The Art of Listening

THE MATERIALS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING “THE ART OF LISTENING”

MUAR UNIVERSITY, JOHOR, MALAYSIA

TEXT AND MATERIALS :

1.       Understanding Music, third edition, by Jeremy Yudkin.

2.       Study Guide : Understanding Music, Guide : Understanding Music, third edition, by C.Ann Carruthers.

3.       Student collection of 3 cassettes or CDs (CD are recommended for precise tracking).

CATALOG DESCRIPTION :

·         Art of Listening I is an introduction to music  from Gregorian chant up to the time of Beethoven. Students will learn to identify significant musical styles, media, forms, and individual works through listening to and studying the great early  music  of the western world.

·         Art of Listening II is an introduction  to music from the early 19th century to the present. Students will listen to, study and learn to identify musical forms, media, styles, and individual masterpieces from the standard concert repertory.

COURSE OBJECTIVES :

·         Upon completion of The Art of Listening I or II, the students will be able to :

1.       Become aware of the elements of music. (Outcomes : communication, critical thinking)

2.       Become aware of the similarities of styles and form in musical periods. (Outcomes : communication, critical thinking).

3.       Become familiar with the great composers of Western Art Music. (Outcomes : communication, critical thinking).

4.       Gain an understanding of the interrelationships between world history and music history. (Outcomes : communication, critical thinking, culture and society).

5.       Recognize specific of works of music. (Outcomes : communication, critical thinking).

6.       Appreciate all types of music with greater awareness. (Outcomes : communication, critical thinking).

7.       Become a more aducated and open minded listener and concert-goer. (Outcomes : communication, critical thinking, culture, and society)

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODES :

·         Include reading and listening assignments

o   STRATEGIES FOR SUCCEEDING IN THIS COURSE :

1.       Read and take careful note on the currents chapter.

2.       Read and take careful note on the website lecture material.

3.       Complete the Study Guide questions.

4.       Listen to the CD example accompanied by the correspoding listening guides. The following strategies will help in the listening portion of the course :

a.       The first listening will be a “cold listening” which is basically listening to the musical selection with no preparation.

b.      In your text, read the Listening Guide that corresponds to the musical selection.

c.       The second listening will be a “warm listening”. By this point you have heard the selection (and are more familiar with the overall sound of the music) and have read the background information about the piece in the listening guide. You can now follow along  with the outline of the piece (almost all listening guides have an outline to follow along with, complete with timings and track numbers that appear on your CDs) which will help you understand how the piece is constructed and how it is to be experienced.

o   GRADING

·         Final grades are based on the following distribution of points :

§  75% Three Exams will be given during class. Each will determine 25% of your final grade. There is a listening portion with each exam. Students must be able to identify the composition and composer of each piece from the students collection af tapes or CDs and from the instructor collection of CDs. The CDs are available for listening in the Learning Resource Center (at the information desk, on reserve). All selections from the instructor’s set that are subjected to teh testing will be available online as sound files, and will be available at the Learning Resource Center as well. A list of compositions and composers will be provided during the exam.

§  10 % Concert Report :

DUE DATED ARE POSTED ON THE SERF PORTION OF THE ART OF LISTENING CLASS SCHEDULE

§  15% Homework Assignments :

DUE DATED ARE POSTED ON THE SERF PORTION OF THE ART OF LISTENING CLASS

o   ART OF LISTENING I CLASS SCHEDULE

·         The serf portion of class will contain a guide is to help you prepare for class. It will benefit you to read the pages assigned in the text during the dates suggested. Each exam will have a listening portion where you will be asked to identify specific pieces from the tapes/CDs that accompany the text.

o   GUIDELINES FOR CONCERT REPORTS :

1.       Attending a live musical concert is a unique enriching experience. That more you know about music the more rewarding the experience can be to you. In selecting a concert try to find one that features at least one work from the time periods studied.

2.       Your report should be at least three pages in length, typewritten, double-spaced. A formal report utilizes a concervative type font with black ink only. Please read your paper carefully avoiding gramatical and spelling errors.

3.       YOU MUST INCLUDE WITH YOUR PAPER THE CONCERT PROGRAM AND TICKET STUB. Please attach these to your paper. Papers without a program / ticket stub will not be accepted.

4.       You are free to use any standar writing format but be consistent. You must give credit to any sources that you quote or reference in a footnote and bobliography. However, you are not required to use outside sources with this report.

o   FORMAL HINTS :

1.       The concert report is the chance for you to respond to the concert. Aside from the obvious information of who played what, tell me if the concert was realistically or stylistically accurate. For example, if it was an all Mozart concert did they use a large or a small orchestra and/or periods instruments? Did it sound like the recordings used in class? This is your chance to be creative. Do not hesitate to ask for help. I want this to be an enjoyable experience – not busy work.

2.       Topics to discuss are the four Ws : Who, What, When and Where. Discuss whether or not you enjoyed the concert, or not, and why, and also be objective.

o   CONCERT ETIQUETTE :

1.       Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the concert.

2.       Read the program before the concert starts.

3.       Appalud when everyone else does :

a.       When the first violinist comes on to the stage to tune the orchestra.

b.      When the conductor and/or soloist enters

c.       At the end of the entire piece. A symphony has four movements : appalud after the last movement, not in between movements.

d.      At the end of the concert.

4.       Return to your seat after intermission : this is usually signaled  by the flashin of the house lights and lobby lights.

5.       Do not talk during the performance.

6.       Do not take “note” during the performance! Write any of your thoughts  or observations down during the intermission ar after the concert. You do not have to leave the auditorium during the intermission or immediately after the concert. Enjoy yourself!

Resource :

http://www.harford.edu/faculty/kkramer/#TextandMaterials.com

Compilled by Tia Anita