Course

Ear Training & Sight Singing III

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
Music
Course Code
MUSC 2315
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
20
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Typically Offered
To be determined

Overview

Course Description
This course provides development of aural and sight singing skills with a focus on more complex melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic elements of tonal music, including chromaticism and irregular beat divisions.
Course Content

 

  1. Aural Recognition
    • Chromatic scale degrees in major and minor modes.
    • Melodies in single phrases and simple period structures, including chromatic tones.
    • Simple two-part melodic textures including chromatic and non-chord tones.
    • Seventh chords in all positions.
    • Soprano and bass factors, quality, and position of chords in progressions which include: root-position and inverted seventh chords, applied (secondary) dominant and leading-tone seventh chords, and non-modulating harmonic sequences.
    • Longer and more complex rhythmic exercises including irregular beat divisions.
    • Error detection and correction exercises.
  2. Sight Performance
    • Melodies which include large intervals, harmonic and non-harmonic chromatic tones.
    • Longer and more complex rhythmic exercises including irregular beat divisions.
  3. Musicianship Skills Performance
    • Seventh chords (primary and secondary functions) in broken chord progressions.
    • Chromaticism in relative pitch labelling systems (movable-doh solfège or scale degree numbers).
    • Chromatic Curwen hand signs.
    • Ensemble singing exercises.

 

Learning Activities

Presentation of concepts, demonstration of learning strategies and modelling of skills by the instructor, integrated with drills and practice exercises by the students.  Skill reinforcement through assigned use of auxiliary resources.

Means of Assessment

The course evaluation is consistent with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy.

Sight and Musicianship Skills Tests (minimum 4, with no test weighing more than 15%)  40%
Melodic, Rhythmic and Harmonic Dictation Tests (minimum 4, with no test weighing more than 15%)  50%
Weekly homework assignments 10%
TOTAL 100%

N.B.:  This course includes final testing worth more than 10% during the last 14 days of classes.  A standing variance to the Douglas College Evaluation Policy was granted by Education Council on Mar. 21, 2011.

 

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

The latest editions of required texts such as the following:

Ear Training Textbook

  • Karpinski, Gary S. Manual for Ear Training and Sight Singing (with recordings). New York: W. W. Norton.

Sight Singing Textbook

  • Berkowitz, Sol, Gabriel Fontrier, Leo Kraft, Perry Goldstein and Edward Smaldone. A New Approach to Sight Singing. New York: W. W. Norton.

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 2315
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU MUSI 2351 (2)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CA 1XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU MUSC 2XXX (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV MUSC_V 205 (1)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC MUS 270A (1) & UVIC MUS 2XX (0.5)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) VCC MUSC 2301 (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025