Aural Skills I (Music 231)

Fall, 2019
SYLLABUS

Instructors: Karim Al-Zand & Roy Park

Meetings: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00-9:50am | Rooms 1403/1404

also Aural Skills LAB Tuesday: 8:00-8:50pm | Room 1404 as assigned and as needed

Contact/Office Hours:
Office: Room 1605 (Karim); Room 9 ¾ (Roy)
Office Hours: M/W/F afternoons (Karim); email for a time (Roy)
Telephone: 713-348-3740 (office: Karim)
Email: alzand@rice.edu; rp32@rice.edu
Website: CANVAS login (for assignments, handouts, etc.)

Description:
To develop basic musicianship skills. The course will include ear-training, sight-singing, rhythmic
performance and both melodic and harmonic dictation.

Required Text/Materials:
A New Approach to Sight Singing, Sol Berkowitz, Gabriel Fontrier, Perry Goldstein, Edward Smaldone.
W. W. Norton & Company; Sixth Edition (2017)—available at the Rice Bookstore in the student center.
Music manuscript paper! Preferably loose & hole-punched so it can be handed in.

Course Work:
At-sight and prepared singing, using moveable do solfège. Dictation will focus on the recognition of
scale degrees, intervals and chords, diatonic chord progressions (hearing chord functions), and one-
and two-part melodies. Rhythmic performance will include exercises in one and two parts, both in
simple and compound meters.
(See competencies, below)
Assigned work will consists of 1) weekly assignments, to be completed and uploaded to CANVAS or
handed in; 2) preparation for class (melodies, rhythms, etc., ready to perform in class); and 3)
occasional short quizzes and other in-class exercises.
There are three tests over the course of the semester. These will take place during class time (written)
and by individual appointment (performance).

Grading:
The three tests are weighted: TEST 1: 30% TEST 2: 30% TEST 3: 40%
Your overall grade will be the higher of the following two calculation methods:

1 Assignments 35% Tests (Weighted Avg.) 55% Attendance/Participation/In-class Work 10%

2 Assignments 20% Tests (Weighted Avg.) 70% Attendance/Participation/In-class Work 10%

NOTE: You must pass both parts of TEST 3 (dictation & performance) in order to pass the course.
Course Policies:
• Work on your own please. (If you have questions or problems, meet with your instructor. We're
always happy to review material or to answer questions.) All work in this class is governed by the Rice
Honor Code.
• Late assignments will not be accepted
• Please inform your instructor if you need to miss a class. If you are absent from class it is your
responsibility to acquire handouts and/or assignments (from the box on my door or from CANVAS), to
get notes from a classmate, and to nonetheless make sure you hand in all assignments on time. If you
need an extension on an assignment or to reschedule your test, please contact your instructor.
• If you have a documented disability that will impact your work in this class, please contact your
instructor to discuss your needs. Additionally, you will need to register with the Disability Support
Services Office in the Allen Center.

COMPETENCIES:
The goal of the course is to acquire proficiency in the following aural and performance skills:
solfège (moveable do)
—sing prepared and sight diatonic melodies, simple and compound meters (conducting) with syllables
—transpose memorized melodies (on your instrument)
—play and sing: bass and treble, diatonic
—read treble clef, bass clef fluently; introduction to alto clef
dictation
—recognize and identify simple diatonic melodies
—recognize and identify simple intervals in and out of context
—recognize and identify diatonic triads in ! and £fl inversion
—recognize and identify V7 and its inversions
—understand the mechanics of Roman Numerals and Figured Bass
—recognize and identify cadences, prolongational progressions, diatonic root position
progressions/sequences
rhythm
—sight-read basic simple and compound meter rhythms (dotted, rests, syncopation, ties across barlines)
—perform prepared one- and two-part rhythms in simple/compound meters (also while conducting)
—read vocal rhythm notation
performance/improvisation
—ensemble: identify tone you are playing in a chord (triads and V‡)
—improvise the completion of diatonic sentences and periods
keyboard skills
—play select 2-3 chord progressions in major & minor keys up to 3ƒs, 3ßs (I–V–I, I–IV–I)
20th century materials
—identify (on paper) the 12 trichords; recognize select trichords by ear
—sing, recognize 7 diatonic modes