Syllabus Spring, 2020 Music 321 Elementary Piano 1 Section 13137 Lecture 13156 Lab Tuesdays 6:50-10:00 PM
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Syllabus Spring, 2020 Music 321 Elementary Piano 1 Section 13137 Lecture 13156 Lab Tuesdays 6:50-10:00 PM Instructor: Ms. Claire Rydell E Mail: Ask questions and report absences: [email protected] Subject: Piano Class Office Hours: Tuesdays 6:15-6:50 PM Room M100 Textbooks: 1) Bastien Piano for Adults Book 1 (you do not need the CD’s), KJOS KP 1B ISBN 0-8497-7302-4. (about $15.95) 2) Rydell Music 321 Scales, Chords & Materials for Learning (about $15) AVAILABLE ONLY AT THE BOOKSTORE Ask for the coursebook at the cash register if it is not on the shelf. Get the books today. You MUST have the books at the next class. Other music stores include: Baxter Northrup 14534 Ventura Blvd 818-788-7510 Keyboard Concepts 5539 Van Nuys Blvd 818-787-0201 Sam Ash Music 20934 Roscoe Blvd 818-709-5650 Bring a pencil & eraser to class to write in your books. Write fingerings and counting in your music to help you play well. Please bring your own headset to class and a mini jack adapter that converts 1/8” to 1/4”inches (3.5 mm to 6.5 mm.) You need to have a metronome: you can download an app like MetroTimer. Student Learning Outcome: SLO #1: Student will be able to play beginning level piano technique, including one-octave scales and primary triad chord progressions in the following keys: C, G, D, A, and E Majors. SLO # 2: Student will be able to play beginning level piano repertoire. Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course, students will demonstrate skill in basic piano playing including correct posture and hand position, independence of fingers, locating notes on the keyboard in treble and bass clefs, understanding and performing basic rhythms and learning efficient methods for practicing. The student will ~Learn and perform six five-note pentascales and tonic chords (C, G, D, A, E and F) hands together (see Rydell p. 62) ~Learn and perform 6 one octave scales, hands together in parallel motion (octaves) ~Learn and perform primary triad chords in the following keys: C, G, D, A, E and F Major, hands separately, with correct fingering for the I-IV-I-V-I progressions ~ Play a minimum of six beginning level piano repertoire pieces. ~Learn three minor chords: C minor, G minor and F minor (Bastien p.118) This is a fast paced and interactive class. Three hours a week of class time is not enough to develop these skills, you must set aside at least a minimum of 30 minutes per day, to PRACTICE outside of class. You need access to an instrument. Students are responsible for all homework assignments (theory, practice, excerpts of music) regardless of absence. To sign up for the practice rooms send your name and student ID# to [email protected]. You can then sign in on the old computer in Room 103 using the last four digits of your student ID. Student Conduct Policy Academic dishonesty including plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated, nor will disruptive behavior or talking during class. Students are expected to uphold the Classroom Conduct standards published in the Schedule of Classes (Board Rule 9803.10- 9803.26). Turn off all electronic devices. Students may not use cellphones in class. If they are brought to class, they must be in “silent” mode. Students who do not adhere to these policies will be asked to leave. Smoking, eating and drinking are not allowed in the classroom. Please close your keyboard and push your bench in before you depart. Classroom Participation Students are expected to attend the full three hours of every class and to arrive on time. A part of your grade is participation in class. If you have 5 absences per semester, your grade may be lowered one full grade or you may be dropped from class. If you depart early from class often, your grade may be lowered one full grade. If you stop attending class it is your responsibility to withdraw officially. Please attend class even if you feel unprepared since it is generally more difficult to learn the material on your own. Drop Date The deadline to drop without a “W” is February 23, 2020. Dropping after this date will result in a “W” on your transcript. Effective since July 2, 2012, students now have 3 attempts to pass a class. If a student gets a “W” or grade of “D”, “F”, “I” or “NP” in a class, that will count as an attempt. Therefore, please consider if you can reasonably manage this course with other factors in your life (e.g. family, work, course load). If you have any concerns or questions, do not hesitate to talk with me. You may also see a counselor in the Counseling Center in AD 108. Grade Distribution and Evaluation Your grade is a function of weekly class participation, attitude, performance quizzes (that show your ability to play chords and scales,) six written quizzes, the final exam, the assigned repertoire and one concert report. Grades will be based: 80% Quizzes, weekly quizzes, written tests and Final Exam performances 10% Class participation including sight-reading, transposition, repertoire and scales 10% concert report A=Excellent class participation and growth, clear understanding of theory, concert report B=Signs of practice and learning, struggling with theory but working hard C=Little demonstration of practice or learning, no concept of most theory D=Little or no practice, minimal performance F=No practice, no understanding of theory There will be no make up exams. Students must be prepared for technique, pieces and written tests at the designated time of the exam. Concert Report You must attend a piano performance of classical music and write a two page, double spaced, 12 point typed synopsis of the event. Attach the program. It is due at the final, June 2, 2020. Do not wait until the last minute. Subscribe to the Chamber Music Newsletter by contacting [email protected] and subscribe to [email protected]. Due to renovation of Los Angeles County Art Museum, the free Sunday concerts venue has changed. They will join St. James’ In-the-City’s programs, located at 3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010, 213-388-3417. Concerts will be posted on www.lacma.org/events, visit Sundays Live for information. You can check the LA Times website, Daily News, LA Weekly and websites such as Eventful or PerformingArtsLive.com. Attend LA Valley concerts Wednesdays at 1 PM (check the dates and times carefully). Chamber music, classical vocal recitals and orchestral concerts are acceptable, just make sure that there will be a piano as part of the concert, and if you’re not sure, ask me. Concerts in bars and church services will NOT fulfill this requirement. Important Reminders: You must have access to an instrument to practice. Daily practice is essential. Listen to classical music radio: KUSC 91.5 FM or KCSN 88.5 FM every day. Listen to K-Mozart on the internet or AM 1260, try Pandora, Spotify, IheartRadio, Apple music and seach for “piano music-classical.” Check the bench height of your keyboard at home. Remember to curve your fingers all the time. You must have short fingernails to play the piano well. Notice patterns of black keys on the keyboard and how the white keys are associated. Learn notation and clap rhythms before trying to play notes. Discover your coordination and flexibility by practicing hands separately. Repetition is everything; but playing from the beginning to the end is NOT effective practice. Learn smaller portions, especially the most difficult passages. Repeat one or two measures until it feels comfortable and natural. Build your muscles with slow deliberate practice. Keep a steady beat. Using a metronome is wise. Build your knowledge by attention to details. Learn the terms and pay attention to fingerings. Financial aid is available! Call (818) 947-2412. If you are a student with a disability and require classroom accommodations, and have not contacted the Services for Students with Disabilities Office (SSD), do so in a timely manner. SSD is located in the Student Services Annex, Room 175 or call SSD at (818) 947-2681 or TTD (818) 947-2680, to meet with an SSD counselor. Please meet with me to discuss arrangements. This document can be made available in alternate format upon request from SSD at (818) 947-2681. Optional Additional Texts: Classic Themes By the Masters--Bastien KJOS WP40 $5.95 Easy Piano Classics (more advanced)--James Bastien Kjos WP42 ISBN: 0-8497-5042-3 $15.95 Finally, I strongly recommend for anyone serious about playing well: Scales, Chords and Arpeggios for Piano “The Brown Scale Book”, Frederick Harris ISBN 0-88797-785-5 So, enough of all this! Let’s have some fun and get started learning music! COURSE OUTLINE (Subject to change) Look ahead and prepare one week in advance for each class. Scale quizzes will begin about 9 PM. Week 1: February 11, 2020 GET THE BOOKS TODAY Lecture: Let’s get started: Introduction to playing the piano and reading music--Handout (corresponds to Bastien pp. 6-15, 32) Scales: Pentascale in C Major All Pentascales will be performed hands together. Memorize names of notes on the lines & spaces Rydell p. 15 line 3-4 Do Rydell p.43 “Practice Reading the Notes” Homework: learn Ode to Joy in handout or Bastien p. 12. Look ahead and prepare one week in advance for each class. Week 2: February18, 2020 Mini-Quiz at 9 PM: Pentascale in C Major Rydell p. 62 line 1 (from handout last week) NO MAKEUPS Review Week One Scales: C Major Scale Rydell p.