MUSC 101

Appreciation of Music

Summer 2020 (7.5-week session)

Syllabus and Policies

UD Online (Distance Learning)

using Canvas LMS at UD

Instructor:  Lyle K. Neff, Ph.D.
E-mail:  lneff@udel.edu

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

TEXTS & RESOURCES

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES

GRADING

CALENDAR

 

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

Introduction to Western music literature through a nontechnical presentation of various musical styles and forms.

Back to top 

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

g clef    Welcome to the world of music! globe

To each student enrolled, in case you have some questions about what we are going to do in this course, here is some basic information.  If I may speak for the whole class, we hope you decide to stay with us and explore music.

This distance-learning version of MUSC101 at University of Delaware began many years ago under (now retired) Prof. Larry Peterson.  Given that considerable changes (including new editions of the textbook) have been implemented since that early version of the course, any infelicities that obtain now with all the revisions, adjustments, omissions, and additions belong solely to the current instructor.

Our GOALS are to develop and enhance your ability to do the following:

Course Objectives
  1. Stimulate incisive listening habits;
  2. Develop knowledge and skills about music;
  3. Provide meaningful encounters with music;
  4. Explore creative processes;
  5. Understand how a mood, emotion, idea, or value is expressed in a specific musical composition;
  6. Understand how music has changed through the ages;
  7. Classify a specific piece by artistic epoch, year, or genre;
  8. Relate universal topics (e.g., love or death) to specified examples of music;
  9. Recognize how principles of statement/contrast/repetition, theme/variation, and development are used to create form in a specific musical composition; and, finally,
  10. Experience -- especially if this is your first attempt at this -- an approach to instruction for music appreciation that relies on distance learning (i.e., outside of the traditional classroom) via the World-Wide Web.

Course Information and Description

This a distance-learning course that uses a textbook, sound recordings, and additional materials on Canvas here at UD and at the texbook publisher's website.  Our principle means of communication will be e-mail.  The quiz-assignments (or online "assessments") are submitted through Canvas as are the exams (see about exams below).
Be sure that your computer is set up properly to use Canvas.  Follow this link for instructions:  http://www1.udel.edu/it/help/canvas/start.html

In case you missed it, be sure to go to the instructor's "welcome" message.  It contains some observations and pointers to help jump-start your study.  It also asks you to fill out the Pre-Course survey on Canvas.  My e-mail address is lneff@udel.edu.

Another important matter is this:  Please make sure you have an University of Delaware e-mail account and that you regularly use it for the course.  This is very important, especially for questions that you have and for information that I may send out to the class or to you as an individual student.  (Be sure to see Grading below for more about e-mail.)

For MUSC101 there are some additional materials on the Canvas course-website that pertain to this course.  Go to the homepage that you see in Canvas on the left white side-bar when you log on and choose this course.

There are no pre-requisites for this course, and you do not have to be able to read music in order to take it -- although this can be an advantage in case you want to take extra time to look at musical scores in a library or online.  You're probably taking this course as an elective. Yet, even though this course is "non-technical" in that it is not meant for a music major, you will nevertheless be learning basic terminology and concepts that apply to music of all kinds and hopefully develop an ability to discuss music properly with these terms and concepts.

Thus, while you won't be expected to analyze music in the way a music student or a music theorist would -- with all sorts of chord symbols, highly specialized lingo, and such -- the texbook, the materials on Canvas, the online materials at Norton, and the quiz-assignments, are structured to help you gain a basic understanding of music by learning to listen for various features through both verbal and visual means.

We will begin with the fundamental elements (materials) of music and then concentrate, in chronological order, on Western music from the Middle Ages to the present.

Instructor Information

You can learn a little about me at my UDel web page.  My email address is lneff@udel.edu.

Very briefly, my bachelor's and master's degrees are in music composition, and my doctorate is in musicology (which is the discipline that deals largely with music history).  My specialty in musicology is 19th-century Russian music, especially opera.
Although I have taught regular classroom courses before and have had experience with online matters and means, handling a distance-learning course has been a considerable challenge.  The primary difference from classroom teaching, of course, is the lack of regular (if any) person-to-person contact with students.  This is why -- for me at least -- e-mail communication is so important in this kind of course.  I want to make sure that you all have the information you need, and that you let me know -- in addition to submitting your quiz-assignments -- what you are having difficulty with or what ideas you might have about the material or the course.  (In view of that, please let me know if a link on one of course pages in Canvas doesn't work, so that I can fix it!)

Back to top
 

TEXTS & RESOURCES

Texts and Listening Materials (Norton)

For this course you will need access to a textbook and to recordings that go with the textbook, both of which are listed immediately below: 

These are the two main items you need to acquire in some format.  You can order these items through the University Of Delaware Bookstore or directly from W.W. Norton, the publisher.

NOTE:  The University Of Delaware Bookstore is supposed have the printed, bound textbook in stock.  Purchase of a new copy of the textbook includes a code for access to the related online materials at W.W. Norton, including online streaming of the pieces of music that you will be listening to.

Given how short the time is during winter (5-week session) and summer (7.5-week session) before the first quiz-assignment is due, I would recommend that students purchase the online subscription to the textbook from W.W. Norton.  It costs less, is activated apparently as soon as payment is received, and includes access to the related online materials at W.W. Norton, as mentioned above.

IMPORTANT:  If you order the paper textbook, be sure to check the package and whichever dealer you use for the return policy, especially if there is a factory seal involved.

Pre-enrolled students are expected to make effort to acquire (i.e., to order online or purchase in store) the above materials no later than the first day of classes; late-enrolled students are expected to do so on the day after enrollment (next business day if planning to purchase in person at one of the bookstores in Newark).  If you are ordering the paper textbook from the UDel Bookstore, W.W. Norton, or somewhere else (rather than picking up your materials directly), be aware of the time needed to ship and deliver, and also of the respective return policy of the seller.  As mentioned above, the quickest way to access all the materials is to order the e-book directly from Norton.

Note:  Lack of funds to purchase the required materials on time is not an acceptable excuse for failing to submit quiz-assignments or take exams when they are due.

If you're having trouble getting any or all of the items above from the UDel Bookstore, contact them by phone at, 302-831-1206 right away.  Also, with regard to any delay, problem, etc., in obtaining the above materials, you must send me an e-mail right away, too, so that I am made aware!

Again, it is best to try to get the materials as soon as possible regardless of the source (see the calendar below), especially if you may be enrolling late.  Some students in the past have used other dealers, including the other textbook store on Main Street in Newark besides the UDel Bookstore.  Just be aware of newness and completeness of items and their availability for quick shipment.  Be aware that used paper textbooks do not come with access to the online materials at Norton.




Hardware and Software Required

Miscellaneous

Relevant WWW Links for the Course

Important Phone Numbers


Student Feedback on Instruction
All students who are enrolled in this course after the free-drop/add date are supposed to be able to fill out and submit an online course evaluation form from the University.  The information for accessing this form should be e-mailed to you from UD Online; check that office if you did not receive it.  Even though this course does not involve formal instruction in a classroom setting, I encourage you to fill out this form, and also to let me know during the term what your ideas are concerning how the course might be more effective for you and future students.
In addition, there is a "Post-Course Survey" available among the assessments ("Quizzes") on Canvas for the course (left side-bar).  This is an anonymous survey, and covers some matters not included in the UDel course evaluation form.  Please fill out this survey if you have time at the end of the course.

Back to top

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Basic Information

In this course you will have three major exams to take and several quiz-assignments to submit, all on Canvas.  The due-dates for these are given below in the calendar; make a note of these dates and be sure that your own personal schedule reflects them accurately.  Below also you will find a description of the grading system for the course.
E-Mail Communication

Because this is an Internet-based course, you need to be sure to have an e-mail account.  I will use the e-mail addresses provided to me by UDSIS; almost invariably these are the same as your UDel e-mail address.  It is most important that you have regular, reliable access to it.  Also, if for some reason you might have to send me an e-mail from some other e-mail address than the one I have for you, please alert me to that fact at the head of your message.  (Please don't use messaging or texting to contact me; I hardly use those methods myself.  Just use regular e-mail for the course.)

I may need to send out e-mails from time to time about quiz-assignments, exams, reading or listening lists, or other important matters as they arise during the term, so please check your e-mail regularly.

Overview of Quiz-Assignments

Be sure to note that the quiz-assignments and exams for this course are to be submitted as the individual work of each student.  There are absolutely NO collaborative or group projects in this course.  During the time that an quiz-assignment or exam is open to all the students, you may not confer in any way with other students taking this course regarding the content or answers in the assignments or exams.  In addition, you many not cheat in any way on the exams by any means that access the textbook, notes, websites, etc. other than your own memory (in other words, the exams are closed-book).  To do so would violate the academic policies of the University and the policies of this course.  If you have questions about the study materials or about something in a quiz-assignment as you are working on it, ask the instructor.

Furthermore,  there will be little if any need for you to use sources for quiz-assignments outside of the required materials (textbook, online digital materials at Norton, Canvas materials, and assigned web-links in the quiz-assignments).  In any case, if for some reason you want bring in a source other than these, you must properly cite it in your work or send me an e-mail to that effect.

At the very beginning of the course, you need to read the instructor's comments on listening and then proceed with the first two quiz-assignments, which cover Part 1 of the textbook, on the materials (elements) of music.  (Go to the white left sidebar on Canvas to find the link for "Quizzes" and also see the complete calendar for the course.)  This is in preparation for your first listening assignment:  Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, which is included among the online streaming at Norton.  The Britten piece is also available on YouTube and in one or both of the audio online databases of the Morris Library (Classical Music Library and the Naxos Music Library).  Your answers to questions about the Britten piece constitute the third quiz-assignment on Canvas, a sort of guided "review" of the work.

During the term you will likewise submit several more quiz-assignments via Canvas.  These are coordinated with the assigned readings in your textbook, and they cover, besides the materials (elements) of music, the six general periods of music as subdivided in the major parts of your textbook (modern/contemporary music is subdivided into two parts). Again, go to "Quizzes" on white left sidebar in Canvas to access these quiz-assignments.

SPECIAL NOTE ON QUIZ-ASSIGNMENTS AND E-MAIL:
Exams

There are THREE EXAMS.  ALL STUDENTS MUST TAKE EACH EXAM IN THE ASSIGNED WEEK.

General information about exam logistics:

Exam policies for MUSC101-194/195:
General Course Policies (see also Grading below)
It is important to remember that this course, like the other regular credit courses offered through UD Online, is a full college course comparable to the class version, not a mere correspondence course, remedial course, or college preparatory course.  Although you do not attend lectures in a classroom and thus will arrange your own times to study the material, remember that you are taking this course during a particular term of the academic year and that the other (i.e., non-lecture) aspects of the course follow a schedule, as tabulated below in the calendar.

If you have not taken a UD Online regular-credit course before, please be aware that these courses are meant to be equivalent to the in-class versions; there may be some aspects in either format that cannot be transferred to the other, or that can work better in one than another, but the general scope of work required is comparable.  For this course, although there are no lectures to attend or to watch on video, you must pace your own reading and listening, prepare quiz-assignments to be turned in on time, and take exams in the assigned weeks and at the time(s) available with your testing situation.

Be sure to keep up (ideally keep ahead) with assigned reading and listening.  If you have time, try the extra listening and the online digital materials at Norton to reinforce materials of music.

Here are some important policy matters:
"Academic Integrity: Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. The University has very clear, published policies on this matter, and they will be followed in this class. It is your responsibility to make yourselves aware of them.  [...]  Your signature* on each test or assignment will be taken to be your pledge that you have read, understand, and have followed these policies; you will therefore be held responsible. If you have any questions, at any time, do not hesitate to speak with me."  [*For MUSC101-194/195, your signing in to Canvas to submit graded work constitutes a signature.  LKN]
I will add that your submission of quiz-assignments and exams is also taken by me as a recognition of these policies.  For further information, see the Student Guide to University Policies, particularly the portion concerning academic honesty in the Code of Conduct.

I must reiterate that this course does NOT allow for collaborative work on quiz-assignments, and does NOT allow for use of textbooks, notes, external electronic devices, unauthorized web-pages/programs/apps, etc., during exams.  Any violation of these restrictions will be considered cheating and, if detected, will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct.

Back to top

 

GRADING

 Grading Policies and Procedures

The instructor endeavors to correct each online quiz-assignment and online exam within two days after it is submitted; if your quiz-assignment or exam hasn't been thoroughly checked by that time, please contact the instructor!

As regards grades overall, be aware of the following some of which was already stated above:
Your final grade is based solely upon your work on the quiz-assignments and exams, as well as upon their timely submission.  Therefore, make sure to keep up on the material, submit all assigned work on time, and do notify the instructor and UD Online as soon as you think you might be running into difficulties with the course.

Grading Scale/Calculation

The final grade will be calculated by this process:
FINAL GRADING SCALE
(percentage)
A 95-100
A- 90-94
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 63-66
D- 60-62
F 0-59
Given that each student gains an extra point at the end, there will be no rounding-up of percent-grades.


Again, if during the semester you might think of changing your grading status from letter-grade (i.e., A through F) to "pass/fail," be sure to check first with your department as to whether a passing grade earned under "pass/fail" will be acceptable for your degree.  (The Registrar's office may also have restrictions on the use of "pass/fail.")

Back to top  

COURSE CALENDAR
Be sure to click on the links to read more.
Date due or set*
(Students are responsible for getting these dates correct in their own schedules. Overlooking, mistaking, misreading, or forgetting a due-date for an exam is not an acceptable excuse for an extension or make-up.  Absolutely no extensions or make-ups are allowed for individual quiz-assignments.
Listening Lists and Readings
(NOTE: You must read also instructor's comments on textbook in reference to applicable pages.)
Quiz-Assignments
(Go to the "Quizzes" link in the left sidebar in Canvas; quiz-assignments must be completed and submitted by 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the due-dates)
Remember:  
Absolutely no extensions or make-ups are allowed for individual quiz-assignments.

Exams
(Be sure to
arrange with UD Online
and ProctorU.  Exams are accessed via the "Quizzes" link in the left sidebar in Canvas)
(see sample exam here)

June 8 (Mon.) -- 1st day of classes.
June 11 (Thu.) -- Last day for free drop/add (after this date there is a fee for changing your registration).

In advance of Exam 1:
Readings 1

Listening List 1

June 16 (Tue.) Materials of Music 1 of 2
June 17 (Wed.) Materials of Music 2 of 2
June 18 (Thu.) Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra

Review of Britten's Young Person's Guide

June 19 (Fri.) Medieval Music
June 20 (Sat.) Renaissance Music
June 21 (Sun.) Baroque Music 1 of 2
June 22 (Mon.) Baroque Music 2 of 2
JUNE 22-26 (Mon.-Fri.)
EXAM 1!  
Be sure to arrange with UD Online and ProctorU.
   

Information on Exam 1
(largely applies also to the remaining exams)

 

In advance of Exam 2:
Readings 2
Listening List 2

 

 

July 2 (Thu.)

 

Classical Music 1 of 2

 

July 3 (Fri.) -- Campus holiday at UDel for July 4; no classes; university offices closed.
July 6 (Mon.)   Classical Music 2 of 2  

JULY 6-10 (Mon.-Fri.)

EXAM 2!  Be sure to arrange with UD Online and ProctorU.

 

 

Information on Exam 2

July 7 (Tue.) -- Last day to change registration or withdraw without penalty for 7.5 week session.

 

In advance of Exam 3:
Readings 3
Listening List 3

 

 

July 14 (Tue.)

 

Romantic Music 1 of 2

 

July 17 (Fri.)

 

Romantic Music 2 of 2

 

July 20 (Mon.)

 

Modern Music 1 of 3

 

July 23 (Thu.)

 

Modern Music 2 of 3

 

July 26 (Sun.)

 

Modern Music 3 of 3

 

JULY 27-30 (Mon.-Thu.)

EXAM 3 (final exam)!  Be sure to arrange with UD Online and ProctorU.  Remember that Friday will not be available to take this exam.

 

 

Information on Exam 3 (Final)

July 29 (Wed.)-July 30 (Thur.) -- Final classroom exams on campus for 7.5-week session.
Aug. 3 (Mon.) -- Grades due for 7.5-week session.

*NOTE: Dates with gray background in the above are taken from the relevant UDel Academic Calendar, which supercedes any possible errors in those dates above.  Always consult the most recent version of the official academic calendar for a given academic term, and please notify the instructor if there is an error in any of the dates above.

Back to top


Copyright (c) 2018-2020 by Lyle K. Neff

Last updated:  June 16, 2020, to adjust for change of exams from 2.5 hours to 2 hours; strikeouts added until Delaware testing sites are open again