|
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 
| Schedule Changes on Thursday, Feb. 2 |
| |
Due to the scheduling of a music department faculty meeting, I must cancel my 11:30-12:20 office hour this Thursday, February 2.
For the same reason, I must cancel my 12:30-2:20 Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music class on Thursday, February 2.
No other classes are affected by this. My morning classes will meet as scheduled.
(Posted 1/31/12; 3:09:25 PM #) |
|
Monday, January 23, 2012
| Updated Winter 2012 Office Hours |
| |
Monday
8:30-9:20 |
Tuesday
11:30-12:20 |
Wednesday
8:30-9:20 |
Thursday
11:30-12:20 |
Friday
9:30-10:20 by appt.
|
(Posted 1/23/12; 9:14:50 AM #) |
|
Sunday, January 8, 2012
| Welcome to the De Anza College Winter 2012 Term |
| |
Welcome to new students and welcome back to those of you returning for the 2012 winter term.
I teach five course sections this quarter:
- Music 1A: Introduction to Music
- MTWTh at 9:30-10:20 in A11
- MTWTh at 10:30-11:20 in A11
- Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music
- Music 51: Introduction to Electronic Music
- MW at 12:30-2:20 in A91
- Friday-only at 10:30-2:20 in A91
As of the start of the term it appears that there is still some room for a few more students in the Music 1A classes. All three of the electronic music classes appear to be full with short wait lists, but you might try coming to the first class meetings to see if space becomes available.
(Posted 1/8/12; 10:50:56 PM #) |
|
Monday, November 28, 2011
| Week 10 Office Hour Changes |
| |
Due to scheduling issues I will move my Monday, November 28 11:30 office hour to the following day at the same time: Tuesday, November 29 at 11:30. I will still meet my 8:30 office hour on Tuesday.
I will be available briefly at the start of the original Monday office hour.
(Posted 11/28/11; 8:19:50 AM #) |
|
Thursday, November 17, 2011
| November 17 and 18 Schedule Changes |
| |
As I have announced in my classes over the past few days, because I am a faculty representive on an important campus committee (the "IPBT") that is working on budget reduction plans I have been told to attend all-day meetings of the committee on Thursday, November 17 and Friday November 18. This will have the following effects on my schedule:
- On Thursday, November 17 are Music 1A classes are cancelled as announced in class. Please see the class web site to review consequent schedule changes as discussed in class earlier this week.
- On Thursday, November 17 and Friday, November 18 scheduled office hours are cancelled. Please contact me by email to discussion any issues or to try to set up an alternate meeting time.
- On Friday November 18 the electronic music class WILL MEET AS SCHEDULED, though I will not be able to extend the class time at all for those who want extra lab time on this day. SEE YOU IN CLASS ON FRIDAY.
(Posted 11/17/11; 8:43:24 AM #) |
|
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
| Office Hour Change |
| |
I arrived late for my 8:30 office hour this morning. I don't believe I missed anyone, but I will arrange an alternative office hour today at 11:30 to make up for this.
On Thursday I will make a similar shift in my office hours. I will arrive a bit late for the 8:30 office hour, but I will be available for an additional 20-30 minutes at about 11:30
(Posted 11/1/11; 8:11:57 AM #) |
|
Monday, October 24, 2011
| Accreditation Team Visit and My Schedule |
| |
De Anza College will be visited by an accreditation team this week as part of the normal six-year accreditation cycle. Because I have been the co-chair of one of the four "standards teams" preparing our self-study report, I have some responsibilities to meet with the visiting team.
At this point, the only conflict with classes that I know about is on Tuesday, October 25, when I have had to cancel my 9:30 and 10:30 Music 1A classes in order to attend a meeting with the team. As of today, I am not aware of any additional conflicts that will affect my class schedule. If there are any, I will announce them to my classes via email, the class web sites, and during class meetings if possible.
(Posted 10/24/11; 11:25:17 AM #) |
|
Monday, October 17, 2011
| Possible Office Hour Changes This Week |
| |
I may have to miss my scheduled 11:30 office hour on Monday, October 17. If so, I will schedule an additional make-up office hour at the same time on Thursday, October 20. Please see me in class or contact me by phone or email if you need to speak to me today.
(Posted 10/17/11; 5:10:50 AM #) |
|
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
| Mid-September Update: 2011 Fall Term |
| |
Welcome or welcome back to De Anza College for the 2011 fall term. Classes start during the last week of September and registration has been underway for some time.
My teaching schedule this term includes two sections of Music 1A: Introduction to Music (Western Culture) and two sections of Music 51: Introduction to Electronic Music. See the previously posted message a bit lower on this page for details.
All sections of my classes filled several weeks ago. With this in mind, here are some notes about this situation:
- If the class you want is full, do get your name on a waiting list and come to the first class meeting. There are almost always a few extra openings at the first meeting, and I first add students who are on the wait list and present at the opening class meeting.
- If you did successfully register for a class it is essential that you attend the first meeting in order to avoid being dropped as a no-show. We cannot hold spaces open for students who are not there while other students who are there want to get into the class.
- If you are not on the waiting list, it is still possible that you might be able to add a class by attending the first meeting. There are no guarantees, but it is worth a try!
- Consider an alternative to your first choice class - either a different time/day or a comparable class. For example, there are other Music 1A classes and you can also consider Music 1B, 1C, and 1D as alternatives. or you could consider other Creative Arts classes that fulfill the same types of requirements.
- I will take about 10% more students in Music 1A classesabove the official seat count as long as all other Music 1 sections are full. (I will not enroll beyond the seat count if seats are available in alternative sections of the course.)
- Except in rare cases - come to the first meeting to find out more - I cannot generally take students in electronic music classes beyond the official seat count number. This is because each student must have a work station in order to complete assignments and the seat count equals the number of work stations.
- If you cannot get your first choice classes this quarter, consider taking any other classes that move you forward in your educational process, even if they are not your first preferences - and be persistent about getting the classes you really want in future terms.
- While I cannot and will not suggest what political opinions you should hold or what you should do about them, the issue of support for education in California and the role of tax-based funding for education is an issue about which you would reasonably be expected to have an opinion. I encourage you to write brief, thoughtful, and respectful notes to your state assembly and senate representatives expressing your point of view on these issues.
Background:
As you probably know, community colleges (along with the entire education infrastructure of California and other important state functions as well) have had their ability to serve California's citizens diminished by tremendous budgetary challenges. On top of that, as the economy makes it more difficult for some students to start at a 4-year school, as people return to college to retrain after losing jobs, and so forth the number of students who are trying to enroll increases. It is no surprise, though no less challenging, to see that the community college system is being stressed in ways that it has not faced before.
As a consequence, you are likely to find that fewer class sections are available, some classes are offered less frequently, and that many sections will fill early. Where we can, many faculty members will try to accommodate extra students if this can be done without compromising the quality of your learning experience, but there are limits.
(Posted 9/13/11; 9:42:30 AM #) |
|
Sunday, August 28, 2011
| Upcoming Fall 2011 Term Updates |
| |
I am scheduled to teach the following classes during the 2011 fall term at De Anza College:
- Music 1A: Introduction to Music - Western Culture: MTWTh at 9:30-10:20 in A11.
- Music 1A: Introduction to Music - Western Culture: MTWTh at 10:30-11:20 in A11.
- Music 51: Introduction to Electronic Music: MW at 12:30-2:15 in A91.*
- Music 51: Introduction to Electronic Music: Friday at 10:30-2:15 in A91.*
* Note that the two electronic music classes are listed on multiple lines in the schedule. For example, you might see a M and a W listing for the MW class - but it really is one class and you must attend both sessions. The same holds true for the Friday class - despite the odd way it is listed in the schedule the class meets as listed here.
As of this date (August 28, 2011) it looks like all of my classes are full! If you were hoping to enroll in one of my classes you might consider the following options:
- If you can, get on a waiting list for the section you want. I can almost always add a few students at the first class meeting. I always start the add process with those on the waiting list, taking those students in priority order. You must attend the class in order to take advantage of this possibility.
- In is not unusual for me to be able to add a few students who were not the on the waiting list, but it is critical that you attend the first class meeting since I only add students who are present in class.
- As we approach the start of the term, some registered students may drop a class. Keep checking back at the registration site to see if space opens up.
- If you are hoping to take a Music 1A: Introduction to Music class and mine is full, consider one of the other sections of Music 1A or consider Music 1B, 1C, or 1D. All of these "flavors" of Music 1 earn transferable general education credit.
- If you are unable to get into one of these classes this quarter, you can try again during a later term. If this turns out to be your situation, keep abreast of budget developments at the college since it is possible that we will need to adapt our schedule to changing budgets this year.
If you are considering ordering your Music 1A text from a source other than one of our local bookstores, you should order now - you don't want to be waiting for the text as the term starts since this will make it more difficult for you to succeed in the class. Saving money by ordering online from non-local sources can be a good option... if you are certain that you will get the right text... and the correct audio recordings... and that the materials will be in your hands before the start of class.
Materials on this web site may not be fully updated until the first class meeting. Be aware of this if you consult online green sheets, calendars, assignment descriptions, and so forth.
(Posted 8/28/11; 2:43:05 PM #) |
|
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
| Spring 2011 Grades |
| |
I will try to post final course grades as soon as possible. In some cases I may be able to post them before the end of the day on Friday, June 14. Many grades earned prior to your final exam/project are already posted. To find the online grades, please visit the web site for your class and log in.
(Posted 6/22/11; 3:00:33 PM #) |
|
|
|
|
Fall 2011 Term
Visit the De Anza College web site to find out more about admissions and registration. (Registration for fall term classes begins in July this year. The sooner you register the better the chances that you'll get the classes you want/need.) My schedule for this fall includes: Music 1A: Introduction to Music- MTWTh at 9:30-10:20 in A11
- MTWTh at 10:30-11:20 in A11
Music 51: Introduction to Electronic Music- MW at 12:30-2:15 in A91
- Friday-only at 10:30-2:15 in A91
For more information about courses I teach, visit the web sites for my Intro to Music and Electronic Music classes. Send me email if you have questions - see the Contact Info section lower in the sidebar. I posted an extremely important note about enrollment during a budget crisis last year - it still applies for the upcoming term. Please read it!
Recent Posts From My Other Sites
Music 1
|
|
 |
Change to Week 5 Schedule. I have decided to delay next week's quiz until Wednesday, so that it follow Tuesday's test.
|
|
|
Information About the First Test. Our first midterm of the quarter is scheduled for next week on Tuesday. (Check the online calendar at this web site for details of day and date, along with an overview of which subjects are included on this test.) I would like to share a few basic facts about the exam that may help you be better prepared to do your best work on it:
- Subjects on the test will come from the reading, the listening (in class and the recordings that come with the text), and lectures. Some questions may focus on issues that are covered in only one of these sources, so don't rely on just your class notes...
- You already know this, but I'll remind you anyway: Waiting until just before the exam to begin your serious study puts you at a great disadvantage, and you will not likely do as well on the test as you would like. Continuing to study and review as you have been doing all quarter, focusing especially on things you regard as weaknesses can lead to test success.
- Questions on the test will range from very basic and likely quite easy to some that are more difficult and sophisticated.
- It is unlikely that anyone will achieve a perfect score on the test, but that is normal and you should certainly not agonize over missing a one or two of the most difficult questions. I normalize grades to overall student performance on this exam - I do not grade on a strict percentage basis.
- You will have the entire class period to complete the exam, but most students will finish before the period ends.
- The test will consist of:
- two pages of Scantron questions - true/false, multiple choice, and matching formats
- two pages of questions to which you must respond in written form, including...
- an item based on listening to an example I play during the test and describing its characteristics
- I usually try to post test grades more quickly than homework grades - perhaps within 24-48 hours.
You can prepare in advance for the listening question. While I will not tell you what the music will be, I can tell you that you will hear an excerpt that is a minute or so long. I will offer you a list of aspects of the music that you might describe: melody, dynamics, form, tempo/meter, texture, etc. You will select three of these options and offer a brief description of objective features of the music that you notice.Practice this process on paper using many examples from the recordings prior to the exam and you'll feel much more confident about your ability to succeed on this six-point question.
|
|
|
Office Hour Change on Thursday, Feb. 2. Due to the scheduling of a music department faculty meeting, I must cancel my 11:30-12:20 office hour this Thursday, February 2. Morning Music 1A classes will meet as scheduled. |
|
|
| Source: Music 1; Updated: 10:32AM PST. |
| |
|
Electronic Music
|
|
|
Take-Home Quizzes. The Friday-only class has its first take home quiz this week, and it will be assigned in the MW class next week. These quizzes are based on information I present in class only and are typically due at the class section following my presentation. The first quiz for the Friday class will be due at the start of the period next Friday.
You can find the quizzes at the Quizzes links in the sidebar of the web site. You are required to print out this form and write your answers on it and submit the completed quiz by the deadline. I do not accept quizzes that are not of the printed form, so print early and let me know right away if you encounter any technical problems with the printout. |
|
|
Assignment Deadlines and Upcoming Holiday. In the middle third of term - which is where we are now - it can sometimes seem like have fewer immediate time pressures. However, in about two weeks both Music 51 classes will be affected by the "Presidents Weekend" holidays. Campus will be closed on both Friday, February 17 and Monday, February 20.
The effect on the Friday-only section of the class is significant - we essentially lose an entire week of class, so when we come back we'll be about a week behind the Monday/Wednesday class. (The holiday affects that class also, but it will still meet once during the week of the Monday holiday.) When the Friday class returns from this holiday a week later, we will immediately be in the final third of the term... with a lot of work yet do do and starting a bit behind the MW class.
So... expect me to push the Friday class forward a bit during the next few class meetings. You'll need to stay on top of class work, avoid absences, and even possibly use the lab outside of the Friday class time. |
|
|
Schedule Change This Week for Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music. There is a change to this week's schedule that affects students enrolled in the Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music class. Because Music Department faculty have scheduled a "flex day" activity for this Thursday, February 2 in the afternoon, the Music 8 class will not meet this Thursday and the room will not be available to students.
This does not affect any of the class meetings for Music 51: Intro to Electronic Music classes - all of those classes will meet on their regular schedules.
Students in any electronic music class can get extra lab time during the other class meetings this week and during the Wednesday afternoon open lab.
|
|
|
| Source: Electronic Music; Updated: 2:34PM PST. |
| |
|
Quotes
|
|
|
Bertrand Russell "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." - G Dan Mitchell (noreply@blogger.com) |
|
|
H. H. Williams "Furious activity is no substitute for understanding." - G Dan Mitchell (noreply@blogger.com) |
|
|
George Orwell "Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it." - G Dan Mitchell (noreply@blogger.com) |
|
|
| Source: The Quote File; Updated: 1/15/2012. |
| |
|
| January 2012 |
Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
| 8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
| 15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
| 22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
| 29 |
30 |
31 |
|
Nov
Feb
|
|
