Mus 236: World Music_Summer Welcome Letter

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Welcome to Mus236 CRN 50842: Music Appreciation:World Music Welcome to Distance Ed at Cuesta College! My name is Idona Cabrinha and I will be your instructor for Music Appreciation: World Music. This letter is to inform you of class details prior to the start of the online class this SUMMER 2024.

welcome translated in many languages

This course is a condensed 6 week course

Start date: Monday, June 10 ending Friday ,July 19.

You will gain access to the course on the start date. This class is entirely online and has no mandatory meetings or proctored exams. **This online class is a rigorous 6-week course. This is a condensed timeline with a fast pace as we are covering an 18 week semester in 6 weeks. Assignments due every 3 to 4 days.**

Contact Information

Instructor name: Idona Cabrinha, B.A., M.M. Music, Piano Performance & Pedagogy courses taught at Cuesta: Elementary and Intermediate Piano, Music Fundamentals, World Music

Contact expectations please use Pronto, Canvas email or for personal matters my personal email. I will usually respond to emails within 24-48hrs, please be patient as sometimes there may be extenuating circumstances that prevents me from replying to you. 

  • I like to use Pronto as well as Canvas Email. 
  • For more personal matters you may email me at idona_cabrinha@cuesta.edu  
  • By phone: Voicemail: 805.546.3195, leave messages with performing arts office.
  • Response time:  I will respond to your inquiries within one business day excluding weekends.
  • Need to meet with me? I am available to meet also known as “Office hours” - this is a weekly time that I am available to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Office hours is  Wednesdays at 11am via zoom and by appointment. See link in our canvas course. 

Meet your instructor:  Hi my name is Idona Cabrinha. I have lived on and off in the central coast since 1989. Since 2002 we have made the central coast our permanent home. I am married with 2 children - one recent college graduate and another in high school. When I’m not teaching at Cuesta, I’m teaching At Cal Poly, in my home studio (piano and vocal coaching). I am also a pianist, vocalist, an accompanist - playing for church, different groups, musicians and singers.  I have also taught at other college settings, and have an extensive teaching background directing choirs of all ages, worked in public schools teaching music and choral directing to young children, middle and high schools. When I am not doing ‘music’ I am frequently on a ‘run’, playing tennis, or at a family sport event or watching sports! I enjoy traveling, love cooking and baking and preparing healthy foods for myself, family and friends.  I look forward to meeting you on this journey of studying World Music.  

I am deeply and passionately committed to acknowledging, confronting, and actively striving to eradicate all forms of racism and ethnic oppression. Thus, this course operates from the belief that racism is real, is present, and is something that Black, Indigenous, and all People of Color face daily. Part of my objective for this course, therefore, is to create a safe and brave space that enables all of my students to engage openly, safely, equally, equitably, and honorably with their education. In taking this course, you are expected to do your best to embrace these values; and, while I expect that we will all make mistakes along the way, I also expect that we will work together to engage with all of our classmates and with the material through thoughtful respect of everyone and their individual truths.

Course Description

This course introduces students to music from countries around the globe. With organization of content presented in Canvas, the course is organized through each module unit, use of Google Docs, Google Slides, Padlet, Soundcloud, and other internet links. You will gain a deeper understanding and I hope appreciation for many varied music styles and forms that may be brand new or familiar. I hope you are ready for exploration and discovery as we journey through the globe in this Music Appreciation: World Music course.

 

Course Student Learning Outcomes

This course is a 3-unit college level course. By the end of the semester you will study music representing the following regions: South Asia, Middle East, North Africa, Asia, Indonesia, Sub Saharan Africa, Europe, Latin America, Caribbean and music of Native America. Student learning outcomes in this course include

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of music terminology of styles and instrumentation of various world regions.
  2. Listen and demonstrate knowledge of music examples from world regions.
  3. Prepare thorough analysis of world music examples within a group setting using effective music terminology and internet presentation applicable to the source.

 

IS an ONLINE CLASS FOR YOU? 

  •       First of all, go to the Online Readiness ResourcesLinks to an external site. and take the "self assessment survey" then read "How to survive in an online course".  (If that survey does NOT describe you, then taking this class online is NOT for you and I strongly suggest that you drop the online class and enroll in a traditional classroom section.

Accessing the Course:

You will see your course in Canvas on the first day of class. You can access Canvas by clicking on Canvas from the top bar of the Cuesta homepage (www.cuesta.edu), or by typing the Canvas address (https://cuesta.instructure.com/) into your browser address bar.

If you are not familiar with logging into canvas, please refer to the Canvas Quick Reference Guide.Links to an external site. Once logged into Canvas you will be directed on where to get started. Be sure to read all the direction on the course home page.  

If you are having difficulty logging into Canvas at the start date and need assistance please email me or technical support at this email address support@my.cuesta.edu.   

 

Time Commitment and Basic Skill Requirements

In order to complete this course you will be required to participate in online discussion, read materials, complete assignments and create or update your assignment(s) which will take at least 50 hours during this 6 week course, roughly 6-7 hours a week. For successful completion of this course, you should be comfortable with the following skills:

  • Basic computer operation, such as using a mouse and keyboard
  • File naming conventions and file management principles
  • Launching applications on your computer
  • Creating and saving documents
  • Browsing the internet
 and readings. Your time 
commitment will vary based upon your own level of experience with web technologies.

Although this class is designed for novice Canvas users you should have the following:

  • Access to a computer 
  • Access to a camera (for video use) 
  • Email account
  • Reliable internet connection and a backup plan in case your provider or computer go down.
  • Basic computer skills (word processing, e-mail, file management)
  • Basic internet skills (use of browser, searches, uploading/downloading files)
  • Familiarity with discussion boards
  • An open mind and willingness to try new things 
If you require any special accommodations for this class, please contact me as soon as possible to ensure a quality learning experience.

 

Technical Requirements

  • Fairly recent Mac or PC (not more than three years old) with a current operating system.
  • Current browser (Firefox or Chrome are preferable)
  • Internet connection, preferably broadband -- for viewing online videos
  • Camera video capabilities

 

Content Info 
  Required materials: 

  • Reliable Internet Access for Canvas, Reliable access to device as this is an online class. There is no required textbook. Students will read, view and study from various videos and view portions of learning databases as guided by the instructor and the support of Cuesta College Library learning databases. 
  • I encourage all students to use online grammar and style resources and the support of the Cuesta writing lab as a resource to assist you as you will be writing and discussing various musics in this course. 
  • Paper and pens(or pencils) for note taking and or
  • Digital notebook (like Evernote or Diigo) to assist you to capture content you will read, view, experience and study from.
  • Use of Pronto 
  • Reliable Printer access for printing items as necessary (syllabus and other documents) 

 

*Required* Online Orientation  

Some of you may be new to the learning management system used by Cuesta College called Canvas and some of you may be new to studying music.  I encourage each student to (based on your experience) take some focused time to go through the Canvas Modules titled  Unit 0: Orientation and Unit 0: more. Even if you are an experienced student of Canvas, I encourage all my students to do their best, stay on top of your studies and communicate with me.   

To be a successful student - it is important to commit to a scheduled time to complete your work (including reading, watching videos, taking notes and completing writing and projects as guided).  Studying takes time and I want to see each student have the opportunity to succeed and do their best.  

Note - students who do not show activity in the first week of the class will be dropped from the course. I encourage you each to if you don’t have one already, write a schedule out for each day of the week - so you can see ‘where/when’ you are able to study and balance home / work life as well. Your wellness and wellbeing allows for a healthy mind and healthy being - an important part of student success!

Here is a helpful quick reference for students online:

 Canvas quick reference for students onlineLinks to an external site.

 

Technical Support

Cuesta students are encouraged to direct all technical support inquiries to  support@my.cuesta.edu. If you are having issues with Canvas, or email support@instructure.com.

If you are having difficulty viewing the course or logging in, it may be because you are not using the correct url: https://cuesta.instructure.com/ or you are using your phone or using an unsupported browser.  

 

Your learning environment is best accessed from a desktop or laptop computer, using Firefox or Chrome.  This may solve your problem!  Please review the browser requirements and minimum computer specificationsLinks to an external site..

Accommodations:

This course is designed using an accessible Learning Management System, and course materials have been created with ADA compliance in mind. If you have a disability and might need accommodations in this class such as extended time on exams or other resources. Please contact the instructor as soon as possible so that you can receive appropriate accommodations in a timely manner. You should also contact DSPS (Disabled Student Programs & Services)Links to an external site. or at 805-546-3148.



Course Policies  Participation

Online classes are available and make your education experience more convenient. However, this is not a self pace, learn on your own class. This is a 3-unit college level course which is about 8-12 hours a week in reading/lecture and homework. I have structured weeks with material for you to read, watch and interact with. I ask my students to find time in their busy schedules to log into the classroom four out of seven days a week to discuss topics related to the material being learned. This helps to answer questions, clear up confusion, and we have a chance to learn from other students’ experiences. The days in which you log on are up to the student and can be weekdays or weekends whichever works best for your situation. Due dates for this class tend to be Fridays and Mondays.

You should also print out a copy of this letter and keep it handy for reference.

The course is divided into 6 weeks. Studying and analyzing music from 12 world regions. Each week there is at least 1 discussion, 1 writing assignment and 1 quiz that covers at least 2 to 3 regions. Content is presented in Canvas Modules. To get started each week, closely review the Overview page, which lists the learning objectives and required assignments for the unit. Taking notes on both a hard copy notebook and/or online tools such as Diigo or Evernote is highly suggested. Often, the course has multiple regions to study from. *This course will take at least 8-12 hours each week to complete as guided.

By participating within the first 7 days of this course you are showing your commitment to being in the class. When no activity is shown on canvas then I will email the student to check in and if there is no response - you are likely to be dropped from the class. It is your responsibility to be active by visiting the course regularly. I want to encourage each student to do their best and to communicate to me of any issues. There are many resources at Cuesta College to students and I’m happy to assist you in achieving your goals and being a successful student.

Course policy #1: Open minds, active participation, respectful dialog/engagement and general good citizenship are requirements for this class. Thank you in advance for this.

Course Policy #2: Communication - please use Pronto, Canvas email or for personal matters my personal email. I will usually respond to emails within 24-48hrs, please be patient as sometimes there may be extenuating circumstances that prevents me from replying to you.

Course Policy #3: It is important to complete class work in a timely manner and helps build good skills to successful completion. Regarding late work - I do not normally accept late work however I realize life happens, and I encourage you to communicate to me to assist you in meeting your success and needs as a student.

Course Policy #4: As a student in this course and all your courses - know that you are responsible for completing your own work.  Do not plagiarize. It is a serious academic violation to  “exactly copy anything from a published source (such as a textbook, website,  digital database”.  It is good practice to create a summary of what the information is you are researching and write in your own words. And if need be, when you are using the exact wording from a source, please cite your source completely. I like to use the MLA style for guidelines on how to complete this.  This is found here.

Add Policy: http://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/admrreg/arpolicies/addcourse.htmlLinks to an external site.

Drop  Policy: http://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/admrreg/arpolicies/dropcourse.htmlLinks to an external site.

NOTE Cuesta’s academic honesty policy and student code of conduct (link to Cuesta policy, including Student Code of Conduct, Student Computer Technology Access Agreement: http://www.cuesta.edu/student/documents/admissions_records/code_of_conduct.pdfLinks to an external site. Waitlist procedure and instructionsLinks to an external site.

 Accommodations

  1.   Contact the DSPS office, Building N3000, Room N3024

Fall/Spring hours: M-F 8 a.m.-12 noon, 1-5 p.m, (805) 591-6215, (805) 591-6216 TDD dspsinfo@cuesta.edu

  1. Present documentation of disability for review by a disabilities specialist
  2. Discuss options for support through DSPS
  3. Present a signed DSPS authorization for accommodation to your instructor

 

For more info contact Disabled Student Program & Services

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