Course Syllabus

Course: MUSC 1100

Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Music
Title: Fundamentals of Music

Semester Approved: Spring 2024
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2028
End Semester: Fall 2029

Catalog Description: This course includes the study of the rudimentary materials of music: scales, intervals, keys, rhythms, meters, and terminology for both visual and aural perception. It is designed for non-music majors, elementary education majors, and music majors desiring further foundational understanding prior to enrolling in the music theory sequence.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0

Prerequisites: N/A

Corequisites: N/A


Justification: This course is taught at all four-year institutions in Utah and most institutions nationally. It serves to provide future elementary school teachers with a foundation in music terminology prior to enrolling in elementary school music methods. It also serves to remediate music majors who may otherwise have difficulty with music theory I.


Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic components of music including basic notational procedures, scales, key signatures, rhythmic notation, and the associated terminology describing these components. They will demonstrate their understanding of the above through classwork, homework, class discussion, quizzes, and exams.

Students will learn how to extract meaning from reading standard musical notation.   The instructor will provide feedback during the class session and by review of quizzes, exams and other assessment materials.

Students will also develop a vocabulary of musical terms sufficient for basic musical literacy. 1) They will demonstrate the ability to compose major and minor scales and identify other basic components of music. 2) They will demonstrate on quizzes, exams and other assessment materials.


Content:
This course will provide students with an understanding of basic fundamental music notation practices. Students will learn the notes on a keyboard and on the staff. Students will learn rhythm in both simple and compound meters. Students will learn to construct major and minor scales, as well as major and minor key signatures. They will also learn to identify both visually and aurally, melodic and harmonic intervals. Students will understand the construction of major and minor triads and will be able to correctly identify these triads both visually and aurally.

Key Performance Indicators:
Participation & attendance: 5 to 10%

Quizzes: 15 to 30%

Written weekly assignments: 15 to 30%

Mid-term exam: 20 to 30%

Comprehensive final exam: 20 to 30%


Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Duckworth, William, A Creative Approach to Music Fundamentals. Current edition. Schirmer, Cengage Learning.


Pedagogy Statement:
The class is taught through discussion, assignments, listening and practical applications. This class is designed to accommodate students needing a more introductory grounding in theoretical principles. Instructors will make every effort to assess areas where students need support and provide relevant learning activities and examples.

Instructional Mediums:
Lecture

Maximum Class Size: 20
Optimum Class Size: 15