The course, Fundamentals of Academic Reading and Writing, introduces students to the skills required for reading and writing at the tertiary level. Students will practice reviewing the structure of paragraphs and essays including thesis statements, topic sentences and supporting evidence; identifying tone, register, and audience of academic writing; writing coherent and cohesive sentences and paragraphs; and integrating source material and avoiding plagiarism; while employing various conventions in the use of grammar, mechanics and vocabulary. Students will engage in comprehension practice and short writing exercises on a weekly basis, using fiction and non-fiction texts.

Students are required to undertake intense study in voice or an instrument on which he / she has demonstrated reasonable performing skills. The course will be tailored to the individual student’s level and needs and will cover a broad repertoire relevant to the particular area of study. A juried examination is held each semester in which students are expected to display satisfactory progress from one semester to the next; the grade given at the examination will go towards a percentage of the student’s overall semester grade for the course.

Principles of notation, scales (major and minor), keys, intervals, and triads; identification of triads and seventh chords in inversion; part-writing using rot position and first inversion triads are taught mainly through music of the common practice period (1600-1900).

Chromatic harmony, the use of secondary dominants, secondary leading tone chords, modulations, mode mixture and the Neapolitan chord are the emphases.

This course examines the contemporary theories, methods,media and practices that underpin the learner-centred art classroom. Such a classroom is grounded in the understanding that learners are not passive receptors of knowledge but that they actively construct knowledge in their attempt to understand the world. In such a learning environment teacher and student become co-constructors of knowledge.

This course is regarded as the major component of the education core course for the Education Specialist, therefore, it is specifically designed to further equip teachers with the knowledge, attitude and skills required to plan and teach the visual and performing arts as a subject in

their own right, drawing from their own body of knowledge which is obtained from the art forms.

This is a group class where students develop secondary vocal skills that will enable them to function in the classroom or group settings primarily as beginning soloists or ensemble performers. 

Semester 1

This is the space where all students in Ms. Debra-Ann Davidson's studio will be able to access course syllabi, and supporting materials. It is also a place where students will be notified of important imformation.

Weekly preparation for the 3rd-year concert - includes modules on preparing performance riders, stage plots and input lists as well as their programmes, fliers and charts as there are also weekly performance critiques.

Weekly preparation for the 3rd-year concert - includes modules on preparing performance riders, stage plots and input lists as well as their programmes, fliers and charts as there are also weekly performance critiques.

Weekly preparation for 4th-year concert - includes modules on preparing performance riders, stage plots and input lists as well as their programmes, fliers, charts as well as arrangements and press kits - there are also weekly performance critiques.

Weekly preparation for 4th-year concert - includes modules on preparing performance riders, stage plots and input lists as well as their programmes, fliers, charts as well as arrangements and press kits - there are also weekly performance critiques.

This course takes a more in-depth look at the studio process and practical applications of concepts learned in the Music Technology III. A final thesis/project is required. Prerequisite: MU 409

This course takes a more in-depth look at synthesis systems, sequencing, sampling, the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), audio editing and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) concepts.

This methods course reflects the historical, social and cultural milieu in which music takes place in the schools of our nation. The course focuses not only on giving our students the necessary musical tools needed for a career in music education but also prepares them for the pedagogical
skills needed to effectively design, and manage learning and instruction at the secondary level in a Jamaican school. Emphasis is given to planning, teaching and evaluating music lessons and to utilizing techniques and materials from a variety of approaches. The cultural framework in which
music education takes place is focused on so that students will not only be exposed to musical ideas from outside the geographical region in which they live but an emphasis will be placed on materials and musical ideas from Jamaica and the Caribbean region. The course will operate as a learning laboratory where students will function as both student and teacher. Students will be asked to teach mini-lessons and be involved in pedagogical practice modules in schools. The
course is a two part one: the first part focuses primarily on giving students the methods and materials that they will need in their career as music educators; the second part will broaden the offerings to include more intense work on pedagogy and educational organization aimed at preparing students for teaching practice and the ultimate goal of being  effective educators in secondary school music.

The course is an introduction to the music education profession in general and as it has been practiced in Jamaica. Students will explore historical, social, and philosophical considerations and foundations that relate directly to the Caribbean music educator, and include a critical evaluation of some contemporary trends in the field. Students will explore the history of Jamaican music education, and curricular achievements in school music programmes. Other topics include a broad look at different music educator philosophers and theorists, understanding the self, the roles of the music teacher, and tools of teaching. The course will place emphasis on practical approaches to teaching both in the classroom and rehearsal setting.

This course is a basic introduction to the properties of sound, audio  systems and the use of computers in audio and music. The course will also introduce filters and spectrum processors like equalizers and the uses of delay; also transducers- microphones and their polar patterns; MIDI, sequencing, recording considerations and synchronization; Synthesizers and signal flow. There is an introduction to notation software.

These courses focus on the fundamentals of jazz improvisation and performance practice of jazz and pop music repertoire,performed on students’ principal instruments collectively and in an ensemble setting. This is an eight semester sequence ending with advanced level improvisation and complex arrangements.

Because of Covid19 we won't be able to actually play together. We will use backings tracks instead. Each student records his/her improvisation and sends it as an mp3. This will happen weekly.

Enjoy!

Gerd Beyens

This course will offer a broad foundation of all aspects of assessment and measurement as well as evaluation  including, but not limited to, other forms of data collection applied in music education. Topics in this course will include psychometrics; measurement of musical aptitude, achievement, performance, and affect; measurement tools, including assessment instrument development; administration and scoring of assessments; and reporting systems.