Skip to content

Course Syllabus

Course: MUSC 4656

Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Music
Title: Private Brass, Fourth Year

Semester Approved: Summer 2019
Five-Year Review Semester: Spring 2025
End Semester: Spring 2025

Catalog Description: This course provides students with individual brass instruction. Private instruction is required of music majors each semester during college. Music majors receive one-hour lessons each week of the semester. The course is repeatable for credit. This course develops and improves a student's technical, interpretive, improvisational, pedagogical, and sight reading skills as well as developing a student's understanding of the history and repertory of the specific instrument/voice. The course promotes synthesis various types of musical knowledge. A jury is required at the end of the semester. The jury accounts for 20% of the grade for the course. Students must successfully pass the jury at the end of their second semester of 3000 level private instruction in order to register for 4000 level private instruction. An additional fee is required.

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


Prerequisites: Permission of instructor

Justification: As an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), Snow College is required to provide competent private instruction for music majors in all vocal and instrumental specialties. Private instruction is required of music majors in four-year music degree programs and must appear on student transcripts. This course offers an excellent opportunity for all Snow College students to develop musicianship and performance skills. Courses of this type are taught at all NASM accredited institutions in Utah.


Student Learning Outcomes:
Fourth year private lesson students will: 

Continue to develop good practice habits, and keep track of practice hours using a practice journal or log sheet; This outcome will be assessed via review of the student practice log or journal.

Learn repertoire appropriate to an advanced grade level; This outcome will be assessed via evaluation of student performance in (1) weekly lessons, (2) recitals, & (3) the jury.

Learn advanced technique skills necessary to perform more challenging repertoire; This outcome will be assessed via evaluation of student performance in (1) weekly lessons, (2) recitals, & (3) the jury.

Memorize music for performance (where appropriate); This outcome will be assessed via evaluation of student performance in (1) weekly lessons, (2) recitals, & (3) the jury.

Continue to demonstrate proper artistic style and technical facility. This outcome will be assessed via evaluation of student performance in (1) weekly lessons, (2) recitals, & (3) the jury.


Content:
Practice journal development;
• Continuing work on body posture including embouchure, hand and feet positions, and breathing techniques;
• Advanced technique study, including use of vibrato and performance in extreme ranges;
• Greater focus on instruction in performance practice appropriate to stylistic periods;
• Continuing development of tone strength and quality within all ranges of the instrument;
• Development of dynamic ranges appropriate to all types of literature;
• In depth study of languages necessary to perform music appropriately;
• Study of major and minor scales and arpeggios;
• Study of method books and etudes appropriate to student playing level;
• Study of solo repertoire appropriate for fourth-year college students and/or the individual level of the student;
• Development of performance technique, including memorization techniques, stage deportment and anxiety management;
• Study and practice will be assessed through instructor feedback and public performance.

Key Performance Indicators:
Students in private music instruction courses are assessed in the following ways (percentages are approximate):

Participation Rates - Attendance and preparation at lessons 20 to 30%

Written Assignments - Documented practice hours (30%); 20 to 30%

Recital Peformance 20 to 30%

Jury 20 to 30%


Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Instructor will assign materials based on students' level of skill an interests. Students may be required to purchase solos and collections as assigned by instructor.


Pedagogy Statement:
This course is delivered via direct instruction, demonstration and modeling, and mentoring.

Instructional Mediums:
Lecture

Maximum Class Size: 1
Optimum Class Size: 1