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Course Description – AP Music Theory Goals The AP Music Theory course is designed for the mature musician who is interested in enhancing their music ability through a rigorous study of music theory. The class will enable the student to understand theoretical and historical significance of harmonic structure as it relates to Western music. During the course of the class, students will develop necessary technical skills used in analysis of music both structurally and harmonically. In addition, students will devote a significant amount of time developing their aural capabilities. Among this “aural skills” will be, sightsinging, interval and chord recognition, melodic dictation, and harmonic dication. Music (primarily of the Western culture) will be studied in both aural and written methods so as to develop both the “eye” and “ear” of the progressing student. Ultimately, the class will prepare students for the AP Music Theory examination given in the spring as well as entrance examinations given by Schools of Music for entering freshmen music majors/minors. All students enrolled are highly encouraged to take the AP Music Theory examination. Objectives – First Semester At the conclusion of the semester, the student should be able to: 1. Construct and identify major and all minor scales, modes, intervals, keys, and triads. 2. Construct and identify diatonic triads in major and minor keys. 3. Identify authentic, perfect authentic, plagal, half, and deceptive cadences. 4. Identify chord functions and use. 5. Demonstrate knowledge and proper usage of terms in musical notation. 6. Identify aurally diatonic intervals. 7. Sightsing short examples in both major and minor keys. 8. Take melodic dictation in major and minor keys. 9. Compose and harmonize melodies. 10. Analyze music structurally and harmonically. 11. Identify nonharmonic tones. 12. Realize figured bass notation. 13. Identify historically significant composers from the periods under discussion and study. Objectives – Second Semester At the conclusion of the second semester, the student should be able to: 1. Aurally identify scales, triads, intervals, and modes. 2. Identify non-diatonic triads and their function. 3. Identify cadences in diatonic and chromatic harmony. 4. Identify secondary dominants and borrowed chords. 5. Demonstrate knowledge of terminology appropriate to time period of music. 6. Sightsing more advanced examples of music containing non-harmonic tones. 7. Take melodic dictation with increasing rhythmic difficulty that contains non-diatonic tones. 8. Notate the bass and soprano line when given 3 part harmonic dictation. 9. Aurally identify chord progressions. 10. Compose short compositions that demonstrate knowledge of short musical forms. 11. Analyze larger works both structurally and harmonically. 12. Identify non-diatonic tones. 13. Demonstrate knowledge of harmonic tendencies. 14. Identify historically significant composers from the periods under discussion and study. Specific Course Activities All students will be required to: 1. Bring necessary class materials to every lass meeting (pencil, notebook, texts, etc.) 2. Take notes during all lectures in a well-organized fashion in a notebook. 3. Participate in all class discussions. 4. Participate in sightsinging activities. 5. Read and complete assignments in the text/workbooks. 6. Complete review worksheets and projects as assigned. 7. Participate in all mastery tests, quizzes, and other examinations. 8. Keep a music listening journal. 9. Participate in Wikispaces updates and discussions. Essential Course Requirements 1. Satisfactory completion of all assigned work, tests, and quizzes. 2. Satisfactory completion of any projects throughout the semester. Evaluation 1. Written assignments – 30% 2. Sightsinging, eartraining, and melodic dictation- 30% 3. Tests – 30% 4. Class participation and responsibility – 10% 5. The semester grade will be an average of the 3 six weeks grades and the FINAL EXAM grade. (The FINAL EXAM will therefore count for 25% of the semester grade). For each grading period, your point total will be divided by the total number of points and a percentage will result. The following letter grades will be assigned for these percentages. 97 and up = A+ 94 - 96 = A 90 – 93 = A- 87 – 89 = B+ 84 – 86 = B 80 – 83 = B- 77 – 79 = C+ 74 – 76 = C 70 – 73 = C- 67 – 69 = D+ 64 – 66 = D 60 – 63 = D- 0 – 59 = F

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