Dr. Steven Morrison

School of Music 31C
Phone: 543-8986 / Fax: 616-4098
E-mail: sjmorris@u.washington.edu

Office hours: Monday, 2:00-3:00; Friday, 9:00-10:00

Instrumental and vocal ensemble teaching each requires unique skills, methods and materials. However, it is not uncommon that a choir teacher may be asked to take on one hour of beginning band; an orchestra teacher may be assigned to direct a middle school chorus. In all cases, good relations among members of a music faculty rest on a substantive understanding of the various teaching contexts. It is the purpose of this course sequence to introduce skills that will help you in ensemble teaching situations, those that may be familiar as well as those that may be new to you.

Specifically, during MUSED 304, 305 and 306, you will:

• Gather and review materials appropriate for instrumental and vocal ensemble programs;
• Share techniques, ideas and resources with colleagues;
• Practice and evaluate teaching techniques in real lesson/ensemble settings;
• Interact with instrumental and vocal music teachers and observe various approaches and methodologies employed in the performance-based classroom.

The first part of this course will focus on designing and implementing an elementary instrumental program.

Required Materials

These items will be used during MUSED 304:

• A secondary wind and/or string instrument
• A conducting baton
  
• A UW login ID and password
  
• String and wind/percussion method books (supplied)
• Band and orchestra music catalogs (supplied)
  

•    Byo, James. “Beginning Band Instruction: A Comparative Analysis of Selected Class Method Books.” Update: The Application of Research in Music Education 7 (Fall 1988): 19-23.

•    Delzell, Judith K., and Paul F. Doerksen. “Reconsidering the Grade Level for Beginning Instrumental Music.” Update: The Application of Research in Music Education 16 (Spring/Summer 1998):  17-22.

•    Doerksen, Paul F., and Judith K. Delzell. “Grade Starts and Scheduling Practices: Recommended vs. Actual Opportunities in Beginning String Programs.” American String Teacher 50 (May 2000): 58-63.

•    Leenman, Tracy F. 1998. “If the Mouthpiece Fits: Band Instruments for Beginners.” Teaching Music 6 (December 1998): 30-32.

•    Fraedrich, Eileen. The Art of Elementary Band Directing. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Meredith Music Publications, 1997. (on reserve)

•    Littrell, David and Laura Reed Racin. Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2001. (on reserve)

•    Miles, Richard and Thomas Dvorak, Eds. Teaching Music Through Performance in Beginning Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2001. (on reserve)

•    The Instrumentalist, subscription (available through Dr. Morrison)

•    First Lessons on Each Instrument, Instrumentalist Publications (on reserve)

•    Brown, Frank. A Band Director’s Handbook of Problems and Solutions in Teaching Instrumental Music. Millport, NY: Frank W. Brown, 2000. (on reserve)

This is an interactive and experience-based course. Learning can only happen if you are present and prepared for the class meetings. Participation and preparation is a significant part of your grade.

Assignments are due at the beginning of the class meeting on the due date. Late assignments will receive a 1-point deduction for each calendar day late beginning at the end of the class period. Absence is not an excuse. Late assignments will be considered turned in when:

• It is personally accepted by the instructor, OR
• It received and dated via fax (206-616-4098), OR
• It is received by the instructor via e-mail (where appropriate).

Final grades in this course are determined by the final total of points earned on all assignments, exams, participation and preparation. The following scale shows the minimum number of points required to earn the given landmark grades. Other grades not shown (i.e., 3.9 or 2.7) will also be calculated using this scale.

4.0 = 96 - 100 points
3.5 = 90.5 points
3.0 = 85 points
2.5 = 79.5 points
2.0 = 74 points (minimum grade to fulfill Music Education requirement)
1.5 = 68.5 points
1.0 = 63 points
0.7 = 60 points
0.0 = < 60 points

Follow this link for information on the general UW grading system.