San Diego Mesa College

Music 268B Ear Training Laboratory IV

Dr. Momilani Ramstrum

619 388 2220, mramstru@sdccd.edu

Office hours: M, W, 12:40 – 1:40 PM, T, Th, 2:20 - 3:50 and by appointment in C215

1 Unit, Letter Grade or Credit/No Credit Option

Prerequisites: 268A with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent.

Transfer Applicability: Associate Degree Credit & transfer to CSU and/or private colleges and universities, UC Transfer Course List

Advisory: Concurrent enrollment in Music 258B (Music Theory IV)

Catalogue Course Description: Catalogue Course Description: This course is a continuation of Music 269A. The emphasis is on refinement of skills in sight singing modal melodies and melodies containing larger leaps and nondiatonic tones; dictation of melodies with nondiatonic tones and modal melodies; harmonic identification of secondary dominants and augmented sixth and neapolitan sixth chords; rhythmic dictation with changing meters and super triplets. This course is designed for the student pursuing music as a major or for the student interested in enhancing technical knowledge and skills.

Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

1. Sight-sing modal melodies and more difficult tonal melodies containing nondiatonic

tones in treble, bass, alto, tenor and soprano clefs using scale numbers, solmization or

letter names to represent the pitches.

2. Notate from dictation increasingly longer and more complex tonal and modal

melodies, two melodies heard simultaneously and analyze the use of nondiatonic tones.

3. Differentiate aurally and in writing the use of secondary, augmented 6th and neapolitan

6th chords.

4. Demonstrate the relationship between beat and a given rhythmic pattern within a

phrase containing changing meters and supertriplets.

Materials Needed: Textbook is 1. Benward, Bruce. Ear Training: A Technique for Listening, New York, McGraw-Hill, 1998.

2. Benward, Bruce. Sight Singing Complete, 6th ed. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1998

Students will bring their textbook, workbook, music manuscript paper, pencils (#1 or #2) and erasers to every class.

Grades: Grades will be calculated by the following criteria: 

Participation and attendance......................................................................... 5 %

Practica Musica.............................................................................................. 5 %

Quizzes.......................................................................................................... 60 %

Final............................................................................................................... 30 %

Electronic devices: There is no tolerance for the use of electronic devices in class. When cell phones ring and students respond in class or leave to respond, it disrupts the class. Cell phones and PDA’s must be turned off prior to entering the classroom. Cells must be OFF, not vibrate or silent. Text messaging, use of IPods, and hand held games are not allowed. Checking your cell for text messages is considered use. OFF means OFF. First offense, expulsion for remainder of class. Repeated offence, suspension from class.

Attendance and participation: There is no substitute for attending class. I will take attendance at the beginning of every class. You get 2 points every day for attendance and participation, less if you are tardy, unprepared, disruptive, or leave early. If you are tardy, it is your responsibility to let me know you are here at the end of class. Students will be regularly asked to show their work by putting it on the board for the class to critique. If you are absent 4 times, you may be dropped.

Practica Musica homework: Homework is due the beginning of each class period. Half credit is given for all homework handed in late. The first 8 weeks of homework can be handed in late only until Thursday of week 8. After that only the last 8 weeks of homework will be accepted for credit.

Quizzes: There will be regular dictation and sight singing quizzes as noted on the schedule. There are NO make ups for quizzes but you can drop your lowest score.

Final: The final is comprehensive, covering all aspects of the Ear Training I - IV and will be on the last two scheduled days of our class, during class time. There are two parts, dictation and individually scheduled sight singing tests.

Daily practice is an essential part of learning aural skills. It is impossible to cram.

Notify instructor: Students with a verified disability may be entitled to appropriate academic accommodations. Please contact your instructor and/or the Disabled Students Program Office for further information within the first two weeks of class.

Absences: If you miss class for any reason, you are responsible for missed work, turning in papers on time, and finding out what happened. I will not redo lectures during office hours. Get together with fellow students to share lecture notes.

Office hours: Many students never see their professor during office hours, even if they are having problems. I want you to succeed and I am here to help. If you are having problems, please see me and we will work on a solution. Students are always welcome to stop by during office hours to have tea, share thoughts and show off their musical talents.

Pet peeve: Don’t come to me and ask “I was absent yesterday. What did I miss?” Talk to your fellow students, share lecture notes, do the assignment and then come to me and ask “I have difficulty with problems 6-20 on page 28.” Be specific about questions.

Important Dates: Last day to drop without a W is Friday February 5. Last day to withdraw is Friday April 9. Spring break is March 29 – April 2. Last day of spring semester is Saturday May 22.

Class pace and goals: This class is for committed musicians who want to excel by learning materials thoroughly and comprehensively. We will drill concepts until music theory is accessible and understandable. This course is rigorous and fast paced. The end result is a grasp of music theory which will support your musical ideas and goals.

Please keep this syllabus as a reference throughout the semester. The syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. You are responsible for any changes that are announced in class.

Ear Training IV Music 269B Spring Schedule Teacher Version

San Diego Mesa College Dr. Momilani Ramstrum

Here is the schedule for the semester. There is homework due every class period, as listed below. We will have dictation quizzes approximately every third week. There are NO make ups for dictation quizzes but you may drop your lowest grade. Everyone will be individually tested for sight singing as noted below. Sight singing tests may be retaken by individual appointment during office hours. There is no limit to the number of times you may retake the sight singing tests as long as you wait a day between tests. Additional dictation training materials may be found at www.ramstrum.com/musiceartraining. There aren’t many Practica Musica exercises for two part dictation, so we will practice two part dictation with the transcription exercises found at the end of each chapter. The track numbers refer to the CD accompanying the text and page numbers are in your Ear Training text. Do these on music paper and turn in.

Final topics

1- Melodic dictation to Unit Melody 12A (Ear Training text)

2 - Two part dictation to Unit Melody 15C (Ear Training text)

3 - Rhythmic dictation, simple and compound rhythms with rests, ties

4 - Four part dictation to Unit Harmony 16B (Ear Training text)

5 - Chords, triads and 7ths, root and all inversions

6 - Intervals, all simple intervals to the octave

7 - Error detection melodic to Unit Melody 8B (Ear Training text)

8 - Melodic sight singing to Unit 11 (Sight singing text)

9 - Rhythmic sight singing to Unit 14 (Sight singing text)

10 - Sight singing scales - major and minor scales with note names

11 - Error detection rhythmic to Unit Rhythm 5B (Ear Training text)

	Monday	Wednesday
Week 1	January Review	Homework: 1). Interval Ear Training → 8. Interval ear training → level 4, pass level; 2). Chord ear training → 12. Chord ear training, level 1, pass level; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Intermediate → progressive pitch dictation → level 2 700 points; 4). Hearing chords in a series → Custom progressions, I, ii, IV, V, vi, iii, vii dim, root position, check ‘start with tonic’, 200 points
Week 2	February Homework: 1). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 2 part dictation → level 1, 540 points; 2). Chord ear training → 12. Chord ear training, level 2, pass level; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Intermediate → generated pitch dictation → level 2 800 points	Homework: 1). Rhythm dictation → Generated rhythm dictation → level 1, 300 points; 2). Dictation with analysis → Four part dictation with chords → level 1 → 400 points; 3). Hearing chords in a series → Custom progressions, I, ii, IV, V, vi, iii, vii dim, root position, include inversions, check ‘start with tonic’, 200 points
Week 3	Quiz 1 Homework: 1). Interval Ear Training → 8. Interval ear training → level 4, 18 points; 2). Chord ear training → 12. Chord ear training, level 3, pass level; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Intermediate → generated pitch dictation → level 2 800 points	Homework: 1). Rhythm dictation → Generated rhythm dictation → level 1, 700 points; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 4 part dictation → Example 1, >570 points; 3). Dictation with analysis → Pitch dictation with chords → level 1, 600 points;
Week 4	February 18 Holiday	Individual sight singing quiz 1 8 - Unit 6 to p. 89 9 - Unit 9 and 10 10 - major and minor scales with note names Homework: 1). Dictation with analysis → Pitch dictation with chords → level 1 → 1000 points; 2). Rhythm dictation → Generated rhythm dictation → level 2, 300 points;; 3). Hearing chords in a series → Custom progressions, I, ii, IV, V, vi, root position, check ‘start with tonic’, 200 points
Week 5	Homework: 1). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 2 part dictation → level 2, 450 points; 2). Chord ear training → 12. Chord ear training, level 3, pass level; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Intermediate → generated pitch dictation → level 2 1000 points	10 -Major and minor scales with note names Homework: 1). Dictation with analysis → Pitch dictation with chords → level 2 → 600 points; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Pitch errors → level 1 250 points; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 4 part dictation → Example 2, >550 points;
Week 6	March Homework: 1). Chord ear training → 12. Chord ear training, level 4, 10 points; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Intermediate → generated pitch dictation → level 2 1600 points; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 2 part dictation → level 2, 650 points;	Quiz 2 Homework: 1). Dictation with analysis → Pitch dictation with chords → level 2 → 900 points; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Pitch errors → level 2 350 points; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 4 part dictation → Example 3, >650 points;
Week 7	Homework: 1). Interval Ear Training → 8. Interval ear training → level 4, pass level; 2). Chord ear training → 12. Chord ear training, level 4, 15 points; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Intermediate → generated pitch dictation → level 2 1800 points	Homework: 1). Rhythm dictation → Generated rhythm dictation → level 2, 600 points; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 4 part dictation → Example 4, >700 points;
Week 8	Homework: 1). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 2 part dictation → level 3, 450 points; 2). Chord ear training → 12. Chord ear training, level 4, 20 points; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Intermediate → generated pitch dictation → level 2 2400 points	Individual sight singing quiz 2 8 - To Unit 6 and 7 9 - To Unit 11 10 – modes, major and minor scales with note names Homework: 1). Rhythm dictation → Generated rhythm dictation → level 2, 900 points; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 4 part dictation → Example 4, >1400 points; 3). Hearing chords in a series → Custom progressions, I, ii, IV, V, vi, iii, vii dim, root position, include inversions, check ‘start with tonic’, 300 points
Week 9	Homework: 1). Chord ear training → 12. Chord ear training, level 4, pass level; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Intermediate → generated pitch dictation → level 3 400 points; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 2 part dictation → level 3, 750 points;	April Quiz 3 Homework: 1). Dictation with analysis → Pitch dictation with chords → level 2 → 200 points; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Pitch errors → level 3 160 points; 3). Rhythm dictation → Generated rhythm dictation → level 3, 300 points;
	Spring Break	Spring Break
Week 10	Homework: 1). Interval Ear Training → 8. Interval ear training → level 4, pass level; 2). Chord ear training → Hearing chord inversions, level 1, 20 points; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Intermediate → generated pitch dictation → level 3 800 points	Homework: 1). Hearing chords in a series → 13. Chord progression ear training, level 4, 200 points; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Pitch errors → level 3 360 points; 3). Rhythm dictation → Generated rhythm dictation → level 3, 600 points;
Week 11	Homework: 1). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 2 part dictation → level 3, 750 points; 2). Chord ear training → Hearing chord inversions, level 1, pass level; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Intermediate → generated pitch dictation → level 3 1800 points	Homework: 1). Hearing chords in a series → 13. Chord progression ear training, level 4, 300 points; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Pitch errors → level 3 500 points; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 4 part dictation → Example 5, >800 points;
Week 12	Homework: 1). Chord ear training → Hearing chord inversions, level 2, 20 points; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Intermediate → generated pitch dictation → level 4 400 points; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 2 part dictation → level 4, 370 points;	Quiz 4 Homework: 1). Dictation with analysis → Four part dictation with chords → level 4 → 400 points; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Pitch errors → level 4 100 points; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 4 part dictation → Example 5, >1600 points; 4). Rhythm dictation → Generated rhythm dictation → level 4, 300 points;
Week 13	Homework: 1). Chord ear training → Hearing chord inversions, level 2, pass level; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Intermediate → generated pitch dictation → level 4 800 points; 3). Interval Ear Training → 8. Interval ear training → level 4, pass level; 4). Rhythm dictation → Library rhythm dictation → level 1, 600 points	Individual sight singing quiz 3 8 - Unit 7 and 8 9 - Unit 9 and 10 10 – modes, major and minor scales with note names Homework: 1). Dictation with analysis → Four part dictation with chords → level 4 → 800 points; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Pitch errors → level 4 360 points 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 4 part dictation → Example 5, >2200 points;
Week 14	May Homework: 1). Pitch reading and dictation → Advanced → 2 part dictation → level 3, 620 points; 2). Chord ear training → Custom chord ear training, all triads and 7ths all inversions, work on the ones that you need help with the most, 20 points; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Intermediate → generated pitch dictation → level 4 1400 points	Homework: 1). Dictation with analysis → Four part dictation with chords → level 4 → 1200 points; 2). Pitch reading and dictation → Pitch errors → level 4 500 points; 3). Rhythm dictation → Generated rhythm dictation → level 4, 600 points;
Week 15	Homework: 1). Interval Ear Training → 8. Interval ear training → level 4, 15 points; 2). Chord ear training → Custom chord ear training, all triads and 7ths all inversions, work on the ones that you need help with the most, 40 points; 3). Pitch reading and dictation → Intermediate → generated pitch dictation → level 4 2000 points;
Week 16	May Final part 1 - dictation	May Final part 2 - Individual sight singing