PFET 376 PERFORMANCE EAR TRAINING FOR BASS 1

 

 

Instructor:  __________________________________________

 

                        Mailbox: _________                           Phone:  _________

 

                        Office:  __________                           Office hours:  _____________

 

 

Course Chair:  Steve Prosser

 

Course Description:  Ear training with an emphasis on practical performance experience.  Recognizing pitch, rhythm, harmony, and timbre by ear and responding on the student's instrument in class.  Some dictation.  Some non-syllabic sight singing.

 

Course Objective:  PFET 376 and 377 form a two-course group whose intent is to improve the student's aural skills in connection with the principal instrument.  Upon satisfactory completion of this course the student will be better able to instrumentally reproduce what is heard both internally and externally.

 

Required Textbook:  None required.

 

Homework, Projects, Out-of-class Preparation:  Weekly assignments will be required.  In order to maintain satisfactory standing in this class, approximately two to three hours per week of out-of class preparation are recommended.

 

Midterms:  March 8-12

Final Exams: 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

25%     Class participation

25%     Midterm exam

25%     Final exam

Attendance Policy:  No unexcused absences are permitted.  If an unexcused absence occurs the instructor may withdraw you from the course.  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.

 

For the 12-week Summer semester, course topics shown on the following outline will be rearranged to present in the shorter term.  A somewhat accelerated pacing will eliminate any omission of course material.

 

 

PFET 376 PERFORMANCE EAR TRAINING FOR BASS 1 - Course Outline

 

1.         a. Discussion of diatonic cadences.

1.         I - IV - I

2.         I - V7 - I

3.         I - IV - V7 - I

4.         I - IV - bVII - I

5.         I - V7(sus 4) - I

6.         I - V7(sus 4) - V7 - I

 

2.         Play diatonic cadences with and without roots of chords.

            a.         Be able to determine chords by hearing guide tones.

            b.         Be able to play the cadences with the piano.

 

3.         Discussion of the "two feel" bass line as used in ballads, swing, rock, country, gospel, etc.

 

4.         Quarterly Quiz in the form of playback.

 

5.         a.         Discussion of diatonic chord progressions, starting with I - VI - II - V.

            b.         Assignment of diatonic tunes for listening and memorization.

 

6.         Discussion of the I - VI - II - V progression as used in vamps, introductions and turnarounds in varying styles.

 

7.         Review for Midterm Exam.

 

8.         Midterm Exam in form of playback (and possibly written dictation).

 

9.         a.         Discussion of secondary dominants in chord patterns:

I - V7/II  -  II - V7

I - V7/V - II - V7

            b.         Suggestions of tunes for listening and memorization.

 

10.       a.         Play back of chord progressions (using root motion).

b.         Development of ability to recognize and "fake" chord patterns studied so far.

 

11.       a.         Discussion of the waltz.

            b.         Suggestions of tunes for listening and memorization.

 

12.       a.         Discussion of root motion patterns.

1.         Cycle five (ascending fourths - descending fifths).

2.         Cycle three (thirds or sixths).

3.         Cycle seven (seconds or sevenths).

            b.         Handout: bass line exercises for practice.

 

13.       Playback of chord patterns using cycles V - III - VII.

 

14.       Discussion of bass line patterns on all chord changes learned so far (also using passing tones), in most common styles.         

15.       Review

 

16.       Final Exam: transcription of bass line to be played with recording (tune and artist will be from instructorÕs prepared list).