ET 341 RHYTHMIC EAR TRAINING

Instructor: _______________________________________________

Mailbox: __________ Phone: __________

Office: ___________ Office hours: _____________

Course Chair: Steve Prosser

Course Description: Designed to improve the ability to sight-read and notate rhythms. Begins with recognition of simple, common rhythmic phrases and progresses to complete transcription of rhythms in recorded materials (baroque, Latin, disco, jazz).

Course Objective: Through exercises and selected music examples, the student will develop techniques, which will facilitate aural recognition of monophonic rhythmic passages, and upon satisfactory completion of this course will be able to accurately notate the rhythmic content of music in a variety of styles.

Required Textbook: None.

Homework, Projects, Out-of-class Preparation: Regular reading and listening assignments will be given. Homework will also be assigned. Quizzes will be given at the discretion of the instructor. In order to maintain satisfactory standing in this class, approximately three hours per week of out-of-class preparation are recommended.

Midterms: March 8-12

Final Exam Date: May 3-7

Grading Criteria:

A (90-100) Superior, Exceptional; control of course material enables excellent production.

B (80-89) Good; grasp of material enables above-average production.

C (70-79) Average; assimilation of material enables acceptable production.

D (60-69) Below Average; exposure to material enables poor, but passable production.

F (below 60) Not Passing; assimilation of material insufficient to demonstrate acceptable productive capacity.

ET 341 hnd

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Final Grade Determination: Your final grade will be determined by considering the following components at the indicated weights:

15% Attendance and class participation/attitude

25% Assignments (homework)

10% Quizzes

25% Midterm exam

25% Final exam

Attendance Policy: If your fourth unexcused absence occurs before the "W" deadline (see below), the instructor may withdraw you from the course. If your fourth absence occurs after this deadline, a course grade of F may result. Withdrawal is not automatic. It is ultimately your responsibility to initiate withdrawal proceedings prior to the "W" deadline. In case of doubt, ask the instructor or the Counseling Center.

Deadline for Course Withdrawal: 5:00 pm Friday, March 26, 2004. Neither the instructor nor the student may initiate a "W" after that date.

Statement of Intent

The goal of this course is to study and master the recognition and use, by sight and sound, of the basic rhythmic patterns found in jazz and popular music idioms.

This goal will be accomplished by reviewing rhythmic concepts (meter, time signature, subdivision, notation, and dictation techniques), and then by progressive study (recognition and dictation), beginning with simple quarter-note and eighth-note figures and progressing to more complex sixteenth-note, triplet, syncopated, and tied figures in both "swing" and "funk" time feels.

The class will utilize both handouts and musical materials generated through dictation. Individual performance in both singing and dictation will be encouraged and stressed.

Each class period will consist of both dictation and singing exercises. Unannounced quizzes and requests for individual singing will occur throughout the semester. Midterm and final exams will be given as noted in this handout.