MUS 1920: Music Living-Learning Community at Cawthon Hall Colloquium Series

Florida State University College of Music

Fall 2020 Syllabus

Prof. Michael Buchler, Faculty Director

Cawthon 106 and Longmire 211; mbuchler@fsu.edu; 850-562-2733 (home)
Mrs. Jennifer Harding, Associate Director
Cawthon 106; jdharding@fsu.edu; 630-725-8074
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FSUMusicAtCawthon
Credit: 0 or 1 hour; may be repeated up to four semesters. Most students register for 0 credit hours.
All Cawthon Hall Music Living-Learning Community residents are required to register for and complete MUS
1920 each semester in residence in Cawthon Hall.
Corequisites: All students registered for this course must be music majors, music minors, or BFA
musical theater majors, and participants in the Cawthon Hall Music Living-Learning Community
program.

Objectives: The objective of this colloquium series is to acquaint students with current issues
related to pursuit of careers in music and in music as a life-long avocation (as a practitioner and as a
listener). Students will gain a broader sense of how music participates in our culture. Students will
learn new ways to think about music, music performance, music teaching, and musical careers from
experts in the field. They may also become aware of a wide variety of career opportunities in music,
and of pathways to success in those careers. Finally, the colloquium is designed to foster a sense of
community among the musicians within the Music LLC and to imagine how all musicians can form
larger and more robust communities.

Format: Synchronous colloquium sessions will feature a presentation, often by a guest, followed by
opportunity for questions and discussion (generally 50 minutes total). Some guest lecturers may
recommend reading or preparation prior to their presentation or student participation (performance)
as a part of the presentation, as appropriate for the topic. Asynchronous colloquium sessions will vary
in format, but often there will be a posted video and participants will be asked to comment upon the
material in some way or to take a short quiz or poll about the content.

Colloquium Schedule: Information regarding upcoming guests will be distributed by email and will
be available on the course Canvas site. Most synchronous colloquia will be on Thursday evenings
from 6:30-7:20 pm, but other times may be used to accommodate the schedules of special guests. In
“normal semesters,” there are approximately two or three sessions per month from which to choose
(sometimes more!); during the pandemic, there will be more asynchronous than synchronous
colloquia. Each student is responsible for keeping informed about upcoming colloquium sessions by
checking their university email account and the course Canvas site. Ignorance of the schedule is no
excuse.

Grading: This is a S/U (satisfactory/unsatisfactory) class. Students must accumulate 50 points using
the system below to receive an S. Any student with fewer than 50 points will receive a U grade.
Students who receive a U in Cawthon Colloquium will not be allowed to live in the Music
LLC during the coming spring semester. The final due date for all points is 5 p.m. on
Wednesday, November 25. Note: Presentation Response Essays are NOT required when attending a
colloquium in Cawthon.
Note about Grades on Canvas: All we (and you!) care about is the total number of points you’ve
accumulated. Don’t pay attention to what grades or percentages Canvas thinks you’ve earned. For
example, if an event is worth 15 points for organizers and 5 points for participants, Canvas might
show that you’ve earned only 33% of the points (an F!) if you participated. Ignore that. You earned
5 points. Good! On the other end of the spectrum, Canvas might show that you’ve earned 100% of
the total points, but you might only have accrued 30 points, which is not yet a passing grade.

In-Person Activities during the pandemic: Most MLLC activities will be online, but for any in-
person events during the COVID-19 pandemic, the following safety requirements are in place to
minimize exposure to the Florida State University community. These guidelines apply to all face-to-
face classes held either inside an FSU building or outside. These guidelines are in place to ensure the
safety of all students, faculty, and staff during the pandemic. Anyone who does not comply will be in
violation of the University’s Student Conduct Code (https://sccs.fsu.edu/conduct-codes/student-
conduct-codes), specifically violation B.2, “Action(s) that imminently endanger the health, or safety
of another person or group” (p. 10). Face coverings are required for all students and faculty while
inclass, no matter the size of the space. Following this recommendation can minimize the
transmission of the virus, which is spread between people interacting in close proximity through
speaking, coughing, or sneezing. The CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public
settings. For outdoor class settings where social distancing is not possible (i.e., enabling at least six
feet space between individuals), face coverings must also be worn. Instructors have the right to deny
a student entry into the classroom if the student is not wearing a face covering. Face coverings must
remain in place throughout the class. Any student who removes the mandatory face covering during
class will be required to leave the classroom immediately. Students who are unable to wear a face
covering for a legitimate medical reason must indicate this to the Office of Accessibility Services and
an alternative schedule will be determined. Students may not remain in the class without a face
covering due to a medical condition. During specified classes in which face coverings would prevent
required elements, students may remove masks with instructor permission. Face coverings are not a
substitute for social distancing. Students shall observe current social distancing guidelines in all
instructional spaces, both indoors and outdoors. Students should avoid congregating around
instructional space entrances before and after class sessions. Students should exit the instructional
space immediately after the end of class to help ensure social distancing and to allow for those
attending the next scheduled class session to enter. If directional traffic guidelines are in place for an
instructional space, students must follow them. These requirements are necessary because not
everyone who is contagious exhibits symptoms of infection. Students who feel ill should follow
University and health care provider guidelines for evaluating their health status, both to ensure the
best health outcome for the student and also to limit transmission of COVID-19. However, even
students who do not exhibit symptoms must abide by these face-covering and social-distancing rules
at all times while on campus.
Students must earn 50 points by participating in the following activities:
Note: most activities during Fall 2020 will be online, but there might be some possibilities for in-person events that
will earn colloquium points. No student will be required to attend any in-person event this semester and there will be
plenty of online-only point-earning opportunities available.
1. 10 points for each colloquium attendance (not including introductory meeting,
which will be 5 points). All students are required to attend a minimum of three colloquia.
2. 10 points for a small group meeting with Prof. Buchler. (Maximum of one meeting.)
3. 15 points for organizing (and therefore attending) an approved MLLC event.
5 points for participating in an approved (non-colloquium) MLLC event.
Events should be approved by Mrs. Harding or Prof. Buchler at least a week in advance.
Summary of activities due by one week after event for credit.
4. 10 points for performing on a Cawthon Concert; 5 points for simply attending.
5. 5 points for attending an outside lecture or a new music concert (SCI, New Music Ensemble, or
some other approved new music concert).
Must provide a one-paragraph critical summary (printed or e-mailed) within one week of event.
6. 10 points for meeting with any faculty member for specific career advising one-on-one.
30-minute minimum
Requires email to Prof. Buchler or Mrs. Harding from the faculty member stating that the student met
for career advising, and a short paragraph from the student describing the usefulness of the meeting.

7. 5 points for a single meeting with Rachel Ward.

3-5 sentence summary due by email to Mrs. Harding within one week of appointment.
8. 15 points for working a Music Audition Day as a hall ambassador (spring semester).
Up to 30 points: 15 for each audition day (1-4 pm).
9. 3 points for participating in any Music LLC surveys.
10. 5 points for each tour given as a hall ambassador outside of Music Audition Days.
11. 5 points for a one-on-one visit (in person or via Zoom) with Mrs. Harding (at least 15 minutes).
Limit two point-earning visits per semester, but extra visits are encouraged.
Have something meaningful to discuss. (We encourage informal chats, but this is for something more
substantive.)
12. 5 points for setting up and putting away chairs for a colloquium.
13. 5 points for several distinct Career Center activities, including: meeting with your Career Center
liaison, Tory Dellafiora, setting up a Career Portfolio, writing a sample résumé and cover
letter, and attending a mock interview. Please submit Career Center verifications to Mrs.
Harding for points.

14. Second-year residents begin with a 10-point credit and are expected to serve as mentors to the
first-year residents.
15. Do you have an idea for helping the community? Let Prof. Buchler or Mrs. Harding know!! It
might be worth some points. We’re flexible and interested in innovative and musical ideas.
Academic Honor Code: The Academic Honor System of The Florida State University is based on
the premise that each student has the responsibility (1) to uphold the highest standards of academic
integrity in the student's own work, (2) to refuse to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the
University community, and (3) to foster a high sense of integrity and social responsibility on the part
of the University community. Students are expected to be aware of the Academic Honor Code as
stipulated in the Student Handbook and to adhere to it in this course.

ADA Statement: Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should: (1) register
with and provide documentation to the Office of Accessibility Services; and (2) bring a letter to the
instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. Please note that instructors are not
allowed to provide classroom accommodation to a student until appropriate verification from the
Office of Accessibility Services has been provided. This syllabus and other class materials are
available in alternative format upon request.

For more information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact the:
Office of Accessibility Services, 874 Traditions Way, 108 Student Services Building, Florida State
University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4167 (850) 644-9566 (voice) (850) 644-8504 (TDD). oas@fsu.edu
(https://dsst.fsu.edu/oas)

Title IX Statement: As a recipient of Federal financial assistance for education activities, FSU is
required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to ensure that all of its education
programs and activities are free from discrimination on the basis of sex. Sexual discrimination
includes sexual misconduct (sexual violence, stalking, intimate partner violence, gender based
animosity and gender based stereotyping). If you have questions about Title IX or wish to file a Title
IX complaint, please visit the FSU Title IX website: www.titleix.fsu.edu or call the Title IX Director
at 850-644-6271. Please note that as Responsible Employees, all faculty are required to
report any incidents of sexual misconduct to the Title IX Office. For information about the
confidential on-campus Victim Advocate Program, please visit https://dos.fsu.edu/vap/.

Recording your Points:

1) Instructions for receiving points will be given during each colloquium event. You must be present
for the entire event to receive points.
2) All other point-earning events require additional documentation, as described above.
3) Community service can include a large variety of activities. Some ideas: giving a performance at a
retirement home, volunteering at the homeless shelter or other social service agencies, tutoring a
child, assisting with Cawthon Hall tours during audition days, or helping with a band or choir event
at a high school. Service that is required as a part of another class (a Chiefs, PRISM, or Chiefly Brass
performance, for example) or that is a part of participation in a religious community (regular church,
temple attendance) is not appropriate for meeting this colloquium option. Service projects that are
not directly part of religious services or courses may count (for example, a church group that makes
house repairs for elderly people in their community or the Chiefs bowl service project).
Note: Concert Essays and Service Documentation must be submitted within a week of the
date of the event. These should be submitted via Canvas. See specific instructions for each
type of event/opportunity.