MUS 126: Orchestration Course Syllabus Fall, 2017 Course Meeting Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 12:50-1:50 PM Course Location: Patterson Hall (PH) 52

Professor: Dr. Melinda Crawford Perttu Office: Patterson Hall; Room 61B Office Hours: As posted on office door and by appointment Office Phone: 724-946-7271 E-mail: [email protected]

Course Description: Study of the timbres, ranges, transposition, technical characteristics, and idiomatic uses of the instruments of the orchestra. Orchestral families of sound are examined in their individual sound colors and in their contribution to orchestral sound.

Prerequisite: MUS 123, or permission of instructor. Credit: 4 semester hours. Note: A letter grade of at least C- must be attained in MUS 126 in order to count for graduation as a music education major.

Course outcomes: Students will be able to: • identify and discuss the technical demands of the instruments in the orchestra. • orchestrate while navigating for the strengths and weakens of particular performing groups.

Assignments and Exams: All written assignments are due at the beginning of the class period unless the instructor says otherwise. Assignments will be accepted ONE class period following the due date and can receive a maximum of only 50% of the original grade. Assignments completed later than one class period after the due date will not be accepted and will be given a grade of zero.

In general, assignments consist of workbook exercises. It is absolutely essential to complete all homework assignments on time, as skills in orchestration are acquired most effectively through repetitive practice.

Although it is encouraged that all assignments be printed through a music notation software program such as Sibelius or Finale, hand-written assignments will also be accepted provided that they are completely legible. Any ambiguous or unclear notation will be considered incorrect. However, please note that the final project MUST be printed through a music notation software program.

Final Project: In general, the final project shall be a folk tune that is orchestrated for a mid-sized full orchestra. Additional details regarding the project will be discussed at a later date.

There will be one written Final Exam.

Grading: The final grade is based upon: • Homework assignments (usually one per week; 60% of final grade) 1 • Final project (30% of final grade) • Final Exam (10% of final grade)

Grading Scale: 93-100 A 73-76 C 90-92 A- 70-72 C- 87-89 B+ 67-69 D+ 83-86 B 63-66 D 80-82 B- 60-62 D- 77-79 C+ Below 60 F

Students must attain a grade of C- or higher in order for this course to count toward the music major.

Note on due dates and late work: All written assignments are due at the beginning of the class period unless I say otherwise. Late homework assignments are not accepted, unless the student has missed class due to an excused absence. In addition, homework assignments will not be accepted after class. Likewise, a missed test will count as a zero percent, unless the student has missed due to an excused absence. This course follows the policy regarding exams and excused absences that is outlined in the Westminster College Undergraduate Catalogue.

Textbooks and Course Materials: Students are responsible for obtaining a copy of each of the following items.

th • Samuel Adler, The Study of Orchestration, 4 Edition. th • Samuel Adler, The Study of Orchestration Workbook, 4 Edition.

Attendance Policy: The attendance policy in this course follows the College policy, which is outlined in the Westminster College Undergraduate Catalogue. Students are expected to attend all classes. Research has shown that performing well in a course is associated with high attendance. Students should be aware that “showing up” is highly valued not only in this course and College, but in the workforce and society in general. I will not accept any assignments from students who have missed class due to an unexcused absence. In addition, I will not re-teach—either in class or during office hours—material missed due to an unexcused absence. I may excuse absences for the following reasons: course-related field trips; illness that is documented by a doctor’s note (not including the “self-reported sick in room” notice from the Student Health Center); death or serious illness in the immediate family as is verified by someone other than the student; appearance in court; co-curricular and extracurricular activities recognized and/or sponsored by the College; or another extraordinary reason as deemed appropriate by me. Students must make arrangements with me regarding the completion of missed work from excused absences.

No food or drink is permitted in keyboard labs.

E-mail and Computer Use: I will be e-mailing students in the course critical information and will also be posting important files to network accounts. Students are required to use the Westminster.edu e-mail account and network accounts, or must have their e-mails forwarded from 2 Westminster.edu to another account. In addition, students are required to check e-mail with reasonable frequency, preferably every day, as important course updates may occur via e-mail rather than in class, in an effort to preserve valuable class time. If e-mail accounts are too full or over quota, I will NOT resend e-mails; students are required to monitor the quotas on their accounts. Additionally, all class information will be posted on D2L.

Academic Honesty: While students are encouraged to study and work in groups on homework assignments, copying work for the sake of turning in assignments on time is a breach of the College’s policy on academic integrity. In addition, the standards in this course conform to the College’s policy, which states: “Academic dishonesty is a profound violation of the expected code of behavior. It can take several forms including, but not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, misrepresentation of facts or experimental results, unauthorized use of or intentional intrusion into another’s computer files and/or programs, intentional damage to a computer system, and unauthorized use of library materials and privileges. Academic dishonesty in any of these forms will not be tolerated. Students who engage in academic dishonesty face penalties such as failure in the course involved or expulsion from the College. All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of the College.”

Student Support Services and Special Accommodations: Students who have special needs that may affect their academic or personal life should seek resources on campus to assist them, such as Disability Support, the Learning Center, Diversity Services, and Library Instruction. In this course, accommodations consistent with college policy will be made for students who are utilizing appropriate support services. After consulting with the appropriate support service, students are encouraged to speak with me in a confidential appointment about necessary accommodations.

Note on Cellphone Use: Cellphones must be silenced during class. Texting is not permitted.

3 SCHEDULE OF CLASS MEETINGS, TOPICS, AND ASSIGNMENTS (subject to change):

DATE Class # TOPIC ASSIGNMENT Week 1 8/28 1 Introduction to the course 8/30 2 Adler: Chaps 18, 19 – Preparing a Score 9/1 3 Bowed string instruments generalities HW 1: Bowing Worksheets Week 2 9/4 4 Bowed string instruments gen., con. 9/6 5 Bowed string instruments gen., con. 9/8 6 Violin/Viola HW 1 DUE; HW 2: WKBK p. 1-3, all but # 24 & 25 Week 3 9/11 7 Cello 9/13 8 Bass 9/15 9 Scoring for Strings HW 2 DUE; HW 3: WKBK p. 11-13: #1 Week 4 9/18 10 Scoring for Strings, con. 9/20 11 Harp 9/22 12 In-class arrangement 1 HW 3 DUE; HW 4: WKBK p. 109: (meas. 1- downbeat of meas. 21) Arranged for standard five-part string orchestra. Include bowings/articulations. Slurs included in the excerpt are generally not appropriate for strings. Week 5 9/25 13 In-class arrangement 2 9/27 14 In class arrangement 3 9/29 15 Flute HW 4 DUE; HW 5: WKBK: p. 45-47, all Week 6 10/2 16 Oboe / Bassoon 10/4 17 Clarinet / Sax 10/6 18 Scoring for Winds HW 5 DUE; HW 6: WKBK p. 76 Orchestrate for 1 picc, 2 fl, 2 ob, 2 clar, 1 bass clar, 2 bassn, 1 contra bassn. a2 is only appropriate on occasion. Week 7 10/9 19 Scoring for Winds & Winds/Strings 10/11 20 Discuss Final Project Start working toward Final Project 10/13 21 In-class arrangement 1 HW 6 DUE; HW 7: WKBK p. 70: Orchestrate for 2 fl, 2 ob, 1 Eng hrn, 2 clar,, 2 bassn, harp, strings. Use all correct harp pedal markings and notation techniques. Include appropriate wind and string bowings/articulations. a2 is only appropriate on occasion. Week 8 10/16 22 In-class arrangement 2 10/18 23 In-class arrangement 3 Selection of Final Project tune DUE

4 10/20 24 Horn HW 7 DUE; HW 8: WKBK p. 105 (1st 19 meas. + downbeat of meas. 20.): Orchestrate for ONLY orchestral brass: 4 hrn, 3 tpt, 3 trb (2 ten. & 1 bass), 1 tuba. a2 is only appropriate on occasion. Week 9 10/23 No class – Mid-term Break 10/25 25 Trumpet 10/27 26 Trombone, Tuba Week 10 10/30 27 Scoring for Brass & Combinations HW 8 DUE; HW 9: WKBK p. 172 (1st 20 meas.): For 2 alto sax, 1 ten sax, 1 bari sax, 3 tpts., 3 trb. (2 ten. & 1 bass), string bass. Include appropriate instrument and style specific articulations/bowings. Use appropriate mutes in appropriate places. a2 is only appropriate on occasion. 11/1 28 In-class arrangement 1 11/3 29 In-class arrangement 2 Check-up on the progress of your final project. Aim to have the project approximately half done. Week 11 11/6 30 Scoring for Orch. & as accompanist HW 9 DUE; HW 10: WKBK p. 159. Follow all directions. Score for strings, winds in pairs, and 2 horns. You may combine cello and bass. Use appropriate articulations/bowings. a2 is only appropriate on occasion. 11/8 31 In-class Final Project Coachings 11/10 32 In-class Final Project Coachings Week 12 11/13 33 Percussion instruments HW 10 DUE; HW 11: WKBK p. 121, #1. Orchestrate only meas. 1-8. Use appropriate orchestral score order. Specify type of mallets/beaters. Include vibraphone pedaling when appropriate. 11/15 34 Percussion instruments, con. 11/17 35 In-class Final Project Coachings First draft of final projects w/o percussion DUE after class Week 13 11/20 36 Transcribing and Orchestrating for Orch., Band, HW 11 DUE & Wind Ensemble 11/22 No classes: Happy Thanksgiving! 11/24 No classes: Happy Thanksgiving! Week 14 11/27 37 In-class Final Project Coachings 11/29 38 In-class Final Project Coachings 12/1 39 Keyboard instruments; Scoring for Per. & keyboard Week 15

5 12/4 40 Final Projects Final projects DUE. 12/6 41 In-class discussion of projects: ½ of class 12/8 42 In-class discussion of projects: 2nd ½ of class Week 16 TUES. Written Final Exam 12/12 8-10:30am

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