Fall 2009 Course Description
Basic music notation, analysis, and drumming provide a foundation for understanding musical elements such as meter, rhythm, phrasing, and form. This is a lab course. Hands-on exercises and class discussions offer ways to apply musicianship to dance technique classes, rehearsals, and performances. Students develop rhythmic awareness as they relate to dance.
Course Objectives
Rhythm
Identify the beat and move to specific counts
Analyze rhythmic structures in music as they relate to dance
Hear and distinguish between duple, triple, and irregular meters
Phrasing
Hear musical phrases
Recognize rhythmic patterns
Relate music and dance phrases
Communication
Understand terms used by musicians
Create rhythmic scores using Western musical notation
Communicate with musicians as dance teachers and choreographers
Required Text
Course Reader: DA 133 Rhythmic Fundamentals
Available at Perfect Copy & Print: 111 Broadway Ave E, Seattle
Open M-F 9am-8pm, Sa-Su 11am-7pm; telephone (206) 325-4733
Attendance Policy
Only absences due to documented emergencies or illnesses will be excused
You are responsible for all material covered during your absence
Attendance Policy may be revised due to Influenza
Assignments
Passion, Discipline, and Mastery includes active and respectful participation. Come prepared to class with reading, writing, and homework assignments finished the week it is listed in the Course Schedule.
Mid-Term Examination will cover material learned in the previous weeks such as musical vocabulary and notation. There will also be short essay questions.
Final Project Presentation will be to create audio recording for dance based on rhythmic loops. There will be an audio editing tutorial in Week 10.
Final Examination includes essay questions.
The reader and notes can be used for quizzes and examinations.
Course requirements and expectations
Passion
Your attitude and the degree to which you apply yourself to the course work
Your participation in class exercises, projects, and discussions
Discipline
On-time completion of all assignments
On-time attendance for all class sessions
Late assignments will receive a grade deductions
Mastery
All written assignments must be typewritten
Notation assignments should be hand-written neatly and precisely
Papers will be graded on content, organization, clarity, and thoughtfulness
Weekly Course Schedule
Week 1 – Sept 08 & 10
Musical Time: The Beat and Counting
Read hand-out 3-17; prepare hand-out 21-24, 25-26.
Week 2 – Sept 15 & 17
Practice counting. Prepare reading and hand-outs for Week 3.
Week 3 – Sept 22 & 24
Phrasing and Accents
Read reader 27-40, 47-53; prepare hand-out 41-42.
Week 4 – Sept 29 & Oct 01
Notation
Read reader 54-60; prepare hand-out 65-68.
Week 5 – Oct 06 & 08
Time Signatures
Read reader 71-82; prepare to sing/play reader 110-113.
Week 6 – Oct 13 & 15
Extending Time
Read reader 87-101; prepare to sing/play reader 114-118
Week 7 – Oct 20 & 22
Review
Read reader 102-109.
Week 8 – Oct 27 & 29
Mid-Term Examination
As part of exam, prepare to sing/play reader 119-122.
Week 9 – Nov 03 & 05
Compound Time
Read reader 123-131; prepare to sing/play reader 132-136.
Week 10 – Nov 10 & 12
Audio Editing Rhythmic Loops
Audio editing tutorial. Final Project assigned.
Week 11 – Nov 17 & 19 (CDT Week)
Individual check-ins to be assigned.
Week 12 – Nov 24
Final Project Presentations.
Week 13 – Dec 01 & 03
Final Project Presentations.
Week 14 – Dec 08 & 10 (New Moves Week)
Final Examination.
