Graduate Survey of Music History (MUH 5219)

Florida State University

Online
Fall 2019

Instructor: Eduardo López-Dabdoub (elopez2@fsu.edu)

Office: LON 402A
Office Hours: by appointment

Course Description

This course is a synoptic review of the history of Western music from Greek music to the present
day and is required of all graduate music majors unless exempted. It will provide you an
overview of the history of music in the Western tradition. You should gain a greater ability to
pursue and communicate the relationships of music to historical/cultural contexts and the
development of musical styles. Credit earned in MUH 5219 does not apply to credit hour
requirements of any degree in the College of Music.

Course Objectives

Upon the successful completion of the course, you will be able to:
• Define terms in an appropriate vocabulary for discussion of musical works, and use those
terms correctly and effectively in research and writing.
• Identify specific musical touchstone works by composer and title, and musical styles by
their cultural times and places through listening.
• Interpret and critique aspects of musical expression within particular musical works, as
they arise from the use of elements of musical style.

Required Text

Seaton, Douglass. Ideas and Styles in the Western Musical Tradition, 4th ed. New York: Oxford
University Press, 2017.

Assessments and Grading Policy

Tests (5) 100%

A=93-100; A-=90-92.99; B+=87-89.99; B=83-86.99; B-=80-82.99; C+=77-79.99;

C=73-76.99; C-=70-72.99; D+=67-69.99; D=63-66.99; D-=60-62.99; F=Below 60
The grades you see on Canvas will follow the scheme above. However, this is a S/U course
(satisfactory/unsatisfactory), meaning that the grade submitted to FSU, and which you will see
on your transcript, will be either S or U (letter grades are not possible in this course). To receive
a letter of S (satisfactory), you need to earn at least a C+ (77% or above).

Readings and Listening Assignments: The Canvas course page is organized into five modules,
each of which should take three weeks to complete. Within each module you will find a list of
reading and listening assignments. At the end of each module you will have to complete a test.

Tests: There will be five tests throughout the semester, once every three weeks. Each test will
focus on the readings, and you must also be able to aurally recognize the pieces from the
listening assignments. Questions will be multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank. Although the tests
are open book, they are timed and cannot be paused, which means you will need to study just
like for a closed-book test, as you will not really have time to look up answers. You must
complete the test by 11:59 pm on the test due date. There are no make-up tests for any reason,
including technology problems, so make sure you do not leave tests for the last minute.

Technology Requirements

Course content is accessible through Canvas, where you will find reading and listening
assignments and take tests. You should have access to high-speed internet and updated software.
Mobile devices can be used to view course content, but refrain from using them to take tests. Do
not wait until the last minute to take tests—technology issues are not a valid excuse for late
assignments.

University Attendance Policy

Excused absences include documented illness, deaths in the family and other documented crises,
call to active military duty or jury duty, religious holy days, and official University activities.
These absences will be accommodated in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize students who
have a valid excuse. Consideration will also be given to students whose dependent children
experience serious illness.

Academic Honor Policy

The Florida State University Academic Honor Policy outlines the University’s expectations for
the integrity of students’ academic work, the procedures for resolving alleged violations of those
expectations, and the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty members throughout the
process. Students are responsible for reading the Academic Honor Policy and for living up to
their pledge to “. . . be honest and truthful and . . . [to] strive for personal and institutional
integrity at Florida State University.” See http://fda.fsu.edu/Academics/Academic-Honor-Policy.

Americans With Disabilities Act

Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should:

1. register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; 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 Student Disability Resource Center 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:

Student Disability Resource Center

874 Traditions Way
108 Student Services Building
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4167
(850) 644-9566 (voice); (850) 644-8504 (TDD)
SDRC@admin.fsu.edu
http://www.disabilitycenter.fsu.edu/

Free Tutoring from FSU

On-campus tutoring and writing assistance is available for many courses at Florida State
University. For more information, visit the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) Tutoring
Services’ comprehensive list of on-campus tutoring options (see http://ace.fsu.edu/tutoring or
contact tutor@fsu.edu). High-quality tutoring is available by appointment and on a walk-in basis.
These services are offered by tutors trained to encourage the highest level of individual academic
success while upholding personal academic integrity.

Syllabus Change Policy

Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading)
statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice.

Due Dates

September 13: Test 1

October 4: Test 2

October 25: Test 3

November 15: Test 4

December 9: Test 5