Instructor Insights

Instructor Insights pages are part of the OCW Educator initiative, which seeks to enhance the value of OCW for educators.

Course Overview

This page focuses on the course 21M.250 Beethoven to Mahler as it was taught by Professor Teresa Neff in Spring 2014.

Students studied the music of the late eighteenth through the late nineteenth centuries in terms of context, style, and form.

Course Outcomes

Course Goals for Students

Students should be able to identify, describe, and compare audio musical examples, musical forms, and explain the significance of particular pieces.

 

Curriculum Information

Prerequisites

21M.301 Harmony and Counterpoint I or permission of instructor. Basic score-reading ability is recommended.

Requirements Satisfied

This is a HASS-A course.

Offered

Every spring semester.

The Classroom

  • Photo shows the two pianos, blackboards that include staves, display, and audio components at the front of the classroom.

    Room 1 of 1

    Lecture

    Music-dedicated room with modern tablet arm chairs. Additional equipment included two grand pianos, a CD/DVD player, cassette deck, and turntable for audio examples, and blackboards with music staves.

 

Assessment

The students' grades were based on the following activities:

The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by exam 1. 15% Exam 1
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by exam 2. 15% Exam 2
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by concert reports. 30% Concert reports
(10% each)
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by listening guides. 30% Listening guides
(2-3, 10-15% each)
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by participation. 10% Participation
 

Student Information

16 students took this course when it was offered in Spring 2014.

Breakdown by Year

Primarily undergraduate students.

Breakdown by Major

¼ of students in the class were music majors; some students were minors and concentrators.

Typical Student Background

Almost all the students in the class had studied a musical instrument previously. All students took or were taking other MIT music classes, and over half of the class played or were playing in an MIT performance ensemble.

 

How Student Time Was Spent

During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:

In Class

3 hours per week

Met 2 times per week for 90 minutes per session; mandatory attendance.

 

Out of Class

9 hours per week

Reading assignments, listening assignments, score study, and written assignments. Occasional attendance at live music performances.

 

Semester Breakdown

WEEK M T W Th F
1 No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. Class session. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
2 Class session. No session scheduled. Class session. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
3 No classes throughout MIT. Class session. Class session. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
4 Class session. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled; assignment due date.
5 Class session. No session scheduled. Class session. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
6 Class session. No session scheduled. Class session. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
7 Class session. No session scheduled. Class session; exam scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
8 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
9 Class session. No session scheduled; assignment due date. Class session. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
10 Class session. No session scheduled. Class session. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
11 Class session. No session scheduled. Class session. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
12 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. Class session. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
13 Class session. No session scheduled. Class session. No session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled.
14 Class session. No session scheduled. Class session; exam scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
15 Class session. No session scheduled. Class session. No session scheduled. No classes throughout MIT.
16 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
Displays the color and pattern used on the preceding table to indicate dates when classes are not held at MIT. No classes throughout MIT
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when class sessions are held. Class session
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when assignments are due. Assignment due date
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when no class session is scheduled. No class session scheduled
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when recitation sessions are held. Special session: Concert
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when exams are held. Exam