INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC MUH 1110

Spring 2014 Seminole Campus

Th 7:00-9:40pm

UP217

Instructor: Dr. Melissa Slawsky

email: slawsky.melissa@spcollege.edu

Fine Arts Main Office is UP 337; Phone: 727-394-6011

Office hours by appointment

Course Syllabus

Course Description: This course is designed to provide an overview of the history of music and its various styles through various media presentation.

Fundamentals of music will also be discussed as well as multi- and cross- cultural and disciplinary connections.

Required Text and Materials: Music: An Appreciation by Roger Kamien. 7th brief, upgraded edition. ISBN# 9780077601379

Attendance Policy: Any student who has more than four unexcused absences in the class will be automatically withdrawn from the course.

Exceptions may be granted only if adequate medical or other documentation is provided.

Course Goals: Students will develop an understanding of basic musical forms, and develop an understanding of various musical styles drawn

primarily from the history of western music from the year 450 to the present.

Grading: Proficiency Tests 50% (10 %/each)

Term paper with presentation 20%

Five written critiques 20%

Final Exam 10%

Scale: 90 – 100% = A; 80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C; 60 – 69% = D; less than 60% = F

Critiques: Students will be required to attend five live performances and turn in a 150-word critique on each along with the

accompanying program. The performances must be classical, jazz, folk, or Broadway oriented. The critiques must be typed. The

critiques will be graded using the following criteria: 1) Critiques must address the fundmental elements of music as discussed in

class (i.e. structural form, dynamics, style, instrumentation, tone color, quality of performance, etc.), 2) Critiques must be typed in

formal traditional English using proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. The grade on the critique will be

lowered by one letter for each class day it is late.

Proficiency Tests: These will be based on material covered in class. Regular attendance, attention, and outside study/listening will

ensure your success on these tests. If you have any questions about the material presented, you may see me on an individual basis

at a mutually convenient time. Makeup exams will not be given except in the case of emergency. In extreme circumstances,

arrangements must be made in advance to take a test at a different time. If make-up exams occur, the test grade will be lowered

one letter for each class day it is late.

Final Exam: The final exam will be comprehensive. The format will match that of previous assignments and exams.

Term Paper: Students will produce an 850-1000 word term paper on a musical style, instrument, ensemble, or musician. The

paper must be typed. This paper will then be presented to the class. The presentation should be approximately 15 minutes. Audio-

visual materials may be included, but may not equal more than half the presentation time. Topics must be approved by the

instructor. Term papers are due May 1 and presentation dates will be assigned by April 1. Term papers must include a

bibliography. Plagiarism is unacceptable. Papers must be typed in formal traditional English using proper grammar, spelling,

punctuation, and sentence structure. Paper and presentation grades will be lowered one letter for each day it is late.

Course Policies: Your participation may affect your grade. You must bring your textbook, any handouts, and note-taking

material to each class.

Respectful classroom behavior will be expected. Any behavior that distracts from a positive mature educational environment will

not be tolerated (talking, reading newspapers, taking cellular phone calls, taking naps, coming in late to class or exiting the

classroom before class is dismissed, etc.). These actions will result in immediate dismissal from class and an unexcused

absence for that day. You will be expected to hand in your assignments on the day they are due. Failure to do so will result in a 0

for all missing or late assignments.

Complete updated college policies can be found at: http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/policies.htm.

The Student Survey of Instruction is administered in courses each semester. It is designed to improve the quality of instruction at

St. Petersburg College. All student responses are confidential and anonymous and will be used solely for the purpose of

performance improvement.

No classes:

March 13 Spring Break

Last Day of Class: May 8

The last day to drop, receive refund, and/or change to audit is January 17.

The final day to withdraw with a grade of “W” is March 26.

Term Paper Due: May 1

Performance Critiques Due: May 1

Final Exam: Week of May 9. TBD

GENERAL COLLEGE POLICIES

Emergency Preparedness: In the event that a hurricane or other natural disaster causes significant damage to St. Petersburg

College facilities, you may be provided the opportunity to transfer your registration to another section of this course so that you

may complete your coursework online with a different SPC instructor. Following the event, please visit the college website for an

announcement of the College’s plan to resume operations. This syllabus will be available in ANGEL for your convenience. Log

into ANGEL to confirm that you have access, reporting any difficulty to the SPC Student Technical Call Center at 727-341-4357

or via email at Onlinehelp@spcollege.edu.

Campus Safety and Security: For information on campus safety and security policies please contact 727-341-4657. For

information on sexual offenders on your campus, please contact campus security or the associate provost office. For general

information, go to the State of Florida website at http://www.3fdle.ste.fl.us/sopu/index.asp.

Academic Honesty: St. Petersburg College has an Academic Honesty policy. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the

policies, rules, and the consequences of violation. Read about the policy at

http:/www/spcollege.edu/webcentral/admit/honesty/htm.

There is no tolerance for cheating and academic dishonesty. Discipline can range from a zero on that specific

assignment to expulsion from the class with a grade of F. Note that copy/pasting published information,

whether it is from your textbook or the Internet, without citing your sources is plagiarism and violates this

policy. Even if you change the words slightly, the ideas are someone else’s, so you need to cite your

sources.

Special Accommodations: If you wish to request accommodations as a student with a documented

disability, please make an appointment with the Learning Specialist on campus. If you have a documented

hearing loss, please contact the Program for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing at 791-2628. If you need assistance

during an emergency classroom evacuation, please contact your campus learning specialist immediately

about arrangements for your safety. The Office of Services with Disabilities can be reached at 727-341-

4758.