Music 2115 Study Hints

Music 2115: Survey of Music from Antiquity to c. 1750

Fall Semester 2012--CRN 94925
2:30-3:20 MWF--Squires Recital Salon
Prof. John R. Howell

Study Hints for Music 2115

This page has been updated for Fall 2012.

Listening Assignments

The Textbook lists the recorded examples using the Track Numbers found on each CD.
Listening Quizzes for each Unit will be drawn from the Chapters for that Unit and given as part of the Unit Quiz.
The listening examples you will be quizzed on are ALL of the Examples covered in each Chapter of the textbook. And the Listening Examples on the Final Exam will be drawn from all six CDs.
Listening Quizzes will generally cover several of the assigned examples.
- Each example will be played from the beginning, for 30 to 60 seconds.
- In preparation, identify one or more things about the beginning of each example that makes it unique and recognizable. In many cases that will be the words themselves. For most early music vocal pieces the name of the piece is simply the first word or several words.
- You are responsible for knowing the title of the piece, the name of the composer (if known), the type of piece (usually listed in the Recording Index), and the time period or country of origin of the piece.
- Your scores will be available on the Pearson website, or will be emailed to you for in-class Quizzes.
- Listening Examples on the Unit Quizzes and the Final Exam will be presented in class in the same format.

Reading Assignments

The textbook is well organized, well written, and easy to read. (If you don't think so, you haven't tried the alternatives; I have!) The reading assignments are generally 10 pages or less for each class. Don't fall behind! The Terms Quizzes on each Chapter are intended to help you keep up, and to prepare for the Unit Quizzes. Those Terms Quizzes are also given on the Pearson website.
Start each Chapter by reading the Summary at the end of the Chapter. Get the technical terms used there in mind. Use the Virginia Tech Glossary of Musical Terms to make sure you understand each term. (The link is on the 2115 Home Page.) There is also a limited Glossary at the back of the textbook, starting on p. G-1.
Most Chapters have a Timeline in the first few pages. Study that Timeline. Make sure you understand the time spans involved (which may change from Chapter to Chapter). Make sure you also understand how the Timeline in each new Chapter may overlap the preceding chapters.
Now you're ready to start reading.
- The Introduction to each Chapter puts it in historical perspective.
- Each major section starts general and becomes more detailed.
- If any section gets too detailed for you, skip to the next major section.
- When you review for each Chapter Terms Quiz and each Unit Quiz, repeat the process.
The Terms Quiz on each Chapter will usually ask about several terms, names, or concepts.
- Sometimes a Terms Quiz is scheduled before the entire chapter has been covered in class to ensure that you do not have to take more than one Blackboard quiz for every class meeting.
- The Terms Quizzes are posted on the Pearson website. I don't think there are deadlines for them, but use them to prepare for the Unit Quizzes.
- Your scores will be available on the Pearson website, or emailed to you for in-class Quizzes.

Unit Quizzes

Each of the three Unit Quizzes covers a logical grouping of three to four Chapters.
There will be both Terms questions and Listening questions.
All Unit Quizzes are multiple choice, and you will enter your answers on an opscan sheet.
Scores for each Unit Quiz will be reported and recorded as grade percentages. In other words, even though they might have more or fewer questions, each Unit Quiz counts exactly the same, 100% for a perfect answer sheet.
Your scores will be emailed to the class or posted on Scholar as soon as I receive the scores from the grading office and enter them in my gradesheet.

Study Aids

On the Pearson website, please explore and find what's there and take advantage of it.
On Scholar, copies of the PowerPoint Class Presentations will be up and downloadable as soon as we can get them mounted.