Department of Music                                                                       Austin Community College

Piano Class I Syllabus

Semester & Year:                              Spring 2024                                                                           

Course number – Section – Title:    MUSI 1181- 004 Piano Class I – HLC2 1552

Meets (day, time, room):                   Mondays 10:00 am to 11:20 am                                                

Course Credits & Contact Hours:   1 credit credits and 2 contact hours per week

Instructor: Dr. Valeria Diaz Navarro

Email:  valeria.diaznavarro@austincc.edu                                                                                       

Office hours:  by appointment         

Catalog Description & Prerequisites

Students will become familiar with the keyboard and basic technique. This course reinforces skills learned

in music theory and ear training and improves students’ overall performing skills. There are not prerequisites to take this class.

Course Purposes & Instructional Methodology

This course is in a lecture/lab format in the group piano lab. Students will be expected to spend at least

30 minutes practicing the piano for each class meeting. Most of this will be outside of class time in a

practice room on campus, the piano lab, or an electronic keyboard at home.

Required Textbooks & Other Useful Materials

- Must have a piano or digital keyboard at home.

- Textbook: eNovative Piano

Student Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the first semester of piano class I, students will demonstrate the ability to:

• Comfortably play with good posture and technique

• Understand and apply basic music theory to foundational piano technique, such as scales,

intervals, and chords

• Read music from the staff in treble and bass clefs, and develop sight reading skills

• Play musically, through knowledge of style and expressive markings

Program Learning Outcomes

The Student Learning Outcomes are associated with the following Program Learning Outcomes:

• Develop piano skills through coaching, pedagogy, and instruction.
• Develop technical skills through practicing harmonization, improvisation, and repertoire.
• Develop the habits necessary to play the piano at a beginner level.

General Education Competencies (Do not change – leave, these are ACC’s)

The General Education Competencies utilized in this course are as follows:

• Communication Skills. Students will develop, interpret, and express ideas through written, oral, visual, and sung communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium. They will do this through in-class exercises and performances, and reading and written assignments.
• Critical Thinking. Students will gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking and performance. They will do this through in-class exercises, performances, and reading and written assignments.
• Personal Responsibility. Students will identify and apply ethical principles and practices to decision-making by connecting choices, actions and consequences. They will do this through in-class exercises, performances, and reading and written assignments.
• Teamwork. Students will consider different points of view to work collaboratively and effectively in pursuit of a shared purposed or goal. They will do this through in-class exercises, performances, and reading and written assignments.

Grading.

Students will be graded on short playing assignments, usually 2-4 per week.  There are four units in the semester, and assignment grades will be averaged equally within each unit:

eNovations A-E –20 %

eNovation 1 – 20%

eNovation 2 – 20%

eNovation 3 – 20%

Attendance and participation – 20%

Attendance. Any student missing more than three class meetings without a valid excuse will receive 0 % for attendance grade. Ten minutes after class is considered late. Three late attendances will be considered as one absence.

Dropping/Withdrawing. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate all withdrawals in this course. The instructor may withdraw students for excessive absences (4) but makes no commitment to do this for the student. You may withdraw, or drop from a 16-week course with a grade of W any time on or before the end of the 12th week in the fall or spring 16-week session. Shorter semesters have prorated drop dates. If you drop a course before its census date, or official reporting date, the course is deleted from your enrollment, does not earn any grade, and does not appear on your transcript. If you drop a course after the census date, a grade will be included on your transcript. Reporting dates vary, so you are strongly encouraged to consult your instructor, the course syllabus, or the Austin Community College website for the drop and withdrawal dates for your course. If your first college enrollment occurred in the fall of 2001 or later, you may not drop more than 6 courses during your cumulative enrollment at any Texas public college or university.

For more information on the withdrawal process you can check this page: https://catalog.austincc.edu/support-services-and-student-progress/student-progress/droppingwithdrawing-from-courses/

Missed Exams & Late Work. Deadlines in my course are firm. I give you a course calendar at the beginning of the term that includes all deadlines for the course. Should a deadline change, I will inform you in writing and in person. Here are some rules of thumb to go by:

• I forgot to complete an assignment. Can I make it up? Written assignments are accepted up to 48 hours late, with a grade penalty. Projects, Group Projects and Presentations will not be accepted late. Please be very aware of your partners in group projects.
• I missed an activity that we completed during class. Can I make it up? No, there is no way to make up an in-class activity.
• I missed a quiz, can I make it up? No, quizzes and tests are not accepted late.

Incomplete Grade. If a student is unable to complete the course at the end of the semester due to an emergency or other unanticipated circumstance, I will consider awarding an incomplete grade for the semester. A new completion date will be given to the student, but it may not be later than the final withdrawal date in the subsequent semester. When the student completes the required work by the deadline, I will submit a form to change the student’s grade from an incomplete to the earned grade. If an incomplete is not resolved by the deadline, the grade will automatically convert to an F.

Austin Community College Policies

Health & Safety Protocols. Operational areas of ACC campuses and centers are fully open and accessible through all public entrances.  ACC encourages staff, faculty, and students to be mindful of the well-being of all individuals on campus.  If you feel sick, feverish, or unwell, please do not come to campus.

Some important things to remember:

• ACC encourages all students, faculty, and staff to get vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available throughout the community. Visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccine location near you.
• The college’s Appian Health Screening App remains available to all visitors. This is a good way to check your health before coming to class or work. 
• If you are experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms, get a COVID-19 test as soon as possible before returning to an ACC facility.  Testing is now widely available.  To find testing locations near you, click this link.
• Face masks on campus are welcome, but not required. Face masks remain a good way to protect yourself from COVID-19.
• Continue to respect the personal space of others. ACC encourages 3 feet of social distancing.
• Carry your student, faculty, or staff ID badge at all times while on campus.

Visit ACC’s COVID-19 Information website for the latest updates and guidance.

Academic Integrity. ACC values academic integrity in the educational process. Acts of academic dishonesty/misconduct undermine the learning process, present a disadvantage to students who earn credit honestly, and subvert the academic mission of the institution. The potential consequences of fraudulent credentials raise additional concerns for individuals and communities beyond campus who rely on institutions of higher learning to certify students’ academic achievements, and expect to benefit from the claimed knowledge and skills of their graduates. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations. Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include but are not limited to: plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, falsifying documents, or the inappropriate use of the college’s information technology resources. Further information is available at: https://students.austincc.edu/student-rights-responsibilities/academic-integrity-process/

Students Rights & Responsibilities. ACC students have the same rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. These rights include freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition and association. As members of the community, students have the right to express their own views, but must also take responsibility for according the same rights to others and not interfere or disrupt the learning environment. Students are entitled to fair treatment, are expected to act consistently with the values of the college, and obey local, state and federal laws. Read about Student Rights and Responsibilities. As a student of ACC, you are expected to abide by the Student Standards of Conduct.

Senate Bill 212 and Title IX Reporting Requirements. Under Senate Bill (SB 212), the faculty and all College employees are required to report any information concerning incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking committed by or against an ACC student or employee. Federal Title IX law and College policy also require reporting incidents of sex- and gender-based discrimination and sexual misconduct. This means faculty and non-clinical counseling staff cannot keep confidential information about any such incidents that you share with them.

If you would like to talk with someone confidentially, please contact the District Clinical Counseling Team who can connect you with a clinical counselor on any ACC campus: (512) 223-2616, or to schedule counseling online.

While students are not required to report, they are encouraged to contact the Compliance Office for resources and options: Charlene Buckley, District Title IX Officer, (512) 223-7964, compliance@austinc.edu.

Student Complaints. A defined process applies to complaints about an instructor or other college employee. You are encouraged to discuss concerns and complaints with College personnel and should expect a timely and appropriate response. When possible, students should first address their concerns through informal conferences with those immediately involved; formal due process is available when informal resolution cannot be achieved. 

Student complaints may include but are not limited to: issues regarding classroom instruction, college services and offices on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or disability. 

Go to the Student Complaints page for further information about the complaints process, including the form used to submit complaints.

Statement on Privacy. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects confidentiality of students’ educational records. Grades cannot be provided by faculty over the phone, by e-mail, or to a fellow student.

Recording Policy. To comply with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), student recording of class lectures or other activities is generally prohibited without the explicit written permission of the instructor and notification of other students enrolled in the class section. Exceptions are made for approved accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  

Recording of lectures and other class activities may be made by faculty to facilitate instruction, especially for classes taught remotely through Blackboard Collaborate or another platform. Participation in such activities implies consent for the student to be recorded during the instructional activity. Such recordings are intended for educational and academic purposes only.

Safety Statement. Health and safety are paramount in classrooms, laboratories, and field activities. Students are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health, and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Emergency Procedures posters and Campus Safety Plans are posted in each classroom and should be reviewed at the beginning of each semester. All incidents (injuries/illness/fire/property damage/near miss) should be immediately reported to the course instructor. Go to the Emergency Management page to learn about safety procedures and how to sign up for emergency alerts.

Everyone is expected to conduct themselves professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another may be immediately dismissed from the day’s activity and will be referred to the Dean of Student Services for disciplinary action.

In the event of disruption of normal classroom activities due to an emergency situation or an outbreak, the format for this course may be modified to enable completion of the course. Students will be provided an addendum to the class syllabus that will supersede the original version.

Campus Carry. The Austin Community College District concealed handgun policy ensures compliance with Section 411.2031 of the Texas Government Code (also known as the Campus Carry Law), while maintaining ACC’s commitment to provide a safe environment for its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Beginning August 1, 2017, individuals who are licensed to carry (LTC) may do so on campus premises except in locations and at activities prohibited by state or federal law, or the college’s concealed handgun policy. 

It is the responsibility of license holders to conceal their handguns at all times. Persons who see a handgun on campus are asked to contact the ACC Police Department by dialing 512-223-7999. Please refer to the concealed handgun policy online on ACC’s Campus Carry webpage.

Discrimination Prohibited. The college seeks to maintain an educational environment free from any form of discrimination or harassment including but not limited to discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

College faculty are required to report concerns regarding sexual misconduct (including all forms of sexual harassment and sex and gender-based discrimination) to the Manager of Title IX/Title VI/ADA Compliance. Licensed clinical counselors are available across the District and serve as confidential resources for students.

Additional information about Title VI, Title IX, and ADA compliance can be found in the ACC Equal Opportunity Resource Guide.

Use of ACC email. All college email communication to students is sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify students of any college-related emergencies using this account. Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account. Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff. Information about ACC email accounts, including instructions for accessing it, are available at ACCmail: Questions & Answers.

Use of the Testing Center. The Testing Centers will allow only limited in person testing and testing time will be limited to the standard class time, typically one and one-half hours. Specifically, only the following will be allowed in the Testing Centers:

• Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Testing: All approved SAS testing
• Assessments Tests: Institutionally approved assessment tests (e.g., TSIA or TABE)
• Placement Tests: Placement tests (e.g., ALEKS)
• Make-Up Exams (for students who missed the original test): Make-up testing is available for all lecture courses but will be limited to no more than 25% of students enrolled in each section for each of four tests
• Programs incorporating industry certification exams: Such programs (e.g., Microsoft, Adobe, etc.) may utilize the ACC Business Assessment Center for the industry certification exams (BACT) at HLC or RRC

Student Support Services. The success of our students is paramount, and ACC supports student success through a variety of services and opportunities for community engagement and personal growth. Find information about these services and resources on the Current Students webpage. View information about student support services.

Student Accessibility Services. Austin Community College (ACC) is committed to providing a supportive, accessible, and inclusive learning environment for all students. Each campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need

classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through Student

Accessibility Services (SAS).

Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or

at least three weeks before the start of each semester they are enrolled, otherwise the

provision of accommodations may be delayed. Students who have received approval

for accommodations from SAS for this course must provide the instructor with the legal

document titled “Notice of Approved Accommodations (NAA)” from SAS.

Until the instructor receives the NAA from the student accommodations should not be

provided. Once the NAA is received, accommodations must be provided. Accommodations are not retroactive, so it is in the student’s best interest to

deliver the NAA on the first day of class. Please contact SAS@austincc.edu for more information.

Academic Support. ACC offers academic support services on all of its campuses. Services including online tutoring, academic coaching, and supplemental instruction are free to enrolled ACC students. Tutors are available in a variety of subjects. Students may receive these services on both a drop-in and referral basis. 

Those interested can find more Information about online tutoring and fill out an Online Tutoring Request form.

Library Services. ACC Library Services is operating online while campuses are closed during the current pandemic. Libraries continue to support ACC courses and programs and provide students with research and assignment assistance from expert faculty librarians. ACC students have full rights and privileges to access Library Services online 24/7 via the ACC Library website, and students must use their ACCeID logins to access all online materials, including ebooks, articles from library databases, and streaming videos. ACC Libraries provide the “Ask a Librarian” service, which allows students to reach a librarian 24/7 through online chat or complete an online form for in-depth questions. Faculty librarians are available via email and virtually to meet with you by appointment seven days a week. Students can also contact the Library for questions about their library account, registration holds, and technology/device distribution options.

• Library Website: library.austincc.edu
• Library Information & Services during COVID-19: researchguides.austincc.edu/LSinfoCOVID19
• Ask a Librarian 24/7 chat and form: library.austincc.edu/help/ask.php
• Library Hours of Operation by Location: library.austincc.edu/loc/
• Email: library@austincc.edu

Student Organizations. ACC has more than 70 student organizations that offer a variety of cultural, academic, vocational, and social opportunities. They provide a chance to meet with other students who have the same interests, engage in service-learning, participate in intramural sports, gain valuable field experience related to career goals, and much else. Student Life coordinates many of these activities, and additional information is available on the ACC Student Life website.

Personal Support. Resources to support students are available at every campus. To learn more, ask your professor or visit the campus Support Center. All resources and services are free and confidential. A few examples include:

• Central Texas Food Bank for food resources, including community pantries and food bank drives.
• Student Advocacy Center for assistance with childcare or utility bills. 
• Student Emergency Fund for help with unexpected expenses that may cause you to withdraw from one or more classes.
• Student Money Management Office for help with budgeting for college and family life
• The Child Care webpage for services for student parents.
• The CARES Act Student Aid, which helps eligible students pay expenses related to COVID-19.  
• Mental health counseling services are available throughout the ACC Student Services District to address personal and or mental health concerns.

If you are struggling with a mental health or personal crisis, call one of the following numbers to connect with resources for help. If you are afraid that you might hurt yourself or someone else, call 911 immediately.

Free Crisis Hotline Numbers:

• Austin/Travis County 24 hour Crisis & Suicide hotline: 512-472-HELP (4357)
• The Williamson County 24 hour Crisis hotline: 1-800-841-1255
• Bastrop County Family Crisis Center hotline: 1-888-311-7755
• Hays County 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-877-466-0660
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline:1-800-950-NAMI (6264)