Course

Aural & Sight Singing Skills I

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
Music
Course Code
MUSC 1104
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
25
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Typically Offered
Fall

Overview

Course Description
This course is a progressive introduction to the aural, sight singing and rhythm reading skills required to hear and demonstrate simple diatonic melodies and rhythms. Minimal musical experience and reading ability are required. Open to all students, but priority will be given to full-time Basic Musicianship and Foundation for Music Therapy Studies (FMTS) students.
Course Content
  1. Pitch Fundamentals
    • Basics of vocal production and singing
    • Pitch Matching
    • Singing ascending and descending intervals
    • Singing major and minor scales
    • Singing ascending and descending notes in triads
    • Singbacks of short melodic fragments, 3-7 notes
    • Singing of tonal melodies containing intervals of seconds, thirds, the P4, the P5 and the P8
    • Audiating (creating and hearing in one's mind) tonic while singing melody
    • Intonation (singing in tune) in ensemble
    • Identification of melodic (ascending and descending) and harmonic intervals up to the P8
    • Identification of scale types: major, minor (natural, harmonic and melodic forms)
    • Identification of scale degrees in major and minor scales
    • Identification of triads in root position (major, minor, augmented and diminished)
    • Identification of tonic and starting notes in songs
    • Simple melodic dictation both with and without rhythm
  2. Meter and Rhythm Fundamentals
    • Recognizing elements of temporal organization in music
      • Pulse
      • Meter
      • Beat division
      • Crusic versus Anacrusic phrasing
      • Duration (time values of notes & rests)
    • Singing and tapping of rhythmic patterns
    • Rhythmic reading in simple and compound meter
    • Dictation of rhythms in simple and compound meters using protonotation and standard notation techniques
    • Maintaining a steady pulse while demonstrating rhythm
    • Rhythmic Reading demonstrations in ensemble
  3. Musicianship Skills
    • Use of a relative pitch labelling system (e.g., movable-doh solfège or scale degree numbers)
      • pitch mapping: building a tonal network by aligning solfège syllables with note names in several different major and minor keys 
    • Use of Curwen hand signs
    • Use of a rhythm labelling system (e.g. Takadimi syllables)
    • Use of conducting patterns for duple, triple, and quadruple meter
    • Dictation and transcription exercises using protonotation and standard musical notation
Learning Activities

Classes will include the presentation of concepts, demonstration of learning strategies and modelling of skills by the instructor, integrated with drills and practice exercises performed by the whole class, small groups and individuals.

Means of Assessment

Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. 

The following is a sample grades breakdown:

Short quizzes* (minimum one per week) 20%
Homework 5%
Singing and rhythm demonstrations* (minimum of four) 10%
Dictation tests (minimum of two) 20%
Individual sight singing mid-term test 7.5%
In-class ear training mid-term test 7.5%
Individual sight singing final test 12.5%
In-class ear training final test 12.5%
Class participation 5%
 TOTAL

100%

*Frequent, short evaluations are designed to give feedback on newly learned material and skills, and will include demonstrations of tasks as outlined in the course content.

N.B. This course includes final testing worth more than 10% during the last fourteen days of classes. A standing variance to the Evaluation Policy was granted by Education Council on September 14, 2020.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the successful student will demonstrate satisfactory skill and musicianship in aural recognition and performance of tonal melodies, harmonies and rhythms, as outlined in Course Content.

Students will be expected to:

  1. Sing prepared and unprepared (or "sight") drills, exercises and compositions;
  2. Interpret and respond to visual cues (e.g., Curwen hand signs, conducting patterns, notated rhythms and melodies);
  3. Use Curwen hand signs while singing; 
  4. Demonstrate conducting patterns while articulating rhythmic exercises;
  5. Hear musical material and retain it in working memory; 
  6. Provide written answers to demonstrate aural recognition; 
  7. Manage performance anxiety in order to execute required listening, singing and rhythmic tasks in both group and one-on-one settings within established time limits.
Textbook Materials

Instructors may assign text materials and/or digital resources.

Text example:

Current edition of Krueger, Carol. Progressive Sight Singing. New York: Oxford University Press.

Digital resource example: 

student subscription to Artusi Music (www.artusimusic.com)

 

Requisites

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for MUSC 1104
Athabasca University (AU) AU MUSI 1XX (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU MUS 1XX (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU MUSI 1XXX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) DOUG MUSC 1101 (3) & DOUG MUSC 1104 (3) & DOUG MUSC 1204 (3) = SFU CA 104 (3) & SFU CA 1XX (6)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) DOUG MUSC 1101 (3) & DOUG MUSC 1104 (3) = SFU CA 104 (3) & SFU CA 1XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU MUSI 1XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) No credit
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) No credit
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) No credit
University of Northern BC (UNBC) No credit
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC MUS 1XX (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) Individual Audition Required

Course Offerings

Winter 2025