University of Texas at Austin, Butler School of Music

MUS 411A, Ear Training and Sight Singing

Fall 2019

Unique Numbers: 21875, 21880

Classroom: MRH 2.610, 8.30-9.20am
Instructor: Stefanie Bilidas
Instructor Email: sbilidas@utexas.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 10:30-11:30 in MRH 3.724
TA: Dalton Dudley (21875), James Tabata (21880)
TA email: daltoncdudley@utexas.edu, jttabata@gmail.com,
TA Office Hours: Dalton: Friday, 10-12 in MRH 3.732, James: Monday and
Wednesday, 2:30-3:30 in MRH 3.720
Labs: 21875 meets Tuesday, 9.30-10.20pm in MRH 4.116
21880 meets Thursday, 9.30-10.20pm in MRH 4.116

Course Description
This course develops aural skills in rhythm, melody, harmony, and sight singing. The
first semester offers an opportunity to review and refine skills, as well as progressing to
more advanced material. The second semester proceeds to topics in modulation and
chromaticism.

Required Materials (same as MUS 605A and B)

(1) Manual for Ear Training and Sight Singing (2nd edition) by Gary S. Karpinski.
Available at the University Co-op on Guadalupe.
(2) Anthology for Sight Singing (2nd edition) by Gary S. Karpinski and Richard Kram.
(3) Staff paper and pencil/eraser

Overview of Course Requirements

(1) Ten assignments. Late assignments will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor,
but will be penalized one letter grade (i.e. -10%).
(2) Three exams. The rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic dictation portions of the exam
will be given during class time. The sight-singing portion of each exam will be given
during lab time. The times of the exams cannot be changed. If a student misses an
exam, then s/he must supply a note from their doctor or professor explaining their
absence. Only under these circumstances will the student be allowed to take the
missed exam at an alternative time.
(3) Attendance. With advance email notice to the instructor, three excused absences (for
illness, auditions, performances, etc.) may be granted for the semester. Thereafter, all
absences will be counted.

Evaluation
3 exams 75% (3x25%)
10 assignments 15% (10% class, 5% lab)
Attendance/Participation 10% (class and lab)

1
Grading Scale
A=92.5-100 A-=90-92.5 B+=87.5-90 B=82.5-87.5 B-=80-82.5 C+=77.5-80
C=72.5-77.5 C-=70-72.5 D+=67.5-70 D=62.5-67.5 D-=60-62.5 F=0-59

Americans with Disability Act

The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic
accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact
the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with
Disabilities, 512-471-6259, http://diversity.utexas.edu/disability/

Religious Holy Days

By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days
prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an
examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, I
will give you an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after
the absence.

Academic Integrity
Each student in the course is expected to abide by the University of Texas Honor Code:
“As a student of The University of Texas at Austin, I shall abide by the core values of the
University and uphold academic integrity.” This means that work you produce on
assignments, tests, and exams is all your own work. You are responsible for
understanding UT’s Academic Honesty Policy which can be found at the following web
address: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acint_student.php

Cell phone, Tablets, and Laptops

Please turn off cell phones at the beginning of each class. If you use your cell phone,
tablet, or laptop to send emails or texts, surf the internet, or otherwise engage in non-class
activities, you will be marked as absent for that day.

Class Outline (subject to alteration)

Review
Week 1 (8/29) The Leading-Tone Triad (Ch. 41)
Compound Meters (Ch. 16)

Week 2 (9/3, 9/5) The Supertonic Triad (Ch. 42)

Compound Meters (Ch. 16)
Assignment #1: lecture and lab

Week 3 (9/10, 9/12) The Submediant Triad (Ch. 43)

Compound Meters (Ch. 16)
Assignment #2: lecture and lab

2
Week 4 (9/17, 9/19) Practice Chs. 16, 41, 42, and 43
Assignment #3: lecture and lab

Week 5 (9/24, 9/26) Exam #1 (sight-singing exam in labs 9/24 and 9/26,
written exam in class 9/26)

Seventh Chords
Week 6 (10/1, 10/3) The Dominant Seventh Chord (Chs. 33 & 45)
Triplets and Duplets (Ch. 20)
Assignment #4: lecture and lab

Week 7 (10/8, 10/10) Other Seventh Chords: ii7 (Ch. 48)

Triplets and Duplets (Ch. 20)
Assignment #5: lecture and lab

Week 8 (10/15, 10/17) Other Seventh Chords: vii7 (Ch. 48)

Triplets and Duplets (Ch. 20)
Assignment #6: lecture and lab

Week 9 (10/22, 10/24) Practice Chs. 20, 33, 45, and 48

Assignment #7: lecture and lab

Week 10 (10/29, 10/31) Exam #2 (sight-singing exam in labs 10/29 and

10/31, written quiz in class 10/31)

Decorative chromaticism and V/V

Week 11 (11/5, 11/7) Chromatic Passing Tones (Ch. 53)
Quadruple Division of the Beat (Ch. 22)
Assignment #8: lecture and lab

Week 12 (11/12, 11/14) Skips to Chromatic Pitches (Ch. 54)

Quadruple Division of the Beat (Ch. 22)
Assignment #9: lecture and lab

Week 13 (11/19, 11/21) Chords Applied to the Dominant (Ch. 55)

Quadruple Division of the Beat (Ch. 22)
Assignment #10: lecture and lab

Week 14 (11/26) Practice Chs. 22, 53, 54, and 55

No class on Thursday, Thanksgiving break.

Week 15 (12/3, 12/5) Exam #3 (sight-singing exam in labs 12/3 and 12/5,
written exam in class 12/5)