Creative Arts Department - Levelland

TOPICAL SYLLABUS

Course Title:

MUSP 1311, Commercial Music Sight Singing & Ear Training I

Instructor:

Ed Marsh

Office:

CB 110 Office Hours: As posted Office Telephone: (806) 894-9611, ext. 2274 - voice-mail configured. E-mail: mailto:emarsh@spc.cc.tx.us

Office Hours:

As posted

South Plains College Improves Each Student's Life

The final examination in this course is cumulative. This text is a unit-by-unit study guide, and uses actual test questions from previous final exams. The sections in this document correspond to the testing units in the course. The student is encouraged to follow this study guide during each class (with assurance that it constitutes the bulk if not totality of the course content).

UNIT ONE: FORM

I. The Parts of the Modern Song   

            Define the following terms. Describe the poetic as well as the musical aspects where applicable.

A. Intro

F. Solo

B. Verse

G. Tag

C. Chorus

H. Coda/Outro

D. Vocal Bridge

I. Turnaround

E. Instrumental bridge

 

II. Song Types

                        Define these song types.

A. Binary Form

D. Standard 16-bar type     (four-by-four)

G. Da Capo Form

B. Ternary Form

E. Chorus-Line Verse

 

C. 12-Bar Blues Form

F. Ballad – Traditional & Modern

 

III. Identifying the Form of a Song

In the space below, in a descending column on the left side of the page, list the sections of the song example (to be played three times) and provide a measure count.

IV. The Elements of Form

            Define the following terms.

1.

Beat/Tempo

2.

Measure

3.

Phrase

4.

Section

Discussion:

Describe the relationship of the fundamental musical elements listed above, and explain how they inter-relate in musical composition.

V. Write and Label the intervals, tetrachords, scales, etc.

UNIT TWO: RHYTHM NOTATION

Time Signatures & Notation

I. Defining Terms

  1. What is simple time?
  2. What is compound time?
  3. What kind of note usually gets one beat in simple time?
  4. What kind of note usually gets one beat in compound time?
  5. What is a triplet?
  6. What is a duple?
  7. What is double time ?
  8. What is half time?

II. Time Signatures

  1. In the table below, list the possible 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-beat-per-measure time signatures in compound and simple time when a quarter note is used as the standard. Write the most common time signature in each category.

BEATS PER MEASURE

SIMPLE TIME

COMPOUND TIME

1

 

 

2

 

 

3

 

 

4

 

 

III. Notes and Rests

On the staves below, supply the requested notation.

  1. A measure filled with sixteenth notes
  2. A measure filled with eighth notes
  3. Tell the time signatures (there may be more than one choice)
  4. Write a time signature and show a triplet
  5. As above but for a duple     
  6. In the space below, draw one each of all the plain and dotted notes between the "whole" and the "sixteenth" (inclusive).
  7. What kind of note usually gets one beat in simple time?
  8. What kind of note usually gets one beat in compound time?
  9. In the space below, draw one each of all the notes (plain and dotted.
  10. What is a triplet?
  11. What is a duple?
  12. A beat-full of sixteenth notes
  13. A beat-full of eighth notes
  14. A note worth two beats
  15. A note worth two beats
  16. Two notes worth half a beat each

IV. Rhythm Dictation –

Write the rhythms played in class

V. Ear Training

Listen, identify, and notate the  intervals, tetrachords, scales, etc. played in class.

UNIT THREE: MELODIC NOTATION & STUDIES

I. Intervals

            A. List the intervals in a diatonic system (what kind and how many).

INTERVAL

Number & Kind of Interval

Seconds

 

thirds

 

fourths

 

fifths

 

sixths

 

sevenths

 

            B. List the inversion of each of the following intervals.

1.      major second

2.      minor third

3.      perfect fourth

4.      diminished fifth

5.      minor sixth

6.      major seventh

II. Convert the numbers into conventional notation

III. Convert the conventional notation into numbers.

IV. Melodic- Sequencing, Inversion, and Retrograde

    1. Sequencing – "copying" the "lick" at a different pitch level.
    2. Inversion – "copying" the "lick" but reversing the direction of each interval.
    3. Retrograde – "copying" the "lick" from back to front.

V. Rhythm Dictation –

Write the rhythms played in class

VI. Ear Training

Listen, identify, and notate the  intervals, tetrachords, scales, etc. played in class.

UNIT FOUR: FORM NOTATION

SUMMARY/OVERVIEW

I. The "Time-Line" or Musical Frequency Spectrum

            A. On the line below, label the four "zones" on the time-line and list the frequencies in the proper time units (Hertz, beats-per-minute, minutes & seconds, notation (1/4s, 1/8s, 1/16s, 1/32s).

Zone:

Form

Tempo

Rhythm

Pitch

Terminology:

Sections, phrases, etc.

Adagio-Presto

Notation

Time Units:

Minutes/seconds

Beats per/minute

Note values

Hertz: 20-20k Hz.

II. Repeat Signs and Symbols

            Define the terms:

  1. D.C.
  2. Dal Segno    
  3. Fine
  4. al...
  5. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. endings (draw some)
  6. Repeat bars (forward and back), (draw them)
  7. Coda
  8. D.C.
  9. D.S.
  10. al fine, al coda

III. Making a Blank Measure Chart

On staff paper, using whatever repeat symbols and endings which become necessary, make a blank measure chart of the song-example.

IV. Rhythm Dictation –

Write the rhythms played in class

V. Tetrachord Ear Training

Listen, identify, and notate (using scale numbers) the tetrachord examples played in class.

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