MUST 4212 AND MUSG 5336, Independent Study, The History of Theory, Tuning, and Temperament
CHARLES LEINBERGER, PH.D.
UTEP Course Syllabus, Spring Semester
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COURSE INFORMATION
Course Description:Independent academic study for students in the Bachelor of Music (MUST 4212) and the Master of Music (MUSG 5336) Degree Programs. This course is recommended for music theory and composition majors, but may be taken by any music major.
Location:FFA Room M302
Meeting TimesTR, 0930-1020AM (2012 ONLY)
Prerequisite:Senior-level standing (MUST 4212) or Graduate standing (MUSG 5336)
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Name:Charles Leinberger
E-mail:CHARLESL@UTEP.EDU
Office:Fox Fine Arts Center, Room M432
Office Phone:(915) 747-7800
Office Hours:Charles Leinberger's Office Hours
Biography:Charles Leinberger's Biography
TEXTBOOK
Textbook/Workbook:Ross W. Duffin, How Equal Temperament Ruined Harmony Duffin: How Equal Temperament Ruined Harmony
The instructor will provide all additional handouts.
Calculator:Texas Instruments TI30XA, TI-30X IIS, or any calculator capable of logarithms.
COURSE GOALS, OBJECTIVES, OUTCOMES, ETC.
Course Goal: To provide the student with the theoretical knowledge and skills needed for success in a career in music performance, education, or composition.
Course Objective: Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
  1. Understand and appreciate the evolution of the four main tuning systems and their relationship to the history of musical composition and practice.
  2. Demonstrate a knowledge of the theorists who have advocated the various tuning systems throughout the centuries and their reasons for doing so.
  3. Calculate ratios and cents for all possible intervals in Pythagorean Tuning, Just Tuning, Meantone Temperament, and Equal Temperament, including the various sizes of whole steps and half steps found in diatonic scales.
  4. Critically discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each tuning system.
Teaching Philosophy: Charles Leinberger's Teaching Philosophy
GRADING
The final grade will be calculated according to the following point values:
9 Assignments 50 points each 450 points 45% of final grade
Final Project 150 points 15% of final grade
Midterm Exam 1 100 points 10% of final grade
Midterm Exam 2 100 points 10% of final grade
Final Exam 200 points 20% of final grade
Total Points Possible 1000 points 100% of final grade
Letter grades will be assigned based on the total number of points earned. A grade of "W" will be assigned only if a student drops the course before the Course Drop Deadline, which is the Friday of Week 10 (See Deadlines for Students).
A 900-1000 points 90.0-100.0%
B 800-899 points 80.0-89.9%
C 700-799 points 70.0-79.9%
D 600-699 points 60.0-69.9%
F 0-599 points 0.0-59.9%
COURSE POLICIES
The following policies apply to all of Dr. Leinberger's classes:
  1. Attendance Policy
  2. Assignment Policy
  3. Classroom Policy
  4. Final Exam Policy and Schedules
  5. Each student should check his or her UTEP email account each day of the semester when registered for this class.
The following policies apply to this class:
  1. Come to class on time and prepared. Bring your calculator to every class.
  2. Assignments are due at the beginning of class.
  3. The Midterm Exams will be during class on Wednesday of Weeks 5 and 10.
  4. The Final Project will involve creating your own well-tempered (unequal) chromatic scale, including enharmonic pitches. The project will be in the form of a medium-length paper (500 to 750 words), and will include the following:
    1. Summarize the problem of tuning and temperament as it relates to keyboard instruments.
    2. Present your preferred ratios and cents for twenty-one pitches (seven letter names, each on as sharp, natural, and flat; C is 1).
      Make an Excel spread sheet for the calculations, then copy and paste the necessary rows and columns (hide unnecessary ones) into a Word file, which is your paper.
    3. Explain your reasons for choosing the tuning/temperament of your original twenty-one pitches.
    4. Of the twenty-one possible pitches, choose twelve for a keyboard tuning.
    5. Explain you reasons for choosing the twelve pitches for your keyboard tuning/temperament.
    6. In your conclusions, mention any of the theorists discussed in this course who you think had the most practical approach to keyboard tuning and why.
    7. Attach you document to an email address to the instructor, CHARLESL@UTEP.EDU
  5. The first draft of the project is due on Tuesday of Week 14.
  6. The final draft is due on Tuesday of Week 15.
SCHEDULE
Week Days Topic Assignment Test
1 T Duffin: Prelude Ratios, Cents, Overtones, Commas, Read Syllabus 1, None
R 2
2 T Duffin: Chapter 1 Pythagorean Tuning 3
R Just Tuning 4
3 T Duffin: Chapter 2 Meantone Temperament 5
R Equal Temperament 6
4 T Duffin: Chapter 3 Microtonal Tuning Systems None
R
5 T None Review for Midterm 1
R Midterm 1 Midterm 1
6 T Duffin: Chapter 4 Greek Music Theory, Greek Modes None None
R
7 T Duffin: Chapter 5 Guido d'Arezzo (d. after 1033)
R Philippe de Vitry (1291-1361) 7
8 T Duffin: Chapter 6 Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764) None
R 8
SB
Spring Break
9 T Duffin: Chapter 7 Jean-Philippe Rameau continued None None
R Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770)
10 T None Review for Midterm 2
R Midterm 2 Midterm 2
11 T Duffin: Chapter 8 Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg (1718-95 None
R Johann Philipp Kirnberger (1721-83) 9
12 T Duffin: Chapter 9 Georg Andreas Sorge (f. 1745-47) Begin Final Project
R Arnold Shönberg (1874-1951)
13 T Duffin: Chapter 10 Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) None
R Walter Piston (1894-1976)
14 T None Heinrich Schenker (1868-1935) Final Project Draft
R None
15 T Review for Final Final Project Due
R None
Finals TBA Final None Final
PLAGIARISM/ACADEMIC DISHONESTY STATEMENT
According to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, to plagiarize is "...vt [plagiary] (1716) : to steal or pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source ~ vi : to commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source..." Plagiarism is dishonest and unethical. Any suspected cases of plagiarism will be immediately turned over to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action. Refer to Student Conduct for further information.
DISABILITIES STATEMENT
Disabilities: The professor will make any reasonable accommodations for students with limitations due to disabilities, including learning disabilities. Please meet with the professor during office hours in the first two weeks or make an appointment, to discuss any special needs you might have. If you have a documented disability and require specific accommodations, you will need to contact the Disabled Student Services Office in the East Union Bldg., Room 106, within the first two weeks of classes. The Disabled Student Services Office can be reached at (915) 747-5148 (voice or TTY), (915) 747-8712 (fax), and at dss@utep.edu (email). Please visit www.utep.edu/dsso for more information.
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Charles Leinberger's Spring Semester Schedule
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This page was updated 12 April 2012.
All of this information is subject to change.		 UTEP Department of Music UTEP