Course Syllabus

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MUC1101C - COMPOSITION I

Department of Music, College of Arts and Humanities

2 Credit Hours

Instructor Information 

  • Instructor: Dr. Alex Burtzos
  • Office Location: PAC M230
  • Office Hours: By Appointment
  • Digital Contact: Message through Webcourses (preferred), or email alexander.burtzos@ucf.edu

 

Course Information

  • Term: Fall 2021
  • Course Number & Section: MUC 1101C
  • Course Name: Composition I
  • Credit Hours: 2
  • Class Meeting Days: Monday / Wednesday
  • Class Meeting Time: 10:30-11:20 AM
  • Class Location: PAC T204
  • Course Modality: P (face to face)

 

Attending Class

All class meetings will be held in person as long as circumstances allow. However, due to the unpredictable nature of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is is possible that some class meetings may end up being conducted virtually. In such an instance, the change of mode will be announced as far in advance as possible. If and when the course meets remotely, classes will be conducted via Zoom using the login information below.

 

Zoom Etiquette

  • If it becomes necessary for this course to meet remotely, please observe the following guidelines for interacting with the instructor and other members of the class via Zoom.
      1. Cameras should be turned on during class. If you can not turn your camera on, or if you do not have a camera, alert the instructor ASAP.
      2. Audio should remain muted, except when speaking.
      3. If you have a question, either raise your hand (by using the button in the bottom right-hand corner of the "participants" menu) or type your question in the chat.
      4. Student attire and surroundings should be appropriate. If you wouldn't wear it in the classroom, don't wear it while in a Zoom meeting.
  • For more guidance about how Zoom works and how to use it appropriately, see this guide.

 

Enrollment Requirements 

Course Prerequisites:

  • MUT 1121 (C or better)
  • MUT 1122 (C or better)

 

Course Description

This course guides students in the creation of original musical works. Through listening, reading, score study, exercises, and discussion, students will learn how to strike a balance between creative inspiration and musical craft and begin to gain an understanding of the professional landscape of contemporary concert music. Students will compose at least two complete pieces of music, in addition to numerous etudes and exercises.

 

Course Materials and Resources

 

Required Text

Gould, Elaine. Behind Bars: The Definitive Guide to Music Notation. W.W. Norton & Co., 2011

 

Required Software

Industry-standard notation software:

Student discounts are available for all of these programs. Sibelius and Finale are available for student use on the computers in room PAC T0204.

 

Other Required Materials

  • Staff paper
  • Mechanical pencils
  • USB flash drive
  • Headphones with 1/4" jack

 

Optional Materials/Resources

While not required, an orchestration text will be very useful in the completion of this course. The following are standards:

  • Samuel Adler, The Study of Orchestration, 4th Ed. (2016) 
  • Alfred Blatter, Instrumentation and Orchestration, 2nd Ed. (1997)

 

Student Learning Outcomes

After successfully completing this course, students will have experience:

  • Constructing musical building blocks (motives, themes, and phrases)
  • Crafting complete compositions in a variety of forms, and for a variety of instruments
  • Preparing professional-caliber scores and parts using industry-standard notation software
  • Overseeing rehearsal and performance of their work

 

Course Activities

This course will include the following activities:

  • Assignments (typically weekly)
  • A midterm project 
  • A final project

Students should plan to have access to the internet and be prepared to spend 4-6 hours per week outside of class fulfilling these requirements.

 

Activity Submissions

  • Assignments and projects will be submitted primarily via webcourses@ucf.edu.
  • Late assignments will not be accepted. Please observe posted deadlines for all submissions.
  • All assignments involving musical notation must be computer engraved using one of the programs listed above. All written assignments must be typed in 12-point font, double-spaced.
  • Unless specifically requested, handwritten work will not be accepted.
  • It is the responsibility of the student to secure performer(s) for the midterm and final project performances. Successfully having the project performed is part of the project, and will influence its grade.

 

Attendance/Participation

Attendance is required for this course. Absence is excused only in the case of serious illness or emergency (with doctor's note and advance notice by email). Each unexcused absence will lower the student's final grade by one-half grade (i.e., A to A-). More than six (6) unexcused absences will result in an automatic failing grade.

Classes will begin on time. If a student is more than five minutes late, they will marked tardy. Two tardies are equal to one unexcused absence, and will impact the student's final grade as described above.

 

Make-up Exams and Assignments

Per university policy, you are allowed to submit make-up work (or an equivalent, alternate assignment) for university-sponsored events, religious observances, or legal obligations (such as jury duty). If this participation conflicts with your course assignments, I will offer a reasonable opportunity for you to complete missed assignments and/or exams. The make-up assignment and grading scale will be equivalent to the missed assignment and its grading scale. Please contact me ahead of time to notify me of upcoming needs.

 

Assessment and Grading Procedures

Assignment

Percentage of Grade

Assignments

40%

Midterm Project

20%

Final Project

20%

Listening Response

15%

Participation

5%

Total

100%

 

Letter Grade

Points

A

90-100

B

80-89

C

70-79

D

60-69

F

59 or below

 

Evaluation of projects, exercises, and assignments is based on technical rather than aesthetic criteria, except inasmuch as aesthetic considerations are specified in the assignment.

Participation grade is at the discretion of the instructor, and is based on students' level of preparation, attitude, and participation in in-class discussion (particularly during forum discussions).

Attendance affects one's final grade average as described above.

 

Course Schedule

To view the complete course schedule, click HERE.

 

Policy Statements

 

Special Statements Regarding COVID-19

UCF expects that all members of our campus community who are able to do so get vaccinated, and we expect all members of our campus community to wear masks indoors, in line with the latest CDC guidelines. Masks are required in approved clinical or health care settings. If the instructor falls ill during the semester, there may be temporary changes to this course, including having a backup instructor take over the course or going remote for a short time. Please look for announcements or mail in Webcourses@UCF or Knights email for any temporary alterations to this course.

Students who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 or who test positive must contact UCF Student Health Services (407-823-2509) so proper contact tracing procedures can take place. Students should not come to campus if they are ill, are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19. Students should contact their instructor(s) as soon as possible if they miss class for any illness to discuss reasonable adjustments that might need to be made. When possible, students should contact their instructor(s) before missing class.

Accommodations may need to be added or adjusted should this course shift from an on-campus to a remote format. Students with disabilities should speak with their instructor and should contact sas@ucf.edu to discuss specific accommodations for this or other courses.

 

Academic Integrity

Students should familiarize themselves with UCF’s Rules of Conduct. According to Section 1, "Academic Misconduct," students are prohibited from engaging in:

  • Unauthorized assistance: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise unless specifically authorized by the instructor of record. The unauthorized possession of examination or course-related material also constitutes cheating.
  • Communication to another through written, visual, electronic, or oral means: The presentation of material which has not been studied or learned, but rather was obtained through someone else’s efforts and used as part of an examination, course assignment, or project.
  • Commercial Use of Academic Material: Selling of course material to another person, student, and/or uploading course material to a third-party vendor without authorization or without the express written permission of the university and the instructor. Course materials include but are not limited to class notes, Instructor’s PowerPoints, course syllabi, tests, quizzes, labs, instruction sheets, homework, study guides, handouts, etc.
  • Falsifying or misrepresenting the student’s own academic work.
  • Plagiarism: Using or appropriating another’s work without any indication of the source, thereby attempting to convey the impression that such work is the student’s own.
  • Multiple Submissions: Submitting the same academic work for credit more than once without the express written permission of the instructor.
  • Helping another violate academic behavior standards.

For more information about Academic Integrity, students may consult The Center for Academic Integrity.

For more information about plagiarism and misuse of sources, see “Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism: The WPA Statement on Best Practices”.

Responses to Academic Dishonesty, Plagiarism, or Cheating

Students should also familiarize themselves with the procedures for academic misconduct in UCF’s student handbook, The Golden Rule. UCF faculty members have a responsibility for students’ education and the value of a UCF degree, and so seek to prevent unethical behavior and when necessary respond to academic misconduct. Penalties can include a failing grade in an assignment or in the course, suspension or expulsion from the university, and/or a "Z Designation" on a student’s official transcript indicating academic dishonesty, where the final grade for this course will be preceded by the letter Z. For more information about the Z Designation, see http://goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/zgrade.

 

Course Accessibility Statement

The University of Central Florida is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities who need disability-related access in this course should contact the professor as soon as possible. Students should also connect with Student Accessibility Services (Ferrell Commons 185, sas@ucf.edu, phone (407) 823-2371). Through Student Accessibility Services, a Course Accessibility Letter may be created and sent to professors, which informs faculty of potential access and accommodations that might be reasonable.Determining reasonable access and accommodations requires consideration of the course design, course learning objectives and the individual academic and course barriers experienced by the student.

 

Campus Safety Statement

Emergencies on campus are rare, but if one should arise in our class, everyone needs to work together. Students should be aware of the surroundings and familiar with some basic safety and security concepts.

  • In case of an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.
  • Every UCF classroom contains an emergency procedure guide posted on a wall near the door. Please make a note of the guide’s physical location and consider reviewing the online version at http://emergency.ucf.edu/emergency_guide.html. 
  • Students should know the evacuation routes from each of their classrooms and have a plan for finding safety in case of an emergency.
  • If there is a medical emergency during class, we may need to access a first aid kit or AED (Automated External Defibrillator). To learn where those items are located in this building, see http://www.ehs.ucf.edu/workplacesafety.html (click on link from menu on left). 
  • To stay informed about emergency situations, sign up to receive UCF text alerts by going to my.ucf.edu and logging in. Click on "Student Self Service" located on the left side of the screen in the tool bar, scroll down to the blue "Personal Information" heading on your Student Center screen, click on "UCF Alert," fill out the information, including your e-mail address, cell phone number, and cell phone provider, click "Apply" to save the changes, and then click "OK."
  • Students with special needs related to emergency situations should speak with their instructors outside of class.
  • To learn about how to manage an active-shooter situation on campus or elsewhere, consider viewing this video:

You CAN survive an active shooter.

 

Deployed Active Duty Military Students

If you are a deployed active duty military student and feel that you may need a special accommodation due to that unique status, please contact your instructor to discuss your circumstances.

 

Copyright

This course may contain copyright protected materials such as audio or video clips, images, text materials, etc. These items are being used with regard to the Fair Use doctrine in order to enhance the learning environment. Please do not copy, duplicate, download or distribute these items. The use of these materials is strictly reserved for this online classroom environment and your use only. All copyright materials are credited to the copyright holder.

 

Third-Party Software and FERPA

During this course you might have the opportunity to use public online services and/or software applications sometimes called third-party software such as a blog or wiki. While some of these could be required assignments, you need not make any personally identifying information on a public site. Do not post or provide any private information about yourself or your classmates. Where appropriate you may use a pseudonym or nickname. Some written assignments posted publicly may require personal reflection/comments, but the assignments will not require you to disclose any personally identity-sensitive information. If you have any concerns about this, please contact your instructor.

Course Summary:

Course Summary
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