Musicianship Lab I

APMS-1090-01, 1 credit

Fall 2025

M/W 1:00 - 1:50 p.m. Dixon Hall 201

Course Information

Instructor’s name: Will Kiel

Office hours: By appointment

Office: Dixon Hall 202

Email address: wkiel@tulane.edu

Catalog/Course Description and Program Outcomes

Course Objectives

The goals of this course are:

1. To learn to use solfège while singing and listening to music
2. To learn to identify meters and rhythms by ear, along with basic conducting patterns
3. To learn to identify intervals, triads, and seventh chords (including inversions) by ear
4. To learn basic rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic dictation (diatonic melodies and harmonies)
5. To learn the basics of sight-singing
6. To learn basic keyboard skills

Course Learning Outcomes

As a result of this course, students will be able to:

1. Identify the notes of the scale (scale degrees) by ear using solfège
2. Perform rhythmic dictations using basic subdivisions of the beat in both simple and compound meters
3. Identify intervals, triads, and seventh chords by ear, including in inversions
4. Perform melodic and harmonic dictations in a diatonic context
5. Sight-sing diatonic melodies
6. Play scales, chords, and arpeggios on the piano with both hands
7. Apply these skills in an ensemble performance context

Program Level Outcomes (Major/Minor)

Students should take this course before taking Advanced Harmony and Musicianship Lab II.

Core Curriculum Outcomes

This class and its corequisite fulfill the GE art curriculum requirement.

Required Student Resources

Students should purchase and bring to every class:

A booklet of manuscript paper (i.e., this one)

Sharp pencils, eraser, ruler

A three-ring binder containing the printed coursepack (to be distributed in class). It is essential that you keep class materials together and organized!

Purchase an Auralia license.

Note: No cellphone, laptop, or tablet use will be permitted in class. You will not need them, so put them away!

Evaluation Procedures and Grading Criteria

The grading scale is as follows:

A: 93-100          B+: 87-89.99          C+: 77-79.99          D+: 67-69.99          F: 59.99 and below

A-: 90-92.99      B: 83-86.99            C: 73-76.99            D: 63-66.99

                            B-: 80-82.99           C-: 70-72.99          D-: 60-62.99

Evaluation for this class will be based on the following projects:

Auralia Assignments: These assignments are to be completed individually by students on Auralia, the online aural skills platform. There will be an assignment on Auralia every week! No late assignments will be accepted.

Homework Assignments: You will also complete handwritten homework assignments approximately every other week. All homework assignments are to be handed in (hard copies only) by the end of class on the due date. No late assignments will be accepted.

Performance Challenges: There will be a performance challenge every other week (sign up for a regular time slot here). These are opportunities to familiarize you with the piano keyboard and apply the skills you have been working on in the context of an individual live performance exam.

Midterm exam: To be taken on Auralia.

Final exam: Cumulative exam to be taken in class at the end of the semester, including a group performance as an entire class.

Musicianship: A crucial aspect of musicianship, aside from the technical skills we will be learning, is the development of the professionalism required to be a musician. These include attendance, punctuality, organization, attentiveness, perseverance, kindness to others, and understanding and compassion toward the self in pursuit of this discipline. These may seem ineffable, but they are extremely important.

The breakdown is as follows:

Auralia assignments: 30%

Homework assignments: 15%

Performance challenges: 15%

Midterm: 10%

Final exam: 15%

Musicianship: 15%

Attendance Statement 

Attendance is required and will be taken every class. I operate under the assumption that we are all adults and there are times when you simply need to take a sick day or a personal day. I permit three absences per term. You are responsible for obtaining notes and other material from any classes missed from a classmate.

To excuse illness-related absences, you will need to provide a digital note from Campus Health indicating you have been seen. Digital notes can be provided by students via email or Case Management. Notify me promptly if you are severely ill or have other extenuating personal circumstances--including if you contract Covid-19 and are required to isolate--and we will make alternative arrangements. If you contract Covid-19 I expect you to isolate for five days and not put your classmates at risk. I will accommodate you!

Remote Course Policies 

As a lecture class with an interactive, musical skills component, we will be live and in-person the entire semester. However, I may on occasion provide video tutorials on Canvas. Should class be cancelled due to a hurricane or other weather event, rather than reschedule I will provide a video lecture with assignments to be watched asynchronously and completed before the next class.

ADA/Accessibility Statement 

Tulane University strives to make all learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience academic barriers based on your disability, please let me know immediately so that we can privately discuss options. I will never ask for medical documentation from you to support potential accommodation needs. Instead, to establish reasonable accommodations, I may request that you register with the Goldman Center for Student Accessibility.  After registration, make arrangements with me as soon as possible to discuss your accommodations so that they may be implemented in a timely fashion. Goldman Center contact information: goldman@tulane.edu; (504) 862-8433; accessibility.tulane.edu.

Code of Academic Conduct 

The Code of Academic Conduct applies to all undergraduate students, full-time and part-time, in Tulane University. Tulane University expects and requires behavior compatible with its high standards of scholarship. By accepting admission to the university, a student accepts its regulations (i.e., Code of Academic ConductLinks to an external site. and Code of Student ConductLinks to an external site.) and acknowledges the right of the university to take disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion, for conduct judged unsatisfactory or disruptive.

Religious Accommodation Policy

Both Tulane’s policy of non-discrimination on the basis of religion and our core values of diversity and inclusion require instructors to make reasonable accommodations to help students avoid negative academic consequences when their religious obligations conflict with academic requirements. Every reasonable effort should be made to allow members of the university community to observe their religious holidays without jeopardizing the fulfillment of their academic obligations. It is never acceptable for an instructor to compel a student to choose between religious observance and academic work. Absence from classes or examinations for religious reasons does not relieve students from responsibility for any part of the course work required during the period of absence.It is the obligation of the student to provide faculty within the first two weeks of each semester their intent to observe the holiday so that alternative arrangements convenient to both students and faculty can be made at the earliest opportunity. Students who make such arrangements will not be required to attend classes or take examinations on the designated days, and faculty must provide reasonable opportunities for such students to make up missed work and examinations. Exceptions to the requirement of a make-up examination must be approved in advance by the dean of the school in which the course is offered. A religious calendarLinks to an external site. is available.

Course Schedule/Outline/Calendar and Online Engagement

Subject to change if needed.

ADA 

Tulane University strives to make all learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience academic barriers based on your disability, please let me know immediately so that we can privately discuss options. I will never ask for medical documentation from you to support potential accommodation needs. Instead, to establish reasonable accommodations, I may request that you register with the Goldman Center for Student Accessibility. After registration, make arrangements with me as soon as possible to discuss your accommodations so that they may be implemented in a timely fashion.Goldman Center contact information:goldman@tulane.edu; (504) 862-8433; accessibility.tulane.edu.

Title IX 

Tulane university recognizes the inherent dignity of all individuals and promotes respect for all people. As such, Tulane is committed to providing an environment free of all forms of discrimination including sexual and gender-based discrimination, harassment, and violence like sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking. If you (or someone you know) has experienced or is experiencing these types of behaviors, know that you are not alone. Resources and support are available: you can learn more at allin.tulane.edu. Any and all of your communications on these matters will be treated as either “Confidential” or “Private” as explained in the chart below. Please know that if you choose to confide in me I am required by the university to share your disclosure in a Care Connection to the Office of Case Management and Victim Support Services to be sure you are connected with all the support the university can offer.The Office of University Sexual Misconduct Response and Title IX Administration is also notified of these disclosures.You choose whether or not you want to meet with these offices. You can also make a disclosure yourself, including an anonymous report, through the form at tulane.edu/concerns.

Emergency Preparedness & Response