This is the Blogspot site for class members of Music 100 at Jefferson Community and Technical College as taught by Byron Songer. Classes for the Spring 2014 semester should mark this page and follow it at least twice weekly and more frequently if necessary. The date range for the semester is January 13, 2014 - May 9, 2014. The Spring 2014 class taught under my direction is as follows:
MUS 100-5505 • Intro to Music (Lecture) • M/W 12:00pm - 1:15pm
MUS 100-5505 • Intro to Music (Lecture) • M/W 12:00pm - 1:15pm
I hope the format in which I approach the class will prove to be a good experience for you in your exploration of music. I can guarantee you this--we'll cover a broad range of music that's been developed over the last 1400 years in Western civilization and also explore the music of a few Eastern cultures as well as other cultures on our small planet. The experience you're about to have will be of benefit to you the rest of your life. This is my guarantee.
As your instructor I'll make posts on this site regularly. Material will normally be available by 24 hours prior to the class if not earlier. These posts will include material to covered in class such as outlines or notes as well as links to other information on the web such as listening examples on You Tube. You, the student, will be expected to read and become familiar with this material. This will, in fact, be one of three main sources of information for the class. The other sources will be lectures and discussion held in class as well as other opportunities that will be announced as necessary.
While I do not require that you purchase a textbook, one will be of great assistance to the serious student with a keen interest in music history. By not purchasing a text you will save money. However, you will still be expected to read material I present on this site and will be held accountable for all assignments as well as information provided in class. After all, this is the traditional part of the educational process -- you learn stuff and you demonstrate that you've learned it by passing exams and participating in discussion and/or class presentations.
Elements of the Plan
As mentioned above, I'll be blogging notes of material covered in class. These notes will be made available on the schedule provided above. I'll be posting them to help you in reviewing the notes I expect you to take in class (yes, good students take notes; poor ones don't). Each typical Monday the class will begin with a short quiz. If you miss the quiz the grade will be a “0”. I use these grades to help in determining the Personal Initiative portion of your final grade (25%). The quizzes will also be useful in preparing for the four, unit exams as well as for the final exam. The quizzes will cover the material covered in previous sessions. This "looking back" approach means that all material covered in class will be new and lecture-oriented. However, not all of the class time will be spent with a lecture. We'll also have class discussion and do a fair amount of listening because, after all, it is a music course. For each lecture I do use corresponding computer-oriented presentations.
Course Description - Music 100
Music 100 is a study of the elements of music as they apply to the listening experience; designed for the non-music major with little or no prior knowledge of music. Emphasis will be placed upon developing an awareness and understanding of musical styles from the Renaissance to the present. The course also introduces students to the many styles of popular music currently enjoyed by people in the United States and helps them to appreciate the diverse roots of these styles. In addition, students will be encouraged to develop an understanding of music in other cultures from around the world through an encounter with their music.
Your Grade
Your grade will be based on several elements. Those are:
- Weekly Quizzes (no more than 10 in all)
- Unit Exams (4 in all)
- Final Exam (1 exam)
- Attendance
- Personal Initiative
Grading Scale
Grading Scale: Exams, quizzes and other work will be graded using the following scale to assign grades.
- 100-90 = A
- 89-80 = B
- 79-70 = C
- 69-60 = D
- 59-00 = E
Course Requirements
Students are expected to attend each class session, be prepared to respond to questions and enter into meaningful discussion with regard to the session topics listed in the Syllabus. Assignments will also be given on to cover one day of class in which I must be away. The written assignment will be due upon my return. Each student is to be present and on time for exam days. If an absence is pending, please make arrangements in advance with respect to the exam. If an absence is unscheduled, please contact me via email as soon as possible in order to avoid receiving a zero (0) for that exam.
In other words, students are expected to do the work of a student and to do so in a responsible manner.
Syllabus
A link to the syllabus is provided at the end of this blog. It is available as a PDF document which you may download and print. Access will be available for 30 days so be sure to get it, if necessary, before February 14. A printed version will be distributed in class on Wednesday, January 16.
Why a Course in the Humanities?
I suppose one of the biggest questions a student may have is this: Why is it a requirement to take a humanities course?" I'll answer it by first defining this term and then giving a personal observation.
The humanities are academic disciplines (college classes) that study (explore) the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences (dealing with scientific fact). Mathematics, for instance, is an empirical study of numbers.
The humanities include ancient and modern languages, literature, history, philosophy, religion, and visual and performing arts such as music and theatre. People of great learning working in the humanities are sometimes described as "humanists". Some secondary schools offer humanities classes, usually consisting of English literature, global studies, and art or music. Most colleges offer such studies and even require some credit hours in a humanities course for graduation.
So, why study the humanities. Simply put, the humanities cover activities that we humans engage in to enrich our lives. As a result, some personal sense or understanding of these activities enriches our lives. Through the humanities, we can experience life with other individuals on a deeper, more emotional, level since encounters with the humanities are activities we share in.
Keep This in Mind
Music is something we all enjoy. However, don't let your enjoyment of a particular style of music keep you from learning about other styles. In fact, as you learn about other styles you'll probably come to appreciate your favorite styles even more.
Closing Remarks About the Class
I like working with students. Throughout the semester I tend to get attached to each of you. That doesn't mean I'm a "push-over" by any stretch of the imagination. While some of of this may sound rather involved, if you work with me, I'll work with you so that we can all have a successful and enjoyable experience together.
On Wednesday I'll be covering how you can sign up for text blasts at www.remind101.com. As I mentioned in class, this will be an additional method of communicating important reminders to you. Signing up is optional and only for those with texting capability on their phones. Be aware that charges may apply so only sign up if you have an adequate amount of texting coverage.
Songer's Three Rules About Music
On Wednesday I'll present my three rules that combine to form a basic definition of music. During the course of the class, keeping these three rules in mind will be beneficial. They are:
- Music is the movement of sounds and silences through time.
- The basic building blocks of music are pitch and duration. Sounds have pitch and duration for values while the silences have only duration for a value.
- The primary elements of music are melody, harmony, and rhythm; without such the sounds and silences make little sense.
I also presented the fact that every culture has a system of music. Music also crosses cultural lines and can be called "the universal language". As one of the activities that all humans participate or engage in, it is one of the humanities that defines us to others. Our particular tastes, whether likes or dislikes, help others know who we are.
Link to PDF Version of the Syllabus
A printed form of the Syllabus will also be distributed in class on Wednesday, January 15. A link to the Spring 2014 Syllabus will be posted on a blog and made available by Tuesday by noon, January 14.
Prof. Songer
JCTC - Downtown
