The Great Composers Series - Continued

In the Great Composers Series of lectures, Maestro James Domine, music director of the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra will lead the class in a curated encyclical compendium focusing on the most significant composers from each style period.  Weekly lectures will explore specifically selected examples from the repertoire and the significance of selected individual composers. In this five-week seminar we will discuss the music of Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Tchaikovsky, devoting one week of class meetings to each of these composers contributions to the repertoire.

Instructor Name: James Domine

Location: On Zoom

Meeting days and times: Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 1:00  to 3:00 PM

Winter Session: 

Email Address Contact Information: You may contact the instructor James Domine by campus email: domineje@piercecollege.edu. I check for communications daily Monday through Friday by 12 noon and will ordinarily respond to student inquiries within 24 hours. Please note that I will return email sent from non- student.laccd.edu unanswered.

Office Location:  Please make appointment by email. Until Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, meetings will be conducted on Zoom or telephone.

Office Hours/Student Consultation: I will be available for student consultations Monday mornings 10:00 – 10:45 am by appointment on Zoom only.

Required materials Information: All materials required for this class will be posted in the Files section of Canvas, or made available online.

Course Description: Maestro James Domine, music director of the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra will lead the class in a curated encyclical compendium exploring the music of Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Tchaikovsky. Weekly lectures will explore specifically selected examples from the repertoire.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLO): 

1) Students will become astute listeners able to discern fundamental elements of musical style.

2) Students will understand the compositional architecture of basic musical forms.

3) Students will have a functional understanding of the basic concepts and terminology used in music theory.

4) Students will attain critical analytical skills enabling them to evaluate musical works in their historical, aesthetic, and sociological contexts.

Course Outline or Content: TBD (sequentially by week or by topic). 

Schedule or Deadlines: Discussion and/or assignments may be made in this class. Participation is optional and due dates will be indicated as required.

Grading process/policies:   Encore classes are not graded academically but it is recommended that all suggested activities be completed for optimal educational experience. Full participation and attendance will provide the maximum opportunity for learning.

Attendance policy:  

Before Census date: Students who miss the equivalent of one week of course meetings prior to Census Date WILL be excluded from the course (this is state law).

After Census date: Towards the end of the semester, instructors need to submit an Active Enrollment Roster to drop students for non-attendance. Therefore, students may be dropped due to lack of participation, attendance and/or progress.

Dropping a course:  Students are responsible for dropping a course and post-census non-attendance does not automatically drop them from a course. A student who either withdraws after census, or receives unsatisfactory grades, cannot attempt a course more than three times. 

Special Services advisory: Students needing special accommodations should contact both, the Special Services office and the instructor as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in timely fashion. All information will remain confidential. http://www.piercecollege.edu/offices/special_services/ , 818-719-6430, and special_services@piercecollege.edu. The Web pages, video presentations, textbooks and class materials in this course are accessible to students with disabilities.

Academic Dishonesty Policy:  These policies do not usually apply to students enrolled in the Encore program. Generally, the academic policy for dishonesty (cheating on an exam, plagiarism, copying other students work, etc.) is that for the first offense zero points on the item involved and their names are reported to the Dean of Student Services, and that second offense can include failing the course AND permanent expulsion from all campuses in the LACCD).  Students should refer to the college catalog for details. Please keep in mind that an instructor cannot give course grade of Fail in case of academic dishonesty, but can give zero points for assignment/test in question. Please make sure you retain all documentation pertained to the incident for at least two years.

When We Will Meet

• We will meet in Zoom on the day(s) at time(s) indicated in the Zoom section of the Canvas shell for this class. (See menu at left column).

How to Join

• You can join our Zoom meetings by going to our Canvas shell and clicking the “Zoom” link in the left-hand course links. Then, click “Join” in that day’s session.

Recording and Privacy

You are not required to turn on your webcam and show your face in our Zoom sessions.

• Recording in a classroom without the prior consent of the instructor is prohibited, except as might be necessary to provide reasonable auxiliary aids and academic adjustments for students with disabilities. Such accommodation will be made only by written consent of the instructor and/or copyright owner.
• Because much of the material used as examples of repertoire is copyrighted, no unauthorized reuse of these lectures will be permitted.

Student Conduct in Zoom

• Students will enter the Zoom meeting muted and remain muted AT ALL TIMES until the instructor indicates that you may unmute yourself for discussion purposes.
• It’s important that we all treat one another with respect and kindness in Zoom, just as we would in person. For any misconduct, I will report the incident to LAPC’s disciplinarian. This includes the chat function.
• These Zoom sessions are a great opportunity for us to interact, discuss, and learn together, and I’m looking forward to these meetings together!

Student Health Center:  Medical and mental health services are available to all currently enrolled students at the Pierce Student Health Center. There is no cost to students to see any of the medical and mental health providers during extended office hours. Pierce College Student Health Center is now Family PACT providers too. Call 818-710-4270 to make an appointment or to ask a question. Located on the 2nd floor of the Student Services Building. http://www.piercecollege.edu/offices/health_center

Financial Assistance: If you need money to pay for books, supplies, enrollment fees, parking, and other expenses to help you with college, apply for financial aid.  To learn about the financial aid process, visit www.piercecollege.edu/offices/financial_aid or send an email to pierce_finaid@piercecollege.edu.  The office is located on the 2nd floor of the Student Services Building.  The Financial Aid Office uses a virtual queue called QLess which enables students to wait in line virtually.  To learn how to join the financial aid queue, go to http://www.piercecollege.edu/offices/financial_aid/qlessvirtualline.asp

Title IX: Pierce College is committed to fostering a campus community based on respect and nonviolence. To this end, we recognize that all Pierce community members are responsible for ensuring that our community is free from discrimination, domestic and dating violence, gender bias, stalking, sexual harassment, and sexual assault. In accordance with Title IX, Pierce is legally obligated to investigate incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault that occur on our campus. Faculty who become aware of an incident of sexual violence, including harassment, rape, sexual assault, relationship violence, child abuse or stalking, are mandatory reporters and required by law to notify Pierce Title IX Coordinator. The purpose of this disclosure is to ensure that students are made aware of their reporting options and resources for support. For more information about your rights and reporting options at Pierce, including confidential and anonymous reporting options, please visit http://www.piercecollege.edu/offices/compliance/ . Title IX Coordinator: Dr. Earic Dixon-Peters, V.P. of Student Services, 818 710 4228, peterseb@piercecollege.edu.

Syllabus Change Policy/Declaimer/Saving Clause: This syllabus is intended to give the student guidance in what may be covered during the semester and will be followed as closely as possible. However, the professor reserves the right to modify, supplement and make changes as the course needs arise.

Use of Mobile Devices: As research on learning shows, unexpected noises and movement automatically divert and capture people's attention, which means you are affecting everyone’s learning experience. Do not allow your cell phone, pager, laptop, etc. to make noise or become a distraction during class. This applies to any and all ambient noises as might occur.

Religious holidays: There may be religious holidays occurring during the session.  While these are neither Federal- or State-sanctioned holidays, they are days of religious observance that may impact some students in the class.  If you plan to miss a class period, an assignment due date or an exam because you will be practicing your religion on a particular day, you need to notify your instructor of this fact at least two weeks in advance. (See Pierce College Policy)

Foster Youth: We are making a special effort to support current and former foster youths at Pierce College. If you are a current or former foster youth you may qualify for other support services to help you achieve your educational goals.  Please contact our Guardian Scholars Program at (818) 710-3323 or email guardianscholars@piercecollege.edu so you can get the support you are eligible for.

Diversity Statement: We will continuously strive to build an inclusive, welcoming community of individuals with diverse backgrounds, talents and skills who are committed to civility, mutual respect, social justice, and the free and open enhance of ideas. We commit ourselves to change, growth, and action that embrace diversity as an integral resource of our educational experience and of the community we create.