Music Appreciation

Mrs. Jameson

1stPeriod B Day

Class Description:

Music Appreciation / 226 (1/2 Credit, Gr. 9-12)

Music Appreciation is a light look into music of the world from 1900-today, including musicians, instruments, composers, history, and basics of listening. This course is open to anyone needing a fine arts or elective credit.

Textbook and Required Materials

“Music! It’s Role and Importance in Our Lives” will be the textbook for Music Appreciation. Those books are located on the back shelvesand will only be used during class time. There will not be a need to take the books home with you unless for some reason you did not get your daily work done and need to have homework, or you were absent and need to check a book out.

Each student should bring a notebook, a folder and a writing utensil to class.

We will use netbooks during this class. Most assignments, websites, videos, listening examples, and discussion forums can be found on the Ozark Choir Website:

Classroom Work

Music Appreciation will consist of notes, worksheets, assessments (written and listening) video activities, multi-media events, class discussion, and of course listening to all types of music. You cannot sit and be silent in this class and expect to do well. Your opinion will be expressed in classroom discussion, and through written work. Your opinion is valid and you should share it! Daily points will be given for attendance and participation. Group activities as well as individual assessment will be implemented. It is impossible to receive a good grade in this class if you do not like to express your opinion concerning music or if you do not have excellent attendance.

Classroom Rules:
1. Each student should be in the classroom when the bell rings.

  1. No Food or Drink with the exception of water. I plan on being in this room for the next 25 years and want to keep it as nice as possible
  2. Bathroom/Drink Breaks are allowed, but only with my permission.
  3. Never go in my office, the practice rooms, or the music library without permission. There should be no reason for you to be in those areas.
  4. DO NOT play the pianos in the room…ever…without my permission.
  5. The School Cell Phone Policy: “Out of Sight, Out of Sound.” If your cell phone is seen or heard it will be taken away on the first offense till the end of the day. 2nd Offense will be a detention. 3rd Offense will be sent to the office. The Mrs. Jameson’s addition: If your cell phone goes off and it’s a text message when I take your phone away I will read the text message aloud to the classroom. (Remember the days of note passing in elementary school?)
  6. No one will leave for the day until all materials are put away properly. I am not your mom; put your own book away! This also includes any trash that may have been left behind. It is not our custodian’s job to do the menial things such as pick up your paper trash. If all of you do your part it will be a little job to complete.
  7. You will ONLY be allowed on your netbooks when I ask you to in class. You will be using them specifically on some assignments, but when we are not doing those, you will be required to have them closed.
  8. Respect. Especially when it comes to music. There will be no “This music sucks” statements. Music is a very personal thing to many people including myself and whereas you may not enjoy that particular type of music you may be seriously offending someone else by making fun of it. I don’t expect you to like every type of music you hear but I do expect you to respect it. Opinions are valuable, and if you don’t like a piece I want to know it, but I want you to think “outside the box” and tell me why you don’t like it. “It sucks” is not a valid reason why you don’t likesomething. Explain yourself.
  9. Concerning Respect: The golden rule shall be followed. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

A bit of trivia for you:
At age 47, the Rolling Stones' bassist, Bill Wyman, began a relationship with 13-year old Mandy Smith, with her mother's blessing. Six years later, they were married, but the marriage only lasted a year. Not long after, Bill's 30-year-old son Stephen married Mandy's mother, age 46. That made Stephen a stepfather to his former stepmother. If Bill and Mandy had remained married, Stephen would have been his father's father-in-law and his own grandpa.

As stated before all opinions are valuable and should be expressed. Questions included. The more class discussion the better you as a group will make this course.