Butler Community College	Ron Garber
Humanities/Fine Arts Division	Fall 1997

Course Outline AURAL SKILL I

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
MU 156. Aural Skills I. 2 hours credit. Prerequisite: Fundamental music reading skills and concurrent enrollment in MU 111. This course involves an in-depth study and practical application of the sight singing and diction skills which enable the student to hear intervals, chord qualities, chord progressions and scale sources as applied to traditional and contemporary music.

TEXTBOOKS:
Fish, Arnold; Lloyd, Norman. Fundamentals of Sight Singing and Ear Training. Prospect Heights: Waveland Press Inc., 1993.
Durham, Thomas L., Beginning Tonal Dictation. Prospect Heights: Waveland Press Inc., 1994.
Mason, Thom David. Ear Training for Improvisors - A Total Approach - Part 1. Sherman Oaks: Alfred Publishing Co. Inc., 1986.
Temporal Acurty Music Lab Series Student Set 3.5

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The primary objective of Aural Skills I is to provide students with a practical and logical approach to the development of aural skills applied to tonal music. At the completion of this course each student should be able to demonstrate the following skills:

1. identify, write, sing, and play and major scale and explain the various methods for major scale construction.
2. identify, write, sing, and play and diatonic interval (ascending or descending) within an octave from a given starting pitch.
3. identify, write, sing and play each of the seven modes in all keys.
4. identify, write, sing, and play the three minor scale forms in all 12 keys.
5. identify, write, sing, and play unaltered and altered major and minor triads and four-part chords in root position and in any inversion.
6. demonstrate proficiency in the Breath Impulse (BRIM) methods of counting rhythms.
7. demonstrate proficiency in diatonic solfege (moveable DO) and pitch digitization of sight singing exercises.
8. sing and transcribe from dictation simple major and minor melodies and/or root movements in various meters and clefs.
9. identify chords played in isolation and grouped in diatonic progressions in major keys.
10. transcribe all four parts (SATB) of a short chorale excerpt.

TOPICAL OUTLINE OF UNITS:
Introduction to Diatonic Intervals
    The student will be able to:

1. identify, write, sing, and play any major scale and explain the various methods for major scale construction.
2. identify, write, sing, and play any diatonic interval (ascending or descending) within an octave from a given starting pitch.
3. identify, write, sing and play each of the seven modes in all keys.
4. identify, write, sing, and play the three minor scale forms in all 12 keys.

Chords
    The student will be able to:

1. identify, write, singe, and play unaltered major and minor triads and four-part chords.
2. identify, write, sing, and play altered major and minor triads and four-part chords.

Introduction to Aural Skills Methods
    The student will be able to:

1. demonstrate proficiency in the Breath Impulse (BRIM) method of counting rhythms.
2. demonstrate proficiency in diatonic solfege (moveable DO) and pitch digitization of sight singing exercises.

Introduction to Single Line Transcription (dictation) Techniques
    The student will be able to:

1. identify and use various meters and clefs.
2. sing and transcribe from dictation simple root movements in major and minor keys.
3. sing and transcribe from dictation simple major and minor melodies.

Harmonic Applications
    The student will be able to:

1. identify chords played in isolation and grouped in diatonic progressions in major keys.
2. transcribe all four parts (SATB) of a short chorale excerpt.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
Methods of instruction will include: daily aural skills drills; class discussion; handouts; audio-visual; computer lab; textbook reading, and demonstration.

Telecourses: Independent study of audio/video materials augmented by text and study guide; collaboration and participation with class members and faculty via available means. Faculty role is facilitator of learning experiences.

METHODS OF EVALUATION:
Methods of evaluation may include: written, aural, and playing (keyboard) tests; daily work; class participation; attendance; and other methods of evaluating at the discretion of the instructor.

Miscellaneous:
Students with impaired sensory, manual or speaking skills are encouraged and have the responsibility to contact their instructor, in a timely fashion, regarding reasonable accommodation needs.