Music Theory

Music Theory & AP Music Theory

Course Syllabus 2023-2024

Course Name:  Music Theory, AP Music Theory

Teacher:  Mr. Brian Bacon 

Email address – [email protected]

865-829-7770 ext 3826

Course Content:  The AP Music Theory curricular goals are to develop the student’s ability to aurally and visually perceive music through recognition, understanding, description and analysis of the basic materials and processes of music that are presented in a score. AP Music Theory studies the harmony of tonal music through part-writing exercises. Although this course emphasizes the music of the Common Practice period (1600-1900), music of the other stylistic periods is also studied, including folk and popular music.

Course Objectives:  Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge and skills that increase aesthetic awareness in music and how it relates to the other performing arts.
• Refine perceptual, physical and technical skills through creating music.
• Produce artistic musical performances using music and arts elements, technology and media.
• Analyze performances, both theirs and others, demonstrating knowledge of the process of critique.
• Explain various historical, social and cultural influences which have generated artistic accomplishments throughout the ages, and which continue to shape contemporary music.
• Collaborate in small and large groups with other students in performance situations as well as classroom activities.

Required Texts and Resources:

• 3 ring binder (Provided by student)
• Staff Paper (Provided by teacher)
• Notebook and pencils (provided by the student).

• Tonal Harmony by Stefan Kostka (Provided by teacher)

Course Policies:

• Student participation will be graded on a daily basis.  Any student unprepared (without the required materials) or unwilling to participate (doing work from other classes, disrupting rehearsal) will be marked down for the day.  
• Cost of replacing lost music and/or resources will be the responsibility of the student.  
• All students are required to follow all policies cited in the student handbook.

Responsibilities:  Students are to:

• Arrive on time to class, and be ready to work when the bell rings.
• Bring all required music and materials to class every day.
• Take notes and mark music as instructed.
• Turn in any assignments completed and on time.
• Refrain from eating and chewing gum in class.  Drinking water only in class is allowed due to the physical demands of performing.
• Treat the teacher and their fellow students with respect.
• Actively participate in class each day.

Evaluation:  The following types of evaluation will be used in this class:

• Quizzes, worksheets and written assignments.
• Projects and exams
• Sight-singing and dictation
• Class participation.

Grading Policy:

Quarterly Grade

Grading will be on a total points system, with daily work/quizzes/worksheets worth 10 points, Quizzes worth 25 points, and tests worth 100 points.

AP Course Outline

First Nine Weeks:

• Week 1-2

• Fundamentals of Theory

• Staff and Clef Notation

• Accidentals

• Simple Meter

• Key Signatures / Circle of 5ths

• Week 3-4

• Exam #1

• Review Circle of 5ths

• Introduction to Major, Minor and Church modes, Whole Tone and Pentatonic Scales

• Parallel and Relative Scales

• Introduction to intervals

• Week 5-6

• Continue working on Circle of 5ths

• Continue working on scales

• Continue working on intervals and modifiers

• Week 7-8

• Exam #2

• Introduction of Solfege

• Recognizing intervals by listening and singing

• Introduce transposition

• Chapter 1 (Tonal Harmony) – Pitch, Pitch Class, Intervals

• Week 9

• Review Transposition and solfege

• Exam #3

• Chapter 2 (Tonal Harmony) Elements of Rhythm

Second Nine Weeks

• Week 1-2

• Chapter 3 (Tonal Harmony) Introduction to Triads

• Triads, Inversion, Figured Bass

• 7th Chords

• Chapter 1 (Music for Sight Singing) Rhythms

• Exam #1

• Week 3-4

• Review triads and 7th chords and their inversions

• Chapter 4 (Tonal Harmony) Diatonic Chords in Major and minor keys

• Chapter 2 (Music for Sight Singing) Melodies in Major Keys

• Exam # 2

• Week 5-6

• Review chords- diatonic, inversions, Major and Minor Keys

• Chapter 5 (Tonal Harmony) Principles of Voice Leading

•  Parallel 5ths and Octaves

• Contrary Motion, Oblique, Similar and Parallel Motion

• Chapter 6 (Tonal Harmony) Root Position part Writing

• Part Writing

• Chapter 3 (Music for Sight Singing)) Melody-Intervals from the Tonic Triad, Major Keys

• Simple Meter

• Exam #3

• Week 7-8

• Continue with Chapter 6 (Tonal Harmony)

•  Instrumental Ranges and Transpositions

• Chapter 7 (Tonal Harmony) Harmonic Progressions and Sequence

• Harmonizing a Simple Melody with Primary Chords

• Harmonizing a Simple Melody with Primary and Secondary Chords

• Harmonizing using proper voice leading in all 4 parts: Bass, Tenor, Alto

• Chapter 4 (Music for Sight singing) Intervals from the Tonic Triad, Major Keys in Compound Meters

• Week 9

• Review for Semester Exam

• Semester Exam

Third Nine Weeks

• Week 1-2

• Chapters 8 & 9 (Tonal Harmony) Triads in First and Second Inversions

• Two Part Counterpoint using 1st and 2nd Inversions

• Chord analyzation

• Composing two part compositions

• Chapter 5 (Music for Sight Singing) Minor Keys; Intervals from the Tonic Triad

•  Simple and Compound Meters

• Exam # 1

• Week 3-4

• Chapters 10-11(Tonal Harmony)

• Cadences, Phrases, Periods, and Sentences

• Musical Forms

• Motives and Phrases

• Non- Chord Tones- Passing Tones, Neighboring Tones, Suspensions and Retardations

• Students will Analyze Hymns and other music for Chord progressions, Cadences, non-chord tones, motivic treatment and Musical Form.

• Chapter 6 (Music for Sight Singing) Intervals from the Dominant Triad

• Major and minor Keys

• Simple and Compound Meter

• Exam # 2

• Week 5-6

• Chapters 11 – 12 (Tonal Harmony) Non Chord tones - Appoggiaturas, Escape tones, Anticipations

• Continue analyzing Hymns for Cords, Non-Chord Tones and cadences

• Chapter 7 (Music for Sight Singing) Alto and Tenor Clefs

• Exam # 3

• Week 7-8

• Chapters 13, 14, 15 (Tonal Harmony)

• V7, II7, VII7 chords and Secondary Diatonic Chords

• Voice Leading

• Inversions

• Analyzing

• Chapter 8 (Music for Sight Singing) Diatonic Intervals in Simple and Compound Meters

• Week 9

• Review previously taught material

• Begin preparation for AP Exa

• Exam #4 

Fourth Nine Weeks

• Week 1-2

• Chapters17-19 (Tonal Harmony)

• Secondary Functions

• Modulations

• Chapter 8 (Music for Sight Singing) Intervals from the Dominant 7th chord

• Week 3-4

• Chapter 20 (Tonal Harmony)

• Musical Forms

• Continue preparing for AP Exam

• Begin Student Composition assignment

• Chapter 10 (Music for Sight Singing)-Subdividing into 4 parts

• Week 5-6

• Students will continue working on their composition project

• Review and prepare for AP Exam

• Week 7-8

• Review for AP Exam

• AP Exam

• Week 8-9

• Final Preparations on Composition Project

• Present Composition Projects to the Class