Course

Basic Aural & Sight Singing Skills II

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
Music
Course code
MUSC 1203
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
25
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Typically offered
Winter

Overview

Course description
This course continues the development of aural, sight singing, and rhythm reading skills introduced in MUSC 1103.
Course content

 

MUSC 1203 includes continuing practice with all content in MUSC 1103. Increased fluency and accuracy is expected in MUSC 1203.

Content specific to MUSC 1203 includes: 

  1. Pitch-related content
    • Identification of melodic (ascending and descending) and harmonic intervals up to the P8
    • Singing drills and exercises with intervals and broken chord patterns
    • Diatonic melodies including leaps of 6ths and 7ths
    • Diatonic melodies with leaps between members of the subdominant triad and dominant seventh chord
    • Melodies with more complex rhythms
    • Identification of major and minor triads in 1st and 2nd inversions
    • Identification of chords in four-part style in open spacing
    • Identifying root-position seventh chords
    • Chord qualities in major and minor keys 
    • I-IV-V progressions in major and minor keys, with and without bass line transcription
    • Cadence identification (authentic, half, plagal, deceptive)
    • More complex ensemble singing exercises 
  2. Meter and rhythm-related content
    • Dictation and performance of rhythmic patterns in both simple and compound meters which include subdivided beats, uneven beat divisions, and syncopation
    • Reading with less-familiar beat units
    • More complex ensemble rhythm reading demonstrations
  3. Musicianship Skills:
    • increasing fluency with 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 
    • increasing fluency with Curwen hand signs
    • increasing fluency with a rhythm labelling system (e.g. Takadimi syllables)
    • Continuing use of conducting patterns
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 1203
Athabasca University (AU) AU MUSI 1XX (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU MUS 212 (1.5) & CAPU MUS 213 (1.5)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CA 1XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU MUSI 2XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) No credit
Trinity Western University (TWU) DOUG MUSC 1202 (3) & DOUG MUSC 1203 (3) = TWU MUSI 226 (3)
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

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
25
Currently enrolled
16
Remaining seats:
9
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N3407
Times:
Start Time
10:30
-
End Time
11:20
Section notes

This course is restricted to students in the Basic Musicianship program.