MUSI 217 Outline

THE KING'S UNIVERSITY

COURSE NUMBER:

MUSI 217

COURSE TITLE:

Aural Skills I

NAME OF INSTRUCTOR:

Dr. Eila Peterson

CREDIT WEIGHT AND WEEKLY TIME DISTRIBUTION:

credits 1.5(hrs lect 0 - hrs sem 0 - hrs lab 3)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Topics include an introduction to the tonic sol-fa system sight-singing system, performance and recognition of ascending and descending diatonic intervals, diatonic melodies, root position chord progressions and rhythms in simple and compound metres.

Students with credit in MUSI 207 cannot receive credit in MUSI 217.

Prerequisites: MUSI 200 or equivalent theoretical rudiments

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Peterson, Eila. Basics of Musical Structure at the Keyboard. Edmonton: Audigraph Music, 2005.
Hall, Anne Carothers. Studying Rhythm. 3rd ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2005
Peterson, Eila. Anthology of Canons. Edmonton: Audigraph Music, 2012.

MARK DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT:


Performance tasks (10-12)	30%
Dictation (10-12)	30%
Final Exam	40%

	100%

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Objectives: Students will develop musical thinking in relation to standard notation for melody, harmony,
and rhythm. This involves gaining fluency with tonic solfa, rhythm syllables, memory training and
polyphonic thinking. Rhythmic literacy and coordination will include the vocabulary from Chapters 1-6
in Studying Rhythm. Musical thinking at the Keyboard will include material from Unit 1 in Basics of
Musical Structure at the Keyboard.

Course Conduct: The class is conducted in a lab format, with skill development based on group
activities including singing clapping, movement, listening and taking musical dictation.

The essential skills of the musician are listening and performing accurately. These skills are
expanded and strengthened in this lab through:

Singing alone and in ensemble using tonic solfa, letter names, and numbers
Sight-singing from hand signs, stem-and-solfa notation, and standard notation
Rhythmic performance using Takadimi syllables, and while tapping or conducting
Keyboard skills including Sing-and-Play excerpts, as well as diatonic chord progressions in all keys for keyboardists and up to 3 sharps and 3 flats for non-keyboardists.
Notating rhythms, melodies, and chord progressions.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Class time will be used to introduce new concepts, skills, and tasks, practise group activities and dictation, and complete dictations for grading, as well as performance testing.

Performance Testing
Students are to arrange themselves into duos & trios for group work and part-singing. Trios will remain intact for the term, and membership in these trios should be decided by January 18.
A list of “Tasks” for testing will be developed during class time. These Tasks will include material from the following categories:

Melody perfornance
Rhythm performance
Keyboard performance
Ensemble performance (trios & duets)
Polyphonic thinking skills
Memory

Each class will include some time for testing of performance tasks, and 2 or 3 times during the term, testing will be scheduled outside of class time in F202. Some tasks may also be designated as recordable and my be handed in electronically

Each trio will also be scheduled for a final exam during the exam period in April.

Dictation

Informal dictations may be given in class and collected for grading at any time. Dictations MUST be completed on music manuscript paper, in pencil, or they will not be accepted.
The total number of dictations completed will be averaged and the grade will comprise 30% of the total for the course.
Formal Dictation testing will occur in the computer lab (N203) using headphones. Transcription of musical examples is to be handed in on manuscript paper. The final dictation exam will take place according to the official university exam schedule.

Required texts, assignments, and grade distributions may vary from one offering of this course to the next. Please consult the course instructor for up to date details.

Keeler, Registrar