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Course Syllabus

Course: MUSC 4186

Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Music
Title: String Chamber Music IV

Semester Approved: Spring 2020
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2024
End Semester: Fall 2025

Catalog Description: This course provides training and practical playing experience for chamber music groups. It is designed for capable string and piano players. Students will learn string and piano literature including quartets, trios, sonatas, etc. This ensemble will provide students with an opportunity to develop technical skill, sight-reading ability, and knowledge of the repertory related to the ensemble. It further allows students to synthesize musical, historical and cultural knowledge into meaningful artistic expression. This course is repeatable for credit.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1; Lecture: 2; Lab: 0
Repeatable: Yes.


Prerequisites: MUSC 3186 or permission of instructor. Audition required.

Justification: Music majors in general, and performance majors in particular, are required to participate in chamber music performance.These groups allow a focus on individual intonation, articulation, style and expressivity that is not possible with larger ensembles. Chamber ensembles also serve to teach students the literature associated with the genre. This course also allows more mature students to work with sophisticated repertoire. This course will transfer as a performance credit.


Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will be able to correctly perform various pieces using a proper musical style. Students will be able to perform in a small chamber ensemble that demonstrates a proper balance between players. This outcome will be assessed by evaluating performance in weekly rehearsals, through periodic playing tests, and through public performances.

Students will demonstrate proper tone production techniques. This outcome will be assessed by evaluating performance in weekly rehearsals, through periodic playing tests, and through public performances.

Students will demonstrate accurate rhythmic performance.  This outcome will be assessed by evaluating performance in weekly rehearsals, through periodic playing tests, and through public performances.

Students will demonstrate the necessary technical command of their instruments.  This outcome will be assessed by evaluating performance in weekly rehearsals, through periodic playing tests, and through public performances.


Content:
Selected chamber music repertoire is selected by the instructor and students. String literature will be chosen from one of the four major musical periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Contemporary. Students will perform the music in a concert or recital. Other topics will include performing with correct bowings, dynamics, articulations, pitch and rhythms as well as maintaining proper balance.

Key Performance Indicators:
Through performance, students will be able to interpret music using the proper tone, bowings, dynamics, tempi and articulation of various historical pieces.

Playing Tests  30 to 40%

Participation  30 to 40%

Public Perfomances 30 to 40%


Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Music assigned by instructor.


Pedagogy Statement:
This course is taught through hands on application.

Instructional Mediums:
Lecture

Maximum Class Size: 16
Optimum Class Size: 12