COURSE DESCRIPTION

This ensemble course explores the rhythmic and textural innovations of The Beatles, with particular focus on groove, feel, and arrangement. Students will study selected Beatles recordings, learn to transcribe and arrange parts, and rehearse toward a culminating live performance. Through hands-on work, students will deepen their understanding of how groove shapes the Beatles’ sound, from their early rock and roll roots to later studio-based experiments. Students will also learn the necessary components of a successful live performance.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course, students will attain the following skills:

• Professional collaboration: working respectfully and effectively with musicians, technicians, and artists, showing attentiveness, reliability, and focus in creating live performances.

• Musical preparation and delivery: selecting, arranging, rehearsing, refining, and performing repertoire with a high level of professionalism.

• Audience engagement: understanding how to connect with listeners through thoughtful set design, smooth transitions, and the creation of memorable, musical moments.

• Musical skills: recognizing the role and importance of a groove in contemporary music and  developing confidence and creativity as a performer.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND RECOMMENDED STUDY RESOURCES

-       Access to MuseScore 4

-       Ginzel, Andrew. Groove Is All You Need: The Grooves of the Beatles in Critical Analysis, 2026

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING

Grades will be based on the following:

A | A  93-100 | A- 90-92 |

B | B+ 87-89 | B  83-86 | B- 80-82 |

C | C+ 77-79 | C  73-76 | C- 70-72 |

D | D+ 67-69 | D  63-66 | D- 60-62 |

F | Less than 59 |

Transcriptions (10 @ 20pts) 200 points

Students will complete 10 detailed transcriptions of assigned recordings. These should include rhythm, melody, harmony, and articulation as appropriate for assigned instrument/voice. Accuracy and formatting are graded.

Compositions (2 @ 100pts)  200 points

Students will write and arrange two original Yacht Rock-inspired songs. Pieces should incorporate groove-based structures, call-and-response elements, and clear parts for rhythm section instrumentation. Arrangements will be rehearsed and performed.

Rehearsals: 200 points

Students are expected to attend all rehearsals on time, contribute positively, and arrive prepared (parts learned, materials ready). Grading reflects attendance, preparedness, and collaborative effort.

Performance: 400 points

Throughout the semester, students will plan and execute a final concert. Grading includes set list design, instrumentation, stage plot, input/output sheet, audio and venue planning, promotion, and execution of the live performance.

INCOMPLETES AND LATE ASSIGNMENTS

All assignments are to be submitted/turned in by the beginning of the class session when they are due—including assignments posted in Canvas. Incompletes will only be assigned in extremely unusual circumstances.

Late assignments completed after the due date will be penalized ten points per day. Assignments will close a week after the due date at which point no credit will be awarded.

*Please note: all due dates/times are PST (Pacific Standard Time)

AI STATEMENT

You are allowed to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini Pro 1.5, GrammarlyGo, Perplexity, etc) to generate ideas, but you are not allowed to use AI tools to generate content (text, video, audio, images) that will end up in any work submitted to be graded for this course. If you have any doubts about using AI, please gain permission from the instructor.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Module 1 – Orientation and Early Years

·       Overview of ensemble expectations, rehearsal structure, and grading.

·       Reading: Groove Is All You Need, “Introduction”; “Historical Overview: The Early Years (1957–1965)”

Module 2 – Intro to Transcription

·       Transcription #1 due

Module 3 – Early Albums

·       Boys”

·       “I Saw Her Standing There”

·       “All My Loving”

·       “Ticket to Ride”

·       Transcription #2 due (from Please Please Me, With the Beatles, or Help!)

Module 4 – Rubber Soul & Revolver

·       “In My Life”

·       “Taxman”

·       “Tomorrow Never Knows”

·       Transcription #3 due

Module 5 – Psychedelic Studio Era

·       “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”

·       “Penny Lane”

·       Transcription #4 due (from Sgt. Pepper’s)

Module 6 – The White Album

·       “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”

·       “Helter Skelter”

·       Transcription #5 due (from The White Album)

Module 7 – Original Composition #1

·       Student-written Beatles-inspired piece presented and rehearsed.

·       Transcription #6 due

Module 8 – Let It Be / Abbey Road

·       “Come Together”

·       “Oh! Darling”

·       “Let It Be”

·       Transcription #7 due (from Let It Be or Abbey Road)

Module 9 – Solo Careers and Legacy

·       Reading: Groove Is All You Need, “Epilogue”

·       Transcription #8 due (Solo Beatles song)

Module 10 – Original Composition #2

·       Student-written Beatles-inspired piece presented and rehearsed.

·       Transcription #9 (Solo Beatles song) due

Module 11 – Concert Preparations

·       Stage plot, I/O sheet, set list finalized.

·       Transcription #10 due (“Now and Then”)

Module 12 – Concert Performance