Western Kentucky University MUS 405 – Choral Arranging

3 credits – Spring 2017 MWF - 10:20 - 11:15 am, FAC 359

Official Course Description: A study of the principles of part-writing, arranging, and editing for various voice groupings. Practical application for school and church choruses will be stressed. Course Prerequisites: successful completion of MUS 201 Instructor's Name: Dr. Matthew Herman E-Mail: matthew.herman@wku.edu Instructor's Office Location: FAC 329 Office Hours: MWF 9-10 am Office Phone: (270) 745-5400 Required Text(s) and Supplies 10 Representative Choral Octavos (see handout with the list of pieces) Binder or folder (for organizing handouts) Blank manuscript paper Pencils and erasers Access to Finale, Sibelius, or some other computer notation program Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the general principles and techniques of basic arranging and choral arranging. Evaluation: The final grade will be based on six basic grades: four arranging projects demonstrating practical and creative application of class materials and graded on appropriateness, neatness, and accuracy; a take-home midterm assessing retention of information; homework and class discussions offering practice of concepts presented in class. There are no in-class examinations for this course. Grading

Homework and discussions 20%

Take-home midterm 15%

Unison Folksong Project 15%

Descant/Obbligato Project 15%

2-part Adult Chorus Project 15%

SATB A Cappella Project 20%

Attendance Policy: Attendance is required at all regularly scheduled class periods. Students are limited to four absences (of any kind) in this course. Three late arrivals count as one absence. Five absences results in a reduction of one letter grade from your final score. Every two absences beyond this results in another letter grade reduction. The student is responsible for finding out what information and work was missed during the absence and making it up.

Homework: All projects and homework are due AT CLASS TIME on the due date listed in the schedule below. Late homework may be turned in for half credit up to seven days after the due date; after this point it will not be accepted, and will be marked as a 0% in the grade book. Some homework involves work in pre-assigned groups. Each student in a group receives the same grade given to the entire project. Groups will be created during the first week of class. NOTE: The four arranging projects must be submitted as printed, computer-generated documents. Analysis Assignments and Class Discussions: Throughout the semester, students will be asked to analyze representative scores of choral music using an analysis sheet. This analysis becomes the basis for a class discussion. On a discussion day, only students with completed analysis sheets will be admitted to class. Academic Integrity: Academic honesty is expected of all students at Western Kentucky University. Western Kentucky University's policy on plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty is one of "zero tolerance." As a student at Western Kentucky University, you are expected to demonstrate academic integrity, as outlined in the University Statement on Student Rights and Responsibilities (WKU Catalog, 282) in all coursework. Violations of this code of conduct include but are not limited to cheating (by giving or receiving unauthorized information before or during an exam or assignment), dishonesty (including misrepresentation and/or lying) and plagiarism. Plagiarism consists of turning in work that is not your own--including quoting material in a paper and not crediting the original author through a citation, copying from a book, pasting the text from web pages, or using an Internet source to obtain a full paper or part of a paper. Student work may be checked using plagiarism detection software. See Academic Dishonesty, Plagiarism, Cheating, and Other Types of Academic Dishonesty in Catalog, p. 282. Electronic Device Usage: Due to the distractions from student use of YouTube, chatting/texting, surfing the internet, and checking email and Facebook: laptops, iPods, and cell phones are banned from the classroom. All electronic devices should be turned off and completely placed out of reach prior to entering the classroom. Students requiring computers due to disabilities must get a waiver from the OSFDS in order to use them during class. The class meeting time is assigned for learning about the course content matter, and you will get the most out of it if you focus all of your actions on learning. Research shows that multi-tasking is a hindrance to productivity. Learning to focus on one thing is an important skill to acquire. The Learning Center: The Learning Center, located at Downing University Center, DUC A330, provides free supplemental education programs for all currently enrolled WKU students. TLC at DUC offers CRLA Certified, one-on-one tutoring in over 100 general education subjects by appointment or walk in. TLC is also a quiet study area, with side rooms designated for peer-to-peer tutoring, and offers a thirty-two-machine computer lab. Additionally, TLC has two satellite locations, one each in Douglas Keen Hall and in Pearce Ford Tower, that provide computer and print service, tutoring, and quiet study areas. For more information, or to schedule a tutoring appointment, please call TLC at (270) 745-6254 or log on to the website at www.wku.edu/tlc. Hours TLC at DUC: Monday-Thursday, 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Sunday 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Hours TLC at Keen/PFT: Sunday-Thursday, 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM. The Office for Student Disability Services: Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability Services, Student Success Center, Downing University Center. The OFSDS telephone number is (270) 745-5004 V/TDD. Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor without a letter of accommodation from the Office for Student Disability Services.

MUS 405 – Choral Arranging Semester Schedule

Podcast Subject Assignments Week 1 1/23 Course Introduction/Why learn arranging? 1/25 Vocal issues Unison Folksong Project assigned 1/27 Text setting issues Comin' Round the Mountain analysis assigned Week 2 1/30 Vocal notation issues 2/1 FINALE WORKSHOP (report to 3rd Floor Computer Lab) 2/3 Discussion: Comin' Round the Mountain Down by the Sally Gardens analysis assigned Week 3 2/6 Piano Accompaniments 2/8 Group Work Day: Texture 2/10 NO CLASS – KMEA STATE CONVENTION Week 4 2/13 FINALE WORKSHOP (report to 3rd Floor Computer Lab) 2/15 Discussion: Down by the Sally Gardens 2/17 Piano Introductions Week 5 2/20 Group Work Day: Introductions Unison Folksong Project Due Descant/Countermelody Project Assigned 2/22 Introduction to counterpoint 2/24 2-part counterpoint, pt. 1 Week 6 2/27 2-part counterpoint, pt. 2 3/1 Descants Song of the River analysis assigned 3/3 Group Work Day: Descants Week 7 3/6 Discussion: Song of the River Amazing Grace analysis assigned 3/8 Countermelodies Take-home Midterm assigned 3/10 NO CLASS - Dr. Herman out of state 3/13-3/19 NO CLASSES – SPRING BREAK Week 8 3/20 Group Work Day: Countermelodies Take-home Midterm DUE 3/22 Discussion: Amazing Grace How can I keep from Singing analysis assigned 3/24 Two-part treble arranging, pt. 1

Week 9 3/27 Two-part treble arranging, pt. 2 Descant/Countermelody Project Due Women's Chorus Project Assigned 3/29 Discussion: How can I keep from Singing The Water is Wide analysis assigned 3/31 Three-part treble arranging, pt. 1 Week 10 4/3 Discussion: The Water is Wide The Rocky Road to Dublin analysis assigned 4/5 Men's Chorus Arranging, pt. 1 4/7 Men's Chorus Arranging, pt. 2 Week 11 4/10 FINALE WORKSHOP (report to 3rd Floor Computer Lab) 4/12 Discussion: The Rocky Road to Dublin Shenandoah (Erb) analysis assigned 4/14 SATB a cappella, pt. 1 Week 12 4/17 SATB a cappella, pt. 2 2-Part Adult Chorus Project Due 4/19 SATB a cappella Project Assigned 4/21 Discussion: Shenandoah (Erb) Shenandoah (Chilcott) analysis assigned Week 13 4/24 Accompanied SATB, pt. 1 4/26 Accompanied SATB, pt. 2 4/28 Discussion: Shenandoah (Chilcott) Feller From Fortune analysis assigned Week 14 5/1 Large-scale planning in choral music Continue work on final projects 5/3 FINALE WORKSHOP (report to 3rd Floor Computer Lab) 5/5 Discussion: Feller From Fortune FINALS WEEK

SATB A Cappella Project Due *NO LATER THAN 12:30 PM*

Monday, May 8th

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