Northern Arizona University
School of Music
Mus 603: Analytical Techniques
Summer Session II, 2004
Meets daily at 0730 for 3 credit hours
PROFESSOR: Kenneth R. Rumery
e-mail: Kenneth.Rumery@nau.edu
course site: http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~krr2 (links to composer’s tools and this course)
COURSE PREREQUISITES: Graduate standing in music.
TEXTBOOK (Required): Charles Burkhart, Anthology for Musical Analysis, 5th ed. Other resources distributed in class or available on WWW. Sound recordings are available at Klein Library.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Analysis is not a concise methodology but rather a collection of analytical techniques selected on a case by case basis to develop understandings about a particular work or body of works. Some techniques presented in this class focus on isolated aspects of a work while others strive for a perception of the whole. This course will present a variety of analytical techniques, discuss the formation of analytical goals and make suitable applications in a broad range of history period styles and genres.
COURSE STRUCTURE: The course integrates instructor lectures, class and group discussions and activities, text assignments, public presentations, written quizzes and a term project.
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this course are to identify significant components in compositions and observe how these interact in time to produce musical structure and effect. Works will be approached on an ad hoc basic using appropriate concepts and tools. To accomplish this end, the class will
1. review traditional formal genres and processes
2. discuss parameters of music structure
3. present reductive techniques including those introduced by Schenker
4. present twelve-tone terminology and techniques
5. apply analytical techniques to a broad historical spectrum of literature
6. through analysis understand a composer’s thinking and intentions
7. use analysis as a tool in repertoire studies, interpretation of music, rehearsal planning, scholarship and research.
APPROACH: Course objectives will be met through analysis of examples and scores, criticism and listening to selected recordings, exams and semester projects. Each student will develop a semester project based on the analysis of a composition of his/her choice. The project is an application of analytical techniques in repertoire study, investigation of composition technique, analysis of a student’s own composition to demonstrate processes and effects, or the comparative/descriptive study of two or more compositions. Performance related analysis demonstrations are always appropriate. Semester projects will include a research paper and a 20 minute class presentation.
All students are expected to access web-based resources either in a computer lab or on personal equipment. This course is supported by a web site with links to resources used in this course. Some of these resources are available at http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~krr2. Others can be found using search engines such as Google.
All students are expected to listen to recordings of scores under study and to use recordings in their presentations. Project teams will be used for mutual assistance,
shared work load and certain projects (to be announced). Roles of team members will be clarified as the term unfolds.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR SEMESTER PROJECT
General: The semester project has two integrated components, a research paper and a presentation. Work will be based on an audio CD and a score chosen in consultation with the instructor. Duplication of compositions will be avoided.
Purpose: To show student's ability to analyze a composition and communicate his/her findings in a formal document and public presentation. You will be graded on your ability to organize, express and illustrate your thoughts. Start with a well conceived thesis statement. The body of your paper should support this thesis. End with a conclusion or summary that is consistent with the thesis and body of the paper.
Submitted Work Format: Submit a well organized machine produced paper (typewriter or computer) with well-integrated supporting material like scores, musical excerpts, diagrams, and charts. MLA style is required. The paper is due in class on the day you give your presentation.
Subject: An analysis must have specific objectives. A description of a work and its interrelated components is a good start. This can be used to develop an interpretation of a composition and to plan rehearsals. An analysis can also be used to closely examine and reveal interesting composing techniques. Ask yourself why you are analyzing a composition then convert your answer to a thesis statement. This could be used as an opportunity for a critical repertoire study of literature in your area of performance (solo, chamber, or large ensemble literature).
Presentation Length: twenty minutes.
Presentation Guidelines: Strive for a coherent and perceptive presentation of a composition. Use handouts or projections.
Rehearse the presentation to ensure that you will handle the equipment and resources efficiently and smoothly during the presentation. Use this rehearsal to pace your presentation so that it stays within limits. Warning: do not prompt responses from your audience until your presentation is complete.
Evaluation Form: about 25% of the semester grade, 100 points distributed as follows:
Presentation (45 pts):
[ ] efficiency, smoothness
[ ] quality of resources
[ ] content
Document (45 pts):
[ ] technical writing quality
[ ] organization [ ] quality of typing, graphics
[ ] Composite effect (10 pts)
[ ] TOTAL
GENERAL POLICIES
GRADING: The grade is based on tests quizzes , a semester projects and assignments. Letter grades are assigned as follows; A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, C = 70-79%, D = 60 - 69%, F = less than 60%.
ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend class. A daily record of attendance will be maintained. Each student is allowed two unexcused absences. These can be used for emergencies. Additional unexcused absences will lower the semester grade. Two tardies are counted as one unexcused absence.
Students will not be allowed to make up tests and assignments missed because of unexcused absence. Work will be completed in advance of officially approved absences. Approved absence must be supported by institutional or other official documentation.
Daily Schedule
[This schedule subject to change depending on needs and pace of class. Schedule changes will be posted at the link "Assignments, Notes and Updates" on the Analysis TOC page (musan_toc.html).]
Northern Arizona University
ACADEMIC POLICY STATEMENTS
Safe Environment Policy
NAU’s Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy seeks to prohibit discrimination and promote the safety of all individuals within the university. The goal of this policy is to prevent the occurrence of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status and to prevent sexual harassment, sexual assault or retaliation by anyone at this university. You may obtain a copy of this policy from the college dean’s office.
If you have concerns about this policy, it is important that you contact the department chair, dean’s office, the Office of Student Life (523-5181), the academic ombudsperson (523-9368), or NAU’s Office of Affirmative Action (523-3312).
Students with Disabilities
If you have a documented disability, you can arrange for accommodations by contacting the Office of Disability Support Services (DDS) at 523-8773 (voice), 523-6906 (TTY). In order for your individual needs to be met, you are required to provide DSS with disability related documentation and are encouraged to provide it at least eight weeks prior to the time you wish to receive accommodations. You must register with DSS each semester you are enrolled at NA and wish to use accommodations.
Faculty are not authorized to provide a student with disability related accommodations without prior approval from DSS. Students who have registered with DSS are encouraged to notify their instructors a minimum of two weeks in advance to ensure accommodations. Otherwise, the provision of accommodations may be delayed. Concerns or questions regarding disability related accommodations can be brought to the attention of DSS or the Affirmative Action Office.
Institutional Review Board
Any study involving observation of or interaction with human subjects that originates at NAU--including a course project, report, or research paper--must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional “Review Board (IRB) for the protection of human subjects in research and research-related activities. The IRB meets once each month. Proposals must be submitted for review at least fifteen working days before the monthly meeting. You should consult with your course instructor early in the course to ascertain if your project needs to be reviewed by the IRB and/or to secure information or appropriate forms and procedures for the IRB review. Your instructor and department chair or college dean must sign the application for approval b the IRB.
The IRB categorizes projects into three levels depending on the nature of the project: exempt from further review, expedited review, or full board review. If the IRB certifies that a project is exempt from further review, you need not resubmit the project for continuing IRB review as long as there are not modifications in the exempted procedures. A copy of the IRB Policy and Procedures Manual is available in each department’s administrative office and each college dean’s office. If you have questions, contact the Office of Grant and Contract Services at 523-4889.
Academic Integrity
The university takes an extremely serious view of violations of academic integrity. As members of the academic community, NAU’s administration, faculty, staff, and students are dedicated to promoting an atmosphere of honesty and are committed to maintaining the academic integrity essential to the education process. Inherent in this commitment is the belief that academic dishonesty in all forms violates the basic principles of integrity and impedes learning. Students are therefore responsible for conducting themselves in an academically honest manner. Individual students and faculty members are responsible for identifying instances of academic dishonesty. Faculty members then recommend penalties to the department chair or college dean in keeping the the severity of the violation.
The complete policy on academic integrity is in Appendix F of NAU’s Student Handbook.
Academic Contact Hour Policy
The Arizona Board of Regents Academic Contact Hour Policy (ABOR Handbook, 2-206, Academic Credit) states: “an hour of work is the equivalent of 50 minutes of class time...at least 15 contact hours or recitation, lecture, discussion, testing or evaluation, seminar, or colloquium as well as a minimum of 30 hours of student homework is required for each unit of credit.”
The reasonable interpretation of this policy is that for every credit hour, a student should expect, on average, to do a minimum of two additional hours of work per week: e.g., preparation, homework, studying.
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