Final Project
MUSC 1400 Spring 2023
Professor Ty Citerman
This project is worth 75 points. It is similar in format to your
... [Show More] midterm, but will be
submitted in full on Wednesday, May 17. See grading policy on page 4.
Remember that this is an INDVIDUAL project - you may not work on this with
classmates or in your practice groups. If you have questions, please email me
individually or raise them during class.
PART 1
Look at the list below and choose THREE pieces of music that you will listen to and
write about (these are all on our CLASS PLAYLIST at the end):
“O Superman”
“Cello Suite No. 2 in Dminor”
“Go Down, Moses”
“Peace”
“Piano Prelude IV - Les Sons et Les Parfums…”
“Body and Soul”
“Stack O’Lee Blues”
“Fallin’”
“Round Midnight”
We listened to some of these pieces earlier in the semester, but not all of them. Listen
to them multiple times again, and choose three of the pieces of music from the list that
you ENJOY. You will find sheet music or excerpts of the sheet music attached as PDFs
below, and you must use the sheet music I’ve provided for reference.
See the following two pages (PART 2 of the final project) for the EIGHT
QUESTIONS you must answer about EACH of the three pieces of music you’ve
chosen.
PART 2
SUBMIT the following for each piece of music, written in numbered, short answer
form (you may copy/paste the questions/answer spaces from below). Note that you
will need to provide a page of citations for books, articles, web pages or other
sources you used to inform some of your answers below.
1. What is the name of the piece, the name of the performer(s), the name of the
composer and the year it was written (if known)? (4 pts)
2. What is the form of the piece or section of the piece you’re writing about: binary,
ternary, sectional, AABA, through-composed or other? Please cite any key evidence in
the music that supports your answer. (3 pts)
3. What is the instrumentation for the piece - is it specified on the sheet music? And if
so, is it for a group or for a soloist? List all instruments in the SPECIFIC
PERFORMANCE you’re writing about, including voices (this may require some
research about the recording). (3 pts)
4. What is the time signature and tempo of the piece (if indicated)? How would you
describe or characterize the rhythm - for example, is there a steady pulse? Is the beat
syncopated? Are there drums or other instruments maintaining the steady pulse, or is it
implied? Please explain. (3 pts)
5. What is the key signature of the piece? Please name the tonic and whether it is
minor or major - listing any sharps or flats - AND write one octave of that key’s major or
minor scale on a TREBLE CLEF staff. Can you determine if there is modulation or
does the key remain constant throughout the piece? (3 pts)
6. Are there chords in the piece and are they written on the sheet music, either in letter
form or on a grand staff? If so, choose a four measure excerpt, label the measure
numbers, and write the chords from those four measures on a BASS CLEF staff,
labeling each chord by name and quality below the staff (for example, EMaj, Amin7,
Gdim, etc)? (3 pts)
7. Does the sheet music indicate any markings for dynamics or other changes in
character or feeling? If so, name at least two and indicate which measures they appear
in on the sheet music. (3 pts)
8. What (if any) is the role of improvisation in the piece of music? How did you identify
the improvisation and in what section does it occur? (3 pts)
NOTES ABOUT GRADING
The final project will be graded using the system we used for the midterm, known as
CONTRACT GRADING. This means that you will be GUARANTEED a grade of a B-
(60 out of 75 points) if you do all of the following:
1. You choose three pieces of music as described in Part 1.
2. You submit Parts 1 and 2 ON TIME by the due date: Wednesday, May 17
3. You answer all eight questions listed in Part 2 for each of the three pieces of
music to the best of your abilities.
4. You demonstrate additional research about the three pieces of music and cite
the sources you used when necessary.
5. Your answers reveal a depth of engagement with the music.
6. Your answers show creative and critical thinking.
7. You have submitted original work that is yours alone as determined by CUNY
standards of academic integrity: plagiarism is unacceptable. Read the Brooklyn
College Academic Integrity policy HERE. Remember this is NOT a group project.
So to be clear, you will earn a grade of a B- based on your effort and engagement with
the project and your ability to submit everything on time, not simply based on
submitting “correct answers.” However, in order to get a grade higher than a B-, you
must demonstrate more than just effort and engagement; you must show exceptional
quality of work, attention to detail, creativity and analysis. Grades higher than a Bmust show excellence, including strong writing, active listening, depth of analysis and
detailed research with a diversity of source materials.
Let me know if you have any questions and good luck! [Show Less]