Music 1A: Music 1A: Introduction to Music

Music 1A: Introduction to Music

Note: Reference copies of green sheets from previous terms may be available from the Archive page.

Welcome to Intro to Music

This green sheet describes official course policies and expectations and is a contract between you and me. Other materials on this web site, such as those listed in the sidebar, are extensions of the greensheet and also reflect official course policies.

- Dan Mitchell

Description

Introduction to Music provides general students with the background to understand and appreciate so-called "classical" and related types of music. It covers the basic elements of musical sound, important musical styles and forms, and important composers from major periods of music history. Prerequisite: Eligibility for English Writing 1A.

(Students who are participating in the De Anza College Honors Program may enroll in Music 1A for honors credit. Please see Music 1A Honors Credit for additional information.)

Text and Materials

Music: An Appreciation (current "Brief Edition" sold at De Anza Bookstore) with bundled set of audio recordings by Roger Kamien. The audio recordings are required for this course.
Scantron cards (form #2052) and a #2 pencil for 3 tests and the weekly quizzes - approximately 13 Scantrons for the term.
Concert attendance. You must attend two live concerts during the term. Although some free events may be available, you may have to purchase tickets; student discounts are often available. Nearly all approved concerts are off-campus. More information is available below and elsewhere on the web site.
Web site membership is required. Beginning on the first day of the term, click on the Join Now link in the sidebar of this web site to sign up. Be sure to include your first and last names on the form.
Some additional required course materials may be available online at no cost and are linked to this web page.
Access to a computer with a printer, web browser, and Adobe Acrobat Reader. You may use computers in the Internet Lab in Learning Center West at no cost, or you may use your own computer. All course materials are published online, and no printed materials are distributed in class. You may print out the web pages if you prefer printed copies. Let me know right away if you have difficulties getting access to a networked computer, and I will work with you to resolve this issue.

Listening Assignments

Listening Assignments are based on musical examples included on the recordings that accompany the text. Assignment questions will be based on reading the text and listening to the recorded examples which accompany the text.

The assignments are available for download and printing in the course calendar page of this web site - see the link in the sidebar.

The assignment files are in the .pdf format. Your computer probably already has the necessary software for viewing and printing these files. If not, you may download the free Acrobat Reader plugin from http://www.adobe.com/. It will let you read and print pdf files from your web browser. You may also use the computers and printers in the Internet Lab in Learning Center West.
Listening assignments are due at the start of class on the deadline dates and will not be accepted after class starts. If you are late you may not get credit for your work.
You ae required to print the downloaded .pdf files and write your answers by hand in pencil or pen on these printed forms. Assignment presented in other forms - e.g. handwritten copies, etc. - are not accepted and will be returned to you without credit.
You must staple the pages of your assignments together. Assignments submitted as loose sheets will be returned to your for stapling before being accepted.

Discussion Topics

You will post responses to discussion topic assignments each week. The topics and replies will be posted in the online class discussion area during the term, generally by the middle of the week prior to their due dates. Discussion topics may require outside reading and/or listening. Due dates are listed in the course calendar.

Discussion topics are generally not taken from the text and can cover almost any relevant music topic. Your suggestions for discussion topics are always welcomed!

You will need to use a computer or other device with Internet access and a web browser to complete this assignment. You may use computers in the Internet Lab in Learning Center West at no charge, or you may use your own computer. You must post your responses in the discussion threads at the web site associated with each of the questions. You may not hand them in in printed form or email them, etc.

Quizzes

There is a short quiz on the reading/listening assignments at the beginning of the first class meeting of each week starting with week 2. You will need a Scantron form #2052 (only) and a #2 pencil for each quiz. Arrive early on these days so that you do not miss the quizzes - they generally only take about five minutes.

The quizzes will focus on important material from each week's study assignment in the text and recordings. These topics will generally not be covered in class before the quiz so, for this reason alone, it is critical that you carefully study this material according to the calendar schedule.

Concert Reviews and Concert Reports

You must attend and complete assignments on two live concerts during the term. The assignment based on the first concert is a Concert Review, and the assignment based on the second concert is a Concert Report. Detailed information about these assignments is available via links in the sidebar, and it is critical that you read and understand this information before attending concerts and completing the assignments.

(Briefly, the Concert Review is shorter than the Concert Report, is a bit less structured, and focuses more on your personal observations and reactions to the concert. The Concert Report focuses on an objective narrative description of the musical features of pieces that are performed at the concert, applies specific knowledge, concepts, and vocabulary from the class, and is likely to be somewhat longer than the review.)

Acceptable concerts include professional orchestras, soloists, and instrumental or vocal ensembles, and comparable college or community groups performing music relevant to the content of this class. You may not report on a concert in which you are a participant. Optionally, one of the assigments (either the review or the report - but not both) may be based on a concert of non-western music selected from events on the "concert list.

Only concerts on the Concert List at this web site are acceptable for a concert review or report. In some cases you may be able report on other concerts that meet the assignment guidelines, but you must get approval from me ahead of time if you want to use a concert that is not on the list. Permission to attend events not on the list will not be granted if you wait until after the event occurs. The list will include a wide range of concerts taking place around the SF Bay Area - some may be close by and others will be farther away. Prices typically range from inexpensive or even free up to quite expensive. You are strongly advised to attend your concerts well before assignment deadlines if your budget, transportation considerations, and/or schedule limit your concert options. If you wait until just before the assignment is due you will likely have few options, and there may be no events that are nearby and/or inexpensive.

Complete concert review and concert report information may be found via the links in the Assignments section of the sidebar. These resources describe specific requirements for the assignments and must be consulted before attending the concert and writing your review or report. Additional information will be provided during class.

Exams

The two midterms (tests #1 and #2) and final exam (test #3) may contain multiple choice, true/false, fill-in, short essay, and other items, with some questions based on listening to recorded musical examples. Bring a Scantron card (form #2052 only) and a #2 pencil to each test. A portion of the test will use the Scantron form, and other parts of the test will include written responses.

Regarding the "final exam," please note that test #3 is not a comprehensive final exam; it focuses on material presented after test #2. It is similar in form and scale to tests #1 and #2, each of which is completed during a single class session. The amount of time available to complete test #3 may be less than the entire scheduled 2-hour final exam session.

See the Late Work section of this green sheet for important information concerning missed tests.

Grading

10% - Homework (Listening Assignments )*
10% - Weekly Topics*
10% - Weekly Quizzes*
10% - Concert Review
15% - Concert Report
15% - Test #1
15% - Test #2
15% - Test #3

I use a weighted average system to determine your final course grade - not a point system. Assignment and course grades will use base letter grades A, B, C, D, and F and +/- symbols. (Although there no "C-" course grades at De Anza College I may assign this grade on course assignments and tests.)

Under some circumstances students may choose to take Music 1A on a Pass/No Pass (P/NP) basis. You must request this option from the registrar's office, not from me. Faculty are not told whether you take a course for a letter grade of a P/NP grade. I calculate your course letter grade, which is then converted by the registrar to the appropriate P/NP grade. You must request P/NP status by the deadlines published by the College. I will not sign petitions to change to P/NP status after the deadline.

*As described in the late work section of this document, I do not count your lowest grade in each of the following categories: homework, weekly topics, and weekly quizzes.

You may be able to earn up to one third of a letter grade in extra credit for attending certain De Anza College Music Department concerts near the end of the term. See the Extra Credit page for more details about this option.

If an emergency interferes with completion of course work near the conclusion of the term you must contact the instructor immediately to discuss the situation, including the possibility being assigned an "incomplete" grade in the course if appropriate. If you "disappear" at the end of the course you are subject to receiving a failing grade in the course.

You may review your grades by clicking the Online Grades link to view the Course Grades page. You will need to know your student ID code in order to check grades. You can obtain this code at the college web site. Note that grades are not always posted immediately. See the list of currently posted grades by clicking the Online Grades link.

Let me know immediately if you think you have received an incorrect grade. Grades may not be changed if you wait more than 72 hours after an assignment is handed back or after grades are posted on the web to bring errors to the instructor's attention. You should save original copies of all returned and graded work until the end of the term.

Attendance

Regular attendance is required - and critical to your success in this class. You must contact me immediately if you miss a class or if you decide to drop.

Adjust your schedule for work, vacations, etc. so that they do not conflict with this course. Attendance at the final exam session is required.

Attendance may be taken at each class session. You are subject to being dropped from the class for excessive absences or tardies. However, there is no guarantee that you will automatically be dropped in time to meet deadlines if you stop attending without notifying me.

It is your responsibility to be aware of drop deadlines and to make timely arrangements with me and the registrar if you decide to drop this class. The class schedule lists deadlines for dropping with no record or for dropping with a "W" grade. I cannot guarantee that you will be dropped nor that you will be dropped before official deadlines if you stop attending class.

If meeting a deadline requires my signature or other action on my part, you must contact me during a scheduled class meeting or scheduled office hour before the deadline. I will not back-date drop requests submitted after deadlines.

Students may be dropped after their second unexcused absence. Each tardy (unexcused late arrival for class) counts as one third of an absence. You are late if you are not in the classroom at the scheduled class time. You must speak to the instructor at the end of class if you are late and make sure that your attendance was noted. Students who arrive late for class six times without a valid reason may be dropped. You must contact the instructor immediately if you have to miss class for a valid reason - your absence is considered unexcused until you do this.

Late Work

Assignments are late if they are not turned in at the time the class starts. You are responsible for ensuring that you are on time on due dates - arrive early to make sure your work is not late. Better yet, turn your assignments in early. Please note that certain assignments will not be accepted if they are not turned in on time.

Late listening assignments are not accepted. A listening assignment is late if you are not present to turn it in when I collect assignments at the beginning of class. Your lowest listening assignment grade will not count toward your course grade, so you may miss one assignment without penalty.
Late online topic assignments are not accepted. An online topic assignment is late if it is not posted before the start of your class. Your lowest online topic assignment grade will not count toward your course grade, so you may miss one assignment without penalty.
Missed quizzes may not be made up. Your lowest quiz grade will not count toward your grade, so you may miss one quiz without penalty.
Late concert reviews and concert reports receive a grade penalty of one letter grade for each day they are late. Reports are late if not turned in when I collect them at the start of the class period on the due date.

If you must be absent from class on the due date for any assignment, it must be delivered to me or mailed no later than the start of class on the due date (with a post office cancellation verifying this) or it will be considered late. My mailing address is Dan Mitchell, De Anza College, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino 95014. As an emergency alternative you may email the content of your assignment by the deadline. It may be possible to fax your assignment if you make prior arrangements. You must provide a printed copy of the assignment at the next class session you attend and the printed copy must be identical to the copy you submitted by alternate means.

Absences on an exam day - An absence on a test day is a very serious issue. Notify me in advance, or call by the scheduled test session if an extraordinary emergency forces you to miss an exam and you intend to make up the work. Notifying me after the fact is unacceptable except in the case of very serious and unexpected emergencies in which it is impossible for you to email, call, or send word with another student. If you miss an exam and do not contact me immediately you may not be permitted to make up the exam, and your course grade will be affected.

I expect you to make up the exam as soon as you return to school. If you miss an exam due to an unexpected emergency situation, you must discuss the makeup date/time when you notify me of the absence, and you should be prepared to complete your make-up exam immediately when you return. I expect that you will make necessary changes to your work or class schedule in order to make up the test in a timely manner.

Always keep backup copies of your assignments. For example:

Don't delete your concert report from your computer until you have gotten a graded copy back.
Photocopy, scan, or fax yourself a copy of paper assignments.
Double-check to see that assignments submitted online actually appear there.

It is good practice to retain copies of all graded work until your have received your final course grade in case there are any problems with your grades.

To prevent technical problems from interfering with completion of assignments that are downloaded, described, or submitted online you must access (and, in some cases, print) the assignments at least 48 hours before they are due. If you notify me of downloading or printing problems at least 48 hours before the deadline I will work with you to solve the problem and/or arrange alternatives. If you wait until less than 48 hours remain I'll still try to help you, but you you may not be able to get help and you may be unable to turn your assignment on time - and you will receive no credit for the work.

The course calendar at this web site lists dates of important assignments and exams.

Copying and Cheating

The majority of students join faculty members in working to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. I take this issue very seriously. and consequences can be very severe when students fail to observe these standards.

Students who cheat or submit the work of others as their own work on papers, tests, or any other course assignments on which collaborative work is not specified are guilty of a serious violation of academic integrity standards and will be subject to substantial consequences which might include any or all of the following and/or other serious consequences not listed here: a failing grade on the work in question, a failing grade in the course, being immediately dropped from the course, reduction in the course grade, loss of credit for certain portions of the course work including but not limited to the work in question, college disciplinary action, and/or notation in their permanent records.

Because serious violations of academic integrity standards call into question the integrity of all work submitted by the student, consequences are not limited to the the specific work on which the violation is observed.

Be aware that the inclusion of inappropriate uncredited material may take multiple forms. Including the ideas and findings of experts without appropriate credit is one form. Including other students' ideas and observations in a paper that is to be based on your ideas and observations is another, as are "borrowing" and/or "re-wording" key phrases, sentences, observations, descriptions, paragraphs, or concepts from a friend, a book, a web site or any other source without crediting the source. Be particularly careful about this when you consider working on an assignment with other student in the class.

This list is not comprehensive. If in doubt, ask your teacher for guidance.

Cell phones

Cell phone use during class is inappropriate and unacceptable.

Turn off your cell phone and put it away before entering the classroom.

I will ask you to leave if your phone goes off during class or if you use your phone during class. Having your phone on during class is a distraction to you and others in the classroom. Under normal circumstances cell phones are to be turned off and put away. Setting your phone on "silent" or "vibrate" is not turning it off - "Turn it off" means "turn it off."

There is one exception to the rule: If you have a serious emergency situation (e.g. sick child, serious illness in your family, etc.) and you must be on standby so that you can immediately deal with this emergency situation and you would otherwise have to miss class, the following applies:

You must inform me of the emergency at the start of the period.
I'll ask you to sit where you can make a quick and quiet exit to answer the call outside the classroom.
Your phone must be on the silent setting.
When a call comes in you must leave the room before answering.

Bottom line: Unless you clear your legitimate emergency with me ahead of class you may not have your phone on during class and you may not answer calls or text during class. If your phone goes off in class or you use your phone in class without clearing it with me as described above I will ask you to leave the room for the remainder of the period.

(You really can live without your phone for the duration of a class. Try it. You'll see. :-)

Office Hours

Visiting your instructor during an office hour can help you succeed at De Anza. Sometimes you may not be sure if you understand the course material; you may be confused about an assignment; or you may feel that the instructor did not grade your work correctly. It is much better to come in and talk about it and solve the problem than it is to leave your issue unresolved.

Perhaps more importantly, a visit helps the instructor get to know you as a person. Many of us have several hundred new students each term! When you take the time to make a personal contact it helps the teacher make the connection between you and the name on the roll sheet.

Please visit me during my office hours, call 408-864-8511, or send email to mitchelldan@deanza.edu any time you have a question or problem relating to the course. You do not need an appointment to see me during an office hour, but you can make one if you prefer. My office is in room A15 in the A1 building located in the Arts Quad. My office hours are:

I may meet some or all of my office hours in room A91 rather than in my office. I'll make an announcement in class.

Monday
11:30-12:20

Tuesday
11:30-12:20

Wednesday
11:30-12:20

Thursday
11:30-12:20

Friday
9:30-10:20

(Office hours are subject to change as announced in class and on my web sites.)

If you cannot visit during a scheduled office hour, I am available to meet at many other times by arrangement. Call me or send email to set up an alternate office visit. When I'm online you may be able to contact me at DeAnzaDan using Instant Messenger.

Course Calendar

The course calendar lists all important assignments and dates for the course. Although the calendar is listed on a separate page for practical purpose, information on the calendar is official course information and should be regarded as part of this green sheet.

Music 1A: Introduction to Music

Welcome to Intro to Music This green sheet describes official course policies and expectations and is a contract between you and me. Other materials on this web site, such as those listed in the sidebar, are extensions of the greensheet and also reflect official course policies. - Dan Mitchell

Welcome to Intro to Music

This green sheet describes official course policies and expectations and is a contract between you and me. Other materials on this web site, such as those listed in the sidebar, are extensions of the greensheet and also reflect official course policies.

- Dan Mitchell