MUAP 1174 - Applied Piano

Fall 2021 Syllabus

Instructor:         Alec Huntley

Email:                   AHuntley@NCTC.edu

Phone:                 415-378-0116

Course Description:

Private lessons in piano performance. Lessons occur once per week and are each thirty minutes long. Specific content for lessons will differ for each student and will reflect both the interests of that student and my suggestions as the instructor.

Course Objectives:

Developing the fundamental skills of piano technique and performance. Beginners will follow a curriculum provided by a coursebook. More advanced students can (and are expected to) being in materials that they wish to work on. Specific course objectives will differ from student to student, but may include:

• Learning scales
• Interpreting songs from written music
• Arranging jazz or popular songs from lead sheets and chord charts
• Working on technique drills and exercises
• Practicing material for school and/or extra-curricular ensembles

Attendance:

You are entitled to one thirty-minute lesson a week for up to thirteen lessons for the semester. If you cannot make our scheduled lesson, and can give me at least 24 hours’ notice, then we can reschedule for another mutually convenient time. If I ask to reschedule a lesson, you will be entitled to a make-up lesson.

Method of Evaluation/Grading:

I will assign you a grade for every lesson based on how prepared you were for that lesson:

• 2 points – You clearly practiced the material at home and made some progress
• 1 point – You practiced very little and made almost no progress.
• 0 points – You didn’t practice at all since our last lesson.

Your final grade will be calculated as follows:

• 60% - The cumulative average of your lesson grades.
• 40% - Attendance, communication, and participation.

Contacting me:

The best way to get in touch with me is by email: AHuntley@NCTC.edu. You are also welcome to call or text me on my cell phone: 415-378-0116.

Disability Services:

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

If you feel you have needs for services that the institution provides, please reach out to either Wayne Smith (940) 498-6207 or Yvonne Sandman (940) 668-4321.  Alternative students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville

COVID-19 Policies:

Conversion of Onsite Classes to Online/Remote Format:

North Central Texas College students should be aware that in the event of a college closure due to COVID-19 or other health related crisis, onsite classes will be converted to an online/remote format. Students should plan ahead to ensure they have access to the computer equipment (either PC, MAC, or tablet), webcam, and internet connectivity to continue their classes in an online/remote format. Please read all your official North Central Texas College student emails as the transition from onsite to online/remote might require a reorganization in your personal situation. Students will be granted a 72-hour transition and grace period. Online classes will continue as scheduled without disruption. Contact your instructor as the situation arises. These policies and procedures were updated on July 27, 2021 and are subject to change as conditions change.

Syllabi Statement Regarding Face Coverings: Per the North Central Texas College guidance on face coverings on campus, in the instructional setting, faculty and students are not required to wear face coverings, such as masks or face shields. In May, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott released an Executive Order prohibiting Government entities from mandating the use of masks. As a political subdivision of the State of Texas, NCTC will follow the Governor’s Executive Order for Government entities and effective immediately NCTC is no longer mandating the use of masks while on campus. This order does not mean that you cannot choose to wear a mask, rather it is no longer allowed to be mandated. These policies and procedures were updated on May 19, 2021 and are subject to change.

Return to Standard Attendance Protocol for Face-to-Face Meetings: In spring 2020, we faced an unprecedented situation in which all of us had to be flexible and make prudent decisions in the best interest of our families, our campus, and our community. In light of this, North Central Texas College is temporarily establishing the requirement that faculty keep records of student attendance for face-to-face course meetings as well as a documented seating chart. In addition, students who are sick or need to quarantine should not attend classes. Students will not be required to provide formal documentation from a health care provider and will not be penalized for COVID-19 related absences when proper notification to campus health officials is made in accordance with the guidelines stated below.

Faculty will:

• Notify students about important course information and delivery changes through Canvas and campus email.

Students should:

• Provide notification to campus officials if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have to quarantine so we can confirm reported absence with instructors, monitor, and assist the campus community.
• Notify instructors in advance of the absence.
• Connect with that class through Webex if the class session is being transmitted in a hybrid fashion.
• Keep up with and/or make up missed classwork or assignments.
• Submit assignments digitally through Canvas or other means as announced by your instructor.
• Work with their instructors to reschedule exams, labs, and other critical academic activities described in the course syllabus.
• Check Canvas and campus email daily to receive important announcements pertaining to the course.

During the fall 2021 semester, faculty with face-to-face meetings will establish assigned seating/work stations to facilitate roll-taking, and, if necessary, contact tracing. Additionally, we ask all members of the College community to be attentive to their health, and safeguard others, by following the CDC’s guideline to “stay home when you are sick.” You should stay home if you have symptoms. More information on what to do if you are sick is available at the CDC’s website.

Additional NCTC information is available at http://www.nctc.edu/coronavirus/index.html