Music Appreciation, Music 27A

Larry Ferrara

Course Information

Office Hours:

Wed. 9:00-10:00 AM, Fri. 9:00-10:00

Room A 129

Telephone and E mail:

(415) 239-3856 LFerrara@ccsf.edu

Music Appreciation Web Sites:

http://www.musicappreciation.com, http://online.ccsf.edu (ID: visitor PASSWORD: visitor)

Music Objectives:

• Learn the basic elements of music, its vocabulary and terminology.

• Become acquainted with the instruments of the orchestra.

• Understand and appreciate the language of music, its style, emotions, expressions and meaning.

• To develop and widen ones taste and knowledge of music from different time periods.

• To recognize, with musical understanding and historic awareness, the works of great composers.

• To be able to apply technology (computers) to obtain musical information while reinforcing the

listening skills you learn in class.

• To understand how music has an impact on current events, different ages and generations and impact on our society as a whole.

• To become a better music listener.

Requirements:

Listening - Besides class meetings there are 14 hours a semester, (approximately one hour a week), of listening lab or computer use at the Media Center, (fourth floor Rosenberg Library). Please obtain a time card at the Media center to keep track of your listening. The time card will document the time you spend in the Media Center by having it stamped with the date and time of your arrival and departure. Compute your hours and hand these time cards in on two separate occasions; midterm and final. If you prefer to do the required listening at home (or in your car), you can download the files from the internet in lieu of using the media center to do your listening. If you select to download the files to your computer you will have to write a paper describing what you are listening to, what the piece is and what is going on in the music. For those who download the listening files, in addition to the paper you will also include a screen shot of your downloaded files along with your documented listening experience. Remember for those of you who use the Media center only a stamped time card is necessary to hand in at the midterm and again at the final.

Report: After the midterm period, the class will spend a three week unit on a research project drawn from today’s popular music styles (or if you choose the traditional classical music repertoire). The class will first survey today’s musical genres and then each class member will select a piece, a song or an appropriate work in which to analyze. The chosen piece cannot be something the text book or the instructor (me) has presented to the class. Each person will choose a unique musical piece that he or she wishes to study. Each person will hand in the research project by answering certain music questions given to him or her before their research. The research paper will be due three weeks after the assignment is given.

Concert Review - During the semester each student is assigned the writing of two music reviews. One of these must be based on an attended live performance; the other may be a video tape of either film Immortal Beloved, Impromptu or Amadeus. Two live performances will also fulfill the concert review requirements. One concert review is due by the midterm the other by the end of the semester.

Attendance and Involvement - In class we will actively work on many aspects of music, which will be rewarding and helpful in your understanding of the concepts you will be learning. Regular attendance and class involvement is essential for a successful completion of this course and a satisfactory grade. Class involvement is staying active during musical listening, class lectures or class discussion and listening while others are discussing. In this course, irregular attendance or improper class participation will directly influence your progress, outcome and consequently your grade. If you miss six classes (excused or unexcused), your class standing will automatically be dropped one letter grade. Two more additional absences (a total of eight), will constitute you being withdrawn from the course. Three late arrivals or early class departures will constitute one absence. If you cannot make it to class within the first 20 minutes please refrain from entering the room due to the fact that we may be either in discussion or listening to an important piece of music.

Grading – Your goal in this class is to acquire an equal amount of progress in 7 areas of assessment; four tests, a listening final, a research project, 14 listening hours, and 2 concert reviews. These areas of study will all be factored in to a final grade. Attendance and class involvement will also be considered (see above). Each of the 4 tests, the individual report and the final is worth an equal amount. In addition, listening and concert reviews combined equal the same as a one test. You must be present to partake in all the tests or a 0 will result for the test you miss. Unless in a very extreme hardship, no make up tests will be given.

Test one = 15% of final grade

Test two = 15%of final grade

Individual project 10% of final grade

Test three = 15% of final grade

Test four = 15% of final grade

Listening final = 15% of final grade

Listening and concert reviews, = 15% of final grade

Attendance = (see above)

Involvement= (see above)

Text – Kerman, Joseph LISTEN, Fifth Brief Edition, Bedford St. Martin, 2004

Text is on reserve in the Library and Media Center.

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