Syllabus, Bach to Rock, MUS 200 (3 credits).
Fall  2006
Keep this syllabus.  Do not throw away.

Instructor:  Mr. Frank Merritt
School phone:  828 328-7154 or 704 880-4510(cell)  Home phone: 704 872-1118
E-mail:  fwmerritt@bellsouth.net or merrittf@lrc.edu
Office hours:      Class meeting times:  Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:10-1:45.
Final Exam Time:  TBA

Internet address for book  www.prenhall.com/meyer/accompanying cd's.

Prerequisites:
None

Objectives of the course:
Bach to Rock will look at the components that make up music.  The course will also cover how music effects individuals and how music can effect society at large.  We will also look at different styles in time in the attempt to better understand how the past has influenced today's music.

Course goals: 
Students will gain tools with which to better analyze music musical structure and style.  Students will also become familiar with music of different eras; from what is considered classical music of the past up to today's music.  A basic understanding of the connections these musics have with social conditions, market pressures and historical developments will be achieved. By  listening to recordings, students will recognize given artists and performers and be able to briefly discuss the type of music heard and the performer's place in it.

General Methodology:
Class meets twice a week (90 minutes each). Each class is a combination of lecture, class discussion, and listening.  There will be an emphasis placed on listening.

Textbooks and other required material:
Meyer, Donald C., Perspectives on Music. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Pearson Education, 2003.  Also the accompanying CD's to the text are required.

Course outline:
The course will begin with a presentation of the basic elements of music.  During this phase, the class will spend a majority of the time studying classical music.  A review of the roots of popular music and it's function in society will ensue.  A historical survey of American popular music will follow, covering the period of 1840 to the present.  Each student will do a project either individually or in groups.  The vehicle of the project will be decided upon at the beginning of the semester.

Method of Evaluation:
The following lists the items upon which grades are determined.

                         10% Midterm exam  

                         20% Final exam                                           

                         50% Assignments from the book  

                         20% Project                          

Attendance Policy:
Two unexcused absences require a consultation with the instructor and may lower your grade by one letter. No exams will be made up except by prior arrangement.   Work, campus clubs, fraternity or sorority functions are not excusable.  Any special problems must be dealt with in advance.  If you find that health considerations will make you miss large amounts of class, get in touch with your counselor or the registrar!  They can help you develop alternative methods of instruction.  The instructor can be reasonable.

Academic Integrity Policy:
Students are expected to comply with the Academic Integrity Policy as set forth by Lenoir Rhyne College.  You may find this on the Lenoir Rhyne web site at the address, www.lrc.edu/catalog/ACADEMICREG.htm

Special considerations regarding attendance.

1.    If you find yourself in a position health-wise of missing much class time, get in touch with your counselor,  Jean Beaver, Dr. Gail Summer, or myself.  They can help you make special arrangements for the class(es) you will be missing.

2.    Do not miss more than 25% of the class.   There are 43 class meetings, this translates into 11 absences.

        CLASS ATTENDANCE

     Students are expected to attend classes and laboratories as specified by the instructor, who will state                                                         his attendance policy in writing at the beginning of the semester. No allowed number of absences is automatically granted to a student. Ordinarily, a student will not receive credit if 25% of the scheduled class meetings are missed.

3.    Please notify me in advance of any absence.  I can be reasonable.  If you are ill, e-mail me or have a friend or room mate e-mail me. 

Absences can only be excused by the professors of the course. Students absent from classes while representing the college are expected to be given the opportunity to complete missed work. Students who know in advance of certain absences should clear those absences and complete any work which will be missed prior to the absence.

4.    Please note the paragraph below.

The instructor may warn a student who has more absences than seem reasonable. Additional absences by the student may result in a request by the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs to exclude the student from the class. Unexcused absences may result in the reduction of the student's grade. Each faculty member has the prerogative of determining whether or not a student may miss the last class meeting before a holiday or the first meeting after a holiday and may effect a reduction in grade or assign additional work to the student who misses those classes.

5.    Any excused quiz missed due to an  absence, must me made up no more than three class meetings after the scheduled time of the quiz.  If you cannot make the scheduled time for the final exam, you must notify me in writing by December 1, 2003.  The student who is absent from an announced quiz or examination, unless excused for cause (participation in recognized college activities, illness, or emergencies), may not be permitted to make up the quiz or examination.

WAITING FOR THE INSTRUCTOR: Students are expected to wait for the instructor for at least ten minutes.

"FINAL EXAM POLICIES

The following policies apply to final examinations at Lenoir-Rhyne College.

1.All classes (including Evening College ) are to meet as scheduled during the final exam period either for final exams or for alternate learning experiences.

2.No undergraduate exams may be given on Reading Days.

3.A student who is scheduled for three exams in one day is allowed to reschedule one of the exams at a time that is mutually convenient for the student and the instructor.

4.A student who needs to reschedule an exam at a time earlier than the time for which it is scheduled should submit a petition in writing to the instructor.  Only unusual circumstances such as a death in the family or other emergencies constitute acceptable grounds for rescheduling. Instructors are requested to render an appropriate judgment in these cases.  The Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs is available for consultation.

5.Faculty members are strongly encouraged NOT to schedule any major tests or examinations after December 5, 2002, in order to allow students appropriate time to prepare for final exams and to complete other course requirements." 

                                                                                                                                                                          found on web page http://www.lrc.edu/home/Final Exam.htm

"What's My Connection?"

What's My Connection is a game that will be played in MUS 200.  The class will be divided into groups based upon similar likes and dislikes of music.  The instructor will play more than one selection of music and each group is to figure out what is the connection between the different.  The connection may be musical, formal, or sociological. 

At the end of the semester, each member of the winning team will have up to 10 points (adjusted due to individual attendance) added to their final grade.