MU130:
Meeting Times, Location, & Course Delivery Details
Class Format
In-person lectures and activities combined with online assignments.
Students are also required to attend three classical music concerts throughout the semester.
Contact Information
Upon successful completion of this course...
PDFs available through Blackboard, drawn from a free textbook, available for download at
https://ung.edu/university-press/books/resonances-engaging-music.php
Other materials as assigned (available online), YouTube playlists (YouTube premium subscription recommended)
The goal of this class is to impart critical listening skills for any genre of music. Students will leave this class with not only an understanding of the European and North American classical music tradition, but also the hitory of music within a broader cultural context through the study of non-European/North American and non-classical musical traditions and practices. Students will build their critical listening skills through a combination of reading, writing, and listening to music of many genres.
Tentative Schedule - Subject to change during the semester. Adequate notice of changes will be given.
The class schedule, with the exception of the final exam time slot, is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
Assessments and Weekly Schedule - Each week students will:
- Read/view assigned materials and listen to assigned music, available on Blackboard as “weekly modules”
- Complete a creative or analytical assignment for synthesizing concepts and skills
- Some weeks students will have an additional online quiz on terms and concepts
In addition, students are required to attend three classical music concerts, either in-person concerts or online live-streamed concerts. A list of concerts from which to choose will be available on Blackboard. The final “exam” for this class will be a long-form written analysis of the three concerts.
| Week | Topic | Readings | Date | Assignments |
| 1 | Introduction to the Class Unit 1 - Music as a Field of Practice and Study | Introduction to the Class Resonances Chapter 1: Music in Human Life - Resonances pp. 2-22 (PDF pp. 13-33) | M 1/13 | |
| W 1/15 | ||||
| F 1/17 | IN CLASS ACTIVITY FOR A GRADE - Music in your daily life discussion (100) | |||
| 2 | Elements of Music 1 Rhythm (Meter) Pitch, (Melody, Harmony) | Resonances Chapter 2 | ||
| W 1/22 | ||||
| F 1/24 | Music theory worksheet 1.1 (100) | |||
| 3 | Elements of Music 1 Rhythm (Meter) Pitch, (Melody, Harmony) | M 1/27 | ||
| W 1/29 | ||||
| F 1/31 | Music theory worksheet 1.2 (100) | |||
| 4 | Elements of Music 2 Volume, Articulation and Timbre (Texture, Form), Tempo | Enjoyment of Music Chapters 5-7/8 | M 2/3 | Quiz - Musical elements 1 (100) |
| W 2/5 | ||||
| F 2/7 | IN CLASS ACTIVITY FOR A GRADE - Chrome Music Lab Creative Assignment: Rhythm, Melody, Harmony (100) | |||
| 5 | Elements of Music 2 Volume, Articulation and Timbre (Texture, Form), Tempo | M 2/10 | Music theory worksheet 2 (100) | |
| W 2/12 | ||||
| F 2/14 |
| 6 | Elements of Music 3 Instruments, Ensembles, Voice Types, Historical Periods | Resonances pp. 517-522 (PDF pp. 528-533), Enjoyment of Music Chapters 9-12 | M 2/17 | Quiz - Musical elements 2 (100) |
| W 2/19 | ||||
| F 2/21 | ||||
| 7 | Elements of Music 3 Instruments, Ensembles, Voice Types, Historical Periods | M 2/24 | Composition Assignment: Timbre, Texture, Form (100) | |
| W 2/26 | ||||
| F 2/28 | ||||
| 8 | Music and Characterization 1 John Williams, Star Wars, Richard Wagner, The Valkyrie Gustav Holst, The Planets | Resonances Chapter 3: Music and Characterization - pp. 44-77 (PDF pp. 55-88) | M 3/3 | Quiz - Musical elements 3 (100) |
| W 3/5 | ||||
| F 3/7 | ||||
| 9 | Igor Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring Ragtime and Dixieland Jazz | M 3/17 | ||
| W 3/19 | ||||
| F 3/21 | Movie Score Analysis (100) | |||
| 10 | Sung Drama Hamilton The Magic Flute The Tale of the White Snake | Chapter 4: Response Journal: Sung Drama - Resonances pp. 78-85, 96-112 (PDF pp. 89-96, 107-123) | M 3/24 | Quiz: Music and Characterization (100) |
| W 3/26 | ||||
| F 3/28 | Extra credit assignment: Soundtrack To Your Biopic or Biographical Musical (100) | |||
| 11 | Song Cycles | Chapter 5: Song Cycles Reading: Song Cycles - Resonances pp. 129-144 (PDF pp. 140-155) | M 3/31 | |
| W 4/2 | ||||
| F 4/4 | Quiz: Sung Drama and Song Cycles (100) | |||
| 12 | Concept Albums | Chapter 8: Concept Albums Reading: Concept Albums -pp. 259-272 (PDF pp. 270-283) | M 4/7 | Concept Album Group Presentations (100) |
| W 4/9 | Concept Album Group Presentations (100) | |||
| F 4/11 | Concept Album Group Presentations (100) | |||
| 13 | Stories Without Words | Chapter 6: Reading: Stories Without Words - Resonances pp. 170-199, (199-211 e.c.) (PDF pp. 181-210, 210-222 e.c.) | M 4/14 | |
| W 4/16 | Listening Guide Project draft (100) | |||
| 14 | Public Concerts | Chapter 7: Listening at Public Concerts 1 | M 4/21 | |
| W 4/23 |
| 14 cont. | Reading: Public Concerts Resonances pp. 213-258 (PDF pp. 224-269) | |||
| F 4/25 | Listening Guide Project final (200) | |||
| 15 | Evaluating Music | Chapter 13 - What is Good Music? Resonances pp. 480-500, 515, 500-514 e.c. (PDF pp. 491-511, 526, 511-525 e.c.) | M 4/28 | |
| W 4/30 | ||||
| F 5/2 | Response Journal: What is good music? (100) | |||
| Final | M 5/5 | Final Due - Concert Reviews (300) *there is no final exam |
The grading scale will be as follows:
Grades will be based on written quizzes, worksheets, analysis assignments, and other creative work. The final (there is no exam) will consist of a set of concert review essays. Grading (will use a +/- scale).
Each assignment is worth 100, 200, or 300 points:
| Music in your daily life observation journal | 100 |
| Music theory worksheet 1.1 | 100 |
| Music theory worksheet 1.2 | 100 |
| Online quiz - Musical elements 1 | 100 |
| Chrome Music Lab Creative Assignment: Rhythm, Melody, Harmony | 100 |
| Music theory worksheet 2 | 100 |
| Online quiz - Musical elements 2 | 100 |
| Composition Assignment: Timbre, Texture, Form | 100 |
| Online quiz - Musical elements 3 | 100 |
| Movie Score Analysis | 100 |
| Online Quiz - Music and Characterization | 100 |
| Online Quiz - Sung Drama and Song Cycles | 100 |
| Concept Album Group Presentations | 100 |
| Listening Guide Project draft | 100 |
| Listening Guide Project final | 200 |
| Response Journal - What is good music? | 100 |
| Final - Concert Reviews | 300 |
| TOTAL: | 2000 |
| Extra credit assignment: Soundtrack To Your Biopic or Biographical Musical | 100 |
Instructor Course Policies
Attendance is required.
See the current Student Handbook for the college's Attendance Policy, especially as it pertains to excused absences. The College accepts these four categories of excused absences:
- Activities in which the student serves as an official representative of the College (e.g., musical performances, athletic contests, field trips).
- Personal illness, with documentation by the College nurse or a physician, if possible.
- Family or personal emergencies.
- When severe weather makes travel to campus dangerous.
I require documentation in writing (e-mail) requesting an excused absence. These requests should be made in advance, except when emergency circumstances make this impossible.
Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. See the current Student Handbook for the college's Academic Integrity policies as they pertain to examinations, plagiarism, classroom behavior, and the process for handling academic misconduct charges. Penalties for academic misconduct in this class may range from an F on an assignment to an F in the class. In addition, all cases will be reported in writing to the Office of Academic Affairs.
Additional Course Policies
Copyright Policy
This course may contain copyright protected materials such as audio or video clips, images, text
materials, etc. These items are being used with regard to the Fair Use doctrine in order to enhance the
learning environment. Please do not copy, duplicate, download or distribute these items. The use of
these materials is strictly reserved for this online classroom environment and your use only. All copyright
materials are credited to the copyright holder.
Blackboard and Communication Policies
Instructional videos, assignments, and grades will be communicated through Blackboard. Questions about course materials or expectations may be communicated through e-mail or text message.
Late Work Policy
All assignments have a due date, and students are expected to submit each assignment on or before the due date. If you need an extension for an assignment or a collection of assignments, please email me and we will arrange an alternative due date. I am flexible on extensions, so usually if you ask (respectfully, of course) I will be happy to grant an extension. Absences (excused and unexcused) are not automatic due date extensions; you must request any needed extensions in writing.
Institutional and Program-Level Policies
All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.
Out-of-class Work Expectation A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week. |
Instructional Course Delivery |
Academic Integrity Policy The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions. |
Academic Misconduct - Examples [10/24]
ACADEMIC CODE OF CONDUCT
This policy is directly related to the first Testimony, which is part of the Student Code of Conduct. “I will practice personal and academic integrity.” The initial responsibility for dealing with academic misconduct lies with the individual faculty member in whose classroom or course of study the offense occurs. The responsibility includes determination of the consequences for the offense. The goal is for faculty to confront cheating and plagiarism, to teach ethical behavior, and to provide an appropriate consequence based on the nature of the incident. Faculty are encouraged to explicitly address academic misconduct and its consequences in the course syllabus.
EXAMPLES OF ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
A. Examination offenses include, but are not limited to, the following:
1.Taking unauthorized materials into or out of the examination room.
2.Leaving the examination room without authorization before completing an examination.
3.Talking in the examination room without authorization.
4.Discussing the examination outside the examination room during the course of the examination.
5.Attempting to observe the work of another student.
6.Taking an examination for another person or permitting someone else to do so.
7.Collaborating improperly by discussion, joint research, or joint effort in any way expressly prohibited by the instructor. This includes using a cell phone or other device to access information from another source or another student.
8.Improper knowledge of contents of an examination - No student shall knowingly acquire unauthorized knowledge of an examination or any part of an examination, or solicit, offer, or give information about any part of an examination.
B. Student work offenses include, but are not limited to, the following, which are expressly prohibited in the absence of prior written approval of the instructor or instructors involved:
1.Resubmission of work - Submitting work which has been previously submitted for credit.
2. Plagiarism - Submitting work done wholly or partly by another, including the unattributed copying of all or parts of a published work or internet document. Using generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) sources to produce work (when not expressly permitted) is also a form of plagiarism. Some instances of plagiarism are the result of ignorance rather than dishonesty. When plagiarism is encountered, the instructor should be sure that the student knows proper procedures for attributing content.
3.Prohibited sources - Consulting material or persons contrary to the directions of the instructor.
4.Improper collaboration - Engaging in any discussion, joint research, or joint effort of any kind expressly prohibited by the instructor.
5.Deception - Misrepresenting the authenticity of sources, citations, or principles in any written work.
6. Sharing work – Students who share their work with others are responsible for how that work is used. For example, if a student shares a paper with another student to help him or her understand an assignment, and that student submits the work as their own, the author of the paper shares responsibility for the plagiarism committed by the other student.
D. Other misconduct - Engaging in any other improper conduct as specified by the instructor.
E. Lying – deliberately providing false information relevant to academic matters, such as misrepresenting the inability to take an examination because of illness.
F. Disruptive or disrespectful classroom behavior – causing a disturbance in the classroom, interrupting instruction, speaking rudely or threatening students or faculty.
Class Attendance Policy |
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
Students with Disabilities
In accordance with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973), Wilmington College provides access through reasonable accommodations to students with documented physical and psychological disabilities.
Students who wish to access Services need to meet with the Director of Accessibility and Disability Services and provide verification of their disability. To register with Accessibility and Disability Services, students submit an Application for Services. In addition, the student must provide the Disability Verification form accompanied by current disability documentation from a licensed professional. For more information, contact the Director of Accessibility and Disability Services at accessibility@wilmington.edu or 937.481.2444, 114 Robinson Communcation Center.