Music Appreciation: Classical MUS 235 Spring 2018

Instructor: Dr. Michael Walker

Welcome to the Distance Education section of Classical Music Appreciation.

I want to thank you all for making this course possible and to express how excited I am to be your instructor for this term.

This course is designed to inspire passion for classical music from any age or style, and to gain sensitivity to its musical characteristics and social context through listening, online lectures, videos and documentaries. While the focus is on Western art music (“Classical”), other influential music styles will contribute to our class discussions including Jazz and

Who Is Your Teacher?

A long time ago I was a student at Cuesta College where I took my first music course just

after graduating from San Luis Obispo High School. After Cuesta I attended Humboldt

State University obtaining a BA in Piano Performance and the University of Oregon

where I graduated with a MA and Ph.D in Music Theory with a secondary in Music

History. After teaching for 3 years at the University of Texas – Pan American, I came

back home to SLO and have been teaching at Cuesta College for the last 9 years. During

this time I have been active as a composer, performer, and author.

Classical music has always been a strong passion of mine and I look forward to sharing

my excitement about the music and composers we will study this term!

Instructor: Dr. Michael Walker

Email: michael_walker1@cuesta.edu

Office: SLO Campus, Room 7167, Performing Arts Building

Office Hours: By appointment only

Contact: Please contact me via email. I will generally

respond to your emails within 24 hours

Class Begins on March 19, 2018

On Monday, March 19, check your myCuesta.edu address for an email that will provide

you with login procedures for Canvas, the learning management system (LMS) used to

deliver course content. The syllabus and first introductory assignment will be posted on

Canvas at that time. If you would like to learn about Canvas now, here is a quick start

pdf that explains the basics and a series of videos that can acquaint you with the Canvas

LMS environment.

Course Overview:Rock and Roll. There are two parts to this course: part 1 is an introduction of the basic elements of music (notation, harmony, form, etc.) and the principle instruments of the orchestra (woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings). Part 2 covers the 6 style periods of music – medieval, renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, and 20th century. This comprises the bulk of the class where we are introduced to great composers who helped shape music history, as we know it. Not only will we learn about their lives and the music they wrote, but we will also learn to become sensitive to the characteristics of each musical style period. Moreover, we will learn about the great forms of music such as fugue, sonata, concerto, opera, and symphony to name a few.

Course Packet

This term we will be using Course Materials For Classical Music Appreciation MUS 235

that I wrote for this course. It is only available at the Cuesta College Bookstore at a very

low price.

Course Requirements

For each chapter, students are required to read the course packet, watch posted videos

and documentaries, and listen to audio materials that are accessible from Canvas.

Additionally, for each chapter, students will be required to participate in the discussion

forum and complete various assignments that are particular to each chapter (watching

audio/visual presentations, etc.) There will be short multiple choice quizzes for each

chapter and short listening quizzes where you will need to identify the composer and

genre of each music example played for you. The listening examples will be posted on the

first day of class so you can enjoy and prepare for the listening quizzes way in advance!

More detailed information will be included in the course syllabus.

Is Online Instruction For You?

In an effort to assist the online student, Cuesta College’s Distance Education home page

provides a solid overview to distance education and resources to assist the online student.

On that page is a tutorial for students taking online courses for the first time, and

technical requirements to check that you can succeed in the course with the computer you

are accessing it with. Taking the Self Assessment Survey will help determine if an online

course is right for you. Please access these materials before the course begins to prepare

for success.

Online Communication

Most of our communication for the online class will be through the

written word. Please

use the same respect and courtesy you would when speaking to a classmate or instructor

in a face-to-face class. You may notice that the written word sometimes comes across

harsher and you may be at a loss as to how to communicate a point. A term which may

be new to you is netiquette which refers to internet etiquette please visit

http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html for further explanation.

Computer Requirement

Browser requirements/minimum computer specifications

http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/faqs_technical.html

➢ Internet Service Provider (ISP) offering a DSL, cable or satellite (not dial-up

modem) internet Connection

➢AmyCuestaGmailaddress. Allstudentsreceivethisafterregistration.Ifyouneed

assistance with your myCuesta.edu account please contact Admissions and Records on

the San Luis Obispo campus.

➢ Software: Microsoft Office Professional 2011 (Word, Excel, Access and

PowerPoint) or Google Docs You may purchase the Office software at a discount

through the California Community College Foundation

➢ Sound Card, speakers or headset.

Cuesta College Policies:

• Dropping a Course: policy and dates

• Waitlist procedure and instructions

DSPS:

If you have a disability and might need accommodations (support services) in this class, please contact Disabled Student Program Services in Building 3300 as soon as possible to ensure that you receive the accommodations in a timely manner. http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/dsps/

CUESTA POLICIES

Student Academic Policy, Student Code of Conduct, and Student Computer Technology Access Agreement: htt p://academic.cuesta.edu/president/2008BP/BP5000/AP%205500_Standards%20of%20 Conduct.pdf

I look forward to working with you! Please email me with any questions! Best regards,

Michael Walker