Hello--
Just wanted to mention a few things before I go into detail about the presentation assignment, journal assignment for 10/9, and upcoming readings for this week.
First--
If you miss class for whatever reason, you need to be responsible for keeping up with assignments and discussions. It's crazy--as a first-time "prof" I am realizing how hard it is to make sure all students get all the information they need to pass this class. Since I can't control the frequency of your attendance, you need to check this website daily to keep up with assignments and other class info. As of now, I will not be repeating myself. I will not tell you what we talked about in class, or what the assignment was, or what articles I handed out. Please check this site or talk to someone in class. However, I appreciate emails letting me know the reasons for your absences--it's nice to know what's going on, and it shows me you care about the class and your grades. Keep sending those. But don't be discouraged if I don't reply back--I may not be able to respond to all emails.
Second--
After tomorrow (tuesday), I will take five points off 1-day late journals. Since each journal is only worth 10 points, it would be a moot point to turn it in two days late. If you are sick the day a journal is due, please try to get up off the couch and send it via email as an attachment. That way, I'll know it was done on time. That may be a good reason to start typing your journal assignments. I'm not totally unreasonable about late assignments, but I also want to make you responsible for your class work. It wouldn't be fair to the rest of the class (who completed their journals on time) to give you a full grade for a late journal. Does that make sense? If there is an absolute emergency, I can be more flexible--just let me know and we'll work something out.
PRESENTATIONS:
Today, Monday, in class, we discussed the presentation assignment. I organized the class into 14 groups of four. If you were gone, you need to talk to me to see who else is in your group. I decided the groups based on your place in the alphabet and on my class roster. After we broke into groups, each group chose a Romantic-period composer (or in one case, a group specifically chose Bach) and a date to present. This is what needs to happen in each presentation:
*The group, or one person in the group, will share basic biographical information about the composer.
*Then, each person in the group takes turns presenting their piece to the class and guiding us through a listening exercise. Each person in the group needs to choose a different piece by the same composer, or a different movement within a symphony. For example, if your group was assigned Debussy, one person could present a piano prelude, one person could present the first movement to La Mer, another person could present the second movement of La Mer, and the fourth person could present string quartet. Each person, for their piece, needs to present basic info about the piece: when it was composed, when it was first performed, reception history (did the audience like it the first time it was performed, etc.), and any other little details, like, was the piece written for someone? Does it have a program? Basically, include whatever you can find on the piece. Go the the library and look at the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians in the reference section; type the composer and title of the piece into the keyword category on the library computers; ask a librarian for help; check wikipedia and google. Etc. Then, design a listening exercise for your piece. This means you must listen to it extensively to know it inside and out: listen to it at least five times (deep listening!). Then, you can decide if you want the class to listen to your piece in the dark, or with lights on and eyes closed, drawing or writing while listening, sitting on the floor, etc. Tell us what to listen for (anything special about the melody? Rhythm? Harmony?--we will be talking more about these elements this week). Each person in the group has a max of 5 minutes, for a total of 20 minutes class time. Presentations begin the week of October 16. Check in with your group to see when you're presenting. Any questions? Ask three people in your class before you ask me. Then, if you're still confused, send me an email.
--------------------------------------------
Journal #3:
Due Monday, 10/9
*Ideal playlist
--write down at least 10 songs you would include on your ideal playlist (or, if you were to make a CD of your 10 favorite songs, what would be on the list?). Be specific. Write the artist's name and the name of the song. You could also think of it as a life soundtrack: What do you listen to when you're crabby? Happy? Wistful? Angry? Sleepy? Etc.
*Find another CD in the library, or download something new, or borrow from friends--a CD/song you've never listened to before. It's just like the journal assignment you turned in, but this time it can be any style of music (not just jazz and classical). If there's a band you've been excited about checking out, do it this week, and write about it: Title, artist, song name, impressions, etc. Looking for some complete sentences here.
------------------
The rest of this week:
On Tuesday we will be talking about "Melody." Please read this small section in the textbook. It starts on page 13. If you have a CD you'd like to share that you feel is a good example of a cool melody, bring it in and we'll give it a listen. If you want to, read ahead through the other "elements" chapters: rhythm, harmony, texture, form, dynamics, etc. We will be discussing these elements of music this week.
------------------
Also--one last thing. I just moved this weekend, and am a little behind on grading. I will work at finishing everything this week and getting your assignments back to you. Due to the huge number of people in both classes, I may not be able to write comments on each paper. I just wanted you all to know that I am really enjoying reading your journals and responses to articles. You're doing a great job and have really profound things to say. They're quite beautiful, really. Keep up the great work.
Just wanted to mention a few things before I go into detail about the presentation assignment, journal assignment for 10/9, and upcoming readings for this week.
First--
If you miss class for whatever reason, you need to be responsible for keeping up with assignments and discussions. It's crazy--as a first-time "prof" I am realizing how hard it is to make sure all students get all the information they need to pass this class. Since I can't control the frequency of your attendance, you need to check this website daily to keep up with assignments and other class info. As of now, I will not be repeating myself. I will not tell you what we talked about in class, or what the assignment was, or what articles I handed out. Please check this site or talk to someone in class. However, I appreciate emails letting me know the reasons for your absences--it's nice to know what's going on, and it shows me you care about the class and your grades. Keep sending those. But don't be discouraged if I don't reply back--I may not be able to respond to all emails.
Second--
After tomorrow (tuesday), I will take five points off 1-day late journals. Since each journal is only worth 10 points, it would be a moot point to turn it in two days late. If you are sick the day a journal is due, please try to get up off the couch and send it via email as an attachment. That way, I'll know it was done on time. That may be a good reason to start typing your journal assignments. I'm not totally unreasonable about late assignments, but I also want to make you responsible for your class work. It wouldn't be fair to the rest of the class (who completed their journals on time) to give you a full grade for a late journal. Does that make sense? If there is an absolute emergency, I can be more flexible--just let me know and we'll work something out.
PRESENTATIONS:
Today, Monday, in class, we discussed the presentation assignment. I organized the class into 14 groups of four. If you were gone, you need to talk to me to see who else is in your group. I decided the groups based on your place in the alphabet and on my class roster. After we broke into groups, each group chose a Romantic-period composer (or in one case, a group specifically chose Bach) and a date to present. This is what needs to happen in each presentation:
*The group, or one person in the group, will share basic biographical information about the composer.
*Then, each person in the group takes turns presenting their piece to the class and guiding us through a listening exercise. Each person in the group needs to choose a different piece by the same composer, or a different movement within a symphony. For example, if your group was assigned Debussy, one person could present a piano prelude, one person could present the first movement to La Mer, another person could present the second movement of La Mer, and the fourth person could present string quartet. Each person, for their piece, needs to present basic info about the piece: when it was composed, when it was first performed, reception history (did the audience like it the first time it was performed, etc.), and any other little details, like, was the piece written for someone? Does it have a program? Basically, include whatever you can find on the piece. Go the the library and look at the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians in the reference section; type the composer and title of the piece into the keyword category on the library computers; ask a librarian for help; check wikipedia and google. Etc. Then, design a listening exercise for your piece. This means you must listen to it extensively to know it inside and out: listen to it at least five times (deep listening!). Then, you can decide if you want the class to listen to your piece in the dark, or with lights on and eyes closed, drawing or writing while listening, sitting on the floor, etc. Tell us what to listen for (anything special about the melody? Rhythm? Harmony?--we will be talking more about these elements this week). Each person in the group has a max of 5 minutes, for a total of 20 minutes class time. Presentations begin the week of October 16. Check in with your group to see when you're presenting. Any questions? Ask three people in your class before you ask me. Then, if you're still confused, send me an email.
--------------------------------------------
Journal #3:
Due Monday, 10/9
*Ideal playlist
--write down at least 10 songs you would include on your ideal playlist (or, if you were to make a CD of your 10 favorite songs, what would be on the list?). Be specific. Write the artist's name and the name of the song. You could also think of it as a life soundtrack: What do you listen to when you're crabby? Happy? Wistful? Angry? Sleepy? Etc.
*Find another CD in the library, or download something new, or borrow from friends--a CD/song you've never listened to before. It's just like the journal assignment you turned in, but this time it can be any style of music (not just jazz and classical). If there's a band you've been excited about checking out, do it this week, and write about it: Title, artist, song name, impressions, etc. Looking for some complete sentences here.
------------------
The rest of this week:
On Tuesday we will be talking about "Melody." Please read this small section in the textbook. It starts on page 13. If you have a CD you'd like to share that you feel is a good example of a cool melody, bring it in and we'll give it a listen. If you want to, read ahead through the other "elements" chapters: rhythm, harmony, texture, form, dynamics, etc. We will be discussing these elements of music this week.
------------------
Also--one last thing. I just moved this weekend, and am a little behind on grading. I will work at finishing everything this week and getting your assignments back to you. Due to the huge number of people in both classes, I may not be able to write comments on each paper. I just wanted you all to know that I am really enjoying reading your journals and responses to articles. You're doing a great job and have really profound things to say. They're quite beautiful, really. Keep up the great work.
posted by maestro | 8:47 PM
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