Brass Instruments Class

Course Details

Course Number: 3161  Section Number: 101

Fall 2010

Location: Instrumental Music Hall

Classroom Number: 112

Days & Times:

TR 11-11:50

Course Attachments

Textbooks
MSU Faculty Member
Dr. Larry Archambo   
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Course Objectives

Course Description:  Brass Instruments Class is a course designed to give the college music education major the fundamentals of techniques, materials, and hands‑on experience necessary to teach beginning and intermediate students on all brass instruments.  For this course of study, the principle brass instruments are trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone, and tuba.  The course is divided into three sections:  I. Historical Development and Anatomy of the Brass Instruments, II. The Individual Brass Instruments, and III. Teaching Techniques for Brass Instruments.

  

Course Objectives:  The student will achieve competency in teaching beginning students on the brass instruments.  The student will understand the characteristics that are common among the brass instruments and the acoustical properties of the brass instruments.  The student will also be able to produce and control sounds on selected brass instruments. 


Course Expectations

Required and Suggested Texts:  There are no required texts for this class.  Suggested texts are:

A Complete Guide to Brass, Third Edition, Scott Whitener.  Thomson-Schirmer, 2007.  ISBN 0-534-50988-6.

Brass Instruments: Their History and Development, Anthony Baines.  Dover Publications, 1993. 

ISBN 0-486-27574-4.

Teaching Brass, Second Edition, Wayne Bailey.  McGraw-Hill, 2008.  ISBN 0-07-352658-4.

Brass Ensemble Method for Music Educators, Jay Zorn.  Wadsworth Publishing, 1977.  ISBN 0-534-00503-9.

Instrumental Music Pedagogy, Daniel L. Kohut.  Prentice-Hall, 1973.  ISBN 0-13-467944-X.

 


Final Exam12/7/2010  10:30-12:30

Submission Format PolicyNote: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception. Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters. We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student. We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed. Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

Students with Disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, 397-4140.

Safe Zones Statement The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

Contacting your Instructor All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MWSU e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Attendance Requirements

Attendance Policy:  Students are expected to be in class each Monday and Wednesday.  There are twenty‑nine class meetings this semester.  The student can be dropped from the class after the fourth absence (equal to two weeks of classes).  Please call Dr. Archambo at 696-5511 or 642-6076 prior to the absence and leave a message for Dr. Archambo if you are going to be absent.  The student is expected to have note-taking materials for each class and is expected to take notes.

 

The instrument you will be using is property of the State of Texas.  You are responsible for keeping the instrument in the condition it was in when it was checked out to you.  When you receive the instrument, check it and make note of any dents or problems.  If the instrument is stolen, you will be required to pay the replacement costs. 


Other Policies

GRADING.  Each question on written exams is given a numerical point value.  Every exam will total 100 possible points.  Grading is on a scale of:

 

     100-94 = A

     93-84   = B

     83-75   = C

     74-70   = D

     69-0     = F

 

Semester grading follows the same scale.  Grading will be determined from specific assignments, written exams, playing exams, a final exam, and class attendance.  If you do not attend class, you will be expected to come in on your own time and get all assignments.  Take home assignments are due when announced and will not we accepted late.  Please take notes.  Please keep your notes so you can review for exams.  Written exams will include material covered in the class and will include multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.   

 

The instructor reserves the right to add, adjust, or cancel assignments as the course progresses.   The method of obtaining the final grade will remain essentially the same:  the total points achieved will be divided by the total points possible to obtain a percentage, and a grade will be assigned according to a percentage scale.

 

Conduct Statement:  College students are adults and are expected to behave accordingly.

 

Academic Dishonesty Statement:  Academic Dishonesty: Cheating, collusion, and plagiarism (the act of using source material of other persons, either published or unpublished, without following the accepted techniques of crediting, or the submission for credit of work not the individual’s to whom credit is given).  Additional guidelines on procedures in these matters may be found in the Dean of Students’ Office.  Cheating includes, but is not limited to: (1) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; (2) dependence upon the aid

of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; or (3) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the university faculty or staff.  The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and

clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.  The term “collusion” means collaboration with another person in preparing work offered for credit of that collaboration is not authorized by the faculty member in charge.

Student Honor Creed

 

"As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception.  Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only tobe honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters.  We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all studentwork is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student.  We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed.

Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

 

Special Needs Statement:  Students with a disability must be registered with Disability Support Services before classroom accommodations can be provided.  If you have a documented disability that will impact your work in this class, please contact me to discuss your needs.  Disability Support Services is located in the Clark Student Center, Room 168.  They may also be contacted at 397-4140.

 

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information that needs sharing, or if you need special accommodations in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with the professor as soon as possible.

Student Privacy Statement:  Federal privacy law prohibits me from releasing information about students to certain parties outside of the university without the signed consent of the student.  Thus, in almost all cases I will not discuss your academic progress or other matters with your parents.  Please do not have them call me.  Regardless of these important legal considerations, it is my general policy to communicate with the students, not their parents, even when a student has signed a consent form. 

  

Class Schedule, Fall, 2010

 

August                               

 

Tuesday       24         1          Syllabus, How the Brass Instruments Work

 

Thursday      26         2          The Harmonic Series

 

Tuesday       31         3          Conical and Cylindrical

 

September                 

 

Thursday      2          4          Historical Development of Brass Instruments

 

Tuesday       7          5          Valve Tuning Deficiencies                                  

 

Thursday      9          6          Anatomy of a Mouthpiece

 

Tuesday       14         7          Instrument Transpositions

 

Thursday      16         8         

 

Tuesday       21         9          Written Exam 1

 

Thursday      23         10         The Individual Brass Instruments:  Trumpet

 

Tuesday       28         11         Horn

 

Thursday      30         12         Trombone

 

October

 

Tuesday       5          13         Euphonium

 

Thursday      7          14         Tuba

 

Tuesday       12         15         Other Brasses

 

Thursday      14         16         Written Exam 2

 

Tuesday       19         17         Brass Teaching Techniques

 

Thursday      21         18         Basic Tone Production

 

Tuesday       26         19         Proper Playing Positions

                                   

Thursday      28         20         Getting Started on Brass

 

November

 

Tuesday       2          21         32 Ways to Improve your Beginning Brass Classes

 

Thursday      4          22         Common Problems of Young Instrumentalists

 

Tuesday       9          23         Physical Skills Checklist

 

Thursday      11         24         Instrument Care

 

Tuesday       16         25         Mutes

 

Thursday      18         26         Notes for Conductors

 

Tuesday       23         27        

 

Tuesday       30         28       Written Exam 3

 

December

 

Thursday      2          29         Vocal Juries 


Writing Proficiency Requirement All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed English 1113 and English 1123 and 2) earned 60 hours. You may meet this requirement by passing either the Writing Proficiency Exam or English 2113. Please keep in mind that, once you've earned over 90 hours, you lose the opportunity to take the $25 exam and have no option but to enroll in the three-credit hour course. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at http://academics.mwsu.edu/wpr, or call 397-4131.