of Music:  An Introduction to Music From a World Perspective.  Dubuque, Iowa:  Kendall-Hunt Publishing Co., 1999.

 

Package includes CD’s and cassettes.  Videotapes will be shown in class.  Additional sets of tapes are on reserve in the Specker Library.

 

Competencies:  By the end of the course students will be able to:

 

1.              Discuss the nature of music, the acoustical properties of sound, and the relations between musical activity and its setting.

2.              Discuss music in relation to culture.

3.              Define and give examples of such basic elements of music as melody, rhythm, harmony, tone color, texture, and form.

4.              Distinguish between the contributions of composers and performers.

5.              Give some examples of how music influences and is influenced by technology.

6.              Describe some music practices from around the world.

7.              Describe major harmonic developments and style periods in the Western classical tradition.

8.              Describe ragtime, blues, New Orleans jazz, swing, bop, and other more recent jazz styles.

9.              Recognize elements, forms and styles through listening.

10.         Give some examples of connections between music and the visual arts.

11.         Write thoughtful reports/reviews of performances.

 

Learning Strategies: Reading of text, listening to CDs or cassettes, and watching videotapes; writing answers to chapter questions; attending live performances and writing reports; small group discussions of chapter questions; large group discussions of concert outings; supplementary lectures and in-class listening/viewing.

 

Assessment:

Unit exams (4)                      50% of grade

Class participation/collaboration/attendance   25% of grade

Reports/Reviews                                          25% of grade

 

Grading Scale:

Final grades are based on holistic instructor evaluation of above criteria.  No point system is used. 

 

Format for Written Assignments:

Assignments done outside of class, both concert reports and answers to study questions, should be typed and double-spaced, using 12 or 14 pt. font.  Name, assignment, and date should appear in upper right hand corner.  

 

Class Participation:

Includes watching tapes and taking notes, listening to music, answering questions, and joining in class discussions.

 

Class Policy on Attendance:  Attendance is required.  Normally, missing more than one weekend of class will lower a student’s final grade at least one letter. 

 

Class Policy on Electronic Devices: Cell phones, beepers, and pagers are to be turned off during class.  Exception:  unusual circumstances cleared with instructor ahead of time.

 

Classroom decorum:  Students should act toward each other in a cooperative, respectful manner.  Comments and questions are encouraged, but only one person talks at a time.  No talking is allowed during listening/viewing activities.   Leaving and re-entering the room is to be kept to a minimum.  Socializing is out of place during class.  A lunch break and other breaks will be given on Saturdays.

 

Class Date                 Topic-Assignment

Weekend 1

June 21 or 22—CCSJ dinner/theatre, Dirty Work at the Crossroads or Grant Park alternative

 

June 22--

Unit 1: Sound, Music, and the Environment

Unit 2:  The Transformative Power of Music

Unit 3:  Music and Memory

Essay quiz

Weekend 2

June 28—outdoor Chicago Symphony concert at Ravinia, “Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto,” 8:00 p.m.  Free admission with student ID.  For more information visit www.ravinia.org.   Leave from front ov College at 5:30 p.m.

 

June 29-- 

Unit 4:  Transmission:  Learning Music

Unit 5:  Rhythm 

Unit 6:  Melody

Essay quiz

Weekend 3

July 12—concert outing at Front Porch Music, 505 E. Lincoln Highway, Valparaiso, 8:00 p.m.  Phone:  219-464-4700.  Contemporary folk artist—Jennifer Erb.  For more information, visit www.jennifererb.com. 

 

July 13—

Unit 7: Timbre

Unit 8: Texture

Unit 9: Harmony

Essay quiz

Weekend 4

July 19—outdoor concert at Grant Park Music Festival, Chicago, Petrillo Music Shell, corner of Columbus Drive and Jackson Boulevard (accessible on South Shore), “Brahms: A German Requiem,” 7:30 p.m.  No admission charge.  For more info visit www.grantmusicfestival.com.

 

            July 20--

Unit 10:  Form

Unit 11: Composers and Improvisers

Unit 12:  Music and Technology

Essay quiz

 

This schedule is subject to change, with notice given in class.

 

Supplementary materials on Western classical periods and jazz will be presented.

 

Attendance at live music programs is an integral component of the course.  Two-page reports/reviews of four concerts, attended during the class time period, are required for a passing grade.  A fifth report may be submitted for extra credit.  Programs should accompany reviews of concerts that are NOT class outings.   Alternatives—recordings, videotapes, TV specials—may be submitted in unusual circumstances with prior instructor approval.

 

Center for Academic Excellence:

Tutoring assistance is free to all students of Calumet College of St. Joseph. Call the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), to make an appointment at 473-4287. The Center has experienced and well-trained tutors in most subject areas to help students who are struggling in a course or who are doing well and would like to do better. Regular weekly tutoring sessions are likely to improve your grade.

 

Statement of Plagiarism:

If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances. (Academic Planner 2001/2002 p.27)

 

Citation Guidelines:

Calumet College of St. Joseph adheres to citation guidelines as prescribed by the particular discipline (i.e., MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style or Turabian.).  All of these guidelines are available in the Calumet College of St. Joseph library or bookstore.  These texts outline how to cite references from a variety of sources, including electronic media.

 

Withdrawal from Classes Policy:

After the last day for class changes has passed (see College calendar), students may withdraw from a course in which they are registered with permission from the faculty member conducting the course. A written request detailing the reason(s) for the withdrawal must be filed with the Registrar. Written request for withdrawal must be received by the Registrar by the last day of classes prior to the final examination dates specified in the catalogue. Written requests may be mailed to the Registrar or faxed to the College fax number 219-473-4259. Students are to make note of the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. The request is forwarded to the faculty member, who makes the final determination to accept or deny the request. If the request is honored, the student will receive notification of official withdrawal; if denied, the notification will indicate why the withdrawal is disallowed. Note: Degree Completion Division (DCD) students should consult the DCD Student Handbook for information on DCD withdrawals.

 

An official withdrawal is recorded as a "W" grade on the student's transcript. Dropping a course without written permission automatically incurs an "F" grade for the course (see Refund Schedule).