Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Aural Skills II (Face-to-Face)

MUSC 1140-01

Course: MUSC 1140-01
Credits: 1
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: MUSC
CRN: 11468

Course Description

The second course in the aural skills sequence, MUSC 1140, Aural Skills II develops skills in aural perception and sight-reading abilities through harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic dictation, singing, interval recognition, and other methods. This semester will cover diatonic melodies and intervals, intermediate rhythms, and all diatonic triads.

Required Texts

No text is required for this course. However, a workbook is posted on Canvas that students must print out, or download to use on an iPad. Students are strongly encouraged to have an iPad with an Apple pencil. Also recommended is an app that allows editing or writing on pdf's, such as ForScore.

Numerous online sources will be useful for practice outside of class. Some examples are http://www.musictheoryonline.net and http://www.teoria.com.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  • Sight-read diatonic melodies employing Solfege syllables.
  • Count aloud rhythms using a numeric based enunciation system for rhythms that include beat and subdivision levels of simple and compound meters.
  • Write from dictation, diatonic melodies and harmonies.
  • Write from dictation simple and compound rhythms.
  • Recognize diatonic intervals aurally.

Course Requirements

Dictation exams       40% of the final grade 

Sight-Singing exams    40% of the final grade

Assignments          20% of the final grade

Dictation Exams (40%):

There will be four dictation exams given during the semester, including the final exam. These exams will occur during class our regular class meeting time on the dates indicated in the Course Outline section above. Tests must be taken by the scheduled testing date but may be taken earlier in coordination with the professor.

Grading on dictation exams will typically award points as follows:

Intervals: 1 point for the correct pitch, 1 point for the correct identification.

Rhythm: 1 point per note

Melody: 1 point per pitch, 1 point per rhythm. Depending on the length, the points could be halved.

Harmony: 1 point per soprano note, 1 point per bass note, 1 point per Roman numeral 1 point per figured bass numbers/symbols. 1/2 point extra credit will be given for each correct alto and tenor notes.

Error Detection: 1 point per error identified.

Sight Singing Exams (40%):

4 sight-singing exams will be given throughout the semester aligning with the dictation exams. These will be given outside of our regular class meeting time, in my office. The final sight-singing exam will be given during the final exam time, as scheduled by the university. Individual sight-singing exam times will be signed-up for in class. Exams will take place in Dr. Clegg's office.

The final sight-singing exam will be given during the appointed final exam time which is:

Tuesday April 21st 9-10:50 am 

Grading on sight singing exams will typically award points as follows:

Pitch       30 points

Rhythm     30 points

Intonation    10 points

Solfege     10 points

Fluidity          20 points

Total        100 points


Assignments (20%):

Each module contains assignments that will be completed by the due date listed. Instructions for completion and submission are included in each assignment description. Several assignments utilize resources accessed from the home page of this Canvas course.

There are four extra credit projects which you may complete at any point during the semester up until 11:59pm on the last Friday before finals week. You may complete any or all of these projects to help boost your Assignments grade.

The following grading standards will be used in this class:

GradeRange
A100 % to 93.0%
A-< 93.0 % to 90.0%
B+< 90.0 % to 87.0%
B< 87.0 % to 83.0%
B-< 83.0 % to 80.0%
C+< 80.0 % to 77.0%
C< 77.0 % to 73.0%
C-< 73.0 % to 70.0%
D+< 70.0 % to 67.0%
D< 67.0 % to 63.0%
D-< 63.0 % to 61.0%
F< 61.0 % to 0.0%

Course Outline

Chapter 5 - Jan. 8 - Jan. 29

Chapter 6 - Feb. 3 - Feb. 24 

Chapter 7 - Feb. 26 - Mar. 26 

Chapter 8 - Mar. 24 - Apr. 9  

Chapter 5 Sight Singing & Dictation Test - Jan. 29

Chapter 6 Sight Singing & Dictation Test - Feb. 24

Chapter 7 Sight Singing & Dictation Test - Mar. 26

Chapter 8 Sight Singing & Dictation Test - Apr. 21 - Final Exam

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Online classes provide unique challenges for interaction. For messages sent to me, I will respond in the specified amount of time. Feedback is an important part of learning please look for feedback on your assignments that I provided in the specified amount of time, to find feedback look at this tutorial 

How do I view assignment comments from my Instructor? (Links to an external site.)

How do I view annotation feedback comments from my instructor? (Links to an external site.)

It is my goal to:

  • Respond to student messages within 2 business days
  • Provide grades and feedback within 2 - 3 days from the due date

LATE WORK AND MAKE-UP WORK:

Absences from exams are not permitted.  Late assignments and make-ups for exams will NOT be accepted unless accompanied by valid documentation for an absence due to special circumstances consisting of, but not limited to: death, death of a close family member, life-threatening sickness or event.

Late submissions and make-up exams due to less-than-intense circumstances (such as vacation, marriage, or school trips) are at the discretion of the instructor, but letting the professor know in advance that a class will be missed may (but won't necessarily) lead to leniency in this regard.

Please silence phones/tablets/et al at the beginning of each class. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the classroom as it is very distracting to have devices ringing during dictation exercises. 

*I reserve the right to make changes to the grade allocation and policies as needed per semester.

Attendance Policy

ATTENDANCE POLICY: 

This class has a skill component to it that can only be properly learned through monitored practice. Therefore, while attendance is not a graded category in this class, the following scale will be used to adjust your final grade at the end of the semester:

0 absences - add 4 percentage points
1 absence - add 2 percentage points
2 absences - no change
3 absences - subtract 2 points
4 absences - subtract 4 points
5 absences - subtract 8 points
6 absences - automatic failure

Additional Course Information

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Prerequisite: A grade of C or higher in MUSC 1130 and instructor permission

Co-requisite: MUSC 1120, Music Theory II

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.