Announcements
Mar. 17, 2008
Hi everyone,
So, just as a reminder, or as a notice to anyone who missed it:
Your final exam for 10B is this Wednesday, March 19, from 3-6, in the classroom.
There will be a solfege section, just like the two midterms. What will happen is this: everyone will take the written portion of the exam. Then we will go in alphabetical order by last name. So, everyone should basically stay nearby after they've taken the written part. I mean, you can go grab a cup of coffee if you have time, but you know. Be ready to go.
We should be able to do this in the alloted exam time. Professor Beken asked the class if anyone had exams later that day, and no one does. So we should be OK, but if you have a conflict, you can request to go earlier.
Please arrive on time or early!
Thanks for all your hard work, guys, it's been a great quarter!
Julie
Mar. 9, 2008
Hi class,
The final project guideline is now available. Professor Beken is providing you with a Bach chorale with no soprano line. He very kindly got a finale file started for you, so you do not have to start from scratch.
--I am now attempting to email you the finale file. I don't know if the class email program will allow me to do this--the file may be too large. If this doesn't work, I will email it to you individually.
--In the meantime, you can get started on the project, if you wish, by looking at the pdf file of the sheet music, which I will now put up on our website. Please look at this file before asking any questions you may have.
Remember that this is an independent final project, so everyone will have a different piece of music. Obviously this is NOT a group project. You must work alone when doing your composition. You may, however, seek help with the lab attendant or your friends in the TRANSFERENCE of your composition into the Finale program. If you need help with your composition, do not cheat--ask Professor Beken or myself for help.
The final project is due on Friday by 5:00 in Professor Beken's office.
Good luck!
Julie
Mar. 9, 2008
For the quiz tomorrow, review seventh chords and try to construct inverted seventh chords on given notes. This will require you to think in terms of intervals. Also review non-chord tones and seventh chords for ear training.
See you then!
Julie
Mar. 5, 2008
Hi class,
So based on some conversations I've had with some of you, there is genuine concern about the volume and complexity of homework due tomorrow.
Let's cut it back to just examples 1-8 of the photocopy of 13 examples. The sheet of example #80 is still due as well.
I mostly want to see that you've made your best effort at these analyses. So tomorrow I will check to see that you gave a best effort attempt at each, and then we will go over them in class. So you are not being graded on them, but I will check to see you've honestly worked on them.
Remember that those examples like #80 are often TWO separate keys. So think of #80 like two separate examples: one on the top line, and one on the bottom line.
Julie
Mar. 2, 2008
Hi class,
Your final project this quarter will be a composition assignment. You will be given a chord progression, and will be asked to write out a soprano line. The composition must be notated in Finale.
The due date for this assignment is Friday March 14 by 5:00 PM in Professor Beken's office. Alternatively, you may hand in the assignment in class on the 13th if it is easier for you.
Professor Beken is in Venezuela this week, so I will be covering all the classes. Monday is quiz 5 and Wednesday we meet in the lab.
Everyone has a homework assignment due on Thursday that we will go over in class--I am referring to a new handout with 13 short examples. Everyone is also responsible for example #80. Please finish both by Thursday and hand them in to receive credit for these two homework assignments.
Level one students have additional homework assignments. They are listed in gradebook. Just get these to Julie by the last day of class to get credit.
Good luck tomorrow!
Julie
Mar. 1, 2008
Hello,
Quiz 4 grades are posted.
One piece of advice I would give most of you...this may seem overly simplistic, but I think it will hlep.
When you are analyzing a piece, go very methodologically, measure by measure. First analyze the chords according to the logic you've learned. THEN, CIRCLE EACH NOTE THAT DOES NOT FIT INTO THE CHORDS YOU'VE DETERMINED. This will make it clear what's not in the chord, and then you can decide how to label the non-chord tones. Many of you are going "NCT crazy," labeling things that are parts of chords.
Quiz 5 will of course be on Monday morning. Remember that Wednesday, March 5, class will meet in the technology lab.
See you!
Julie
Feb. 22, 2008
Another thing:
Please mark your schedules for Wednesday March 5. Class will meet in the media lab, SMB B648. This is a special class session, and Professor Beken would like everyone to attend (this includes those who don't normally attend Wednesday discussions).
Tom Withey will show you the basics of Finale, and possibly other notation or sequencing programs.
It is expected that your final project will be executed through Finale, so here is a great opportunity to learn the program if you don't already, and play around with all the cool technology.
Julie
Feb. 22, 2008
Hello,
1) Just as a reminder, make sure you read all of these emails, because that is the only way that important information can be disseminated to the entire class. You are responsible for this information, so if your mailbox gets full, check the website for announcements.
2) Midterm 2 grades are up.
3) Yes, you will have a quiz on Monday morning at 10:00. Before the quiz, we will review that material that messed most people up, like analyzing secondary dominants and ear training.
Enjoy the weekend!
Julie
Feb. 19, 2008
Are any of you interested in having some extra help before Thursday's theory midterm? If there is a response, I can hold my office hours on Wednesday this week (tomorrow). It would be at say, 12:00ish to 2:00ish. Please email back if you would find this helpful. In such case I would be either in the TA office, the library, or an empty classroom at that time.
Also, here is a neat secondary dominant trainer I found:
http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~tas3/harm2/7ths/SecFuncb.html
I will see many of you tomorrow for your solfege test! I am attaching the schedule once again.
Best,
Julie
Feb. 15, 2008
Hi class,
Monday is a holiday, so no class and no quiz next week.
I will finish grading quiz 3 sometime today and put the grades up.
Your second midterm is next week, Feb 20 and 21. It's the same deal as last time in terms of how it will be laid out. Attached is the new solfege schedule, randomized once again. Please check your date and time carefully.
I recommend you review in depth the new material that was covered this week. Because of the holiday, you will only have one class day to make sure you understand it all, so use some time this weekend to narrow down any areas of confusion.
Best wishes,
Julie
Feb. 2, 2008
Hi class,
You do have a quiz tomorrow, Feb. 3, at 10:00.
There will be no ear training or dictation. You will be asked to do roman numeral analysis of a piece of music.
See you then!
Julie
Jan. 30, 2008
Hi folks,
Midterm 1 is next week. The midterm will take place over 2 days, Wednesday and Thursday, Feb 6 and 7.
The theory portion of the exam will be on Thursday Feb 7 from 9:00 - 10:10. Individual solfege appointments will take place on Wednesday from 9:00 - 10:45 and Thursday from 10:15 to 10:45.
We have a schedule that shows when your appointment is (SCHEDULE WAS EMAILED TO CLASS). I randomly selected who goes when (didn't even look at the names). This is the easiest solution to a potential logistical nightmare. All appointments are within nornal class time, so there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to make your time. If there is a GENUINE conflict, with extraordinary circumstances, let me know, but basically these times are set in stone.
You don't need to be around when you are not testing, but if you miss your alloted time, then you miss your test. (Meaning--be EARLY!!!)
Professor Beken will give you examples from the book to study in particular for solfege.
Julie
Jan. 30, 2008
Hi class,
Some of you have (hopefully) been using musictheory.net to practice ear training and theory.
To make it even easier for you, I have provided links to the trainers on our website, under "readings." These trainers are most helpful when you are studying for your midterm.
Check it out:
http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/courses/winter/2008/10b/readings.htm
Julie
Jan. 25, 2008
Once again, if you think you may be eligible to be excused from the Monday/Wednesday discussion sections, because you got a B+ or higher last quarter, you need to talk to Professor Beken and he will decide if that situation would be best for you based on your performance and experience with theory.
If you have been excused from Professor Beken, you need to also notify me, (i.e. CC me on an email to Professor Beken) so that I know you have been excused.
I'm a little concerned, because there are several students who, according to my list, should be coming to discussion sections, but aren't. If this is you, you grade is suffering because of this. Those who emailed me, and I replied, are exempt.
Some students who are exempt are still coming when they feel they need it--this is totally fine, and is the right idea. They will not lose grade points when they do not attend, yet have the freedom to choose which days they will come.
But otherwise, attendance is a significant enough portion of your grade to adversely affect you, so please straighten things out if you haven't already.
Best,
Julie
Jan. 24, 2008
Hi Class,
I hope everyone's keeping dry!
1) The midterms will be during week five and week seven. They will be two part: a written theory exam, and individual solfege sight-singing appointments. These exam parts will probably be broken up over two days. (And yes, you will have a final exam and a final project, like last quarter.)
2) The first quiz will be this Monday, Jan. 28. Last quarter we had them at 10:20, but since a large number of people had trouble finishing in that amount of time, let's try starting at 10:00.
For those of you who are new to this class, that means that even if you don't normally have to attend the discussion sections on Mondays and Wednesdays, so still have to arrive in the classroom, on time, on Mondays at 10:00 for the quizzes. You are then free to leave when you are done. This is the best solution to try to accomodate everyone's time and schedules.
I REPEAT: EVERONE ENROLLED IN ETHNO 10B MUST BE IN THE CLASSROOM AT 10:00 ON MONDAY FOR THE QUIZ. NO MAKE-UPS ARE GIVEN FOR THE QUIZZES.
3) Here is what will be on the quiz:
a) the construction major sevenths, minor sevenths, and dominant sevenths.
b) the natural resolution of dominant seventh chords, as you were specifically taught in class, both to major and minor chords.
c) the doubling of scale degrees. you will be given a triad and asked to put it into four part voicing. no inversions.
d) ear training of all prior fifth chords (triads), plus dominant sevenths and major sevenths. (remember you can practice these over the weekend on the recommended websites)
e) a dictation
Good luck, and if you have any questions or confusion, my office hours are today from 3-5, and we will also do some review on Monday at 9.
Have a good weekend,
Julie
Jan. 22, 2008
Hi class,
I apologize for the confusion. It was brought to my attention that many of you have 20A during the office hours I set up.
So, let's try Thursdays from 3:00 - 5:00. I hope this works better for everyone.
-Julie
Jan. 17, 2008
Monday is MLK holiday, so there will be no class. There will be no quiz next week!! Enjoy the long weekend.
Jan. 16, 2008
This week, my Thursday office hour will be from 1:30 - 2:30. Same place (ethnomusicology office above the classroom).
I am 90% sure that this will be the Thursday time from now on. In which case, my office hours would be Tuesday 2:30 - 3:30, and Thursday 1:30 - 2:30.
Julie
Jan. 13, 2008
There will be no quiz tomorrow.
Jan. 10, 2008
Hi folks,
1) As far as I can tell, I seem to be able to access the server now, and the class website is up and running. Please always let me know if you encounter problems with it. The address is: http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/courses/winter/2008/10b/
You can also click on the link from your class list in your MyUCLA.
Remember, important announcements are sent out to you via email and added to the announcements page, so you are responsible for keeping up-to-date with what's going on in class.
2) This week, my office hours are Friday (Jan 11) by appointment. Starting next week, my office hours will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 - 3:30. If my schedule ever needs to change, I will let you know. These office hours are held in the Ethnomusicology TA office, THE ONE THAT IS ABOVE THE CLASSROOM.
3) I would assume that you have a quiz on Monday morning at 10:20. When Professor Beken returns, you will get the final word on this.
See you next week!
Julie
Jan. 8, 2008
Everyone, please send Professor Beken a very short narrative of your experience with solfege.
-Julie
Jan. 7, 2008
Dear All,
Thank you for a nice class today. We have a substantial amount of
work to do this quarter. In terms of theory, we will work on 7th
chords with a particular emphasis on dominant and secondary dominants.
We will cover the Church Modes and a brief introduction to the
melodic modal systems in selected non-Western traditions. One of our
main foci will be harmonic analysis of Bach chorals. This will
include such related subjects as voice leading, harmonic rhythm,
harmonic progression (including Blues), modulation and, perhaps most
importantly, non-harmonic tones. This quarter we will dedicate a
considerable class time on solfege (fixed do) and continue with our
efforts in ear training and dictation. Please do not be late
obtaining the textbook.
I would like to keep the same schedule this quarter as well: I will
teach the lecture sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Ms. Julie
Raimondi will teach the follow-up sessions. My office hours also
remain the same: T and Th 11:00 am -12:00 pm
I will be out of town on this Thursday and I will be out of town
around March 6th. Ms. Raimondi will take over those classes.
Now I would like to talk about an even more serious issue. There is
no substitute for the experience you have in classes. Hence, it is
very important to be present and be on time. If you arrive after I
take attendance you will be marked as absent. You may miss two
classes without an excuse. If you miss more than two classes without
a reasonable excuse I will lower your final grade by a letter for each
class you miss. In this case, reasonable means providing a document
from your doctor confirming your illness.
I look forward to sharing another great quarter with you.
Yours,
Münir Beken