Course Syllabus
Music Appreciation
1131-MUH1011PC1131_bbaol-10719
GENERAL INFORMATION
Professor Information
Professor's Photo
Instructor:
Prof. Luis, Gomez
Phone:
(305) 735-9094
Office:
WPAC 161D (MMC)
Office Hours:
By appointment only
 
Course Description and Purpose

This class discusses the development of artistic and popular music through the ages. This class will familiarize the student with the basic elements of music of all periods. Mr. Gomez conducts this class as an open forum of comparative ideas about music of all ages. This approach helps the student understand how music relates to the social and cultural events of our times. Student participation is HIGHLY encouraged!!!!

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

  • Identify the basic elements of music of all periods.
  • Recognize the distinct sounds of individual musical instruments.
  • Describe the influence of classical composers in the world of music.
  • Classify the sounds of the different instruments and ensembles featured in the class.
  • Evaluate how the contributions of the composers featured in the class helped shape the history of music.
  • Explain the differences between the elements of music.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Policies

Please review the policies page as it contains essential information regarding guidelines relevant to all courses at FIU and additional information on the standards for acceptable netiquette important for online courses.

Course Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

This online section does not require an on-campus meeting and/or exam.

For information about prerequisites, click here.

Course Components

The table below lists the components of this course.

COURSE COMPONENT DESCRIPTION
Virtual Book The virtual book contains all of the text materials for this course.
Lecture Worksheets Fill out the lecture worksheets for each module. The lecture worksheets aid you in preparing for your exams. The lecture worksheets are not graded so you do not have to turn them in.
Music Conservatory The music conservatory is a free additional resource. It is not required but it is recommended that you read it to increase your knowledge of music.
Sample Music Clips In each module you can find sample music clips pertaining to the music covered in that module.
Assessments There will two assessments given in this course. They are designed to test your knowledge of the material covered.
Reports There will be 4 Reports given in this course.
Turnitin The Turnitin application in Blackboard will be used to submit your Reports.
Discussions There will be several discussions throughtout the semester. Discussions will be used for bonus points.
Textbook

This course uses a virtual textbook instead of traditional textbook(s). The virtual book contains all the materials (e.g. the lectures and other multimedia content) necessary to complete this course successfully. The cost of the virtual textbook is $60.00. The fee is automatically charged during registration and is in addition to the online learning course fee(s). Once registered for the class and access to the course is available, additional information will be provided within the course.

The chapters within the Virtual textbook pertaining to each topic in this syllabi are located within each module. In addition to your virtual book, you will have access to the Virtual Music Conservatory, a library of additional resources free of charge.

High-speed Internet connection is strongly recommended in this course.

Expectations of this Course

This is an online course, meaning that most of the course work will be conducted online. Expectations for performance in an online course are the same as for a traditional course; in fact, online courses require a degree of self-motivation, self-discipline, and technology skills that can make them more demanding for some students.

Students are expected to:

  • Review the Start Here folder located in the course content.
  • Review the Policies Page as is important to the quality of your education.
  • Introduce yourself to the class during the first week by posting a self-introduction in the appropriate discussion forum under the Start Here folder.
  • Take the practice quiz under the Start Here folder to ensure that your computer is compatible with Blackboard.
  • Interact online with instructor/s and peers and keep up with all assignments.
  • Review and follow the course calendar.
COURSE DETAIL
Course Communication

Phone: (305) 735-9094, Available 9:00AM-5:00PM, Mon.-Fri.

E-mail: Please contact by phone only, 48 hour response time (Excluding weekends).

Communication in this course will take place via messages.

The message feature is a private, internal Blackboard only communication system. Users must log on to the blackboard system to send/receive/read messages. There are no notifications in Blackboard to inform users when a new message has been received; therefore, it is recommended that students check their messages routinely to ensure up-to-date communication.

This is the best method to communicate with your instructor privately.

Discussion Forums

Keep in mind that forum discussions are public, and care should be taken when determining what to post. If you need to send a private message to an instructor or student, please use email. Be advised that any inappropriate usage of the Discussion Forum is not allowed. Please adhere to FIU's Student Code of Academic Integrity.

Some of the course modules (Modules 1, 3, 4 and 5) have a discussion forum, "Let's Talk About Music". You are strongly encouraged to participate in the discussions because, although it is not part of your grade, Prof. Gomez, at his discretion, reserves the right to add bonus points to your final grade based on participation.

Keep in mind that the discussions will be locked at the end of each module and you will not be able to post in the discussion forum after the close date.

You must post an original comment or respond to another comment for each module. There is no length requirement but your posting most be thoughtful and contribute to the discussion. If you agree with a comment you must explain why you agree; likewise, if you disagree with a comment you must provide an explanation as to why you disagree.

Exams

In order to mitigate any issues with your computer and online assessments, it is very important that you take the "Practice Quiz" from each computer you will be using to take your graded quizzes and exams. It is your responsibility to make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements.

Exam 1 and Exam 2 will be conducted online via the Assessments menu on Blackboard. Exams will be open to you for a week respectively. You will have two attempts at each exam and the highest grade will be recorded. Each exam constitutes 50 multiple-choice questions. Once you begin the exam, you will have 60 minutes to complete and submit the exam. Questions will be given one at a time and you cannot revisit a previous question. The questions will be randomized and every student will receive a different set of questions.

You can view your results after the availability period has ended. You will only be able to see your scores; the question text will not be shown.

You cannot make up a missed exam.

Assignment Reports

There are 4 reports: Instruments Report; Composers Report, Elements of Music Report and Final Project. The detailed guidelines are provided within Course Content of Blackboard. All assignments are to be completely individually.

Rules for Writing the Reports

The reports must be submitted via Turnitin. Turnitin is integrated into your Blackboard course and you DO NOT need to register at turnitin.com. See below on how to submit your assignments through turnitin.com within Blackboard.

Your reports must be 100% original. You cannot use any quotes or reference material from any of the sources that you use for your reports. Late reports are accepted with a penalty of between 30% - 60% deduction.

Do not include dates about a particular composer. When talking about a composer's dates, talk to them in reference to the times that he or she lived. It is more important to see the composer's life in perspective of the social, cultural and political events of the time period in which he or she lived.

When commenting about a composer's work, I am interested in reading your understanding of the work. It does not have to be completely right but it must show awareness of the presence of the basic elements of music. I want you to involve in the process of recognizing these elements. It is important to familiarize yourself with these elements. They are very important in the process of Appreciating Music!!

When commenting about a composer's work, you must be aware of the ensemble. Listen to the texture. What instruments are involved in this particular work? If the work is contemporary, then look for the role of modern instruments such as electronic ones.

If you are required to listen to a work or a composer of your liking or of your knowledge, then pour your heart out like an expert. This will demonstrate to you how much you know about music. I am sure you will surprise yourself!!

How to Submit your Assignment Reports

You must submit your assignment reports through the integrated Turnitin application in Blackboard. You DO NOT have to create a user profile for Turnitin.

To submit an assignment click on the Assignment Reports folder on the Course Content page. In this folder, for each assignment, you will find one link with the description of the assignment (for example: Instruments Report) and another link to submit the assignment through Turnitin (for example: Instruments Report - Turnitin). Click on the Instruments Report - Turnitin link and follow the instructions to submit your assignment. Do the same to submit the other assignments.

Assignments will be graded and returned to students no later than seven days after the due date for the assignment.

Policy for Assigning an Incomplete "I" Grade

An incomplete grade is a temporary symbol given for work not completed because of serious interruption not caused by the student's own negligence. An incomplete must be made up as quickly as possible but no later than two consecutive semesters after the initial taking of the course or it will automatically default to an "F" or the grade that the student earned in the course. There is no extension of the two semester deadline. The student must not register again for the course to make up the incomplete. Students who have incomplete grades on their records must remove the incomplete by the end of the fourth week of the term in which they plan to graduate. Failure to do so will result in a cancellation of graduation.

Incompletes are awarded only if the student has completed most of the course work. If a student misses a significant portion of the course work, he/she should drop the course. If the drop period has ended, the student may petition for a withdrawal—this requires the student to un-enroll in all of their courses for that semester.
Incompletes are not to be used because a student took on too many credits and they cannot complete everything that is now required of them.

In such cases where the course instructor determines that it appropriate to award a student a grade of "I" (incomplete) the following steps must be followed.

Using an Official University Form the course instructor will report the following:

  • The grade earned by the student to date.
  • The missing work and the percentage of the final grade it represents (this requires the details of the specific missing assignment).
  • The date the instructor expects the missing work to be submitted or in the case of an examination made up.
  • The justification for awarding the grade of "I".
  • Have the student sign the form.
  • Submit this form to the Department Chair and Dean and maintain a copy for instructor records and provide a copy for the student.
  • Upon satisfying the requirements for a grade the instructor will sign off on the form and attach it to the change of grade form she or he will submit.
Grading
COURSE REQUIREMENTS WEIGHT
2 Exams (30% each) 60%
4 Assignment Reports (10% each) 40%
Total 100%

 

LETTER 
GRADE
RANGE LETTER
GRADE
RANGE LETTER
GRADE
RANGE
A Above 93 B- 81-83 D+ 67 - 70
A- 91 - 92 C+ 77 - 80 D 64 - 66
B+ 87 - 90 C 74 - 76 D- 61 - 63
B 84 - 86 C- 71 - 73 F < 61
COURSE CALENDAR
Weekly Schedule
DATE TASKS DUE

Week 1
Jan. 7 – 13

Introduction, Pre-Test and Student Biography

FIU's Academic Calendar

Weeks 2, 3 & 4
Jan. 14 – Feb. 3

Strings and Brass

See Module 1 in the Course Content Section for access to the Virtual book and additional resources. 

Woodwinds and Percussion

See Module 2 in the Course Content Section for access to the Virtual book and additional resources.

Student Biography Due on Sunday Jan. 27 by 11:55pm

Instruments Report Due Sunday Feb. 3 by 11:55pm

Pre-Test
Take and submit the pre-test to access the Course Content folder

Weeks 5, 6 & 7
Feb. 4 – 24

Handel, Mozart & Beethoven

See Module 3 in the Course Content Section for access to the Virtual book and additional resources.

Composers Report Due Sunday Feb. 24 by 11:55pm

Week 8
Feb. 25- 28

 

EXAM 1:

Exam 1 will be accessible from Monday Feb. 25 to thurs Feb. 28 by 11:55pm.

The Midterm will cover the following topics:

  • Strings and Brass
  • Woodwinds and Percussion
  • Handel, Mozart & Beethoven

Please Note: Exam 1 closes on Thursday

 

Weeks 9, 10 & 11
Mar. 4 - 24

Melody, Harmony & Rhythm

See Module 4 in the Course Content Section for access to the Virtual book and additional resources.

 

Weeks 12 & 13
Mar. 25 – apr. 7

Form, Texture & Color

See Module 5 in the Course Content Section for access to the Virtual book and additional resources.

Elements of Music Report Due Sunday Apr. 7 by 11:55pm

Week 14
Apr. 8 – 14

How to Listen & Ettiquette

See Module 6 in the Course Content Section for access to the Virtual book and additional resources.

 

Week 15
Apr. 15 – 21

Final Report: Visit the Virtual Music Conservatory and click on "Outside Concert." This is a "Project module" so be sure to follow the directions to complete the final report. Minimum of 500 words.

Final Report Due Sunday Apr. 21 by 11:55pm

Week 16
Apr. 22 - 25

Post-Test
Take and submit the post-test to access Exam 2

EXAM 2: will be made available fromMonday Apr. 22 at Midnight until thursday Apr. 25 at 11:55pm

Exam 2 will cover the following topics:

  • Melody, Harmony & Color
  • Form, Texture & Color
  • How to Listen & Etiquette

Please note Exam 2 closes on Thursday