Course ePortfolio

Music Appreciation

This collection contains the Affordable Learning Solution for the Southern University System (AL$4SUS) list of peer-reviewed textbooks for Music Appreciation (common course-id MUS 100), one of the top 50 college courses identified for inclusion in the Southern University Online Library for Education (SUOLforEd).

See LA Master Course Matrix

http://www.regents.la.gov/page/master-course-articulation-matrix

General Course Description: MUS 100

A survey of art music in western civilization. Topics studied include but are not limited to elements of music, basic musical forms, music periods, styles, and the role of music and musicians in the western world.

Suitable for both music majors and non-majors, this course satisfies a general education requirement in most lower-division curricula, and is commonly transferable in a baccalaureate program.

Minimum units: 3.0

Date Added to MERLOT:

August 3, 2016

Created by:

SUOL4ed subr

License:

Derived from

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: None

Corequisites: None

Advisories/Recommendations: None

Pedagogical Approach & Learning Outcomes

Pedagogical Approach

None

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of the elements of music by:

using appropriate terminology
identifying musical instruments and ensembles
analyzing and evaluating musical performances
discussing music in its historic context.

Assessment & Other Information

Assessment

examinations
quizzes
written (essay) assignments.

Other Information

None

Course Resources

MUSC 105 – Music Appreciation (Open (Access) Textbook)

Although described as a course, this resource can also serve as a textbook. The purpose of this course is to help... More

Although described as a course, this resource can also serve as a textbook. The purpose of this course is to help students further enhance their appreciation for music as a creative tool of the imagination, as entertainment, and as a window into who we are as social beings. Part of the course also helps students to advance their listening skills, which leads to a better understand of what music actually contains. For this purpose, the course explores western classical music; American folk, popular and religious music; along with a sampling of music from non-western cultures. Course content is divided into modules. Each module includes text readings, listening examples, videos, and study/review questions. Thought-provoking discussion board topics, written assignments, Power Point presentations, and group projects are also included in some of the modules.
Sound Reasoning (Open (Access) Textbook)

Although designed as a course, this resource can be used as a textbook. It offers a new approach to music appreciation... More

Although designed as a course, this resource can be used as a textbook. It offers a new approach to music appreciation for adults, focusing on style-independent concepts. While the course concentrates primarily on Western classical and modern music, the concepts that are introduced apply to music of any style or era. The goal of “Sound Reasoning” is to equip you with questions that you may ask of any piece of music, thereby creating a richer and more comprehensive understanding of music both familiar and unfamiliar. Here are some additional features of the course. 1) ”Sound Reasoning” is completely listening based. No ability to read music is required. 2) The course assumes little or no musical background. A minimum of terminology is invoked. 3) Musical examples are interpolated directly into the text. 4) The course is interactive. A “listening gallery” with exercises follows each module, so that you may practice and refine your listening skills. 5) The modules may be studied in sequence or individually. 6)You may easily print a .pdf of any module.. “Sound Reasoning” is designed as both a stand-alone, self-paced course as well as a supplement to existing university classes. “Sound Reasoning” was created thanks to an Access to Artistic Excellence Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and an Innovation Grant from Rice’s Computer and Information Technology Institute.
Music Appreciation - Rhythm (Open (Access) Textbook)

Rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, and texture are the essential aspects of a musical performance. They are often called... More

Rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, and texture are the essential aspects of a musical performance. They are often called the basic elements of music. The main purpose of music theory is to describe various pieces of music in terms of their similarities and differences in these elements, and music is usually grouped into genres based on similarities in all or most elements. It is useful, therefore, to be familiar with the terms commonly used to describe each element. Because harmony is the most highly developed aspect of Western music, music theory tends to focus almost exclusively on melody and harmony. Music does not have to have harmony, however, and some music does not even have melody. So perhaps the other three elements can be considered the most basic components of music. Music cannot happen without time. The placement of the sounds in time is the rhythm of a piece of music. Because music must be heard over a period of time, rhythm is one of the most basic elements of music. In some pieces of music, the rhythm is simply a placement in time that cannot be assigned a beat or meter, but most rhythm terms concern more familiar types of music with a steady beat.