MUC2102
Composition Skills 4

Syllabus - Fall 2010 (preliminary)

Credits: 1

Required Texts:

(available online via numerous vendors)

Cope, David. Techniques of the Contemporary Composer. (Schirmer Books, 1997). [amazon.com] [barnesandnoble.com]

High quality music manuscript paper
Soft lead pencils, No. 2 or softer
(6) CD-R blank disks for PROJECTS
(1) 4 GB Flash Drive (for data backup)

20% Class Participation (see Remember #4)
20% Composition Assignments/Projects
10% Small Concert Presentations
15% Listening Reports
5% Assigned Bibliography
10% Composition Jury Grade
20% Final Project

1) All listening selections are from the Music Library Listening Area; please plan your time accordingly. A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on the part of the library support staff.

2) Late work is not accepted.

3) We are very fortunate to have a highly skilled graduate assistant (GA) serving this course (among numerous other duties). The GA will have regularly scheduled weekly office hours. Limited time may be available outside these office hours only at their discretion. Please contact the GA well in advance of your needs via email or in person after class (please respect the personal time of our GA). Come prepared with your materials well underway when working with the GA. As the assignments are designed to require you to apply the techniques demonstrated in class, the GA will only review the techniques and concepts outlined in the class lectures. Again, like the library staff, a lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on the part of our GA.

4) Attendance is required at all classes. Should a class be missed, it is the student's responsibility to see that the lecture notes from the missed class are obtained from a classmate and any work assigned is completed by their return (a class list will be supplied to help facilitate this policy). After three (3) class absences your grade will be lowered one grade increment for each absence after three (ie A to A-, or C to C-). Your grade will be lowered one grade increment for each UnBalanced Connection concert missed. Each missed concert or presentation will also result in a reduction in your grade by one increment.

5) The Electroacoustic Music Studio will be reserved at a posted time for use by each electroacoustic music student. Additional time is possible by sign-up every two weeks. Each studio user has a five minute grace period after which the studio will revert to open use; the open use time will be available on a first come, first served basis.

6) Sign-in/out is required when using either the lab or studio. You must return the studio to the normal condition after each use or your use privileges will be removed.

7) Plan early for your final project...things have a way of happening at the last minute.

8) The requirements, emphasis, and timing of this course may be changed or adjusted to meet the specific needs of the class as determined by the instructor.

9) All students of The University of Florida are expected to conduct themselves in a reasonable and professional manner at all times as described in the Student Honor Code; please refer to The Code for specifics.

10) UF Software Copyright Policy: All faculty, staff and students of the University of Florida are required and expected to obey the laws and legal agreements governing software use. Failure to do so can lead to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator. Because such violations are also against the University policies and rules, disciplinary action will be taken as appropriate.

11) UF Counseling Services - Resources are available on-campus for students having personal problems or lacking clear career and academic goals which interfere with their academic performance.

These resources include:
1.University Counseling Center, 301 Peabody Hall, 392-1575, personal and career counseling;
2.Student Mental Health, Student Health Care Center, 392-1171, personal counseling;
3.Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS), Student Health Care Center, 392-1161, sexual assault counseling;
4.Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career development assistance and counseling.

12) Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office in Peabody Hall. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation.

13) My office door is always open; please feel free to drop by to discuss class issues as the need arises.

A	100-94%
A-	93-90%
B+	89-87%
B	86-83%
B-	82-80%
C+	79-77%
C	76-73%
C-	72-70%
D+	69-67%
D	66-63%
D-	62-60%
E	59-0%

Week 1 (23 Aug)

• Introduction and Minimalism

• Minimalism (cont)

• Minimalism (cont)

• Indeterminacy

• Indeterminacy (cont)

• Indeterminacy (cont)

• New Techniques & Instruments

• New Techniques & Instruments (cont)

• New Techniques & Instruments (cont)

• New Notations

• New Notations (cont)

• New Notations (cont)

• Decategorization (cont)

• Decategorization (cont)

• Decategorization (cont)

• Presentation of class works in concert