Music Appreciation – Mr. McGlynn – Spring 2008
May 9 - Music Appreciation assignment. Read the text or articles at the following sites.
http://www.time.com/time/time100/artists/profile/hammerstein.html
http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/S-TmwIWcBMDKn/reviews/20040427/movie_composers.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Lloyd_Webber
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_composers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Elfman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_play
http://www.mtimusicalworlds.com/
MUSIC APPRECIATION – 2nd Semester – Mr. McGlynn – Syllabus
We’ll study basic music terminology, eras of music history, major composers
and their works, how this music affects today’s music and the role of
technology in music.
Unit One Introduction
Musical terms
Basic song form
Instruments and sections of the Orchestra
Vocal music
Unit Two Renaissance Era – 1550 to 1650
Style elements
Composers
Religious vs. secular
Unit Three Baroque Era – 1650 to 1750
Style elements
Bach
Handel
Vivaldi
Opera vs. oratorio
Unit Four Classical Era – 1750 to 1830
Style elements
Mozart
Beethoven
Haydn
Sonata allegro form
Symphonies
Unit Five Romantic Era – 1830 to 1900
Style elements
Tchaikovsky
Brahms
Concertos
Unit Six Opera is not a dirty word
Recitative and Aria
Structure
Major composers and their operas
Unit Seven 20th Century Changes
Style elements
Copland
Debussy
Gershwin
Avant-garde – music or noise?
Unit Eight The Musical
Operettas
Basic structure
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Why we need all those songs
Through-composed musicals
Major composers and their works
Unit Nine Movies and Television
So good you don’t even hear it
Role of music in films and TV
Major composers
How to score a movie
Unit Ten Jazz, an American Creation
Improvisation
Basic bands and styles
Composers, performers, arrangers and landmark music.
Unit Eleven The Rock and Roll Era
Cover music
The eras of rock and roll
Important performers and writers
Unit Twelve The Business of Music
Royalties
Recording history and advances
So you want to be a Rock and Roll Star.
The Fine Print
1. There will be a quiz after each of the twelve units. These will be worth
20 points each.
2. There will be a mid-term and a final and each of these will be worth 40 points.
3. You will write a composer profile which is worth 40 points and will be due around
the 1st of May. More details to follow.
4. There will be an opportunity for a field trip to an Opera.
5. There will a class presentation of 10 minutes in length concerning the connection
between pop music and the earlier eras of music. You are to use Powerpoint
or the internet and other technologies. These presentations will begin in May a
yes, you each have to participate. Topics will be discussed ahead of time and
this is worth 40 points. Details will follow.
6. The grade will be based on a total of 400 points and the standard grade scale will
be used to compute your grade. Do your work and you won’t need
extra credit.
This is a fun class that doesn’t have a great deal of homework. When reading
assignments are made they will involve use of the internet. You are expected
to complete these readings.
We will obviously listen to a lot of music in class to illustrate the concepts taught. You
need to pay attention and listen. Read the previous line again. I don’t care if
you if you think you know the excerpt, be quiet and listen. If you miss class
sessions you will need to listen to the selections on your own time. Take these listening seriously as they will appear again on the quiz or test.
If you see on the board, Powerpoint or in a handout you need to know it. Your
notebook is your friend as there is no text book. Write it down and learn it since
you can’t use the notebook during a quiz or test. There will be the opportunity,
however, to use a “cheat sheet” which is a 3 x 5 note card that you may write
down information and have in front of you during a quiz.
This class will allow you opportunities to express your opinions. Music is a very
personal and subjective topic. It’s a good idea to know why you like or
dislike a particular style or era of music. Be respectful of the views of your
classmates.
