Music 150 Basic
Musicianship
Dr. Momilani Ramstrum
619 388 2220, mramstru@sdccd.edu
Classroom: C202 (Thursdays) and LRC 229 (Tuesdays for first month only)
Office hours: M, W, 12:50 – 1:50 PM, T, Th, 2:20 - 3:50 and by appointment in C215
3 Units, Letter Grade or Credit/No Credit Option
Prerequisites: none
Transfer Applicability: Associate Degree Credit & transfer to CSU and/or private colleges and universities, UC Transfer Course List
Catalogue Course Description: This course is designed for music majors as well as non-music majors. It enables the student to develop perceptions in sight and sound as related to the symbols of rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic notation. It will also enable the student to develop skill in writing, major, minor and chromatic scales, chord construction and intervals; and to identify terms used to indicate tempo and dynamics.
Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
1. Identify, define and analyze sound as it relates to musical notation symbols.
2. Write and recognize major, minor and chromatic scales.
3. Write and recognize intervals and major, minor, diminished and augmented triads.
4. Identify the terminology relating to tempo and dynamics.
5. Construct major and minor scales, intervals and rhythms through keyboard/computer aided instruction.
6. Write out the circle of fifths/fourths including major and minor keys.
Materials Needed: Textbook is Music
Fundamentals Online, by David and Donald Megill,
Coast Learning Systems, Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, third edition.
Students MUST purchase the text to take the online quizzes. Students will bring
music manuscript paper, pencils (#1 or #2) and erasers to every class. Familiarity with computers and access to an
internet capable computer is essential as much of the course work will be
online.
Grades: Grades will be calculated on the following:
Attendence and participation........................................................................ 5 %
Homework..................................................................................................... 15 %
In class tests................................................................................................... 30 %
Online Quizzes............................................................................................... 35 %
Final............................................................................................................... 15 %
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.
Homework and readings: When there are assigned readings it is expected that you will come to class prepared to discuss them. Homework assignments will be given regularly and checked at the beginning of class. When homework is checked you must be present to get credit. There are no make ups for missed homework.
Class meetings: Lectures will generally be presented on Thursdays in C202. On Tuesdays the class will meet in LRC 229 for the first month only and work at computer stations. Any changes to this general schedule will be announced in class and posted online.
Quizzes: There are many online quizzes There will be a cutoff date for taking each quiz. All quiz dates cutoff dates will be listed online.
In class tests: There will be two comprehensive in class tests. There are no make ups for these tests.
Final: The final is comprehensive and will be given during class time on the last two scheduled days of our class. There will be NO makeup tests for the final.
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, and finding out what happened. If you miss more than four classes you might be dropped from the class and will have to come and talk to me to be reinstated. I will not redo lectures during office hours. Review the online lectures or 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 Homework 3.” 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.
First step: Go to the URL http://www.emegill.com/HowToGetToClass.html to set up your online account. Once you have your account log in and do the first assignment about your musical background. Create your account before the next class meeting on Thursday.
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.
Basic Musicianship
Music 150 Spring Schedule
San Diego Mesa
College Dr. Momilani Ramstrum
Here is the schedule for the semester.
Please do reading assignments by the day they are assigned. All reading are in the text and in online lectures. Test and quizzes are
both online and in class as marked below. Online quizzes close on the due date
at midnight. Homework assignments are due on the date listed below. To do
homework, go to the online site, print out the appropriate assignment, fill it
out and bring it to class. You must be present in class when homework is
checked to get credit for homework. Additional homework assignments may be
given in class. On Tuesdays we will meet in LRC 229 for the first month only,
thereafter we will meet in C202. On Thursdays we will meet in C 202. The final will
be given in room C 202 during class time over the last two days.
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Tuesday |
Thursday |
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Week 1 |
January Read Introduction and Unit 1 Register for online account, syllabus, schedule, purchase text |
Get text, register for class and log in. Read Unit 2 Listening skills Basic notation, clefs, keyboard and notation Homework: Online, writing assignment 1, your musical background |
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Week 2 |
February Read Unit 3 Basic music structures Read Unit 4 Music notation Online Quiz 1: Aural skills, higher or lower (text is needed to take test) Class meets in CIL 229 |
Octava sign Pitch octave designation Homework 1: Note identification, note and clef writing half step and whole step, matching notes to keyboard (homework is found online Unit 12, print, fill out, bring to class) |
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Week 3 |
Online Quiz 2: Unit 4 music notation Unit 4 Read Unit 5 Rhythm Class meets in CIL 229 |
Note reading speed test (print final page and bring to class) www.momilaniramstrum.com/musictheory test #4 Read Unit 6 Rhythm skills Homework 2: Pitch octave designation, octava sign and notation, rhythm 1 (homework is found online Unit 12, print, fill out, bring to class) |
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Week 4 |
Online Quiz 3: Unit
5 Rhythm theory Class meets in CIL 229 |
Homework 3a: Rhythm 2 (homework is found online Unit 12, print, fill out, bring to class) |
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Week 5 |
Online Quiz 4: Unit
6 Rhythm skills Read Unit 7 Major
scales |
Names of scale degrees Homework 3b: Write out ascending major scales using accidentals in all keys in both treble and bass clefs (15 scales total). Write on your own staff paper or download the attached staff paper. Show half steps in each scale using brackets. Here are the keys: C G D A E B F# C# F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb Write on your own staff paper. Show half steps using brackets. |
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Week 6 |
March Key
signatures Online Quiz 5: Unit 7 Major scales |
Read Unit 8 Minor scales Homework 4: Part 1 - Write out all key signatures for all major scales in
both clefs on your own staff paper. Here are the keys: C G D A E B F# C# F Bb
Eb Ab Db Gb Cb Write on your
own staff paper. Part 2 - Scale degrees names and scales (online
Unit 12, print, fill out, bring to class) |
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Week 7 |
Reading the musical map (handout) |
Homework 5: On your own staff paper, write out the three
minor scale forms (natural, harmonic, and melodic – ascending and descending)
using key signatures in both treble and bass clefs (15 scales for each type
of minor scale, total 45 – yes many scales, learn to write notes quickly). Here
are the keys: a e b f# c# g# d# a# d g c f bb eb ab |
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Week 8 |
Online Quiz
6: Unit 8 Minor scales Homework 6: Review
sheet 1 |
In class Test 1: notation, simple rhythm,
major and minor scales |
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Week 9 |
Circle of 5ths Read Unit 9 Compound rhythms |
Homework 7: Compound rhythm 1 (online Unit 12, print, fill out, bring to class) |
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Spring Break |
Spring Break |
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Week 10 |
Online Quiz 7: Unit 7 Key signatures |
April Homework 8: Compound rhythm 2 (online Unit 12, print, fill out, bring to class) |
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Week 11 |
Online Quiz
8: Unit 9 Compound rhythms Note reading speed
test (print final page and bring to class) www.momilaniramstrum.com/musictheory
test #9 Read Unit 10 Intervals |
Intervals and inversions, compound intervals In class quiz: Circle 5th 3 minute Homework 9: Intervals 1 (online Unit 12, print, fill out, bring to class) |
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Week 12 |
In class quiz: Circle 5th 2 minute Online Quiz 9: Unit 10 Intervals Homework 10: Review sheet 2 |
In class Test 2: rhythm, key signatures, intervals |
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Week 13 |
Read Unit 12 Chords In class quiz: Circle
5th 1 minute |
Homework 11: Chords 1 (online Unit 12, print, fill out, bring to class) |
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Week 14 |
May Homework 12: Chords 2 (online Unit 12, print, fill out, bring to class) |
Online Quiz 10: Unit 11 Chords |
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Week 15 |
Chord progressions Homework 13: Chords 3 (online Unit 12, print, fill out, bring to class) |
Review Homework 14: Trial final |
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Week 16 |
Final part 1 in room C202 |
Final part 2 in room C202 |