Music 217

Sight-Singing and Ear-Training

COURSE SYLLABUS

Thomas Milligan, Instructor

Fall, 2011

Purpose: This course develops aural skills
in perception of melody and harmony. It is
a continuation of Music 117-118, which is a
prerequisite.
Description: The semester's work will include
practice in sight-singing and class drill in
dictation of both melody and harmony. As a
rule, Tuesdays will be devoted to sight-singing
and harmonic dictation, and Thursdays will be
devoted to melodic dictation.

The text for this course is Robert Ottman, Music for Sight-Singing (purchased in first year).

Objectives: 1. The student will sing with

minimal preparation increasingly complex
musical examples throughout the course of
the semester, developing the ability to figure out more
Achievement of objectives.
complex rhythms and to read melodic lines with more
As with any skills course,
and larger leaps.
proficiency is developed by
the right kind of practice.
2. The student will write chord progressions played on
These will include practice in
the piano, starting with I, IV, and V harmonies and
class and individual and/or
gradually adding additional chords.
collaborative practice outside
of class.
3. The student will write melodies played on the piano
beginning with one and two measures, progressing to
four to eight measures.

4. The student will improvise a counter-melody to a

simple, folk-like melody.

Methods of evaluation. Sight-singing assignments will be graded each day in class. Tests on
melodic dictation will be given twice, and the better of the two grades will be counted. See chart
on the next page for the dates of the tests.. The final exam will have the same weight as the other
tests. Sight-singing counts as 1/3 of the final grade and tests count 2/3. Grading scale is A=90,
B=80, C=70, D=60, F=below 60.
Attendance policy. Students are expected to attend class and account to their instructors
for any absences. Students will be allowed to make up work caused by absences for
documented illness, death in the family, or participation in school-sponsored activities.
New Policy: Students who for any reason are absent the number of times the classes meets
in four weeks (i.e. 8) will automatically receive a grade of WF.

Dates for the tests are as follows

DATE TYPE

Sep. 22 Test: Melodic dictation I (first attempt)

Oct. 6 Test: Melodic dictation I (second attempt)
Nov. 10 Test: Melodic dictation II (first attempt)
Nov. 15 Test: Chord dictation (first attempt)
Nov. 29 Test: Chord dictation (second attempt)
Dec. 1 Test: Melodic dictation II (second attempt)
Dec. 6 Sight-singing Final Exam
Exam period Written Final Exam

Any student with a special documented disability (sight, hearing, language, mobility, etc.)
which may affect class activities should contact David Humphrey, Kathleen Manley
Wellness Center, 865-471-3268 Office, 865-471- 3350 Receptionist.