AP Music Theory Curriculum Course Overview: The AP Theory Class is a continuation of the Fundamentals of Music Theory course and will be offered on a bi-yearly basis. Student s interested in enrolling in this course must have successfully taken the Fundamentals course and be willing to engage in AP preparation workshops offered in the fall. The AP class will meet for 85 minutes blocks daily beginning in January with classed to be held in the Music Technology Lab. Students will actively utilize technology for the assimilation of information and will be expected to maintain an online portfolio of their work throughout the semester. Upon completion of this course, students will have the ability to analyze and create music in a manner that utilizes the primary theoretical constructs used for composition; through visual and aural processes. Resources Used: (The majority of resources will be offered in digital form on our website, additional supplemental material listed below) Text Gauldin, Robert. Harmonic Practice in Tonal Music, 2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2005. Text for Analysis Burkhart, Charles. Anthology for Musical Analysis, 6th ed. Belmont, CA: Schirmer, 2003. Kostka, Stefan, and Roger Graybill. Anthology of Music for Analysis. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2002. Benjamin, Thomas E., Michael E. Horvit, and Robert Nelson. Music for Analysis: From the Common Practice Period to the Twentieth Century, 5th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. Ear Training Ottman, Robert. Music for Sightsinging, 6th ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2004. Web Training Resources: http://www.teoria.com/ http://www.musictheory.net/ http://eaglenet.culver.org/academics/music/music_theory/textbook/index.htm http://www.musictheory.net/ Instructor Created Resources Hosted at http://bbamusic.wikispaces.com/ Flash generated ear training exercises, quizzes and worksheets Finale worksheets and assessments. Links for major concepts of study: Musical terms- http://bbamusic.wikispaces.com/musical+terms?token=792dc0f2d3ec24cf21705ca8f4d68b93 Online software http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0697340635/student_view0/chapter_1.html, sites listed above. Notes, keys and Scales see web training Rhythm drills - http://www.emusictheory.com/drillrhythmperf.html, http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0697340635/student_view0/chapter_1.html Triads -see web training above Inversions- see web training above Intervals- see web training above Cadences-http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/appendix/cadence/cadence.html Progressionshttp://bbamusic.wikispaces.com/Interactive+Chord+Chart?token=5bb060806403b69aa437d57d2306cb6f Four part writing and counter point-http://www.smu.edu/totw/partwrit.htm Non harmonic Tones -http://www.smu.edu/totw/nct.htm Complex chord structures Musical Form Listening and Ear Training Theory texts offered from major Universities AP Music Theory Course Description: For conceptual flow and course objectives http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/51063.html
Implementation: Worksheets and online practice modules have been created for all concepts. (Located on our website) A weekly assessment will be administered to address the learning of the corresponding concepts. Ear Training homework will be assigned for each class period and assessed accordingly. Every concept will be explored through visual representation and audiation; reinforced by online drills, worksheets, assessments, dialogue and written self reflections. Grading: Weekly Quizzes, Exams Homework Participation in dialogue process Essential Question: How does the composer of music creatively synthesize all theoretical concepts for the purpose of creating or analyzing a piece of music? Course Flow Chart: Week 1 2 3 Unit Questions: What are the fundamental notational practices of music? How is time managed in music? In what ways can a composer group a series of pitches for the purpose of establishing unique recognizable sets? What types of sounds can be established when notes are played simultaneously? Student Objectives/Skills Students will engage in the study and practice of: Elements of Music & Basic Notation Musical Staff Clefs/Letter Names Rhythmic Notation and Vocabulary Duple vs. Triple Augmentation, diminution, hemiola The Harmonic Series Key Signatures & Scale Degrees Terminology Major & Minor Scale Construction Modes Circle of Fifths/Fourths Students will reinforce their understanding of these concepts through the online resources/drills provided by the instructor. Intervals and their inversions Diatonic Triads (Maj., min., dim., aug.) Nomenclature in both maj. and min. Triad Recognition Drills Primary Triads vs. Secondary triads Clusters Consonance vs. Dissonance Cadences Chordal progressions and retrogressions Aural Skills Students will engage in the study and practice of: Process of dictation and Ear training. Rhythmic Dictation Meter Recognition Fundamentals of Solfege Key Identification: major/minor Melodic Dictation(scales) Mode Recognition Sight singing melodic (Solfege) Identify and sing Intervals(melodic and harmonic) Identify Chord quality Continue Melodic Solfege Identify cadences AP Required Elements C2 The course helps students master the rudiments and terminology of music (notational skills, C11 The course teaches standard rhythms/meters C14 Musical through listening C8 The course teaches functional triadic harmony in traditional four-voice texture C9 The course teaches tonal relationships.
How does the vertical placement of chord tones on a staff alter the sound of the chord? Inversions of Triads The 6/4 chord Proper Voicing for inversions Students will realize Figured bass examples Chordal Analysis within existing compositions Chordal qualities in a progression Chordal Inversion Recognition Melodic Solfege (bass Lines) C4 The course of a figured bass. C9 The course teaches tonal relationships. 4 What are the acoustical considerations when writing in an SATB style? Four-Part Writing Rules: Introduce similar, parallel, contrary, oblique motion Students will realize figured bass in a four part structure. Locate error by ear in four part writing Begin two part Dictation Sight sing in multiple parts C4- Realization of a figured bass 5 Voice leading Inversion doubling Analysis of four part chorales C8 The course teaches functional triadic harmony in traditional four-voice Texture 6 In what ways do melodies resemble speech? How does one expand upon simple melodic writing into larger formal structures? Melodic contour, sequence, Period Structure Formal structures in Music: Monophony, Homophony, Polyphony, Song form, Sonata, Strophic, Binary, ternary, etc Symbolic representation exercise of song form-through visual art. Identify cadences Melodic Dictation and Solfege Chordal Dictation Phrase Structure Identification Harmonic progression recognition C12 The course teaches phrase structure. C13 The course teaches small forms (rounded binary, simple ternary, strophic, etc.).
7 How does the seventh provide additional color and tension to simple triads? Diatonic Seventh Chords (V7 & inversions) Introduce other diatonic seventh chords (ii, vii) Analyze and create Secondary Dominants, secondary diminished & seventh chords Proper resolution of dominant 7 th chords within a four part structure Midterm Review all Review all Identify Seventh chords Identify and compare qualities of seventh chords. Recognize in progressions Continue melodic Sight singing and Dictation 8 How does one classify notes in a melody that are not present in the underlying chord structure? Non-Harmonic Tones: Introduce passing tones, neighboring tones, appoggiaturas, escape tones, changing tones and anticipations, suspensions Elaborate on simple melodic lines Analysis of works that utilize non harmonic tones. Creation of simple melodies over chord progression Identify and sing NHT Two-voice dictation and 9 What is the process to be used when attempting to harmonize a giving melody? Harmonization of melodies that use only chord tones Bass line creation, progressive movement Harmonization of given bass & soprano lines Harmonization of melodic lines that use non-harmonic tones Analysis of simple compositions Find error in melodic examples Melodic/Harmonic Sights singing C3 The course includes composition of a bass line C18 Musical through analytical 10 What tools did the 18th century composers utilize in order to create unique formal structures and compositions? Counterpoint; Species Sequence, Subject, counter subject Episode Melodic and rhythmic augmentation, diminution inversion, retrograde, imitation Analysis of Bach Inventions Write simple melody in all formats listed above Identification of principal themes and structures Continue to review C16-18 Musical and analytical exercises
11 What techniques can a composer use to provide additional interest and motion to their composition? Modulations and Closely related Keys Serialism, Set theory Critical listening and analysis of musical excerpts 12 tone compositional exercise utilizing contrapuntal techniques Identify Modulation and key area Continue to review Identify formal structures C7 The course incorporates a brief introduction to 20th century scales, chordal structures, and compositional procedures. C10 The course teaches modulation to closely related keys. 12 Sample AP Exam Review of sample exam 13 Review ALL Material for REAL Exam AP EXAM (May) 14 Essay and Dialogue- How does the composer of music creatively synthesize all theoretical concepts for the purpose of creating or analyzing a piece of music?