MCGY1003: Aural Perception 2

In-class solfege exercises (20%), Transcription assignments (30%), Oral examination (50%).

MCGY1003

MCGY2004 was run entirely online when I was enrolled in it due to the pandemic. I found that it was highly successful in execution and a really enjoyable unit overall.

Usually, Aural Perception classes are conducted as two tutorials with Lab (melodic dictation) and Solfege. However, the unit was changed instead to being a theory-based lecture and a practical tutorial which blended Lab and Solfege together. I actually preferred this system because it meant I was thinking about the applications of all the aural skills together. The pre-recorded lecture for 9am also meant I could watch it the night before and more time to sleep in/do my readings for the classes I had during the day. I also liked that we had transcription assignments and tutorial tests, rather than weekly homework to submit like in MCGY2003. The course content itself though was quite difficult and each week felt like an absolute overload of information. I still struggle with pitching the octatonic scale now and I had been trying to sing it for the full twelve weeks I was studying the unit. I found the exam really challenging at the end of the course but I attribute this to not revising as much as I could have during the semester and trying to cram all my study in the final weeks leading up to it. It is also a bit unreasonable, in my eyes, for 20 minutes of assessment to be worth 50% of the grade and I suspect most of my performance in the unit was affected negatively because I was so underprepared for that exam.

Despite these minor complaints which really are only present because of my own poor time management, MCGY2004 was a fun and beneficial unit. One thing I valued to a great extent was how Alex selected diverse examples for the unit's repertoire. I loved how he went from using 70's and 80's music to illustrate secondary dominants, to having us analyse the chord progressions for a Juice WRLD song. I felt that this demonstrated how the skills developed in Aural Perception can be applied to the music that I listen to and will ultimately be teaching more of in the classroom. I am looking forward to my final Aural Perception unit this coming semester and seeing how it will compare to this one!

1x 1 hour Lab, 1x 1 hour Solfege tutorial

4/5

Yes; the lectures were pre-recorded because of COVID-19 and were uploaded by the morning of the class. Tutorials were conducted on Zoom and not recorded though.

Alex Chilvers

None

4/5

Manual for Ear Training and Sight Singing 2nd Edition (Gary S. Karpinski), Anthology for Sight Singing (Gary S. Karpinski and Richard Kram).

2020, Semester 2

73 CR

Weekly Lab assessments (25%), weekly Solfege assessments (15%), Lab examination (35%), Solfege examination (25%).

MCGY1002

Doing this unit of study during COVID-19 was quite the struggle. With the shift to online learning, the unit's reliance on in-class attendance for everything to run smoothly was really tested this semester. I already found the jump from MCGY1002 to this unit significant prior to quarantine so not having face-to-face classes proved to be a challenge. I think it could have been better handled but I also understand that it was difficult given the unique circumstances we are in.

The changed assessment and examination procedures did help to an extent. It was really tedious and time-consuming scanning my homework for Lab and recording the exercises for Solfege but the flexibility of when we submit the assignments was great. I established for myself a routine of submitting them a day before which granted me a little more sleep on the morning Lab was usually due on and to only have to worry about watching the tutorial for Solfege. I felt like the final exam was poorly scheduled though because I had mine right in the middle of two other subjects and we were notified fairly last minute about it. Conducting it over Zoom also was not particularly the best move either because of my internet being difficult. Otherwise, I am glad they decided to make this unit UC instead of pass/fail or keeping the traditional grading system because despite the other problems with the unit, I did feel like a lot more stress that could have come from this unit was avoided.

I personally feel a bit worried about going into Aural Perception 3 given how I barely managed to get through this unit. I do commend Anthony and Alex's efforts to make the content as comprehensive as possible with the added challenge of navigating online learning and I appreciated the responsiveness to my questions over email. I hope our classes will be conducted in person next semester because it will make a world of a difference and will help me experience and apply the skills we use in the unit better.

1x 1 hour Lab, 1x 1 hour Solfege tutorial

4/5

Yes; the tutorials were pre-recorded because of COVID-19.

None; you will be assigned with a tutor for both classes. I had Anthony Hamad for Lab and Alex Chilvers for Solfege.

None

3/5

Manual for Ear Training and Sight Singing 2nd Edition (Gary S. Karpinski), Anthology for Sight Singing (Gary S. Karpinski and Richard Kram).

2020, Semester 1

0 UC; due to COVID-19, I received a Unit Continuing indicator, instead of a traditional grade.