About Music 351| Instructor | Credits | Grading | How to register

Basic Concepts of Music - Music 351 (online)

Do you like music and want to learn more about how it really works? If so, study music theory and apply your new knowledge to your own musical interests. Whether you play guitar by ear, sing in a choir, have studied piano, or play the kazoo, and no matter what type of music you're into, this course will make you a better, and more empowered, musician. Learn the material in a relaxed setting, and apply what you've learned in real world musical activities such as writing radio jingles and TV sitcom themes.

In this 15-week music course for credit, you will gain a comprehensive knowledge of basic music concepts through a skill building approach in a supportive environment. Learn the basic tools of music theory, cover the basic compositional forms used in music, and explore the development of music through a general survey of musical styles. Coursework includes various analysis assignments, a music journal, listening maps and other projects that help you apply the concepts and skills learned in the course.

Details at a glance:

Date: Fall or spring semesters (call for exact start date)
Location: Online
Cost: Campus per credit fee
Credits: 3
Instructor: Dr. Jamie Henke
Contact: Jamie Henke, (608)263-6822; jhenke@dcs.wisc.edu
Tell a friend: Tell a friend or colleague about this program.
To enroll: See registration options.

 

About Music 351

This is a 15-week online course which runs on the regular campus semester schedule. A new unit of the course is posted each week. Within that week you can work at your own pace and on your own schedule.

This course is open to part-time returning adult students and special students only. It is not open to music majors or high school students. If you have questions about your status as a part-time or special student, contact student services at 608-263-6960 or www.dcs.wisc.edu/services.

 

Instructor:

This course is taught by Dr. Jamie Henke, who is the 2006 recipient of the campus-wide Chancellor's Hilldale Award for Excellence in Teaching. She teaches Basic Concepts of Music through the UW-Madison School of Music, and she is a member of the Department of Liberal Studies and the Arts in the Division of Continuing Studies where she teaches music history and appreciation, composition, and high school music theory. She earned her PhD in Music Theory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1989. Dr. Henke is the author of a new and innovative online textbook, "Musical Palette," published by Atomic Dog publishers. The book is available in an interactive online format with both visual animations and sound, as well as in a traditional print format. Dr. Henke continues to be an active performer. She has appeared in many recitals, and performs on a regular basis at area churches. Her repertoire includes works that range from J. S. Bach to Gershwin and Kern. She is currently the Cherub choir director at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison.

 

About Credits:

This is a three credit course offered by the School of Music. This is a general elective that counts as Humanities credit. If you have any questions, please email Dr. Henke at jhenke@dcs.wisc.edu or call 608-263-6822.

 

Course Grading:

Topics covered

1. Introductions, lines, spaces, treble and bass clef, key signatures 1-Palette Basics
2. Rhythm 2-Patterns in Space
3. Major and minor scales, key signatures 3-Major Designs and 4-Minor Images
4. Intervals, inversion and compound intervals 5-Shapes and Sizes
5. Melody 9-Patterns in Line

Exam on weeks 1-5

6. Triads, major, minor, augmented, diminished 6-Vertical Tints
7. Seventh chords 7-Shades of Movement
8. Harmony 8-Musical Hues
9. Harmony and Non-harmonic tones 9-Blending the Basics
10. Applying what you've learned: Creating an analysis

Exam on weeks 6-10

11. Putting it all together: Forms
12. Tracing what you've learned: A general survey of musical styles
13. Drawing from the present: A general survey of current tools
14. Analysis and composition
15. Analysis and composition, review, exam

Exam on weeks 11-15

 

Students need to provide

• One tablet of staff paper
• A supply of plain paper (no lines)
• Colored pencils (at least 3)

This course uses the online text Musical Palette which makes it possible to hear and interact with everything discussed. The course also provides a flash animation that will allow you to play keys on your computer keyboard like a piano. This provides the opportunity to "feel" all of the theory concepts under your hands and experiment with the different sounds covered during the course of the semester.

 

Final grade

Your final grade will be determined by your performance on all of the following tasks:

Three exams

• Exam I: 100 points
• Exam II: 100 points
• Exam III: 100 points

Total = 300 points

Music Journal

• Nine journal entries at 7 points each = 63 points
• Three journal entries (theme and variation, jingle, TV theme) 15 points each = 45 points
• Seven listening maps at 6 points each = 42 points

Total = 150 points

Classroom/Discussion Board Activities

• Ten discussion board activities at 5 points each = 50 points
  

Total number of course points possible= 500

 

Registration Procedure:

In order to participate in Music 351 for credit, you must apply to be a special student at the UW-Madison. The free application is online and can be accessed at the following website: http://apply.wisconsin.edu/msn/special

The online application will take approximately 30 minutes - please be sure to provide all requested information. Your classification is "UNPS." Under "academic plan," be sure to specify that you are interested in taking the Music 351 online course.

You will receive admission information within two weeks after your application is submitted. You can apply to be a special student any time between now and up to three weeks before the start of the fall term.

After being admitted as a special student, you will need to enroll in the course. Online enrollment starts late August 2007 for special students, and you will receive detailed instructions about this part of the process with your admission letter after you have submitted your application.

Currently, the summer tuition rate for in-state University Special Students is $263.68 per credit hour. We know it will be increasing next year (about 7%) although the exact amount has not yet been announced. Once set (probably in early August) it will be available at the Registrar's website at http://registrar.wisc.edu/students/fees_tuition/tuition.php

If you have questions about registration, please call Amanda Hammatt at 608/263-6960 at the Adult and Student Services Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1305 Linden Drive, Room 349 Madison, WI 53706; www.dcs.wisc.edu/services).