Requirements

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Crawford, Richard. America's Musical Life. New York: Norton, 2001.  (on RESERVE)

Crawford, Richard. An Introduction to America's Music. New York: Norton, 2001. 3-COMPACT-DISC SET. Also available on Reserve in the Audio Center: LPCD 91404-06.

 

SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTS:

Chase, Gilbert. America's Music: From the Pilgrims to the Present. Rev. 3rd ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1992. (RESERVE)

Crawford, Richard. An Introduction to America's Music. New York: Norton, 2001. (RESERVE)

Crawford, Richard. The American Musical Landscape. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1992. (RESERVE)

Hamm, Charles. Music in the New World. New York: W.W. Norton, 1983. (RESERVE)

Hitchcock, H. Wiley. Music in the United States: A Historical Introduction. 4th ed. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2000. (RESERVE)

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

REGULAR CLASS ATTENDANCE: Roll will be checked each class period. Students will be allowed a total of no more than 3 written excused absences from class for the semester. More than 3 excused absences will result in the subtraction of 20 points from your final grade for each absence. One or more unexcused absences will likewise result the subtraction of 20 points from your final grade for each absence. Extreme tardiness will be considered as an unexcused absence.

GRADING: The final course grade will be determined based on a total number of 1,000 points possible, broken down by the following:

                Unit Exams = 300
                Final Exam = 150
                Written Assignments* = 450
                Class Attendance/Participation = 100
                Total = 1000

Grading Scale: 900-1000 points = A; 800-899 = B; 700-799 = C; 600-699 = D; 0-599 = F

CONFERENCES: The instructor will be available for conferences the hour before each class period in the Music Library. He may be reached by telephone at 940/565-2859; his e-mail address is mmcknigh@library.unt.edu

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

Chapter Questions: Question sets related to chapter readings are due at respective dates for unit exams.

THESE ASSIGNMENTS ARE WORTH 170 POINTS (Total)

Article Review:"Edward MacDowell: Musical Nationalism and an American Tone-Poet," Journal of the American Musicological Society 49 (Fall 1996): 528-560. 

Read and answer the assigned questions.

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS WORTH 50 POINTS.

Research Report:

A research paper (8-10 pages) on a topic related to the material covered in the class is required for the course. TOPICS MUST BE APPROVED BY THE INSTRUCTOR. The term paper must be typed (double-spaced, using 12-point font) and must include the proper scholarly apparatus (footnotes and bibliography) and should include at least five separate sources (including dictionaries or encyclopedias, monographs, and periodical articles). Grades will be based both on content and on correct use of English and appropriate term paper format. Term paper format should be based on the following:

Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 7th ed.

DEADLINES:

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12: TOPIC DUE

THURSDAY, MARCH 13: FINAL PAPER DUE

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS WORTH 150 POINTS.

Concert Reviews:

During the semester students will attend and review at least two concerts featuring a significant amount of American music. These reviews, 2-3 pages (double-spaced), will be due at the end of the next-to-last week of classes (THURSDAY, APRIL 24). Reviews should be substantive and should include information on the composer and work as well as your own evaluation of the piece and the performer’s execution and interpretation of the work. Since reviews are journalistic in nature, you need not include footnotes or a bibliography, but you should provide attribution for any direct quotes, paraphrases, or ideas that are not your own. Provide as much detail on the composer as you think is appropriate for the reader’s enlightenment (more for lesser known composers or works, less for extremely well-known composers). Reviews are statements of opinion, but they should be written as informed statements of opinion. How do the works on the program compare with other, similar works by the composer (or other composers)? What are the distinguishing characteristics of the works? How do the works fit together on the program?

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS WORTH 80 POINTS (TOTAL).

GRADE OF "I"--INCOMPLETE: An "Incomplete" is a nonpunitive grade given only during the last one-fourth of a semester and only if a student is: (1) passing the course; (2) has justifiable reason why the work cannot be completed on schedule; and (3) arranges with the instructor to finish the course at a later date by completing specific requirements that the instructor must list on the grade sheet. All work in the course must be completed within the specified time (not to exceed one year after taking the course). In order to receive an "I" the student must sign a contract which specifies the work required for completion of course requirements.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT: The College of Music complies with the Americans With Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. If you have an established disability as defined in the ADA and would like to request accommodation, please see me as soon as possible.

SCHOLASTIC HONESTY POLICY: The UNT Code of Student Conduct and Discipline provides penalties for misconduct by students, including academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes cheating and plagiarism. The term "cheating" includes, but is not limited to: (1) the use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; (2) the dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; or (3) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a faculty member or staff of the University.

The term "plagiarism" includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials (Source: Code of Conduct and Discipline at the University of North Texas).

Any instances of cheating or plagiarism in this class will result in an automatic F for the course and appropriate disciplinary action from the university.

CLASSROOM LAPTOP USE POLICY: Being present for class means being present mentally as well as physically. If you wish to use a laptop in class, you must first request permission from me before you are can use it.  Laptops serve as an effective method of note-taking, but they can also be extremely distracting.  By my permission for you to use your laptop for note-taking, you agree to use your laptop only for this purpose, not for web browsing, chatting, using social networking sites, or other activities unrelated to class, and if these guidelines are violated you will not be allowed to use your laptop or any other similar device.

CELLULAR PHONE/PAGER POLICY: YOU ARE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED TO TURN OFF ALL PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES DURING CLASS!

updated 1/15/08