- Course Number:
- MUS 101
- Course Title:
- Introduction to Music (Basic Materials)
- Credit Hours:
- Lecture Hours:
- Lecture/Lab Hours:
- Lab Hours:
- Special Fee:
Course DescriptionIntroduces the basic components of music such as rhythm, melody, harmony and structure. Includes basic note reading and building of music literacy skills. No prior music experience required. Audit available.
Addendum to Course Description
Course does not fulfill prerequisite for further music theory study.
Intended Outcomes for the course
- Use basic music literacy in order to apply musical skills in the form of singing and/or learning to play a musical instrument.
- Listen critically using the building blocks of music in order to identify structure and form in music.
- Use the basic components of music in order to identify what makes up diverse musical style and genre.
Course Activities and Design
The material for the course will be presented in a lecture/discussion format. Audio examples should be used to demonstrate the concepts covered. Lectures may be enhanced through the use of other multimedia.
- Students will identify the meter of a simple music composition.
- Students will read and notate basic rhythms in simple and compound meters.
- Students will read and notate music notes in treble and bass clefs on the music staff.
- Students will accurately construct and visually recognize major and minor scales.
- Students will identify common symbols used for musical dynamics and articulations.
- Students will visually determine the key of a basic melody.
- Students will construct and visually identify melodic and harmonic intervals.
- Students will construct and visually identify basic root position triads
Outcome Assessment Strategies
Assessment methods used to evaluate student progress and the criteria for assigning a course letter grade should be made clear by the instructor at the beginning of the course. Assessment methods should include:
- Qualitative and/or quantitative examinations
- Homework assignments
- Listening assignments
- Research project
- Class participation
Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)
Basics of rhythmic notation
The piano keyboard
Major scales and key signatures
The circle of fifths
Melodic and harmonic intervals
Minor scales and key signatures
Root position triad labeling, construction and identification
Basic musical design (form)
Introduction to harmonic function
The following skills are expected to successfully meet the minimum requirement of "C" or "Pass" for the course.
• Identify pitch and rhythmic notation on music staff.
• Label pitches by letter name.
• Visually determine the meter of a musical composition.
• Visually identify and notate major and minor scales.
• Visually identify the key of a basic musical work.
• Visually identify and construct intervals.
• Visually identify and construct root-position triads.