FALL 2009

MUSIC THEORY I, MUSIC 1201
GORDON COLLEGE

DR. NEIL BOUMPANI

Dr. Neil M. Boumpani

219 Fine Arts Building, 770-358-5299

Email: nboumpani@gdn.edu

Office Hours: (subject to change)        M, T, W and F     11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

                                                                         Other office hours by appointment           

Course Description: Music Theory I begins with a study of music fundamentals which leads to the study of Common Practice Period harmonic and melodic techniques.  MUSC 1201 is intended for music majors and those who eventually intend to minor in music at a 4-year institution.  Music Theory I must be taken concurrently with MUSC 1101, Aural Skills I.  This course is only open to students who have auditioned for a music major or have been preapproved by the music faculty.

TEXT:      Music First, Gary C. White (used for first semester)

The Practice of Harmony, Peter Spencer (will be used for some of 1^st and all
       of 2^nd and 3rd semesters of Theory)

                  The Study of Rhythm, N. Boumpani

MATERIALS: one loose-leaf notebook – every day

                          One day planner – every day

                          One pair of inexpensive headphones for the computer lab

Software: Finale ®or Finale Notepad (Finale Notepad maybe downloaded at: www.makemusic.com).  The computer lab in the Academic Building has Finale 2008 installed on the center computers. Finale Notepad, at one time, was free but there is now a small cost associated with the program.  Since most 4-year colleges now demand that students have a working knowledge of notation software this is a worthwhile investment.

Alfred’s Interactive Musician   As part of your Music Theory I and Aural Skills I study, you are required to spend at least three 20-minute sessions in the Academic Building computer lab on this program.  When you first login, your password will be the first 4 letters of your last name followed by the word music – one word all in lower case.  For example, I would be boummusic. Once you login, please change the password to something only you know.

Grading:

            Homework (included preparation):     25%

            Tests                                                    25%

            Assigned Computer work                   15%

            Pop Quizzes                                        10%

            Final Exam                                          25%

  Note: homework will be collected at the beginning of class – therefore, late
            homework will not be accepted.

Note also: POP QUIZZES will be done at the beginning of classes.  If you are late,
you will not be able to make up a pop quiz.

Grading Scale:           A         90 to 100

                                    B         80 to 89

                                    C         70 to 79

                                    D         60 to 69

                                    F          Below 60

Attendance:   Attendance is required.  You are allowed two (2) unexcused absences without penalty.  Beginning with the third absence, four points will be deducted from your final average for each absence.  (If you know you are going to be absent, please turn your homework early.  LATE: Every time you are late, you are debited with ¼ an absence for every 5 minutes late.

Academic Honor Code:

Students are expected to uphold the “Student Code of Conduct” in the Gordon College Catalog.  I expect you to do your own work at all time.  Breaking the honor code may result in failure and further college penalties.

Special Considerations:

            This class complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Students with disabilities who need academic accommodations should:

            (1)  Register with and provide documentation to the Office of Disability Services.

(2)   Bring a letter to the instructor from the Office of Disability Services indicating the need for academic accommodations.  This should be done within the first week of class.

START WITH THE END IN MIND

            Everything you do from this point on should be geared to your ultimate goal.  Only you can choose that ultimate goal.  Whether your ultimate goal is music education, performance, or technology KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR ENDEAVOR and set your plans accordingly.  Every year I find students who have dreams of doing something in life and, because they never found out what it would take to get to their dreams, they failed. You can succeed IF you plan your course, and you follow through on the work to get there.  There will be ALWAYS be setbacks and trials, and, at times, you will have to alter your course, but if you keep your eye on the END RESULTS you can succeed. Remember that graduation begins the moment you set foot into a college classroom.

HELP!!!!!       If you find yourself struggling, PLEASE schedule some office time with me.  I want you all to succeed and I am willing to work with you on a one-on-one basis whenever I can. The only way you can fail is to not try.