California State Polytechnic University at Pomona

Fall 2014

MU 321A-01: Musicianship (1 unit)

Course number: 74785

Class meetings: Mo/We 9-9:50 a.m. R. 105

Instructor: Prof. Nik St. Clair
Email: eestclair@csupomona.edu
Office hours: Mo/We 1:30-2 and 4-4:45 p.m. - bldg. 24, room 155
It helps me know when you are coming so please make an appointment.
Catalogue Description
MU 321A Musicianship (1 unit)
Drill and practice of sight-reading skills and rhythmic and melodic dictation. 2 hours
activity.
Required Background or Experience
MU 223 or equivalent.
Expected Outcomes
Within the constraints of simple to complex diatonic music, students will master their
skills in:
1. Aural recognition and notation of rhythms and melodies.
2. Sight reading melodies and rhythms.
3. Recognition of intervals, scales and key signatures.
4. Aural analytical skills, including the ability to transcribe musical excerpts and to detect
errors in music.
5. Applying their abilities to analyze, identify and describe form, style and expressive
elements.
6. Singing on movable-do solfge syllables using the Curwen hand signals and note
names.
7. Performing alone with confidence and excellent intonation.
8. Developing the musical inner ear through a wide variety of activities through which
students will be able to hear with their eyes and see with their ears.
Department-Related Student Outcomes
1. Perform a variety of music with expression and musical accuracy.
2. Demonstrate musicianship skills (including those involving technology) and
conceptual understandings.
3. Demonstrate and articulate personal growth as a musician and student of music in
the world.

Required Texts and Materials

Studying Rhythm, 3rd Edition

(Prentice Hall, 2005)
The Folk Song Sight Singing Series Book 3
Oxford University Press
Music for Sight Singing, 8th or 9th Edition
Prentice Hall
Classical Canons
Editio Musica Budapest (1995)
(Dist. by Hal Leonard Corp.)
Music Theory Pro
App is available in the App Store or on iTunes

Anne Carothers Hall

Ed. by Edgar Crowe
Robert Ottman

Antal Molnr

Joel Clifft

Pencil, a few sheets of musical manuscript paper in a three-ring binder are required for
every class.
Course Description
This course is designed to take students to the next level of difficulty in diatonic music.
Students, in their continued studies of sight singing, will be introduced to art songs by
Mozart and J. S. Bach, various rounds by Caldara and Haydn as well as simple hymns.
Students will continue with intervallic and chordal drills, sing&plays, and the practice of
scales (major, three types of minor scales and the 5 Greek modes). Students will enhance
their skills in the use of Curwen hand signals, solfge syllables in the movable-Do system
(La minor) by adding two new notes, and continue singing on and using the musical
alphabet/note names. Practicing rhythm and formal analyses will also be covered.
Frequent dictations will take place. Regular Music Theory Pro homework will be
assigned weekly for interval and chord practice. In order to build musical skills,
students must expect to practice a minimum of 20-30 minutes daily.
Over the course of the quarter, students will
sight-sing and prepare about 150 unison melodies
sing and prepare 6-8 canons one-on-a-part
sing&play 5 to 8 duets and 2 hymns
sing and memorize various interval and chordal drills
sing and transpose scale drills to 5# and 5b
sight-read and prepare rhythm exercises
Course Procedure
There is a rigorous assignment schedule throughout the quarter, which means there will
be a graded assignment due almost every class. Weekly sight singing assignments will
2

take place at the first class meeting of each week without exception. In preparation for
sing&play exercises, there will be in-class practice prior to the assignments due date.
Preparation for individual finals will start with class practice. All materials will be
assigned at least 3 class meetings before the final examination.
Materials for the final will include canons, as many as 25 pre-assigned unison examples,
scale-, interval- and chord-singing on solfege syllables and on note names, rhythmic
exercises and actual sight singing examples.
The ensemble final will take place at the last class meeting and will include performing
canons one-on-a-part.
Grading and Attendance:
Attendance is required and roll is taken at each class meeting. This is a practical course
such as a lab or activity class; certain exercises would be difficult to master were the
student absent at the introduction of the exercise.
Make-up work will only be permitted in case of excused and documented absences and
can only be made up during the instructors office hours the 2 classes following the
excused absence. After that time, the student forfeits the opportunity of the make-up.
Three tardies equal one unexcused absence. Three unexcused absences automatically
will result in a drop of one letter grade.
Grading:

Attendance: 10%
In-class tests, dictation and homework assignments: 60%
Final Exam: 30%

Grading scale:
100-93%: A
89-87%: B+
79-77%: C+
70-68%: D+

92-90%: A86-83%: B
76-74%: C
67-65%: D

82-80%: B73-71%: C64-61%: D-

60-0%: F

Final Exam Date:

There is no mid-term for this course. Final exam will take place on Thursday, December
11, 1:30-3:30 p.m. However, any one student only will be required to appear in
his/her assigned 10-minute time slot within this time period.

For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required;
and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Pleaseprintandbringittotheinstructor!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTOFTHESYLLABUS

I,(pleaseprint)_____________________________________,havereadandunderstood
therequirementsforthisclass.Iwasgivenampleopportunitytoaskquestionsregarding
therulesofandexpectationsforthisclass.
______________________________
Signatureofstudent