MUS 421/630 Advanced Composition

Fall 2009 Syllabus

Course Description:

Advanced Studies in art music composition. This semester, the course will focus on electro-acoustic music. We will listen to and discuss works for a variety of electro-acoustic performance media, we will read and discuss writings concerning electro-acoustic music, and we will complete several electro-acoustic compositional exercises. The course will culminate with the presentation of a substantial final project by each student.

Grading

Compositional Exercises                              30% (421), 30% (630)

Several compositional exercises will be assigned throughout the semester. These exercises are designed to develop a basic command of the techniques of electro-acoustic music composition. These exercises must be completed on time and with your best effort.

Final Composition                                      30% (421), 25% (630)

You are expected to develop your own electro-acoustic project and make substantial progress during the course of the semester. Small projects should be completed, but more ambitious projects may be presented as works in progress. I will determine that based on the project proposal.

Listening/Article Summaries                        30% (421), 20% (630)

You will be assigned reading and listening assignments throughout the semester. For each listening assignment you will complete a summary reflecting your attentive and analytical listening, and for each reading assignment you will complete a summary reflecting your attentive and analytical reading. Suggested formats for these will be posted to the course webpage.

Class Participation                                      10% (421), 10% (630)

Each class will have a discussion component concerning reading assignments, listening assignments, and/or other students’ work. You will be expected to actively contribute to these class discussions.

Extra Assignment for 630 students                15% (630)

Graduate students enrolled in MUS 630 will be required to complete an extra project and present the results to the class.

Attendance Policy

Per Music Department policy:

• Each absence in excess of 2 shall lower the final grade by 1/3 grade (e.g., 3 absences would change a B into a B-, 4 absences would turn that B into a C+, etc.).
• Tardiness is defined as arrival any moment after the time the class is listed to begin in the Schedule of Classes. Two “Tardiness”es shall be counted as one absence.
• Absence due to illness will be excused only with a doctor’s verification slip.

Grade Ranges:

93–100      A                         90–92        A-

87–89        B+                       83–86        B

80–82        B-                        77–79        C+

73–76        C                         70–72        C-

67–69        D+                       63–66        D

60–62        D-                        00–59        F

Email Communication:

I will be communicating with you frequently by email and I will be sending that email to your CSUN email address. If you don’t check that account regularly, you must forward your CSUN email to whatever email account you read on a regular basis. Here is a link to the instructions for that: http://www.csun.edu/~it/training/guides/webmailautoreply.html

A Note About Furloughs

As you may be aware, faculty and staff at CSUN are required to take unpaid days off, referred to as “Furlough days.” These days may well be different for different faculty members. My furlough day that affects this class is Wednesday, September 16. This will be confirmed or changed as the semester proceeds.