Sight Singing/Ear Trn II - George Mason University School of Music

Sight Singing and Ear Training II
MUSI 114-002
Fall 2011
MUSI 114-002: MWF 9:30: a.m.–10:20 a.m. FAB B207
Dr. Rachel Bergman, instructor
rbergman@gmu.edu
Office: PAB A417J
703-993-1395
Office Hours: By appointment
Teaching assistant: TBA
PREREQUISITE: Grade of “C” or higher in MUSI 113 (Sight Singing & Ear Training I)
OBJECTIVES: To teach students to sight sing music without any aid from an instrument and to notate music that is
performed on an instrument.
CREDITS: 2
BOOKS NEEDED:
Berkowitz/Fontrier/Kraft/et. al. A New Approach To Sight Singing, 5 th edition. W.W. Norton & Company, 2010.
Cole and Lewis. Melodia: A Course in Sight-Singing, Complete (Books I-IV). Oliver Ditson Company, 1909.
Kanyan, Joseph. Sight Singing Exercises. (published on campus)
Practica Musica - computer software – optional
Please bring manuscript paper and pencils to every class!
E-MAIL: Students must check their gmu.edu e-mail accounts on a regular basis. This is the only means I have of contacting
you outside of class hours. If you use another e-mail address, you must have your GMU e-mail forwarded to your other
address so that you do not miss out on important e-mails. It is also important to keep the inbox free of large files so that my
e-mails are not returned “over quota” making it impossible for me to contact you. E-mail is also the most efficient way to
contact me.
CLASS ATTENDANCE:
Sight Singing and Ear Training is not a lecture course but rather an experiential one. As a result it is imperative that students
attend class on a regular and consistent basis. Due to the nature of the course, students will not be permitted to have
more than three (3) unexcused absences during the semester. It is the student's responsibility to inform the
instructor as to the reason for any absence. The instructor will decide if the absence should be considered excused or
unexcused. Written documentation regarding illnesses, accidents, etc. may be required. Students who accumulate more
than three (3) unexcused absences will not be permitted to take any sight singing and ear training tests during the
remaining part of the semester. Students MUST be on time for every class. Three unexcused tardies will result in one
unexcused absence.
IN-CLASS ETIQUETTE:
There will be no use of cell phones, MP3 players or computers during class.
PROBLEMS AND DISABILITIES
Students should communicate with their professors if they are having medical or personal problems that affect their
academic performance. If a student feels s/he cannot approach a professor regarding problems, then s/he should visit
Student Health Services (232 SUB I; 993-2830) or the Counseling Center (364 SUB I; 993-2380 or http://caps.gmu.edu) for
a private and confidential appointment. Please note: If you are a student with a disability and you need academic
accommodations, please see me and contact the Office of Disability Resources at 703-993-2474 or http://ods.gmu.edu.
All academic accommodations must be arranged through that office.
STUDY GROUPS
Students are strongly encouraged to form study groups. Students who do participate in a study group will undoubtedly profit
from the experience and should do better on the sight singing and ear training tests.

SIGHT SINGING
Announced and random unannounced sight singing tests will be given in class on a daily basis. You will receive a grade for
the day, and the sight singing grades will be averaged at the end of the semester for 40% of your overall grade. There will
also be one in-office SS test given during finals week (week of 12/12) that will count for 10% of your overall grade. The daily
grades will be based on the following point system:
93-100 = A; 90-92 = A- ; 87-89 = B+ ; 83-86 = B ; 80-82 = B- ; or F. Grades of C and D will not be given.
(A grade of “0” is given if a test is not taken.)
The content of the course will be divided as follows:
Weeks 1-4 (8/29-9/23):
Kraft: Ch. 1, Section 1 (pp. 8-24)
Melodies in alto clef, to be sung with both solfege and notenames
Kanyan: Part III, A-M (Major Keys)
Timed Interval Test (singing ascending/descending intervals, m2-P8)
Weeks 5-8 (9/26-10/17):
Kraft: Ch. 1, Section II (pp. 28-32)
Melodies in tenor clef, to be sung with both solfege and notenames
Kanyan: Part IV, A-M (Minor Keys)
Timed Interval Test (singing ascending/descending intervals, m2-P8)
Weeks 8-11 (10/19-11/11)
Kraft: Ch. 2, Section II (pp.113-115) and Ch. 5, Section II (pp. 272-280)
Kanyan: Part III, N-V (Major Keys)
Chord singing (major, minor, V7, dim, aug in root pos.)
Sing and Play: Kraft, pp. 268-269
Rhythms (including changing meters)
Weeks 12-15 (11/14-12/9)
Kraft: Ch. 1, Section II (pp. 32-38)
Kanyan: Part IV, N-V (Minor Keys)
Chord singing (major, minor, V7, dim, aug in root pos.)
Sing and Play: Kraft, pp. 270-271
Rhythms (including changing meters)
Please note that additional pages/sections of Kraft and Cole/Lewis may be assigned and/or tested in class.
EAR TRAINING
IN-CLASS EAR TRAINING TESTS
(Dates & material are subject to change)
TEST NO 1 – Friday, September 23
1. 10 Melodic Intervals (m2-P8) heard at the beginning and end of short melodies. 2 Hearings.
2. Chord Recognition – 5 block chords: major, minor, dominant 7 th , augmented, and diminished chords in root position. 2
Hearings.
3. Melodic Dictation, major and minor modes, treble and bass clefs, simple meters, whole notes through eighth notes,
more leaps than SS I, 3 examples, 2 measures each. 4 Hearings.
4. Error detection – 4 bars, rhythms and notes, 2 examples. 3 Hearings.
TEST NO. 2 – Wednesday, October 19
1. 10 Harmonic Intervals (m2-P8) treble and bass clefs. 2 Hearings.
2. Chord Recognition – 5 block chords: major, minor, dominant 7 th , augmented, and diminished chords in root position. 2
Hearings.
3. Melodic Dictation, major and minor modes, treble and bass clefs, compound meters, whole notes through eighth notes.
4 Hearings.

4. Error detection – 8 bars, rhythms and notes, 2 examples. 3 Hearings.
5. Chord Progressions – I, IV, V, V7 chords, root position, Major and minor keys, Notate bass line and roman numerals. 3
Hearings.
TEST NO. 3 – Wednesday, November 16
1. Harmonic Intervals (m2-P8) treble and bass clefs. 2 Hearings.
2. Chord Recognition - Arpeggiated Chords: major, minor, and dominant 7th chords in root position and all inversions.
Augmented and diminished in root position only. 2 Hearings.
3. Melodic Dictation, major and minor modes, treble and bass clefs, simple and compound meters, whole notes through
eighth notes. 4 Hearings.
4. Error detection – 16 bars, rhythms and notes. 3 Hearings.
5. Chord Progressions - I, IV, V, V7 chords in root position and all inversions, major and minor keys, notate bass line and
roman numerals. 3 Hearings.
TEST NO. 4 – Wednesday December 8
1. Chord Recognition - Arpeggiated Chords: major, minor, and dominant 7th chords in root position and all inversions.
Augmented and diminished in root position only. 2 Hearings.
2. Melodic Dictation, major and minor modes, treble and bass clefs, simple and compound meters, whole notes through
eighth notes, 2 examples, 4 measures each. 4 Hearings.
3. Chord Progressions - I, IV, V, V7 chords in root position and all inversions, major and minor keys, notate soprano and
bass lines and roman numerals. 4 Hearings.
4. Error detection – 16 bars, rhythms and notes. 3 Hearings.
5. Melodic Dictation – Familiar Melody by ear.
.
EAR TRAINING PRACTICE
Your ear training practice will come from a variety of sources, including in-class practice, the computer software
program Practica Musica, the free online website musictheory.net, and working with classmates outside of class. Inclass
practice tests are vital to your success for the ear training portion of the grade.
The last day to “add” any course at the University is Tuesday, September 6, 2011. The last day to "drop" (or
switch from credit to audit) without Dean's permission is Friday, September 30, 2011.
CONCLUSION
The overall grade for the course entitled Sight Singing & Ear Training II will be determined as follows: Sight Singing – 50%
(40% in-class; 10% in-office); Ear Training – 50% (the average of the four in-class ET tests). The average of the overall sight
singing and ear training grades will equal the course grade.
Example: SS = 83; ET = 97; Grade for Course = 90 (A-)
93-100 = A; 90-92 = A-; 87-89 = B+; 83-86 = B; 80-82 = B-;
78-79 = C+; 75-77 = C; 70-74 = C-; 65-69 = D; 0-64 = F
A grade of "Incomplete" will not be given for this course. Exceptions may be made for extended illnesses or permission
given by the instructor for extraordinary circumstances.
At George Mason University, a grade of D is considered passing but unsatisfactory. Most music majors can apply a
maximum of 12 credit hours of D's toward graduation with no more than 6 of these 12 hours in music courses. A grade of C
or higher is required for entry into SS/ET III. B.M. students concentrating in Music Education must earn a grade of C or
better in ALL required music and professional education courses.
JUNIOR AND SENIOR COURSE PREREQUISITES
Sight Singing and Ear Training I & II are prerequisites to many junior and senior level music courses. The Department of
Music strictly enforces its prerequisite policy. Not passing the following courses in a timely manner will affect one's
graduation date:
Sight Singing and Ear Training I, II & III; Theory I, II, III, & IV; Keyboard Skills I, II, III
HONOR CODE: When entering George Mason University, you agreed to abide by the honor code. Please read the code
over again so you are fully aware of its implications. Violations of the honor code include cheating and attempted cheating,
plagiarism, lying, and stealing.