Step 1
Access instructions for the written analysis HERE & materials for the written analysis HERE
Return completed packet to your instructor or upload an image in the Final Exam section of your Jimdo
Step 2
Access the article regarding Hindemith’s "Apparebit Repentina Dies" stored in this Drop Box Link
List 25 vocabulary terms & concepts that are used in this article related to music theory
Textures
Tempo
Chord
Melody
Harmony
Mixolydian Mode
Locrian Mode
Aeolian Mode
Dissonant
Dominant
Tonic
Cadence
V7 Chord
Leading Tone
Major Triad
Homophonic
Interval
Fourth
Tritone
Major Seventh
Minor Seventh
Diatonic
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Enharmonic
Use the recordings to provide a brief statement regarding musical elements for each of the 4 movements from the article
Movement 1
The first section is mostly polyphonic with a lot of call and response and interwoven lines creating a lot of harmony. There is a pretty dramatic shift in the style of the song once the vocals come in, the tempo slows and the rhythm is less syncopated. While the mood in the beginning is slightly sinister, the dark tones, vocals and low brass make the middle section is even more ominous. Slowly the piece returns to the style of the beginning section in a sort of combination of both.
Movement 2
The first section of this movement starts with vocals and is lighter than the previous movement while keeping the same vocal intensity. The chords are more often major as opposed to minor. The texture of this first section is mostly homophonic because the men and the women trade leading the vocal and there is some instrumentation under it. The instrumentation is mainly brass but it is less heavy than in the previous movement.
Movement 3
The first section is harsh with a very polyphonic texture. There is a lot of contrast in pitch, as the female vocalist is singing very high while there is very low brass. However, after the first few measures, the piece mellows out as both the vocals and the instruments are more legato and more piano in volume. Slowly more voices, both actual and instrumental, are introduced and the piece is back to its original polyphonic texture. Towards the end, the style becomes very similar to the beginning of the first movement.
Movement 4
This movement acts as a conclusion while still tieing in elements of the previous movements. It is mostly homophonic and similar to the second movement in its tempo and melodic structure. It is less intense but with similar instrumentation and vocals.
(Musical Elements; Pitch, Rhythm, Dynamics, Tempo, Texture, Timbre, Form, Purpose, Harmony, Melody, Expression, Mood, Language, Style, etc.)
Step 3
Reflect on the following
A. How confident are you in the predicted outcome of the written analysis? 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% or 100%
B. How ‘theory smart’ do you feel after identifying the terms in the article? 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% or 100%
C. On a scale from 1-10, about how much effort/time did you put into this exam? 7
D. What part(s) did you find most challenging? Easiest?
The most challenging part of the written exam was identifying the cadences because that was already something that I wasn’t exactly comfortable with. Also the analysis of the Hindemith’s movements was difficult for me because they were all very similar and it was difficult to come up with something different for all of them. Identifying the terms in the article and most of the elements of the written analysis were easier for me.
Step 1
Review the Benchmark Goals you set for yourself in Getting Started; What is it that you hope to know and/or be able to do at the conclusion of the course?
A. Comment on your semester achievements in relation to your initial goals
A lot of my benchmark goals I made for myself in the beginning of the semester were met. A lot of my goals turned out to be their own units, such as scale patterns, intervals, and composing techniques. All of these concepts that I wanted to learn turned out to be the ones that I most understood by the end of the semester.
B. How well did you achieve your goal? What goals were met? What goals were not met?
The goals that were met were understanding scale patterns, composing techniques, understanding relationships between notes (which I now know are called intervals) and understanding minor keys. The goals that were not met was being able to more adequately lead my section in band with theory knowledge and counting in complex time signatures and rhythms, although I think those are due to my unrealistic expectations of the course.
C. How well did you avoid sources of interference to stay on task?
In looking back on my work habits, I regret how often I let myself get distracted, both by what was happening in the room and things on my computer. However, mostly, with some exceptions, I was able to wrap units up by their due dates, but I regret how I was unable to avoid sources of interference during this course.
Step 2
Review your Self Regulation Inventory located in Getting Started
A. Comment on how you addressed the weaknesses you identified and/or how you overcame challenges in regards to achieving success this semester
In this class, I often tried to figure things out before I asked for help and I have been trying to problem solve which is not something that I thought I was good at in previous classes.
B. Reassess the 30 true/false statements for the Self Regulation Inventory. Compare your current ratio to your initial one.
18:12
C. How would you approach the process differently if you had another opportunity to learn in this manner?
I would create micro plans for myself, basically giving myself homework so that I wasn’t leaving the bulk of my work until the end. I would also try to take notes with the resources that were provided to me so that I had a complete idea of what was going on before I jumped into the exercises.
D. What have you learned about learning?
About learning, I have learned that your success is up to you. And while it's cliche, you do get out of your learning what you put into it and there are a variety of ways that you can make your learning easier and more enjoyable if you put the work into it.
E. How does what you learned relate to other things you have been learning or have experienced?
This reflection is making me think about other classes I have taken when I have not been proactive and instead let the learning happen to me instead of actively trying to learn. I am realizing that I will be a lot more successful if I use these ideas in other classes.
F. How has your thinking about your thinking(metacognition)changed?
Learning in a completely different way is making think about what I think about and what I think about my own learning. It is giving me a new perspective about learning that I have not considered before because I haven’t taken a class with this method of teaching and learning.
Step 3
Review the 3 Music Literacy Benchmark Assessments located in Unit 1 and try to answer the questions again in your mind
A. Comment on the status of your current comfort level with this material relative to the past
In Unit 1, I was feeling very comfortable with all the concepts, with an average of 4.9. Now, after completing the course, I am much more comfortable with all concepts, especially intervals, which I gave myself a 3 on.
B. How well did you achieve what you set out to learn?
I think over the course of semester, the concepts in which I was not totally secure were mostly remedied and the concepts in which I was already confident in were strengthened.
C. What concepts were achieved? What concepts remain a mystery?
Most concepts are solidified for me, but one thing from the Literacy Benchmark Assessment that remains somewhat of a mystery for me is ear training. It remained difficult for me when I was trying to determine intervals and recognize other concepts aurally. It is an area of needed improvement.
Step 4
Use the following Work Habits Rubric to guide your responses regarding your semester achievements
A. Identify areas of strengths
I think my biggest strengths are having good attendance, being respectful with resources and music facilities, getting to work at the start of class, and not being a distraction to others. Even though I often distract myself, I do not distract others and sit down right away and start my work without prompt.
B. Identify areas of needed improvement
My largest areas of needed improvement are being on time to class, limiting individual needs (I go to the bathroom a lot), using time productively, and managing media in a non-disruptive manner. Creating distractions for myself with technology and a lack of motivation have been hindering my success and can hopefully be remedied in future courses.
C. What strategies might you use in the future to overcome these challenges?
I might actually follow the advice Getting Started me gave myself in the beginning of the course to take two minute breaks every once in a while to not run out of steam. I also should try to do work at home and use work as a break between other work so that I am doing multiple things at once.
Step 5
Briefly review the assignments you have submitted for Units 6-9
A. Comment on the quality of work reflected in your ePortfolio as well as the content of your manilla folder
I think the content of my Jimdo has been a consistent quality over the semester. It is still organized, and even though there still aren’t any notes, all the criteria are met and my responses are mostly detailed. All the work in my manilla folder is done to the best of my ability and I am happy with the work I have done this semester.
B. Did you modify your portfolio approach for the second part of the semester or repeat your approach from the first part?
In my midterm reflection, I said that I was satisfied and happy with how well I was organizing my Jimdo and I still am. However, in my reflection I also said that I wanted to personalize my website and add a title page which I very quickly forgot about. So even though my Jimdo still isn’t perfect, I think it is still serviceable in the context of this course.
Step 6
Answer the following questions regarding the future use of the course material
Identify 3 of the most important concepts or skills you learned in this course
Knowing various chord progressions and cadences to create interesting compositions
Understanding and identifying non-harmonic tones
Identifying textures and phrases within compositions
Explain why you perceive these concepts or skills to be important
The knowledge of music is best utilized when applied in the context of a composition, so understanding chord progressions, cadences, non-harmonic tones, textures, and phrases, are all tools in a composer’s toolbox in order to make interesting and cohesive compositions.
How do you anticipate using these concepts or skills in the future?
If I ever feel inspired to compose something for whatever reason, a lot of skills and concepts I have learned here could be applied to a potential composition. In my composition for Unit 9, writing it felt like a culmination of all the units being used together to create a piece of music.
Step 7
Please provide some advice and words of wisdom for students taking this course in the future
Although it may seem like a waste of time, I really wish that I had created micro-plans for every unit. The way this course is designed, there is no one watching over your shoulder telling you what to do each day. Instead there is a due date a week or so in the future, so if you waste your time on the first few days, you’re going to be scrambling to finish it by the due date. I would also encourage people to do a little bit after school, even if you have other priorities, just a little bit will remove a little bit of stress from your life. This class isn’t supposed to be stressful. It should be enjoyable if you’re interested in music, and if you are not managing your time, it will be stressful instead.
Step 8
Please help us sculpt future classes by providing feedback, suggestions, etc. related to Unit Content, Alfred, Wix, On-Campus, ePortfolio, Work Flow, etc.
My biggest piece of feedback, which may be relatively unique to me, is that I think that students should use a site other than Jimdo. For me, it was very bizarre how Jimdo would just delete sentences and turn my responses into something that changes the meaning completely. I don’t know if this has been a problem only for me, but if I were to take another music class I would want to use a different site. The workload is reasonable but I think the midterm and final reflections are a little repetitive.