Music Theory - Course Syllabus
Scot Schickel, Instructor,
844-6113 (W) or 674-2355 (C)
Course Overview
Music Theory I is a full year course giving the student an extensive background in the harmonic materials of music in the style of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. In addition to studying the fundamentals of music theory and harmonic materials of music, students will continue to hone their ear training skills in melodic and harmonic dictation and sight-singing, continue the use of computer technology as available, and study the history of music of the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods. Much of the work of this course is programmed individualized instruction, lab-based, or project oriented. This course has a prerequisite of concurrent enrollment in Band or Chorus.
Course Objectives
A. MUSIC THEORY AND COMPOSITION
After study in the text and through class discussions and supplementary assignments, the student is expected to understand:
1. The basic fundamentals of music such as, but not limited to, keys, scales, modes, notation, clefs, rhythm, and chords
2. The analysis and use of nonharmonic tones
3. The analysis and composition of cadence types
4. Harmonic analysis utilizing Roman numerals, macro analysis
5. Harmonic construction of triads and seventh chords in all inversions
6. An introduction to the realization of figured bass symbols
B. EAR TRAINING/SIGHT SINGING/KEYBOARD –
After much drill and study regarding intervals, rhythm, melodies, scales, modes, triads, and harmonic progressions, the student will be able to:
1. Dictate melodic and harmonic intervals--notating answers and/or analyzing the dictated intervals numerically and by quality
2. Dictate units of rhythm in varying meters
3. Dictate various simple melodies
4. Identify by sound major, minor, augmented, and diminished triads
5. Identify by sound scales – major, minor (including all forms), modes, whole tone, pentatonic, and octatonic
6. Identify by sound chord progressions in major and minor keys, including inversions and seventh chords
7. Notate the bass and soprano line from a chord progression
8. Demonstrate skill in singing melodies which contain intervals in the dominant and minor tonality in simple and compound meters
9. Play short excerpts on the piano keyboard of intervals, chords, cadences, and short progressions from exercises in the texts
Textbooks
Benward & Saker, Bruce & Marilyn. Music in Theory and Practice. 7th edition. Boston:
Allyn & Bacon, 1998. Workbook included.
Benward, Bruce. Ear Training, A Technique for Listening. 7th edition. New York, NY, 2005. Includes web-site access to audio examples and exercises online.
Kerman, Joseph. Listen. 3rd brief edition. New York: Worth Publishers, 1996.
Ottman, Robert. Music for Sightsinging, 2nd edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1967.
Supplementary Texts
Benjamin, Thomas, Michael Horvit, Robert Nelson. Music for Analysis. Examples from the common-practice period and the twentieth century. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2001.
Gauldin, Robert. Harmonic Practice in Tonal Music. 2nd ed. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2002. Text, workbook, CD’s.
Lefkoff, Gerald. Analyzed Examples of Four-Part Harmony. Morgantown, WV: Glyphic Press, 1980.
Spencer, Peter. The Practice of Harmony. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000.
Lab: Finale Notepad and Finale (theory/ear training drill & computer notation)
Grading
60% Written Tests & Quizzes
10% Ear Training Tests & Quizzes, Sight-Singing, and Keyboarding Skills.
10% Homework Completion
10% Projects as assigned
10% Classroom Participation
Course Outline
Sound & Time / Scales / Intervals / Chords
Vibration / Diatonic Scales / Perfect, Major and Minor / Harmony
Frequency / Scale Degree Names / Consonance and Dissonance / Chords
4 Properties of Sound / Major Scales / Augmented and Diminished / Triad
Notation of Pitch / Tetrachord / Enharmonic Intervals / Root of the Triad
Staves / Transposition / Inversions of Intervals / Major, Minor, Dimished, Augmented
Clefs / Key Signatures / Compound Intervals / Triad Stability
Nomenclature / Minor Scales / Transposition Project / Triad Positions
Accidentals / Scale Relationships / "La Stravanganza" / Root Position
Intervals / Tonality / "Brandenburg Concerto No 5" / First Inversion
Enharmonics / Pitch Inventory / "Fugue in C sharp" / Second Inversion
Whole Steps / Transcription Project / "Orchestral suite No 3" / Third Inversion
Half Steps / "O Magnum Mysterium" / "Rodelinda" / 7th Chords
Notation of Duration / "The Coronation of Poppea" / "Messiah" / Roman Numeral Analysis
Ties / "Dido and Aeneas" / "Christ lag in Todesbanden" / Figured Bass
Dots / "Sonata da Chiesa" / Ear Training / Figured Bass Symbols
Rhythm / Ear Training / Unit 4 Melody A,B,C,D / Harmonic Cadences
Meter / Unit 3 Melody A,B,C,D / Rhythm A & B / Rhythmic Cadences
Time Signatures / Rhythm A & B / Unit 5 Melody A,B,C,D / NonHarmonic Tones
Dynamics / Ottman 81 thru 145 Odds / Rhythm A & B / Unaccented and Accented NHT
Transcription Project / Ottman 126 thru 169 odds / Suspensions and Resolutions
"In Paradisum" / "Symphony No 40"
"Columba Aspexit" / "Symphony No 88" All Mvts
"La Dousa Votz" / "Piano Sonata in B flat"
"Alleluia: Nativitas" / "Concerto No. 17"
"Quant en Moy" / "Concert in G"
"Ave Maris Stella" / "String Quartet in A"
"Pange Lingua" Mass / "Don Giovanni"
"Pope Marcellus" Mass / Ear Training
"As Vesta…" / Unit 6 Melody A,B,D
"Daphne" / Rhythm A & B
"Kemp's Jig" / Unit 7 A,B,D
Ear Training / Rhythm A & B
Unit 1 Melody A, B, C, D / Ottman 170 - 203
Rhythm 1A
Unit 2 Melody A,B,C,D
Rhythm 2A
Ottman 1 thru 80 Odds
Multimedia Presentation Project
Create a multimedia presentation for parents, other teachers, or students utilizing the SHRMG music project from the first week of class.
Objectives
· Demonstrate skills with features of presentation and multimedia software
· Develop skills in using images and sounds to reinforce ideas
· Understand considerations for planning a presentation and making choices about which presentation materials are appropriate.
· Engage students in listening critically to music to discover the use of musical materials by a composer
Criteria for a Quality Project
· Clear purpose for presentation
· Well-organized content
· Attractive and consistent design and layout
· Use of appropriate graphics
· Use of appropriate sound
· Readiness for use with an audience
Directions
Clarify to yourself who the audience for the presentation will be. Clarify the purpose of the presentation and organize your ideas. Think about the size, lighting, and layout of the room for the presentation and the equipment you may have available.
Required Components
· At least six slides
· At least one picture from some source other than PowerPoint clip art
· Transition effects, as appropriate
· Sound: Using at least one of these sources
1. Playing an audio CD in CD-ROM drive using a custom audio CD which you have burned yourself
2. A MIDI file
3. A digital WAV file
· Speaker’s notes for each slide
Ø On the Speaker’s notes for the first slide, explain the audience for the presentation, its purpose, and where the presentation is likely to be given.
· Audience Handouts
Ø Add your name and date and any other pertinent information to the Handouts Master before you print them.
Optional Components
· Save your presentation as HTML and put the folder of the resulting files on the music department web-site. On the Speaker’s Notes for the first slide, type the URL to your presentation.
To complete the project:
· Put the following in an envelope labeled with your name and turn it in to the teacher:
Ø Your printed Notes and Handouts.
Ø Your custom audio CD which you burned, if you used an audio CD with your sound source.
Ø Your original SHRMG for the piece from the first week of the quarter
· Put a copy of all your files in your home directory in a folder named “Multimedia project”. Then put a copy of that folder in the shared file of your teacher, in the folder labeled “Music Theory”.
Grading:
This project is worth 40 points of your project grade for the first quarter (10% of the quarter grade). It will be graded in the following categories, using a standard four-point rubric in each category.
4=Exemplary 3=Excellent 2=OK 1=Not present
_____ Demonstrates skill with features of presentation and multimedia software
_____ Uses images and sounds to reinforce ideas.
_____ Considers appropriate use of materials for audience.
_____ Demonstrates a clear purpose for presentation
_____ Content is well-organized and understandable
_____ Attractive and consistent design and layout utilizing
_____ Use of appropriate graphics to enhance learning
_____ Use of appropriate sound
_____ Readiness for use with an audience
_____ Presentation to audience
_____ Total points (40 points)