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Course Syllabus

MUSC 1480 Brass Instrument Study and Pedagogy I

  • Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
  • Department: Music
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1; Lecture: 0; Lab: 2
  • Semesters Offered: TBA
  • Semester Approved: Fall 2026
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2031
  • End Semester: Summer 2032
  • Optimum Class Size: 12
  • Maximum Class Size: 20

Course Description

This course is the first in a sequence of two courses designed to teach music education majors the fundamentals of how to play and teach brass instruments. It is taught every other year, alternating with MUSC 1840 and 1850. This course and its follow-up, MUSC 1490, are required for instrumental music education majors. Vocal music education majors are required to take only one semester and may enroll in either MUSC 1480 or MUSC 1490. All four-year instrumental music education programs require a full year of this course or its equivalent.

Justification

This course is required for music education majors and must be taught to ensure efficient transfer to four-year institutions. Similar courses are taught at other Utah colleges that offer degrees in music education.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Upon successful completion of this class, students will be able to produce a characteristic sound on each brass instrument.
  2. Upon successful completion of this class, students will understand the overtone series and chromatic fingering patterns for each brass instrument.
  3. Upon successful completion of this class, students will understand principles of maintaining brass instruments.
  4. Upon successful completion of this class, students will be familiar with the fundamental literature associated with each brass instrument.
  5. Upon successful completion of this class, students will be able to demonstrate familiarity with the pedagogical techniques of teaching brass instruments.

Course Content

Students will participate in the class as if they were beginning band students. They will develop mastery at grade 2 level on one instrument during the fall semester (MUSC 1480) and familiarity with the remaining instruments during the spring semester (MUSC 1490). Students will participate in a practicum experience in the local public schools at least once per semester and receive input from the public school teacher. Students will build a resource binder on using, caring for, and maintaining brass instruments and appropriate band literature.

While teaching in a diverse environment, as a group, we will work hard toward a common goal with people that look, speak, and act very differently from ourselves but will interact on an equal and inclusive plane.