Skip to content

Course Syllabus

Course: MUSC 2036

Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Music
Title: Cadence Chamber Choir

Semester Approved: Fall 2019
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2024
End Semester: Summer 2025

Catalog Description: This course provides group training in a variety of serious literature written for smaller vocal ensembles. Students enrolling in this course are expected to participate in major music events within the department. The group is auditioned from the student body. This course is repeatable for credit.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1-3; Lecture: 1-4; Lab: 0
Repeatable: Yes.


Prerequisites: By audition with instructor permission

Justification: This course is designed for the vocal student who wishes to perform more difficult literature in an auditioned group. Much of the choral literature of the early music periods ,as well as pop music or jazz, was written for small ensembles. This literature is not suitable for larger choirs, nor is it within the abilities of non-auditioned groups to perform it. All of the four-year colleges in the state offer a similar performing group.

General Education Outcomes:
5: A student who completes the GE curriculum can address complex problems by integrating the knowledge and methodologies of multiple disciplines.  Students willincrease their knowledge of the musical periods and the social aspects of that time bystudying this music and its composition. They will demonstrate this increased knowledgein performances that will be recorded for analysis. Quartets may sing individually for theinstructor to ascertain memorization and performance readiness.


Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of each semester of this course, students will be able to accuratelyperform the music selected by the director. They will understand the music in its historical setting as well as the stylistic, expressive, and formal qualities associated with the particular era of music history. Quartets may sing individually for the instructor to ascertain memorization and performance readiness. The students will perform the music studied in concerts scheduled throughout the semester. Students will show theirmastery of the musical elements (notes, rhythms, expressive content) in performance.

They will understand the textual meanings of the compositions. The students will communicate the understanding which they have gained to their audiences in concert. Students will show their mastery of selected literature during concerts given each semester.

Students will be able to respond more sensitively to a masterwork which they have rehearsed, having discussed text, dynamics, phrasing, conditions under which it was composed, and performing it to an appreciative audience. This will be assessed through individual performances. 


Content:
Music will be chosen from all periods of music history and from all levels of difficulty within the ability of the current group. The skills of sightsinging and rhythmic reading will be taught through daily exercises and through rehearsal of the music. Proper vocal techniques will be discussed and applied.

Key Performance Indicators:
Non-participation in mandatory ("Dress") rehearsals and concerts will lead to a failing grade.

Students will show their mastery of selected literature during concerts given each semester. 0 to 20%

Regular sectional rehearsals will provide feedback on individual progress. 0 to 20%

Regular and prompt attendance will be essential to a passing grade. 50 to 100%


Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Music will be supplied through the Snow College Choral Library.


Pedagogy Statement:
Students will be taught using a combination of musical-motor skills demonstration, musical cognitive skills demonstrations and instruction, and repetitive rehearsal of musical passages and pieces.

Instructional Mediums:
Lecture

Maximum Class Size: 50
Optimum Class Size: 36