Small Ensembles and Chamber Music–MUS 230/430/630, section 078

sample syllabus

Objectives

The study of chamber music provides instrumental students with the opportunity to develop rehearsal and performance skills in small ensemble situations, and to gain close familiarity with works from the chamber music repertoire. Students acquire useful knowledge of the characteristics and peculiar difficulties of other instruments in rehearsals and coaching sessions during each semester, culminating in a public performance of their chosen work.

Class Description

All students enrolled or considering enrollment in Chamber Music must attend a mandatory meeting on Friday, August 31 at 8:30am. Location will be posted on Dr. Riner’s door. The chamber curriculum will consist of weekly rehearsals and bi-weekly coaching sessions. Each group will be assigned a faculty or advanced student coach. Emphasis will be placed on group participation, rehearsal techniques, ensemble issues, intonation work, and mastery of staple chamber repertoire. Each group should arrange for a minimum of one hour of rehearsal time outside of coaching sessions in an effort to be fully prepared for these sessions. Coaching sessions will be arranged between the individual group and their coach. Each group should submit rehearsal logs to Dr. Riner to account for the work they have done throughout the term. You may find blank logs to fill out on Dr. Riner’s door, FR 160. Logs are due to Dr. Riner the last Friday of the classes for the semester.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is extremely important. Each absence from rehearsal without a valid explanation (illness, emergency situation) should be recorded in the rehearsal log and will result in the lowering of an individual’s grade by one letter. Ex.: A becomes B. If your group is scheduled to have a coaching or rehearsal, you should be in your seat, tuned and ready to play promptly at your established start time. Every member of the group should be prepared with a pencil, instrument, music, and a copy of the score.

Group Leaders

Each group will assign a ‘leader’. This person will be responsible for checking out the music, locating/making copies of the score for group members and their coach, and organizing rehearsals. The group leader should also communicate with Dr. Riner if any problems arise or if the group needs more support. Each group will be responsible for turning in a rehearsal log which is legible and concise–this will count as part of your grade.

Scheduling Rehearsals

It is vital that groups taking Chamber Music set up steady rehearsal patterns from the moment their group forms. You should plan to rehearse at least one hour per week together, not including your coaching sessions. I encourage you to do more if possible. Groups who attempt to put everything together in the few weeks before the exam often end up under a great deal of pressure and don’t do as well as they might in their final performance. Try to fix regular times that will suit your entire group, and reschedule if needed.

Grading

Your grade is based on four factors:

1. Participation, preparation and attitude (25%)

2. Satisfactory organization of twelve rehearsals and six coachings per semester (25%)

3. Successful performance of assigned repertoire during semester, either in the departmental small ensembles concert or in another venue approved by Dr. Riner (25%)

4. Timely submission of accurate rehearsal log (25%)

SAMPLE ASSESSMENT REPORT (to be completed by coach)

Group Assessed:

Dates of coaching sessions:

Please comment briefly and assign a letter grade to the following topics:

Breadth of repertoire covered by the group

Motivation and discipline demonstrated by the group

Amount of preparation for coaching sessions

Ability of the group to work towards successful performances

Any other comments (eg future potential)