MUMH 4050: History of the Symphony
Spring 2017 Syllabus
Dr. Deanna Bush
Class schedule: T/TR 12:30 – 1:50, Room 290
Contact information:
Office hours: T/TR after class, or by appointment.
Course Description:
MUMH 4050 is a senior-level music history course in the UNT College of Music undergraduate
curriculum. In this course we will explore various ways to experience symphonic music from different times and places. We will do it by developing listening skills and critical thinking, gaining understanding of some of the functions music has had in the past, and discovering various ways in which music can relate to us today. The primary focus of this course will be the history of Western European orchestral music of the Classic and Romantic periods. We will also engage in active listening to representative works after 1900.
Goals and Objectives:
Students who participate fully and complete the course successfully will
• gain representative knowledge of musical styles, genres and forms
• understand music in relation to its historical context and aesthetic postures
• develop listening skills and critical thinking through an active engage with the music
Furthermore, this course will
• emphasize development of analytical and evaluative skills through readings from primary
sources, journal articles, and other supplementary materials;
• encourage students to engage in high level thinking and learning through activities such as
intensive discussion; writing in small, collaborative learning settings; and short research
papers and projects;
• promote independent thinking by making students accountable for important aspects of their
learning;
• place material in a conceptual context that illustrates its importance and relationship to other
knowledge;
• provide enhanced opportunities for students to develop research skills and produce
independent, original research or creative products as part of the course requirements; and
• include innovative approaches to course content and teaching, so that Honors courses can
serve as campus-wide prototypes.
Required Materials:
There is no textbook for this course. In formation discussed in class will be taken from sources available on reserve in the Music Library. Whenever possible, I will make copies of the reading assignments available in class. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to contact a class member to get copies of the information distributed during class. You are expected to take notes in this class. You may not tape class lectures unless requested by the Office of Disabilities.
Exams
Please make note of exam dates indicated in the course schedule. Missed exams will not be made up with the exception of the following cases only if proper documentation is made available to the instructor: 1) severe illness; 2) death of a close family member; 3) required school activity—with documentation from a faculty member beforehand. If circumstances prevent you from taking an exam on the scheduled date, you must notify me before the exam takes place and arrange to take the exam early at a time mutually agreed upon.
Communication Policy: Please do not e-mail me after 10:00 p.m.
If you have a question, concern, or need to discuss an important situation, you can reach me in person
after every lecture, or set up an appointment. I prefer meeting with you in person. Alternatively, you can communicate with me via email. You may expect an answer within 48 hrs.
Quizzes:
They present the opportunity to practice for the larger exams. They include multiple choice questions based on assigned reading and listening response questions that require specialized listening skills students are developing as a class objective.
Exams (Midterm and Final):
The exams include multiple choice and listening response questions similar to those practiced on the Quizzes as well as essay questions based on class discussion aesthetics; social, cultural, and political topics; and other big-picture concerns explored in the field of music history. Students receive a list of possible topics they will be tested on in short essays. There is no cumulative exam, but concepts covered in quizzes and the mid term build on one another throughout the semester. In prepared essay questions, students discuss
The Development of Written and Oral Communication Skills:
Final Project: The Symphony After 1900
The Symphony After 1900
1) Annotated Discography:
One entry per week for 10 weeks (weeks 2 – 10)
The purpose of keeping a listening journal is to actively engage with a symphony of your choice composed after 1900 over an extended period of time. You will be asked to create a short narrative that demonstrates an increasing awareness of the nuanced interplay of musical aspects of the symphony you have elected to research.
2) Annotated Bibliography:
5 entries due Tuesday, week 4; remaining entries due Tuesday, 22 March.
The purpose of the initial phase of research is to ensure that sufficient published, scholarly information is available in English concerning the symphony you have chosen to discuss in the poster presentation. You are expected to first investigate appropriate entries in the New Grove and Oxford History of Music and to follow up on the select bibliographies provided at the end of each entry to quickly determine the scope of information available. Both sources are available on line.
Attendance:
You have a total of four (2) unauthorized absences allowed without penalty. These are to be used for
circumstances such as illness, funeral, a doctor’s appointment, a traffic accident, congested highways,
family emergencies, etc. After the third absence, each time you miss a class your course grade will be
dropped 100 points (a letter grade). After the 6th absence you will be automatically dropped from
the course with a WF. Authorized absences for university-sponsored events require you to submit an
Authorized Class Absence Form (with all the necessary signatures) and to fill out the corresponding
authorized absence card within three days of the absence. If you fail to follow the appropriate
procedures, your absence will be considered unauthorized.
Lateness: Two times of late arrivals (5 minutes into the hour) = one absence. If you are late more than
5 minutes after the hour you are welcome to attend lecture, but it will count as an absence. There will
be no make-ups for pop quizzes or assignments due at the start of class should you arrive late to class. (Please let me know if there are extenuating circumstances that prevent you from arriving on time.)
In addition to not arriving on time for class, any of the following cases counts as a full absence:
1) Sleeping in class—or seeming to do so putting your head on your desk—is an absence.
2) Talking to another student during class is an absence.
3) Reading in class any material not related to the lecture is an absence.
4) Any form of writing other than taking notes from the lecture is an absence.
5) Unauthorized early departure.
Student Behavior in the Classroom:
Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students’
opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional
forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom
and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities to
consider whether the student’s conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The University’s
expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic
classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at:
www.unt.edu/csrr.
Electronic Devices: The use of electronic devices such as cell phones, mp3 players, laptops, and the
like in the classroom, is strictly forbidden.
Academic Integrity:
Every assignment in this course should be the result of your own personal creative effort: no cheating,
no external help, and no plagiarism. Academic Integrity is defined in the UNT Policy on Student
Standards for Academic Integrity. Any suspected case of Academic Dishonesty will be handled in
accordance with the University Policy and procedures. Possible academic penalties range from a
verbal or written admonition to a grade of “F” in the course. Further sanctions may apply to incidents
involving major violations. You will find the policy and procedures at: http://vpaa.unt.edu/academicintegrity.htm.
Office of Disability Accommodation:
The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with
disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability
Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your
specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of
accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in
implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester
and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional
information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://www.unt.edu/oda. You may
also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323.
Financial Aid - Satisfactory Academic Progress (Undergraduates):
A student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue to receive financial
aid. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in addition to successfully completing a
required number of credit hours based on total registered hours per term. Students cannot exceed
attempted credit hours above 150% of their required degree plan. If a student does not maintain the
required standards, the student may lose their financial aid eligibility.
If at any point you consider dropping this or any other course, please be advised that the decision to
do so may have the potential to affect your current and future financial aid eligibility. Please visit
http://financialaid.unt.edu/satisfactory-academic-progress-requirements for more information about
financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress. It may be wise for you to schedule a meeting with an
academic advisor in your college or visit the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office to discuss
dropping a course being doing so.
Emergency Notification & Procedures:
UNT uses a system called Eagle Alert to quickly notify you with critical information in the event of an
emergency (i.e., severe weather, campus closing, and health and public safety emergencies like
chemical spills, fires, or violence). The system sends voice messages (and text messages upon
permission) to the phones of all active faculty staff, and students. Please make certain to update your
phone numbers at www.my.unt.edu. Some helpful emergency preparedness actions include: 1) know
the evacuation routes and severe weather shelter areas in the buildings where your classes are held, 2) determine how you will contact family and friends if phones are temporarily unavailable, and 3)
identify where you will go if you need to evacuate the Denton area suddenly. In the event of a
university closure, please refer to Blackboard for contingency plans for covering course materials.
Retention of Student Records:
The instructor of maintains student records pertaining to this course in a secure location
record. All records such as exams, answer sheets (with keys), and written papers submitted during the
duration of the course are kept for at least one calendar year after course completion. Coursework
completed via the Blackboard on-line system, including grading information and comments, is also
stored in a safe electronic environment. You have a right to view your individual record; however,
information about your records will not be divulged to other individuals without the proper written
consent. You are encouraged to review the Public Information Policy and F.E.R.P.A. (Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act) laws and the university’s policy in accordance with those
mandates at the following link: http://essc.unt.edu/registrar/ferpa.html
Student Evaluation of Teaching (SETE)
Student feedback is important and an essential part of participation of this course. The Student
Evaluation of Teaching (SETE) is a requirement for all organized classes at UNT. This short survey will
be made available at the end of the semester to provide you with an opportunity to evaluate how effectively this course is taught.
Disclaimer:
Any change or modification to the content of this syllabus and class schedule will be done at the
instructor’s discretion. The instructor reserves the right to make such changes deemed necessary to
satisfy the objectives of the course, to account for unforeseen events, and to best serve the interest of
students enrolled. Any change to the content of this document or prospective revisions will be
announced in class.