Required Materials:
Available at the TTU Bookstore:
Recommended supplementary materials:
Contract for MUS 3210: Instrumentation
All students must return the course contract to Dr. Hauser at the beginning of the second class period.
Class Goals:
This class is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to use the materials learned in your earlier Music Theory curriculum in practice as musicians and educators. As such, it combines elements of Harmony, Music History, Performance Practice, Instrumental Methods, and Research. All projects are designed to demonstrate the full range of knowledge of the music education and theory curriculum and will be peformed by the students in the class whenever possible. Each student is expected to conduct their own work.
Prerequisites:
Students need to have passed the Music Theory, Aural Training, and Keyboard proficiency exams prior to enrolling in this course. Basic conducting and instrumental methods courses outside of your major area of study are also suggested. If the student has deficiences in any of these areas, they should contact the instructor as soon as possible to discuss whether they have the appropriate background for this course.
Projects:
As stated above, this course will consist of several short orchestration and arranging projects for many of the conventional performance mediums in western art music, including: String Ensembles, Mixed Woodwind Ensembles, Mixed Brass Ensembles, Percussion Ensemble, and Mixed Chamber Ensembles. A final project for full symphonic wind ensemble will serve as the culmination of the course.
The projects for wind and percussion ensembles will be realized in class using the instrumental skills and specializations of the members of the class. Source material for assignments where the instructor does not provide sources should be taken from public domain materials online and in the main library, and will require instructor approval in advance of commencing each project.
Each student will complete at least one project by hand in ink using music calligraphy and one project using FINALE or other comparable computer notation software. Computer problems are not an acceptable excuse not to have your score and parts ready for class. We have a limited amount of time to play each assignment and you must have a readable score and parts at every performance class.
Website info:
As the course progresses, I will be using the world wide web to create a webpage for this class with instrumental examples and online copies of assignments. Check the class website at: http://webct.tntech.edu/ for regular updates and online handouts. You are expected to print out your own copies of online handouts and assignments prior to the class in which they will be discussed and bring them to class.
Grading and Attendance:
Grades will be based on class participation (10%), daily in-class and homework
assignments (15%), 5 transcription/arranging projects (6% each), a midterm (10%), and a final exam (15%). There will also be a final class project (20%). All scores and parts will graded on both Manuscript (or computer notation) and Transcription. There is no extra credit available for this class. As per department of music and art policy, all music majors must maintain a grade of "C" in all music classes or the course must be repeated.
(<60 = F, 60-69 = D, 70-79 = C, 80-89 = B, 90-100 = A)
Academic dishonesty will result in an F for the entire course.
Attendance is required at all classes. Students entering the classroom once the instructor has begun will be considered absent, not tardy. If you do enter the classroom once class has begun, sit towards the rear of the room so as not to disturb the class. Three or more unexcused absences will lower the student's final letter grade by 5% for each absence beginning with the third absence. Approved excused absences are: illnesses requiring a doctor's care, death in the family, and studio events when the instructor is notified at least one week in advance. Car trouble is notan excused absence, neither are spontaneous combustion or alien abduction (without a note from MIB).
Attendance and Class Participation are two different aspects of your grade. If you are going to be late to class and are thinking of skipping as a result, think again. You can help yourself in terms of class participation by coming to class and you do not want to lose out on both your attendance and class participation if you can avoid it.
All assignments are to be prepared for the class listed in the syllabus or assigned in class and are due at the beginning of class. Unexcused late assignments will notbe accepted for credit, although I will grade any assignment turned in at the next class period for comments only. Assignments which must be turned in late because of an excused absence will be accepted immediately upon the student's return to class. If you are going to miss class for a studio sponsored event (tour, etc.) you must turn in all assignments beforethe class to be missed and you are responsible for seeing me at least two class periods beforethe class to be missed so that I can prepare appropriate assignments if needed.
If you miss a performance day for an excused absence, you are responsible for assembling the appropriate ensemble and recording the work to turn in with your completed assignment.
Office Hours:
I am available by appointment for any questions you may have and I will be setting regular office hours once the semester begins. If you attend class, do the assigned readings, and do all of your listening assignments, I will be happy to help you. I will only teach each class once, so please do not ask me for help regarding classes you missed due to unexcused absences. If you need to contact me and I am not in my office, you can leave a note on my office door or e-mail me at jhauser@tntech.edu.
A Word About Assignments and In-Class Participation:
Although there may be some discrepancies between the knowledge each student brings to this course, all students will be asked to participate to their level of ability. If you attend class regularly and keep up with the assignments, you should be able to do well in this course. If you try to skate by on previous knowledge and do not keep up, you may reach a point in the class when you need to work and will not be prepared. Please do not let this happen to you.
Special Circumstances:
Students with a disability requiring accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS). An Accommodation Request (AR) should be completed as soon as possible, preferably by the end of the first week of the course. The ODS is located in the Roaden University Center, Room 112; phone 372-6119.