Students in the BA will be able to identify music by major composers of the major periods of Music - Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern.
Objective
Music History
Students will identify at least two selections of music from the major periods of music by listening to recordings and evaluating the compositions according to the criteria, presented in classes, that can help identify performing practice, style and sound from those periods.
Indicator
Identifying Music From The Major Periods Of Music
Students will demonstrate their ability to recognize music from the five major periods of music by successfully passing the "drop the needle" tests as part of their three music history courses. The test is standardized for all classes...equivalent and consistant.
Criterion
Identifying Music Of The Major Periods
Students will only be held accountable for the periods of music covered in the three courses for the semester they are offered. They will not have to identify music from periods that have not been part of that specific course. A minimum of 90% of students should be able to identify the music listening examples - 17 out of 20 is required to pass each listening exam.
Finding
Music History
Approximately 92% of students pass the "drop the needle" or listening part of the courses.
The data are indicating that the listening part of the courses are rather successful.
Action
Identifying Musical Examples
Music history knowledge is directly addressed in one series of courses and by only one professor. The coures are very effective in helping students prepare to make the required identifications. However, students need to be encouraged to go to the music library or find other sources to listen to and become familiar with the music studied in the music history sequence. Students will benefit from this additional study and will be better qualified to meet all the requirements of the courses.
Goal
Music Theory
Students will be able to identify and construct major and minor scales, major, minor and 7th chords typical of Western music traditions.
Objective
Construction Of Scales And Chords
Students will demonstrate the ability to write major and minor scales; major, minor and dimished chords; and do simple part writing as part of the music theory sequence of courses.
Indicator
Scales And Chords
Students will be given exercises and tests to determine if they have mastered the required skills to write major and minor scales; major, minor and diminished chords; and do basic/simple part writing. These tests and exercises are part of the regular curriculum of all theory classes. This is tested by all instructors at the end of each semester using the same locally standardized exams. They score to the same criteria.
Criterion
Scales And Chords
Students must adhere to the common practices of Western art music in scale and chord construction.These practices are presented in all of the theory courses at increasingly higher levels of difficulty. 100% of students will score at least 70% on the standardized music theory test
Finding
Music Theory
85% of student comleted the theory test with at least 70% This falls short of the 100% student success rate we hope to achieve.
Action
Music Theory
We would like to have more students achieve a higher level of achievement in the theory skills. We will meet with theory faculty to determine any changes that may be needed to the course content and adjust course content/curriculum to meet the needs of the students for their preparation. The objective of Music Theory is not to necessarily allow everyone who wants to be a professional musician to become one. It is, rather, one of the key areas used to weed out individuals who don't have the skill, talent or work ethic necessary to be successful in a music career.The 85% who are achieveing the objective are the students who should be continuing in the major.
Goal
Performance Application
Students in the BA must perform at a minimal accepted level at the bachelor's degree.
Objective
Instrument/Voice Performance Proficiency
Students will demonstrate the proper performance practices for playing of guitar, percussion, wood wind/brass instruments and voice. Performance tests are locally standardized in methodology, are consistant and are administrered in a standardized manner. The performacne tests are administered in a series of specified courses - MUS 162, MUS 165/16 MUS 310, MUS 336 and MUS 337
Indicator
Performance Jury
Students pass a series of instrumental/voice performance tests administered by the course instructor. The juried performance tests are in the process of being locally standardized in methodology .The tests show the student's ability to perform at a basic level on a variety of instruments (woodwinds, brass, percussion and voice). There would be at least three instruments in each area other than voice. The performacne tests are administered in a series of specified courses - MUS 162, MUS 165/16 MUS 310, MUS 336 and MUS 337
Criterion
Performance Application
Approximately 95% of students will successfully pass the performance testing.
Finding
Performance Test Outcomes
In fall 2009, 95% of students passed the performance tests with no problem. In Spring 2010, 96% of students passed the performance tests. We will be interested to see if test standardization will make a difference in the ratings that students receive, overall , as a group.
Action
Performance Application
Applied faculty (those who teach studio instruction) will meet by discipline (voice; Woodwinds; brass; strings; percussion) to standardize the jury rubric forms so that the forms are consistant in all disciplines. The objective is to assure consistency and fairness in rating students on instrumental/voice proficiency. In the process of reviewing the testing process we also intend to strengthen and improve the tests