MUSIC 5A/5B ~ Composition

Professor Rebeca Mauleón-Santana
Mondays, 6:30-9:30pm, A216
Office: A 209; Tel: 415-452-5240
E-mail: rmauleon@ccsf.edu
Homepage: http://fog.ccsf.edu/~rmauleon
Office Hours: By Appointment

Syllabus

Objectives:This class will teach students some of the fundamentals as well as complexities of the craft of musical composition.  Students are expected to create simple to complex pieces of varying lengths, and must be able to play or sing their own pieces, or provide samples for instructor and/or students to perform in class (piano scores are preferred, unless student brings and plays their own instrument).  All musical styles will be encouraged.  Students must meet the proper prerequisites, or receive instructor approval by demonstrating comfortable to thorough knowledge of basic music fundamentals, harmony and notation skills, and facility on their instrument or voice.

Assignments will range from writing simple exercises to completing more complex arrangements of the student’s original compositions.  The instructor will provide individual feedback and “coaching” on compositional structure, notation, melodic and harmonic choices, and, in general, help the student with producing an ideal representation of his/her work.  The goals to accomplishing the various tasks should be measured by the student’s improvement commensurate with their musical background.  In the early part of the course, students will survey scores and recordings of a large variety of musical genres, from classic to contemporary, in order to discuss aspects of analysis that are applicable to the compositional process. Students should bring a music notebook or pad of music paper and pencils to each class.  Completed compositions may be turned in either handwritten or using notation software – please do NOT turn in original scores (pencil or ink).  A recorded version (audio or midi performance) may also be turned in, but you must submit written scores.

Learning Outcomes:

Prerequisites:Students must have a minimum of fundamental knowledge in order to enroll, including (but not limited to) thorough knowledge of major and minor scales, key signatures, basic notation, chords and other “basic” skills.  It is not essential to have any background in composition or song-writing (but it helps!). 

Materials:

Essential Dictionary of Musical Notation by Tom Gerou & Linda Lusk & Essential Dictionary of Orchestration by Dave Black

Additional Required Reading On Line: A Practical Guide to Musical Composition by Alan Belkin and "Off The Hook: How to Build a Song" (article in Making Music magazine, Jan/Feb 2011).

Misc. articles: Here's an article from Keyboard Magazine on Cindi Lauper's "Time After Time" for the pop/jazz unit. Here's another useful article on using fourth voicings (aka "quartal harmony").

Musical Scores: Scores in PDF format are available for you to print from the Track Listing page.

Useful link on free public domain sheet music at IMSLP.

Required Listening on iTunesU:
A collection of five play-lists of music is available on iTunesU for the class. In order to access it you must have iTunes installed on your computer. Here is a link in case you do not. To access iTunesU please click on the following link (and be sure to bookmark it): http://www.ccsf.edu/~itunesu/index.php. Then enter your login, which is music5a5b_students, and your password, music5a5b.You will see several play-lists; click on the "subscribe" button for each play-list so the music will download to your computer.  Click here to see the track listings.

Visit Professor Mauleón's YouTube channel: This link takes you to the playlists. Scroll down to the "Film and Television" Theme music playlist!

Check out this visual analysis of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps"

Assignments:

There are six (6) shorter assignments and two (2) major assignments for this course. All assignments must be turned in on time! Check the Course Outline for a complete description of the semester.

Course Calendar:

Schedule of important dates for SPRING 2014 ~ Note the "Exam" schedule is in BOLD.

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Grading Policy:

All work is due on time, no exceptions.  Attendance is crucial; if you miss a class, you are still responsible for the assignment.  Grades on individual pieces are relative to the amount of effort YOU put into your work, NOT on my judgement as to the “quality” of the piece.  If you opt to take the class on a Pass/No Pass basis, you may select three (3) of the assignments to complete, but these should be turned in on the appropriate dates.

Course Outline:

Unit I ~ Strong melody is a must!
 ~ Assignment #1: write a short piece for one instrument using only single notes (no harmonies or chords) and a major or minor pentatonic scale (or other creative 5-note scale or pitch-set), in any time signature or key.

Unit II ~ Listening and Analysis: Melodic Contour, Harmony, Form/Structure (Disks I and II)
~ Assignment #2: pick a song or portion of a piece from the collection to analyze. Include information on chord progressions, motivic ideas, phrasing, modulation if any, etc… (Turn in analysis on separate sheet of music paper or photocopy original score.)

Unit III ~ Simple Two-Part and Four-Part Writing, Setting Music to Text (Disk I)
~ Assignment #3: Write a short piece (at least 16 measures) for two instruments or instrument + voice, exploring elements of harmony, phrasing and dynamics. More advanced students: Write a brief piece for four instruments or four voices in SATB format. Please turn in a score as well as individual parts if you want your piece performed in class. No lyrics are necessary, but are recommended; otherwise, scatting syllables are fine. Another recommendation is using a pre-existing text.

Unit IV ~ In-Class Forum on Student Pieces for Mid-Term
~ Bring in a draft of your Mid-Term piece. This piece can consist of any element used thus far, and must have the following minimal requirements: 1) at least 32 measures in length, 2) two or more parts, either 2 instruments or instrument + voice, and 3) two to three distinct sections.

Mid-Term Student presentation of compositions.
All pieces must be turned in with a written score. Audio may be submitted in addition to written scores.

Unit V ~ Jazz & Pop Music Fundamentals. (Disks II & III)
Introduction to elements of pop and jazz music, including understanding and navigating through (and creating) a lead-sheet, fundamental chord symbols, contemporary terminology, instrumental arrangement, lyrics, etc…
~ Assignment #4: write a "hit" jazz or pop tune, minimum 32 measures, and use AABA form or lyrics if desired. Think "radio play!"

Unit VI ~ Film, TV and Theater & Writing for the Background. (Disk IV)
Introduction to elements of film/documentary and theatrical scoring. Students will watch t.v. and film scenes and analyze musical texture and accompaniment.
~ Assignment #5: write a short piece for film or theatrical soundtrack that supports the visual image (minimum 16 measures).

Unit VII ~ World Music Textures (Disk V)
~ Assignment #6: write a short piece utilizing some exotic or foreign (to you) rhythm, instrument or unusual time signature, scale, etc… For any instrumentation. Minimum 16 measures.

Unit VIII ~ Final: Students work on individual final compositions ~ work sessions in class on problems.

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