Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for MUS 111C Winter 2025


Course Number:
MUS 111C
Course Title:
Sight Singing and Ear Training I
Credit Hours:
1
Lecture Hours:
0
Lecture/Lab Hours:
20
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Introduces techniques and methods used to develop aural skills through singing, listening, and performing. Includes pitch matching, major-scale interval identification, and transcription of short major key melodies in simple meters. No previous music experience required. Recommended: concurrent enrollment in MUS 111, MUS 191P, and MUC 130A. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

This course is a requirement for students wishing to major in music. Students will be expected to use time outside of class to develop and reinforce skills.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon successful completion of the course student should be able to:

  1. Perform and transcribe rhythmic examples in 4/4, 3/4 and 2/4 that contain syncopation within a measure at the division or beat level only.

  2. Sing a prepared diatonic, mostly stepwise melody.

  3. Match a single pitch and short melodic patterns through singing.

  4. Aurally identify all major and perfect intervals above scale degree 1 within an octave of a major scale (played harmonically, melodically - ascending and descending).

  5. Transcribe stepwise melodies in major keys that use beats and longer in 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4 time signatures.

Course Activities and Design

  • Improvise short rhythmic exercises using beats and beat divisions in simple meters and then notate or transcribe the improvisations. 

  • Exercises to develop and strengthen relative pitch

Outcome Assessment Strategies


The instructor should make the criteria for assigning a course grade and for evaluating student progress clear at the beginning of the term. The individual instructor will determine the methods of assessment. Assessment methods may include:

Aural examinations
Singing examinations
Homework assignments
Class participation

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

  • Simple meter (4/4, 3/4, 2/4) and conducting patterns in 4, 3, and 2

  • Tempo and BPM

  • Rhythmic durations and relationships (division level, beat level, and longer)

  • Beaming in quarter note beat values

  • Syncopation at the division and beat level within the measure

  • Major keys, scales, key signatures

  • Natural minor scales, minor 3rd from scale degree 1

  • Major and perfect intervals within octave from scale degree 1

  • Primary major triads and functions in major keys

  • Scale degree labels (both moveable Do and scale degree numbers)

  • Treble and bass clef

  • Introduction to 5-line staff notation

  • Major key melodies and melodic fragments limited to stepwise motion and outlining the tonic triad 

  • Singing bass lines with scale degrees 1, 4 and 5

  • Triplets within beats