2009 Fall - Course Assignments

Fall Semester 2009
Course Assignments

In addition to the four "MT's" [Mini-Module Tests], the two "T's" [Module Tests], the Final Examination, the Music Performance Project, and your stimulating Class Participation, [please see the "Requirements" area] you will be expected to complete following "Assignments" in the prescribed and timely fashion.....

Five (5) ScholarNet Assignments [SN's]
Two (2) Interesting Musician Reports [IMR's]
Two (2) Music Performance Event Reports [MPE's]
One (1) Music Performance Project

The Assignment Submission Form [ASF]
To further ease your submission of the several Electronic Assignments and other projects which you will submit electronically, ScholarNet now features an ASF [Assignment Submission Form]. For each necessary assignment - you may "punch up" the ASF and complete accordingly.

Assignment Submission Form

If you prefer [although using the Assignment Submission Form is much easier], you may "manually" prepare your Electronic Assignments, however, the following format MUST BE FOLLOWED. For "Manual" Electronic Assignment Submission It is ESSENTIAL that you follow carefully the "formatting" information which follows to receive full credit for your assignments ... 1) all assignments will be submitted to me via "Email" at ... plarue@georgetowncollege.edu 2) all assignments must be submitted BY MIDNIGHT on the due date 3) all assignments must be "Titled" [put in the "Subject Line" of your email] in the following manner.....
ScholarNet: Your Name, 107 Section, Assignment Code
[example: ScholarNet: Tommy Jackson, 107A, SN#3]

ScholarNet Project Number One
"Successful Access and Sending"
[ten points possible]
Due Date: Midnight, Sunday, August 30th
Assignment Code: SN#1

SN#1: For this assignment - simply follow the format procedure and write, "yes, I have successfully accessed ScholarNet and I love music." [The goal is to ensure everyone is "tracking" on their use of ScholarNet]

ScholarNet Project Number Two
"Buy a CD?"
[ten points possible]
Due Date: Midnight, Sunday, September 13th
Assignment Code: SN#2

SN#2: For this assignment - I want you to imagine that I have given you $20.00 to buy a CD or tape of your choice. What would you purchase? Why would you make this selection? What do you like about this type of music? How does this type of music "speak to you"? Do you have other examples of this type of music in your personal listening library?

ScholarNet Project Number Three
"Music in Society"
[ten points possible]
Due Date: Midnight, Wednesday, October 7th [After Fall Break]
Assignment Code: SN#3

SN#3: For this assignment - I want you to discuss how music is used in our society today. Where do you hear music? Why do you hear music? Does music play as important part in our collective lives as it did - say 100 years ago? Why yes, or why no? Do you think the trends of today are good? Are bad? How might these trends change? Why might these trends change?

ScholarNet Project Number Four
"All-Time Favorite Musical Experience"
[ten points possible]
Due Date: Midnight, Sunday, November 8th
Assignment Code: SN#4

SN#4: For this assignment - I want you to describe your all-time most favorite musical experience. It might be as a performer. It might be as a listener or member of an audience. Why did this experience touch your heart? Move your soul? What about the experience "moved you"? Do you actively "seek out" other musical experiences of this kind?

ScholarNet Project Number Five
"My Musical Future"
[ten points possible]
Due Date: Midnight, Sunday, November 29th [After Thanksgiving Break]
Assignment Code: SN#5

SN#5: For this assignment - I want you to describe what you think your "musical future" will be. Will you actively "seek out" musical experiences with which to be involved? Do you currently sing or play an instrument - will you look for opportunities to continue this participation? Are you currently a good "listener" [and the world needs many of these] - will you continue to "seek out" opportunities to "listen" to music? Do you think you will encourage your children [of the future] to participate in music? Why? Will you support music in your church or community of the future? Why?

Interesting Musician Report Number Two
"American Tradition"
[twenty-five points possible]
Due Date: Midnight Sunday, September 27th
Assignment Code: IMR#2

For IMR #2 please choose one from the following pool of American Musicians/Composers:

Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Irving Berlin,
William Billings, Buddy Bolden, Carter Family,
Aaron Copland, Tommy Dorsey, George Gershwin,
Patrick Gilmore, Phillip Glass, Benny Goodman,
W. C. Handy, Scott Joplin, Leadbelly Ledbetter,
Lowell Mason, King Oliver, J. P. Sousa,
Theodore Thomas, Paul Whiteman, Hank Williams [Sr.],
Henry Clay Works

a. basic biographical material
b. important contributions which they made to music
c. important influences [earlier composers/musicians - styles, etc.]
d. important and noteworthy contributions, performances or compositions
e. any other information which you feel is important

Interesting Musician Report Number One
"European Tradition"
[twenty-five points possible]
Due Date: Midnight Tuesday, October 25th
Assignment Code: IMR#1

For IMR #1 please choose one from the following pool of European Musicians/Composers:

J. S. Bach, J. Brahms, L. Beethoven,
H. Berlioz, W. Byrd, F. Chopin,
A. Dvorak, G. F. Handel, F. J. Haydn,
F. Liszt, F. Mendelssohn, W. A. Mozart,
M. Mussorgsky, P. Rameau, C. Rossini,
F. Schubert, R. Schumann, B. Smetana,
T. Tallis, P. Tchaikovsky, R. Wagner,
C. M. V. Weber

Music Performance Events Number One & Two
[twenty-five points possible for each - total of fifty points]
Due Date: no later than Thursday, December 10th [Reading Day]
Assignment Code: MPE #1 and MPE #2
[you might choose to "do" separately or together]

This "report" should not be a critique of the performers, but rather an indication in the student's own words of what was heard and perceived. At variance with requirements for other sections of MUS107 - no program is required - as the assignment is "wired" to me via email. The thoughtful listening report should include:

a. the name of the event or concert attended
b. the nature of the performers [i.e. singers, instrumentalists, etc.]
c. the nature or genre of music presented [i.e. style, period, etc.]
d. significant comments concerning musical elements [i.e. form, etc.]
e. what you found pleasing or rewarding about the performance
f. further information will be presented during the class

Students will be asked to attend either on or off-campus musical events to fill this requirement. If attending an off-campus concert, please ask me if it will fill the requirements. The goal is for these experiences to have a broadening effect on your musical tastes and appreciation. Appropriate musical concerts and events would include those listed in the Concert Information area of ScholarNet.

Music Performance Project [MPP]
A final music performance project will be prepared by each student and will be performed - during the final two class sessions. The final projects will display in performance an understanding of the basic elements of music. These are always one of the highlights of the semester and over the years we have had many great [or at least interesting] performances by 8:00 Scholars. Requirements for this project include:

1. may be performed in groups of up to (5) students
2. must exhibit at least two (2) of the five (5) elements of music
3. must be at least one minute and no more than 5 minutes in length
4. may be "traditional" or "less-traditional" in nature
5. may be an "original" composition or an "existing" selection
6. may utilize any equipment [musical or otherwise] which will fit in the Band Room

As I said, these projects are always a highlight of the semester's activities and I look forward to seeing and hearing these innovative and original performances. Because music is a "participatory sport" these projects give you Scholars the opportunity to be actively involved in music making. Fifty (50) points are possible from the Performance Project.

Mini-Tests [MT's] & Tests [T's]
The Mini-Tests [MT's] for Music 107 A [you fine 8:00 Scholars] will take place approximately every two weeks [towards the beginning of the semester] The Tests [T's] will subsequently be every three to four weeks. The projected MT and T dates for this semester are as follows.....

Mini-Test One	MTI ~ Real Time	September 3rd
Mini-Test Two	MTII ~ Virtual	September 20th
Mini-Test Three	MTIII ~ Real Time	October 22nd
Mini-Test Four	MTIV ~ Virtual	November 1st
Test Five	TV ~ Real Time	November 24th
Test Six	TVI ~ Real-Time or Virtual	December 3rd

Final Examination [FE]
Becoming a registered "Music Scholar" ends with the Final Examination experience. The "FE" will be worth one hundred (100) points - with twenty-five (25) questions - each being worth four (4) points apiece. All questions for the "FE" will be taken from the preceding four "MT's" and two "T's". ALL SCHOLARS [regardless of how well you have previously performed in class, graduating senior, et al] shall take the final examination - as it is perceived to be an important, overall component of the 8:00 Scholar experience. This semester the Final Examination will be given on ...