LHUM-100 Artistry, Creativity and Inquiry Seminar

Berklee College of Music - Professional Education Division

Liberal Arts Department
Spring 2010
Instructors Name Mitch Seidman
Mailbox FB-61
E-mail mseidman@berklee.edu
Phone Extension 8357 (617-747-8357 off-campus telephone)
Office Location Ear Training Department, 899 Boylston Street, 2nd floor
Office Hours To Be Announced
Course Website CampusCruiser Course Website at my.berklee.net
Course Chair Camille Colatosti, Chair, Liberal Arts
Course Description
Artistry, Creativity and Inquiry Seminar provides an introduction to the life of the creative
and curious mind. In this course, students explore their own creative process, reflect on their
life choice as a musician, and examine the role of the artist in society. Students learn how to
ask questions and find answers about topics and issues that affect the choices they make
personally, professionally and creatively at Berklee and beyond college. Students also evaluate
their abilities and interests in order to develop college and career goals, and to begin the
process of selecting a major. In addition, students begin maintaining their Berklee College of
Music electronic portfolio. Taught by faculty who also serve as students first semester advisors,
Artistry, Creativity and Inquiry Seminar provides a creative and reflective atmosphere that
encourages students to participate actively in their own learning. Students engage in discussion,
getting to know the faculty member and each other.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Explore their life choice as a musician and artist
2. Consider the role of the musician in society
3. Evaluate their abilities and interests
4. Evaluate their attitudes to foster ethical decision-making and an appreciation for diversity
5. Communicate orally and in writing (i.e., oral presentations, personal statements)
6. Use the laptop as a learning tool
7. Apply technology skills, including word-processing, presentation and imaging software
8. Explore an education and career plan, applying college success skills, as needed
9. Maintain an electronic portfolio of the work and products created at Berklee
10. Articulate how they want to present themselves on the web, in writing, and in person
Course Materials
Victor Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth through Music (Berkley
Trade 2008). April 5th-8th, 2011, Liberal Arts Symposium Visiting Artist.
Rich Holly, Majoring in Music: All the Stuff You Need To Know (Meredith Music
Publications 2009).
Ben Shahn, The Shape of Content (Harvard University Press 1957).
Kenny Werner, Effortless Mastery (Jamey Aebersold Jazz 1996).
Work of visiting artists (to be announced)

Course Requirements
1. Journal entries, written reflections, practice log/journal
2. Interview project with a person in a career that interests the student
3. Artist statement
4. Group fieldwork (attending a music event from a culture different from their own)
5. Researching a Berklee major and exploring minors
6. Electronic portfolio
Required Advising Assignments for Students (Mandatory to pass the course)
1. Participate in welcoming meeting with peer and faculty advisor
2. Meet with peer advisor, as appropriate
3. Meet with faculty advisor individually at least twice during the semester
4. Meet with faculty advisor to have second semester schedule approved
5. Attend Majors Fair
6. Complete time management and calendar exercises, as appropriate
7. Attend at least one Berklee concert
8. Attend at least one LiveWell event
9. Visit the Library, Learning Center, the College Center for Writing and English as a Second
Language, and/or other academic support services, as appropriate
Grade Determination
1. Journal entries, written reflections
2. Interview project
3. Artist statement
4. Group fieldwork
5. Researching a Berklee major and exploring minors
6. Electronic portfolio
7. Attendance

20% of final
15% of final
20% of final
15% of final
15% of final
15% of final
Mandatory

grade
grade
grade
grade
grade
grade

College Attendance Policy

Attendance is required in all classes, private lessons, instrumental labs, and ensembles,
beginning with the first scheduled meeting. Absences must be addressed directly with the
course instructor to determine impact on student progress and/or overall grade. The faculty
member may also provide more specific information on attendance policies. Classes, labs, and
ensembles are scheduled to start promptly on the hour and end at ten minutes before the hour.
Late arrival is both unprofessional and disruptive.
Berklee recognizes that its students will be presented with professional opportunities, such as
job interviews, auditions for professional positions or graduate school, and exceptional
performance opportunities (including those sponsored by Berklee). Students hoping to take
advantage of such opportunities are not excused from course assignments or deadlines, and are
required to discuss the ramifications of any related absences with their course instructors in
advance.
Course Participation and Attendance
This class is designed as a seminar. Students participate in discussions and share their ideas
with others in the class. A class of this nature succeeds when all members faithfully attend and
fully participate. Therefore, attendance and participation are mandatory.

You are allowed only one unexcused absence. After that, the final grade is reduced by a grade per
absence. After four absences, you may fail the class.
Occasionally, unusually extreme weather conditions, severe illness or injury, or personal issues
arise unexpectedly and may affect your ability to attend class. If you find yourself in such a
situation, please communicate with the faculty member immediately. It remains the
responsibility of the student to stay informed about calendar, assignment, or policy changes.
Other Class Policies and Information
Late Work
The assignments for the class are detailed on the syllabus. Students are responsible for meeting
all deadlines. Situations involving late assignments will be addressed on a case-by-case basis,
and the teacher must be notified by the due date. It is at the discretion of the teacher whether
an assignment submitted late will be reflect in a grade, or not be accepted.
Use of cell phones, computers and other electronic devices, eating, and other activities
unrelated to the class can be distracting, and is not permitted. This also includes leaving the
classroom for any of these purposes. If there are special circumstances, please discuss them in
advance with the teacher.
Manuscript Procedures for Writing Assignments
1. Word process papers, using 10-12 point type.
2. Double-space papers.
3. Use standard margins of 1 to 1.25.
4. In the top left-hand corner of the first page of each paper, students should type their name,
the date, the course and section meeting time, the instructors name.
5. All projects should have a title that is appropriate and attention getting. Center the title.
6. Staple or paper clip the paper.
7. Number pages.
8. Retain a copy of each paper.
9. It is expected that students will revise work many times and carefully edit final drafts before
submitting them. Blatant errors in spelling and grammar detract from the effectiveness of
the work.
10. Submit work to the electronic portfolio, as appropriate.
Academic Honesty
Berklee College of Music insists on academic honesty. Unless the assignment explicitly is a group
project, all of the work in this class must be a students own. The source of all information in any
written assignment must be cited properly, whether it is a quotation, paraphrase, summary, idea,
concept, statistic, picture, or anything else students get from any source other than their own
immediate knowledgeincluding the Internet. Writers give credit through accepted documentation
styles, including parenthetical citation, footnotes, or endnotes; a simple listing of books and articles at
the end of an essay or article is not sufficient. Plagiarismnot giving proper credit to a source and
thereby passing off someone elses material or idea as ones ownis a type of intellectual theft and
deceit and cannot be tolerated in an academic setting. Plagiarism may result in a failing grade for the
assignment or course, and possible dismissal from the College. It is the students responsibility to be
aware of and abide by the rules governing plagiarism, fraud, and cheating found in the College Bulletin
under the section "Honesty in Academic Work and in Scholarly and Professional Practice." If students
have any questions about what plagiarism is and how to avoid it, please talk with a reference librarian,
ask the faculty member, or refer to a writing handbook.

Support Services
English as a Second Language Tutors, contact Professor Peter Gardner, 617/747-8186 or go to the
Liberal Arts office, room 334, 7 Haviland
Center for College Writing and English as a Second Language, Room 110, 7 Haviland. For
information contact Dr. Doug Kohn, 617/747-8491, or go to the Liberal Arts office, room 334, 7
Haviland. To schedule a session: All scheduling is done online. Go to: http://rich65.com/berklee.
Students register, then sign in and set up a time that works for them. Just click on any empty time
slot (in white), and fill out the information. Students are welcome to drop in to see if a tutor is
available, but it is strongly recommended that students sign up ahead of time. Generally, its not a
good idea to wait until the last minute. Keep in mind that sessions tend to fill up, especially during
mid-terms and finals.
Counseling/Advising Center, 3rd Floor, Uchida Building, 921 Boylston, 617/747-231
Stan Getz Library and Media Center, 150 Mass. Ave
Disclosure of Disability
Students who need support or academic assistance because of a disability may be eligible for
academic accommodations through the Disability Services staff in the Counseling and Advising
Center. All accommodation requests require a minimum two-week advance notice to faculty.
For more information contact the CAC at 617 747-2310 to arrange an appointment with a
Disability Service staff member at the CAC in 939 Boylston St.
Communication
Students are expected to check their Berklee email and Campus Cruiser frequently throughout the
semester for course announcements and information.
Conferences
Students are expected to meet individually with the faculty member at least twice during the semester.
Students need approval of their faculty member before finalizing their second semester schedule. The
faculty member is available to help students plan for the second semester and make good choices.
Class Schedule (To be determined)
Unit 1: ARTISTS & BERKLEE
Weeks 1-2
Topic: What is Berklee culture? (Explore the campus, the city and the curriculum.) What
does it mean to major in music, to be attending a music college and more. Orientation
to the college and to artistic study.
Activities/experiences: Introduction to the syllabus, time management and study
skills (as appropriate and needed for each student, and each section), reflections on
readings and other activities (journal, blog, or other kinds of writing or assignments);
information about the Berklee curriculum; reading other artist statements
Reading assignment: Rich Holly, Majoring in Music: All the Stuff You Need To Know.

Assessments:
Draft early artist statement (see attached artist statement assignment).
Write reflections on reading assignments.
Unit 2: ARTISTS & TECHNOLOGY
Week 3
Topic: How do technology and art intersect? What is an electronic portfolio? What is a
learning portfolio? What is an artist portfolio? How does technology affect my art?
Activities/experiences: Introduction to the electronic portfolio (journal, blog, or other
kinds of writing or assignments); learning components of writing well and making
effective oral presentations
Reading assignments: To Be Determined
Assessments:
Revise early artist statement (see attached artist statement assignment).
Create electronic portfolio.
Include artist statement in portfolio.
Write reflections on reading assignments.
VISITING ARTIST 1 To Be Announced
Week 4
All sections come together to interact with the invited visiting artist. The artist will share
with students about his/her life as an artist, definition as an artist and practice as an
artist.
Times and locations to be announced.
Unit 3: ARTISTS & SELF
Weeks 5-6
Topic: Who am I and what (creative, musical, academic, personal, career) paths might
I want to explore?
Activities/experiences: Conduct an interview, oral presentations of interviews;
reflections on readings; career activity
Reading assignments:
Victor Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth through Music
Date t/b/aATTEND THE MAJORS FAIR, DFRH. TAKE NOTES AND PREPARE
FOR UPCOMING RESEARCH A BERKLEE MAJOR (AND MINOR) ASSIGNMENT
Assessment:
Interview project: Interview a person in career/role that interests you (see attached
Interview Project assignment).
Write a summary of interview.
Give an oral presentation about the person interviewed.

Include the interview in the portfolio.

Write reflections on readings.
VISITING ARTIST 2 To Be Announced
Week 7
All sections come together to interact with the invited visiting artist. The artist will share
with students about his/her life as an artist, definition as an artist and practice as a
artist.
Times and locations to be announced.
Unit 4: ARTISTS & EDUCATION
Weeks 8 and 10
Topic: Role of the musician and artist in education. How do musicians teach their art?
What are the different educational options available?
Activities/experiences: Education plan, researching a major, exploring minors;
information about the Berklee curriculum, and registration for second semester; thinking
about music, and the different paths that are possible
Reading assignments:
Ben Shahn, The Shape of Content (Harvard University Press 1957)
Assessment:
Research a Berklee Major and Possible Minors Project (see Researching a Major
assignment)
Share an oral presentation on the major with the class, using PowerPoint
Write a summary of major to share with the class
Based on the presentations, students write a 500-word reflection on something
new learned about the major(s) in which they are interested, and how this
knowledge sparked their interest or discouraged their pursuit of that major (DUE
WEEK 11)
Include the Majors Powerpoint, paper, and reflection in the electronic portfolio
VISITING ARTIST 3 To Be Announced
All sections come together to interact with the visiting artist. The artist will share with
students about his/her life as an artist, definition as an artist and practice as an artist.
Times and locations to be announced.
Unit 5: ARTISTS & CULTURE
Weeks 11-13
Topic: Role of the musician and artist in society. How does music matter to society?
What is culture?
Activities/experiences: Reflections on readings, Group Field Project

Reading assignments: To Be Announced

Assessment:
Complete Fieldwork Project (see attached Fieldwork Assignment)
Group oral presentation
Individual written report
Place completed project in electronic portfolio.
Write reflections on reading.
Unit 6: ARTISTS & NEXT STEPS
Weeks 14-15
Topic: Conclusions and More Questions
Activities/experiences: Reflections on readings; reflections on course
Reading assignments: Kenny Werner, Effortless Mastery
Assessment:
Final artist statement
Final electronic portfolio of classwork