Welcome Letter MUS 201 Fall 2020

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Fundamentals of Music:

MUS 201 Fall Term CRN 73277

Instructor: Dr. Michael Walker

Welcome to the Distance Education section of Fundamentals of Music. I want to thank all of you for making this course possible and welcome you to the beginning of an incredible journey on understanding how music works.

Who Is Your Teacher?

Many moons 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 – Rio Grande Valley, I came back home to SLO and have been teaching at Cuesta College since 2008. During this time, I have been active as a composer, performer, author, and father.

Instructor: Dr. Michael Walker

Email: michael_walker1@cuesta.edu  

Office: SLO Campus, Room 7167, Performing Arts Building

Office Hours: TBA

Contact:  Please contact me via email. I will generally

respond to your emails within 24 hours

First Day of Class

On the first day of class, log into Canvas via https://cuesta.instructure.com/, or the links in www.cuesta.eduLinks to an external site.Links to an external site. or www.mycuesta.edu. Links to an external site. Use your myCuesta login and password to log into 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 Links to an external site.Links to an external site.that explains the basics and a series of videosLinks to an external site.Links to an external site. that can aquaint you with the Canvas LMS environment. (To enter Canvas, just click the Canvas link at the top of www.cuesta.eduLinks to an external site.Links to an external site. or go to www.cuesta.instructure.com.)

About a week before the first day of class I will send an email to each of you inviting you to familiarize yourselves with the course content, modules, assignments, and syllabus.

Course Overview:

This is the first class in a series of four music theory classes offered at Cuesta College designed to enable the student to analyze written and performed music in regard to harmony, tonality, form and style. It is also designed for the student to develop basic piano, solfege, and composition skills. These skills are learned with the objective of being able to perform, comprehend, and compose music.

This course is divided into two categories: The first is the analytical study of the fundamental concepts that govern all music. These range from note identification to triads. Each concept is formulaic in nature and requires a lot of memorization.

The second category is based on acquiring musical skills including solfege singing, keyboard, and dictation. These skills are obtained through practice and lots of repetition. During the term you will be able to recognize several melodic and rhythmic relationships that occur in music.

Materials

We will be using a course packet called Course Materials for Music Fundamentals by Michael Walker. This packet is available at the Campus Bookstore. 

  • Course Materials for Music Fundamentals – Course Packet
  • 3-ring notebook
  • Pencil

Course Requirements

For each chapter, students will be required to watch the videos and tutorials posted in modules and listen to audio materials that will accessible from the Canvas site. There will be short multiple-choice quizzes aligned with each chapter. We will practice for them during our ZOOM class meetings. 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 pageLinks to an external site.Links to an external site. 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 SurveyLinks to an external site.Links to an external site. 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 Links to an external site.Links to an external site.for further explanation.

 Computer Requirement

Browser requirements/minimum computer specificationshttp://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/faqs_technical.htmlLinks to an external site.Links to an external site.

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

modem) internet Connection

➢ A myCuesta Gmail address.  All students receive this after registration. If you need 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 FoundationLinks to an external site.Links to an external site.

➢ Sound Card, speakers or headset.

Cuesta College Policies:

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 you might need in a timely manner. http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/dsps/Links to an external site.Links to an external site.

CUESTA POLICIES

Student Academic Policy, Student Code of Conduct, and Student Computer Technology Access Agreement:

http://academic.cuesta.edu/president/2008BP/BP5000/AP%205500_Standards%20of%20Conduct.pdfLinks to an external site.Links to an external site.

I look forward to a wonderful term with you all!  Please feel free to email me with any questions!

Best regards,

Dr. Michael Walker

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