Course Syllabus

Individual Instruction - Percussion

MUS 2210/4210

Autumn Quarter 2002

Course Objectives

• Students will experience a wide variety of literature from many styles and periods of percussion music. Areas of study will include, orchestral and rudimental snare drum, classic and jazz mallet keyboard percussion, timpani, orchestral accessories, drum set and ethnic percussion.

• Students will develop technical skills, which will allow them to express themselves creatively and musically. Students will acquire skills in listening, critiquing, and evaluating music. Students will acquire skills in performance, practice techniques, setting and realizing goals, and assessment of weekly/quarterly accomplishments.

Course Requirements and Expectations

1. Practice: Students are expected to practice a minimum of one hour daily for a1/2 hour private weekly lesson and two hours per day for a one-hour private weekly lesson. Music majors and minors are expected to increase these times accordingly

2. Studio Encounters and Practicum: Students who meet performance standards for Practicum will be expected to perform at least once a quarter. (Performance in Practicum is required each quarter for music majors and minors. Additionally, all percussion students will perform in Studio Encounters at least once each term.) The purposes of these events are to give students performing, listening, and critiquing experience, to facilitate communication and fellowship among students and faculty, and to support one another in musical endeavors. You are expected to attend all Studio Encounters and Practicum events.

3. Attendance: Students are expected to attend all lessons. Absences from lessons will be made up at the discretion of the instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor in advance of a legitimate absence, and to secure any assignments from instructor or other students. If you know that you must miss a lesson, please give me advanced notice (48 hours minimum) so that we can reschedule (if possible). I will try to make up your lesson, but I can’t promise to do so. The only excuses for missing a lesson are:

1. Illness ( I won’t teach you if you’re sick – I will try to make up lessons with adequate notice)

2. Family emergency

3. Severe weather conditions

If you must cancel on the day of a lesson for any reason, please leave a message on my voice mail and at school. Any lesson missed by the student with no notice given will be graded as an “F” and no makeup will be allowed for the missed lesson resulting in a lowering of the grade by one half point (from A to A-, for example). Lessons canceled by the instructor will be made up as time allows.

5. Affiliation with professional organizations: Music majors are encouraged to join the Percussive Arts Society.

6. Required materials: Students are required to provide all suggested music and materials. Sticks and mallets are the responsibility of the student. Other suggested items are: a Real Feel practice pad and a metronome.

Grading

1. Lessons and practice expectations will be designed to meet the abilities and goals of the individual student. Lessons will be evaluated and graded on preparation of material, completion of weekly goals, progress from the preceding lesson, attitude, and attendance. If a student is unexcused from the lesson or unprepared, the grade for that week will be an F.

2. Attendance at Practicum and Studio Encounters: Attendance at Practicum/Studio Encounters is a factor in the final applied music grade.

3. Juries: All music majors and minors are required to perform a jury in Winter and Spring Quarters before the music faculty. The jury will replace one private lesson. (The jury is optional, but highly recommended, for non-majors, and may be required at the instructor’s discretion. Majors/minors not performing a jury will not receive a grade higher than a C for the quarter.

4. Grading is determined by punctual and regular attendance at lessons and required events, final jury, and lesson performance.

A=work of exceptional quality  

B=work of commendable quality 

C=work of acceptable quality (most work prepared)

D=work of minimal but passing quality (some assigned work prepared)

F=failing work, no credit given (little or no assigned work prepared)

Required Events

Students are expected to foster a supportive community for learning and creative work. Students are expected to attend their applied music instructor’s faculty recitals and to support and learn from their fellow students by attending the recitals and concerts of other students and ensemble. Students are required to attend all on campus Percussion Ensemble performances. Students are also strongly encouraged to attend other percussion performances in the Seattle metropolitan area.