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Music 395 Syllabus

Special Studies in Music Theory
Tonal Analysis

Spring 2020

Dr. Mark Harbold

 

Course Goals Materials You Will Need Course Activities & Requirements Course Schedule
Course Policies Important URLs How to Find Me Mark Harbold’s Home Page

 

Course Goals
  • To train eye and ear to recognize phenomena that aid structural analysis of tonal music
  • To understand how sections function within a formal structure
  • To perceive relationships and interactions between various structural levels
  • To recognize important musical forms and their significant features
  • To consider traditional and current concepts in analysis
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Materials You Will Need
Required materials—
  • Peter Spencer & Peter Temko. A Practical Approach to the Study of Form in Music. Waveland Press, 1994.
  • IMSLP Score Packet (available on Blackboard)
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Course Activities & Requirements

Grades

This scale will be used to determine grades: A = 90%; B = 80%; C = 70%; D = 70%.

Your final grade will be based on the following—

 Worksheets    6 @   5%
=
  30%
 Analytical Paper    1 @ 20%
=
  25%
 Exam on Units 1 & 2    1 @ 15%
=
  15%
 Exam on Units 3 & 4    1 @ 15%
=
  15%
 Final Exam (Units 5 & 6)    1 @ 15%
=
  15%

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About Assignments and Testing

Worksheets—These assignments usually include readings from your textbook and from books and articles on Reserve in the library along with analytical exercises dealing with scores in the IMSLP Score Packet. I will assign letter grades that translate into the following percentages:

A
 superior work  100 %
B
 good work    86 %
C
 could be better    76 %
F
 below minimum standard    50 %
L
 turned in late    70 %
I
 incomplete  varies


For incomplete worksheets, points vary according to percentage completed. F papers can be corrected and resubmitted within one week for a better grade (B or C).

Analytical Paper & Presentation—You will prepare a detailed analysis of the form of a musical score. The score must be selected in consultation with the instructor. For the class presentation, you will prepare a 10-15 minute Powerpoint presentation that includes analytical charts, notated excerpts from the score, and recorded sound bites in addition to the text of your analysis. The instructor will assign due dates for your presentation based on where it fits best in the course schedule. For the paper itself, you will prepare a ten-page written analysis that includes analytical charts and notated excerpts from the score as appropriate. More information can be found in the Assignments module.

Tests—Three tests will be given: one each at the end of Units 1-2, Units 3-4, and Units 5-6 (the Final Exam). Tests will involve analysis of musical scores and score excerpts. In some cases you may be assigned a score to take home in preparation for the test. The second and third tests should be regarded as comprehensive due to the manner in which each unit draws on previous ones, and also to the eclectic nature of Unit 6. Tests will not be made up except in case of excused absences. Test dates can be found on the Course Schedule.
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Course Policies

Class Participation

Attendance and participation are important. Under normal circumstances, tell me ahead of time if you must miss class. In emergencies, present a note from your doctor, the college health service, or the Dean of Students when you return. You can be absent or late up to three times each without penalty; further lateness or absences will count against your final grade.

Academic Dishonesty

This course follows the guidelines described in the E-Book’s Code of Academic Integrity. Any attempt to submit someone else’s work, words, or ideas as if they were your own is plagiarism, which may result in a “zero” for the assignment, an “F” for the course, or referral to the Dean of Students.

Disabilities Services

Elmhurst College will make reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities based on the presentation of appropriate documentation. If you believe that you have a disability that may impact your work in this course, contact Linda Harrell, ADS Coordinator, at disability.services@elmhurst.edu or 630-617-6448. The ADS office is located on the main floor of the A.C. Buehler Library. Classroom accommodations must be renewed each term.

Learning Center: Academic Support

The Learning Center offers services to support the academic performance of all Elmhurst College students. Sessions are structured to promote principles of self-regulated learning and academic management. Areas of peer tutoring include math, statistics, writing, biology, chemistry, kinesiology, psychology, political science, French and Spanish. Additionally, assistance with special test preparation (i.e., ACT, SAT, GRE, and TAP), academic reading/study strategies, and academic coaching is available. For more information, contact Emmi McAdams, Tutoring Coordinator, at emmim@elmhurst.edu, 630-617-5376, or Susan Roach, Learning Center Director, at susan.roach@elmhurst.edu, 630-617-3155. The Learning Center is located on the main floor of the A.C. Buehler Library.

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Important URLs

Library’s Information Resources Web Page for Tonal Analysis

Music Department Web Page

Mark Harbold’s Web Page
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How to Find Me
If you need assistance of any kind in this course, please contact me. You can see me during office hours, or make an appointment.
 Office  Irion 113
 Office Hours  MW 2:00-3:00
 TTh 2:45-3:30
 Email  markh@elmhurst.edu
 Phone  630.617.3521
 Fax  630.617.3738
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Page created 2/02/20 by Mark Harbold—last updated 2/02/20