Music History and Literature 2014-2015

Course Syllabus Americas High School Music History and Literature 2014-2015 1st Period Instructor: Mr. Joshua Lott, I126 Email: [email protected] Conference Period – 8th

Welcome to the first year of Music History and Literature! This course is designed to give students who do not necessarily have a background in music a start in being able to understand and appreciate the performing arts. This course will combine four basic strands of music – foundations: music literacy (reading and notating music and describing and analyzing music and musical sounds), creative expression, historical and cultural relevance, and critical evaluation and response. By the end of the course, the expectation is for you to have the essential knowledge and skills to understand and appreciate music.

Required Materials

 Pencil

 Notebook

Grades

 Daily Grades (50%) – Homework, quizzes, solfege tests

 Test Grades (30%) – Tests, Projects, and Performance Evaluations

 9 Weeks Test (20%) – 9 weeks cumulative test

Classroom Expectations

The student is expected to stay on task and complete the work assigned to him or her during class time. If the student is assigned homework, he or she is expected to complete the assignment in a timely manner by the due date. Any homework will be given on a Friday and will be expected to be turned in on the following Monday. The student is expected to come to class prepared and ready to work by the time the bell rings with a pencil and their notebook daily. Last, keep an open mind. For most of you, music is brand new. We are going to take this journey together. Keep an open mind when trying singing for the first time or attempting piano, or any other new concepts to you. Concert Attendance

In the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - 117.314.c.6 (critical evaluation and response), the student is to listen to, respond to, and evaluate music and musical performance in formal and informal settings. There are multiple performances available to the students – most are free of charge – which they can attend to achieve this requirement. The acceptable performances include: any choir, band, orchestra, dance, or guitar performances in multiple settings including high school concerts, college concerts, and professional concerts. This does NOT include attending a concert of a rock band or pop group (etc.). The AHS Marching Band show may be included, however due to the shorter length of the performance, if the marching show is chosen, the student needs to attend two performances and discuss the improvement between the two shows. If there are any questions about what performances are acceptable, please contact Mr. Lott. Each student needs to attend at least one concert in each nine weeks. Mr. Lott will also be working on preparing a class field trip (after school) to a college or professional performance in which this requirement may be fulfilled. The student must bring back a program from the concert they attended and prepare an evaluation. These are due by the last day of the nine weeks. The evaluation should be based on the concert review rubric. The goal in doing a separate evaluation each nine weeks is to show your growth in understanding performance. Do your best! I do not expect you to understand how to evaluate music right from the start!

Concert Review Guidelines Music History and Literature 2014-2015

Basic Guidelines: Due Date is the end of each 9 weeks  Papers turned in after the 9 weeks will NOT be accepted.  Papers MAY be turned in any time during the 9 weeks period. Specifications  At least 1 (one) page in length, typed, double spaced, 1” margins on all sides.  Font: Times New Roman 10 or 12 point. You may use the library in your free time to write your paper if necessary.

What Do I Write? The opening Paragraph  Briefly describe the event (type of music, type of ensemble, date, time, location, purpose of concert, etc.). In the opening sentences or even in the title, you might summarize the general experience. Avoid naming all of the titles of compositions.

Questions to address in the body of the review: (you do not have to follow this order)  What about this experience was new or different to you?  What impressed you about the concert experience and why?  Which selection appealed to you the most? Explain what it was about the music/performance that made it stand out. Be specific – pitch, rhythm, intonation, blend, balance, etc.  If there was a selection that you did not enjoy, why didn’t you enjoy it? Be specific about the music.  What was your opinion about the group’s presentation of the music?  Your conclusion should summarize your overall impression of the concert Above all, make sure you review the MUSICAL ELEMENTS of the performance. You will not get full credit unless you write specifically about the musical performance of the group(s).

Concert Review style suggestions that will make your review more professional  Avoid the use of the word “song” when you may really intend the word “piece” or “composition”  Name the title when you are talking about a composition and put its name in italics.  Here is an example of an efficient way to name the composer and title of a composition: “Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony employs a series of sequences that have made it known around the world”.  Take some time to read other professional reviews. You might get some good ideas about what is appropriate in terms of style and content. Writing Rubric Concert Review Music History and Literature 2014-2015

Focus Content Organization Style Conventions Many detailed Strong introduction, Excellent word choice Very good ideas musical descriptions body, and conclusion. and uses musical Very few mistakes in about specific items and examples to Clear and orderly terms. Sentences grammar, 4 of the musical show, not tell. details. New ideas have different punctuation, spelling, performances Refrenced specific begin new beginnings and and capitalization. pieces of music paragraphs. lengths.

Good word choice. Some mistakes in Good ideas about the Some discussion of Clear introduction, Some sentences have grammar, 3 msucial musical examples and body, and conclusion. different beginnings punctuation, spelling, performances descriptions. and lengths. and capitalization.

Many mistakes in Few musical Some overused Unclear introduction, grammar, A few ideas about the examples and words. Many 2 body, or conclusion. punctuation, spelling, performance descriptions. Details sentences have same Confusing details and capitalization but are vague beginning and length still understandable.

Difficult to Topic is unclear. Did Many overused understand because not present words. Most No musical examples No introduction, of mistakes in 1 information about sentences have or descriptions. body, or conclusion grammar, the musical similar beginnings punctuation, spelling, performance. and lengths. and capitalization.

Course Guideline

1 st 9 weeks – Fundamentals of Music July 28-Aug. 1 Music notes and Staff Aug. 4 – Aug. 8 Rhythm and Time Signatures Aug. 11 – Aug. 15 Major Scales and Key Signatures Aug. 18 – Aug. 22 Music symbols and terms Aug. 25 – Aug. 29 Minor Scales and Modes Sep. 1 – Sep. 5 Reading Score Study (2-4 parts, 5+ Parts) Sep. 8 – Sep. 12 Using Solfege Sep. 15 – Sep. 19 Intervals and Structures Sep. 22 – Sep. 26 Circle of Fifths, Review, and Test

2 nd 9 weeks - Western Music History Oct. 13 – Oct. 17 - Antiquities – 16th Century Oct. 20 – Oct. 24- 17th Century Oct. 27 – Oct. 31 - 18th Century Nov. 3 – Nov. 7- 18th Century Nov. 11 – Nov. 14 – 19th Century Nov. 17 – Nov. 21 - Project in the Library Dec. 1 – Dec. 5 - 19th Century Dec. 8 – Dec. 12- 20th Century Dec. 15 – Dec. 19 - 20th Century, review, test

3rd 9 weeks – Introduction to Music Disciplines Mondays – Piano and Solfege Tuesdays – World Music Styles Wednesdays – Music Theory Thursdays – Performance Evaluation Practice Fridays - Composition

4th 9 weeks – Modern Music Genres Mar 23 – Mar 27 – Rock and Roll Mar 30 – Apr 3 – Jazz Apr 6 - Apr 10 – Musical Theater Apr 13 – Apr 17 – Country Apr 20 – Apr 24 – Blues Apr 27 – May 1 – R&B, Rap, Hip/Hop May 4 – May 8 – Genre Project May 11 – May 15 – Genre Project May 18 – May 22 – Final Review, Test May 25 – May 29 – Project Presentations and Discussions