ET 441 POPULAR SONG TRANSCRIPTION

Instructor: _______________

Mailbox: _______ Phone: ________

Office: _______ Office hours: ____________

Course Chair: Steve Prosser

Course Description: Designed to teach the student how to transcribe songs and arrangements in current popular music. Most projects are chosen by the student in his/her area of musical interest. Project presentation in class.

Course Objective: Using progressive exercises and music examples, you will develop techniques which will facilitate the isolation and aural recognition of the salient features (melody, harmony, bass line) of popular music, and upon satisfactory completion of this course you will have completed several transcription assignments, including complete transcriptions of songs of your own choosing.

Homework, Projects, Out-of-class Preparation: Two popular song transcriptions will be required for this course. A final project will also be assigned. In order to maintain satisfactory standing in this class, approximately two 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.

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

25% Attendance and class participation/attitude

25% Final project

25% Transcription #1

25% Transcription #2

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.

Course Outline

Week 1: Introduction - pass out syllabus. Pass out Billboard chart for students to select transcription #1. Score set-up and song form analysis.

Week 2: Drum Notation - patterns typical to eighth note, sixteenth note and triplet subdivision styles of contemporary pop music.

Week 3: Bass Notation - determining functions; melodic, accenting subdivision, accenting specific rhythms, improvised chord comping. Determining chord quality (progression) from bass.

Week 4: Keyboard Notation - determining texture and functions. Determining chord quality by upper structure, combined with bass.

Week 5: Guitar Notation - determining texture and functions.

Weeks 6&7: Private Meetings - to help students individually with problem areas in their transcriptions, hearing correct chords, melody notes, rhythms, score set-up.

Week 8: Class Presentation - transcription #1 (completed) analyzed by entire class listening specifically for any remaining inaccuracies.

Week 9: Class Presentation - remaining transcriptions, discuss proposals for final projects. Complete song analysis.

Week 10: Vocal Notation - determining lead (melody) and background vocals - combinations and voicings.

Week 11: Overdubs - horn sections (woodwinds/brass) string sections Combinations used, determining textures, voicings.

Weeks 12&13: Private Meetings - with students for transcription #2 and final projects

Weeks 14&15: Class Presentation - transcription #2

Week 16: Final Projects - class presentation, separate from transcriptions. Focus on specific topic of pop music, using transcribed examples from current recordings.