Dr. Al Benner
Music Instructor
[Theory, Composition, Instrumental, Ensembles, Piano]

Philosophy Instructor
[Philosophy, Ethics]

Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts
Room 109A [Prudhomme Hall]
318-357-3231
ABenner@lsmsa.edu

Office Hours
MWF 10-11:00; TR 8-9:30, 12-1:00
Appointment Hours
R 2:15-3:00; F 2-3:00

For a listing of performances of my music in 2008, please click here.

To visit my favorite LSMSA Instructor, please click here.

 

Life Philosophy
Do what is right even if it is unpopular.
Take responsibility for your actions.
Don't let others think for you.
There is always a choice.
Be true to yourself.

“Excellence is not an action, but a habit.”
--Aristotle

"To educate a person in intelligence but not in character is a crime to the human spirit."
--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination.  Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited.  Imagination encircles the world."
--Dr. Albert Einstein

 

 

Courses offered for Fall 2008
Click courses to see the current syllabi.

I will be temporarily located in Prudhomme Hall for the next two years while our new Arts Building is being constructed. 

Consequently, all classes will take place in Prudhomme Hall unless indicated otherwise.

 

To see past courses taught at LSMSA and last semester’s syllabi, please click here.  To see projected courses for the 2008-09 school term, please click here. 

 

Philosophy Courses

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
SS214 (Fall semester; ½ unit of credit)
Basic problems, arguments, and concepts of selected western philosophers dealing with theology, knowledge, reality, and free will.  We will look at the writings of such philosophers as Hume, James, Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, and Reid, among others.

 

INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
SS215 (Spring semester; ½ unit of credit)
This course will take a historical look at ethical theories from selected western philosophers and apply those thoughts to constant and contemporary moral problems.  We will look at the writings of such philosophers as Plato, Aristotle, Mill, and Kant, among others.

 

 

Music Theory and Composition Courses

FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC
MU101 (Fall semester; ½ unit of credit)
This class is designed for the student with very little, or no musical experience—although it is also beneficial for those students who are involved with music lessons.  Students will study note identification, key signatures, notation, major and minor scales, chord construction, intervals, and basic music rudiments as defined by common practice music theory.  The class will also include a look at music history to understand how common practice music theory developed. 

 

INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC THEORY
MU201 (Spring semester; ½ unit of credit)
Continuation of skills begun in MU 101 leading to traditional music theory defined as common practice theory.  Students will continue learning chord construction, identification, melody, tertian harmony, and simple harmonization.  Four part writing will also be introduced at this time.
Prerequisites: successful completion of MU 101 or consent of the Instructor.

 

ADVANCED MUSIC THEORY I
MU301 (Fall semester; ½ unit of credit)
Continuation of MU 201.  There will be further development of common practice theory.  A more advanced look at chord construction will take place as well as modulation into other keys.  Emphasis will be placed on music analysis—especially the chorales of J.S. Bach.  There will also be an introduction to music dictation.
Prerequisites: successful completion of MU 201 or consent of the Instructor.

 

ADVANCED MUSIC THEORY II
MU401 (Spring semester; ½ unit of credit)
Continuation of MU 301.  The main concentration here will be on 20^th-century music theories and techniques by looking at the music of seven various composers.  Emphasis will be placed on more complex music analysis and seeing where music has gone since the breakdown of common practice theory.
Prerequisites: successful completion of MU 301 or consent of the Instructor.

 

MUSIC COMPOSITION
MU213 (One semester; ¼ unit of credit)
Students will receive a 45 minute lesson each week in music compositional techniques, including melody writing, harmonization, and counterpoint techniques, among others, in preparation for performance of works created by the students. 
Prerequisites: current enrollment in a music theory course AND consent of the Instructor.

 

 

2007-08 National or Regional Conferences Invites

To see past conference invites, please click here.

 

 

 

Special Performances and Commissions

 

The LSMSA Music Ensembles are treated as professional performing groups.  Consequently, inclusion in these groups is by audition only.  For more information about the LSMSA Music Ensembles and/or other instrumental performing group opportunities at LSMSA, please click here.   The main String and Wind Ensemble concert was on May 11 at 3:00 pm at Magale Recital Hall on the NSU campus.

LSMSA String/Chamber Ensemble

The director for the String/Chamber Ensemble is Dr. Al Benner.

 

 

String Ensemble Spring 2008

Tiffany Chen, Michael Lee, Autumn Billings, violins; Daniel Jang, cello

LSMSA Wind Ensemble

The director for the Wind Ensemble is John Dunn.  Please click here to go to his webpage and to access further information about the Wind Ensemble.  Dr. Benner remains part of the Wind Ensemble in a collaborative capacity. 

Past concerts for Chamber, Wind and String Ensembles
Additional Concert Opportunities provided for LSMSA students
LSMSA Ensembles Original Compositions, Arrangements, and Transpositions
LSMSA's All-State and District II Ensemble Members
Composition Opportunities provided for LSMSA students
Ensemble Concert Invitations
Past Student Assistants to the Chamber Ensemble Director

 

Individual Student Recitals

Major Instrumental, Composition and Piano Students

Click here to see past recital programs.

 

At times, various students of Dr. Al Benner give a Junior or Senior Recital.  For the 2007-08 school year, there was the Senior Recital of Daniel Jang (cello) on May 10 in Treen Auditorium on the LSMSA campus.  Check back here during the year for further details. 

 

Distinction Projects

To see past abstracts of completed distinction projects, please click here.

 

At times, various students of Dr. Al Benner complete the requirements to graduate with distinction.  This is a rare occurrence for usually no more than about a dozen students a year complete this process throughout all the disciplines.

 

Louisiana Composers' Consortium

Total Concerts performed so far: 29

The goal of the LCC is to promote Louisiana talent throughout the state by playing works of living Louisiana composers and other guest composers who are significant figures in 20^th century music.  The LCC, which was founded in 1999 by Dr. Al Benner, also promotes current and recent Louisiana School faculty, students, and alumni.  It is a way of not only giving something back to the Natchitoches and surrounding communities, but also to present fresh music and to show that contemporary music can also be fun to hear.  To learn more about the LCC or to see past concerts, please click here.

 

The next LCC concert is scheduled for the Fall, location TBD.  Please check back for more details when they become available.

 

Learn more about me

 

For some little known facts about Dr. Benner, click here.

 

Family Photos

 

 

                                   

Albert                                                   Nicholas                                              Halloween