Instructor: Dr. Mary Ann Joyce
Office Hours: Listed on Office Door (Music 105), or by appointment
Contact: 323-5440 or joycem@mville.edu
Texts: Adler, Samuel, The Study of Orchestration, Third Edition. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Purpose of Course: To acquaint the student with a) the distinctive, particular sound each instrument makes alone and in combination with other instruments, and b) the techniques used to produce these sounds.
Quizzes and Final Exam: There will be a test after each unit to test your knowledge of instrumental ranges, techniques, terminology, and other information discussed in class. Each test will cover only material presented in that unit. The final exam will be cumulative.
Grading: Five Tests (50%)
Assignments
(including Rehearsal & Performance), Daily Assignments, class participation
(25%)
Recital Attendance (5%)
Take-home Final (20%)
Rehearsal & Performance Journal: There is NO substitute for observing and careful listening to actual instruments and ensembles. Over the course of the semester, you are required to attend an entire rehearsal and one entire performance of the Manhattanville Orchestra. .If possible, take a score of the pieces so that you can see how the composer achieved orchestral effects, Include in each journal entry:
-the pieces performed/rehearsed
-date, time and place of the rehearsal / copy of the program
-comments made by the conductor at the rehearsal, especially issues of dynamics, articulations, bowing and tone color at the rehearsals
-problems encountered in each rehearsal and how those problems were addressed
-specific techniques that we have gone over in class
-interesting or unique ways in which the composer used instruments
-any other observations about the pieces or performances
Class Participation: Students are expected to attend class and participate in discussions. Preparation is requisite. Readings should be completed by the day that they are listed in the syllabus.
Session One: Discussion of the goals of the course (Chapter 1, Chapter 18)
Sessions 2-7 Strings (Chapters 2 - 5)
Demonstration(s)
Bowed String Instruments
Individual Bowed String Instruments
Plucked String Instruments
Scoring for Strings
TEST
Sessions 8 - 13 Woodwinds (Chapters 6 - 8)
Demonstration(s)
The Woodwind Choir (Reed Earphones)
Individual Woodwinds
Scoring for Woodwinds and Woodwind-String Combinations
TEST
Sessions 14 - 19 Brass (Chapters 9 - 11)
Demonstration(s)
Introduction to Brass Instruments
Individual Brass Instruments
Scoring for Brass, & Brass Combined with Strings and Winds
TEST
Sessions 20 - 23 Percussion and Keyboard Instruments (Chapters 12, 13, 14)
Demonstration
The Percussion Ensemble
Keyboard Instruments
Scoring for Percussion
TEST
Sessions 24 - 25 The Orchestra Itself
An Introduction to Scoring for Orchestra
Assigned readings from Chapters 16, 17
TEST