MUSIC 487 COUNTERPOINT | SPRING 2026
Professor: Huck Hodge, DMA | email: hhodge@uw.edu
TEXTBOOK
Gauldin, Robert. A practical approach to 18th-century counterpoint (rev. ed., 2013).
EVALUATION
Evaluation is subjective, but will be based on objective criteria. Students must fulfill the given instructions to receive a passing grade on assignments. Beyond this, grades may be based on musical quality, difficulty of the employed contrapuntal techniques, stylistic idiomaticism, etc. Grading is at the sole discretion of the instructor.
Refer to this grading rubric for the composition projects.
- Assignments [25%] You will must complete at least one exercise for every session (to be assigned in class). Students will be called on randomly to share their work.
- Composition Projects [45%] You will write a series of short (c. 24-32 mm.) imitative pieces.
Week 4: 2 parts | Week 7: 3 parts | You must turn in a score and recording of each piece.
The 3-part piece should comprise 2 sections in an imitative contrapuntal texture or 1 section in imitation and 1 homophonic section ("familiar style").
3. Final Project [30%] A longer piece (c. 3 pages / 40-60 mm.) in 4 or more parts. The piece must be in either a contrapuntal genre covered in class (fugue, passacaglia, etc.), or incorporate numerous contrapuntal passages (e.g., concerto mvmt., string quartet, etc.).
The composition projects and final project must be rehearsed and documented in a high-quality recording (NO MIDI).
The chart for converting percentages to the 4.0 grade-point scale can be found here
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1: Ch. 1-5
Week 2: Ch. 6-9
Week 3: Ch. 9-10
Week 4: Ch. 11-13 (2-part canon/invention due)
Week 5: Ch. 14-15
Week 6: Ch. 16-17
Week 7: Ch. 18-19 (3-part fugue due)
Week 8: Ch. 20-21
Week 10: Workshop on Final Projects
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Good attendance behavior reflects a positive learning attitude that is beneficial for each individual and the entire class. Students who cannot attend class regularly and promptly will jeopardize their success in the class and are therefore advised not to take the course.
If class is missed, it is the responsibility of the student to obtain any missed information from others class members first, and then the instructor if necessary. Missed classes will not alter the due date for assignments, tests, and other class responsibilities. However, in the event of extended illness, every effort will be made to assist the student in completing the required course work whenever possible if it is determined feasible to do so.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The University takes academic integrity very seriously. Behaving with integrity is part of our responsibility to our shared learning community. If you’re uncertain about if something is academic misconduct, ask me. I am willing to discuss questions you might have.
Acts of academic misconduct may include but are not limited to:
- Cheating (working collaboratively on quizzes/exams and discussion submissions, sharing answers and previewing quizzes/exams)
- Plagiarism (representing the work of others as your own without giving appropriate credit to the original author(s))
- Unauthorized collaboration (working with each other on assignments)
Concerns about these or other behaviors prohibited by the Student Conduct Code will be referred for investigation and adjudication by (include information for specific campus office).
Students found to have engaged in academic misconduct may receive a zero on the assignment (or other possible outcome).
RELIGIOUS ACCOMODATION
“Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/) Links to an external site.. Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/) Links to an external site..”