MUS 604 ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES

Spring Semester 2009, Wednesday 4:30 - 6:10 pm


Professor: Dr. Scott L. Miller (PAC 222; 308-3291; slmiller@stcloudstate.edu)
Credit Hours: 2
Attendance: Critical, but not monitored
Office Hours

COURSE OBJECTIVES

In this course, we will explore various hierarchical and structural models embodied in Western music by analyzing music of the Western repertoire from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries. This will entail utilizing several different analytical modeling techniques, which graphically or metaphorically represent the aural phenomenon of music. True musical analysis, however, transcends mere description and attempts to get at the "how" and the "why" of a musical piece's construction. This is often unique to each work, but broad, stylistic categories can be defined, ultimately providing the student with several models and perspectives from which to approach an analysis of any work.

TEXT and MATERIALS

Required Texts:

A Practical Approach to the Study of Form in Music, by Peter Spencer and Peter M. Temko and Anthology for Musical Analysis, 6th edition, by Charles Burkhardt. Bring texts to ALL classes.

RECORDINGS

Listening is the most important activity a musician can undertake, especially when conducting an analysis. Recordings of most (if not all) works we will examine in this course are available to the student via SCSU listening reference resources. You login from off-campus using your SCSU e-mail account user name and your e-mail account password. Only registered students will be able to access materials during the semester.

ASSESSMENT

Mastery of the material will be monitored and evaluated by the completion of periodic assignments and a final exam. The periodic assignments are weighed equally and constitute 50% of the course grade. The final exam is worth 50% of the course grade. Letter grades will be assigned according to the chart below.

Grade Scale (+/- will be used):

A = clear mastery of all material in work
B = above average work

C = average work

D = minimally acceptable work

F = unacceptable work

 
E-MAIL

All students enrolled in MUSM 604 must have an active Huskeynet account to access online audio services. Students must e-mail the instructor (via the address listed above) prior to the second class period. In all correspondence, put "MUS 604" in the subject heading of your e-mail. It is the student’s responsibility to verify that they are receiving class e-mails and to notify the instructor immediately if they are not.

IMPORTANT DATES

·       04 March 2009 – No Class

·       11 March 2009 – No Class (Spring Break)

·       15 April 2009 – No Class

·       06 May 2009 – Final Exam

ABSENCE

If you know ahead of time that you will be unable to attend a class or hand in an assignment, notify the instructor as soon as possible, prior to the class you will miss. If this is not possible, speak with the instructor about the reason at the beginning of the NEXT class meeting. If you do not speak to the instructor about the absence by the following class meeting, it will be unexcused, and you will incur a zero grade. If the absence is excused, the missed assignment(s) will be represented by the average of the prior grades.

LEARNING DISABILITIES

If you have any special needs or requirements, especially as they may pertain to test-taking, notify me during the first week of classes so appropriate adjustments in procedures can be made. No student will be excused from any component of the course.

CHEATING

Any instance of cheating will result in automatic failure in the course and a report to the Office of Student Scholastic Conduct.

INCOMPLETES

Incompletes are awarded only when a calamity or major illness prevents you from completing the term's work on time, and will be awarded only if you have a reasonable prospect for passing the course (based on your record at the time you request an Inc.). If you receive an Incomplete, you must prepare on your own any missed assignments or quizzes, and MUST FULFILL THE INCOMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SEMESTER. If you do not fulfill the Incomplete within one quarter, you will automatically receive an F grade for the course. None of the scores you earned prior to the Incomplete will be erased, and will count towards your fulfillment of the Incomplete.

 

[ SLMILLER HOMEPAGE ]

slmiller@stcloudstate.edu

© 2009 Scott L. Miller