YORK UNIVERSITY

School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design

Department of Music

FA/MUSI 1001 – The Basics of Music

Summer 2021

Instructor:
Jamie Stager – jstager@yorku.ca
Virtual Office Hours (via Zoom):
Tuesdays 10:00am – 11:30am
Thursdays 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Other times by appointment

Course Assistants:
Zoya Degtyar - zdegtyar@gmail.com
Katy Ghanai - kghanai@yorku.ca
Arya Saberi - arya@yorku.ca

Extra help sessions will be offered weekly – schedule TBA.

Course Description:
MUSI 1001 is a course for non-majors who wish to explore the basic elements of music
through written and aural theory. Students in this course will examine the fundamentals
of music, including notation, rhythm, key signatures, major and minor scales, intervals,
and triads.

There are no pre-requisites for this course. While prior knowledge of music theory and/or
the ability to play an instrument are assets, they are not necessary for enrolment.

Learning Outcomes:
• Acquire an understanding of the essential materials of music: pitch, rhythm,
melody and harmony
• Gain a basic knowledge of music notation
• Acquire a functional knowledge of the piano keyboard
• Develop the ability to identify by ear musical elements such as scales, intervals
and triads
• Broaden the ability to evaluate and discuss music in specific and meaningful
terms
Course Format:
MUSI 1001 will be entirely delivered in an online environment including the following
components:
• Video lectures from the instructor
• Musition and Auralia assignments (see below)
• Written assignments
• Discussion Forums
• Tests and Final Exam

eClass will be the primary access point for this course, and it is where you will find
the video lectures, discussion forums, links to tests, and course information.

Required Materials

Musition and Auralia software license (links and instructions are posted on eClass)

Manuscript (music writing) paper – there are many places you can download blank
manuscript for free, including:

https://www.blanksheetmusic.net/

Printer or tablet for Midterm Assignment and Final Exam

Recommended Textbook

Wharram, Barbara. Elementary Rudiments of Music, 2nd edition. (Frederick Harris

Music, 2010)

A more complete list of recommended resources is posted on eClass.

Evaluation and Grading:

Musition Quiz#1 Due Friday May 21 5%

Auralia Quiz#1 Due Friday May 21 5%

Midterm Assignment Due Friday May 28 20%

Musition Quiz#2 Due Friday June 4 5%

Auralia Quiz#2 Due Friday June 4 5%

Musition Quiz#3 Due Friday June 18 5%

Auralia Quiz#3 Due Friday June 18 5%

Final Exam TBA (June 23-25) 50%

Students who miss a test or assignment due to illness or any other reason confirmed by
supporting documentation (e.g., doctor’s note) may request accommodation from the
instructor which may be in the form of a makeup test or another written assignment.
Further accommodation will require students to submit a formal petition to the Faculty.

Administrative and Other Information

1) Last day to drop this course without receiving a final grade: June 7, 2021.

2) Academic Honesty and Integrity: York students are required to maintain the
highest standards of academic honesty and they are subject to the Senate Policy on
Academic Honesty which can be found here: York's Academic Honesty Policy

3) Accessibility Services: York provides services for students with disabilities (including
physical, medical, learning and psychiatric disabilities) needing accommodation related
to teaching and evaluation methods/materials. It is the student's responsibility to register
with disability services as early as possible to ensure that appropriate academic
accommodation can be provided with advance notice.
• http://accessibility.students.yorku.ca/

4) Final course grades may be adjusted to conform to Program or Faculty grades

distribution profiles.
5) The Senate Academic Standards, Curriculum and Pedagogy Committee (ASCP)
provides a Student Information Sheet that includes:
• York's Academic Honesty Policy and Procedures / Academic Integrity Web site
• Access/Disability
• Ethics Review Process for Research Involving Human Participants
• Religious Observance Accommodation
• Student Code of Conduct

http://secretariat.info.yorku.ca/files/CourseInformationForStudentsAugust20121.pdf

6) Additional information:
• Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
• Alternate Exam and Test Scheduling
• Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy
The Senate Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy stipulates that (a) the grading
scheme (i.e. kinds and weights of assignments, essays, exams, etc.) be announced,
and be available in writing, within the first two weeks of class, and that, (b) under
normal circumstances, graded feedback worth at least 15% of the final grade for
Fall, Winter or Summer Term, and 30% for ‘full year’ courses offered in the
Fall/Winter Term be received by students in all courses prior to the final
withdrawal date from a course without receiving a grade.
• Important University Sessional Dates (you will find classes and exams start/end
dates, reading/co-curricular week, add/drop deadlines, holidays, University
closings and more)
http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/enrol/dates/index.htm