California State University, Northridge Course Syllabus
Music DepartmentSpring Semester, 2004
Harmony II
 
Basic Info: Spring, 2004 term
MUS 214 (3 units)
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, 9:00-9:50am, MU266 --or--
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, 11:00-11:50am, MU266

Instructor: Timothy Howard, DMA
e-mail: thoward@drmusic.com
On-campus phone: 818-677-3179
Office Hours: TBA

Description: Prerequisite: MU213. Chromatic harmony, modulation, keyboard and instrumental styles. Students normally should enroll concurrently in MU212/L. (University Catalog)

This class continues the study begun in MU213, Harmony I. Following a brief review of the material covered in last semester's study, we will forge ahead into new territory.

Required Text: Kostka, Stefan, and Payne, Dorothy: Tonal Harmony, With an Introduction to Tewntieth-Century Music together with the accompanying Workbook, McGraw Hill, fourth edition (revised printing), 2000.

Additional readings, tutorials and relevant information may be assigned from time to time.

Requirements: This class is intended to provide the student with practical knowledge and experience, using a "hands-on" approach to learning music theory. Therefore, conscientious work outside of class is both necessary and expected. In addition, the following expectations may be noted:
  • Punctual and consistent attendance at class;
  • Satisfactory completion of assignments and projects;
  • Students are responsible for information covered in missed classes.
  • Except under the most compelling circumstances, assignments and projects must be completed on the assigned date. Accommodations to this rule will be solely at the Instructor's discretion.
Materials: Music manuscript paper will be necessary for some assignments and for the final project. The use of music preparation software (e.g., Finale or Sibelius) for most routine assignments in this class is generally discouraged.

Expectations: Music 213 (Harmony I) is a prerequisite for this class; Music 212 (Musicianship IV) is a co-requisite. In addition, good keyboard skills will be an enormous asset.

About WebCT: Some content for this course will be delivered online via WebCT (Web Course Tools), an set of online instructional tools. To access WebCT, use the WebCT Login page found at http://webteach.csun.edu/.

myWebCT is your personal WebCT portal page. All classes in which you're enrolled that are using WebCT will appear on your myWebCT page. (New for Spring 2004: All students officially enrolled in this class via SOLAR are automatically registered into WebCT as well. If this class does not appear on your myWebCT page, it means you're not enrolled for the class; your myWebCT page will be updated within a day after you enroll in the class.)

Things you'll find at the WebCT Homepage for this course include: your grades; your attendance records; an electronic version of this Syllabus; links to helpful off-site resources; Quiz and Test materials. Please note that all your personal records (grades, attendance) are kept confidential by WebCT; no other students can see your grades or other confidential information.

Important: when Quiz or Test materials are posted online, you are responsible for getting to them by the announced deadline.

Grades: Course grades will be based on:
      Assignments30%
Quizzes20%
Mid-term exam15%
End-of-term exam     20%
Final project15%

As student work is graded, the results will be posted at the course's WebCT site.

Assignments: Assignments will be made frequently. While most of these assignments will be graded, some will be for the student's own personal study and development.

Except as may be announced from time to time, assignments will be accepted for full credit only at the beginning of class on the date they're due. Late assignments will be accepted up to the beginning of the class period following the due date, subject to a penalty of 10% of the maximum possible score.

Quizzes: When given in this class, quizzes will:
  • generally not be announced in advance.
  • usually be given at the beginning of class.
  • typically cover material which has been assigned for that day's class or for the recent past.
  • be time-limited; late-arriving students will not be given extra time to complete a quiz. Students who arrive after the quiz is complete will not be able to make up the quiz.
Mid-term and End-of Term Exams:
The mid-term and end-of-term exams will be of the take-home type. They will be due as announced, and late papers will not be accepted; there will be no exceptions to this.

Final Project: Final projects will be performed for your classmates and the Instructor during the class's Final Exam Period, as follows:
for the 9:00am class--8:00-10:00am, Wednesday, May 26
for the 11:00am class--10:15am-12:15pm, Wednesday, May 26
You must attend this class meeting in its entirety to pass the course.

Attendance: Do everything within your power to attend every class session! Music Department policy mandates that absences in excess of 10% of the class meetings result in the reduction of your final grade by one grade increment (e.g., A- becomes a B+). In addition, absences beyond each further 10% threshold will result in another grade reduction. Two tardies equals one absence.

A Note about Academic Integrity
By their nature and content, most music courses encourage collaborative work, which is to be expected and respected. However, work on assignments or projects which is clearly plagiarized, or for which the student intentionally misleads the Instructor as to its origin, will not be tolerated.