FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC ONLINE RHYTHM MELODY HARMONY The Fundamentals of Music course explores harmony, melody, rhythm, and form with an introduction to music notation and ear training. Relevant musical structures are examined and discussed in the context of popular music using common industry terms.
2 COURSE OUTCOMES FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC ONLINE APR1355-O THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE MUSICAL CONCEPTS USING THE CORRECT TERMINOLOGY IS INTEGRAL TO SUCCESS IN ALL CAREERS RELATED TO MUSIC. Students will learn the fundamentals of the musical system of the Western world as it applies to the piano keyboard. Subtopics will include reading standard notation, the application of major and minor scales for melody and harmony, song form, and song charting. COURSE OUTCOMES To read and write basic music notation To understand the construction of major and minor scales and their application to melody and harmony To aurally and visually identify the intervals found within a major scale To effectively communicate musical concepts with other industry professionals COURSE MATERIALS The Musician s Guide to Theory and Analysis, Jane Piper Clendinning and Elizabeth West Marvin, W. W. Norton & Company Software: Logic, Sibelius, Musition, Auralia
3 INSPIRATION FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC ONLINE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL CAREER PATHS ACADEMICS CAREER PORTFOLIO By the end of the course, students will be able to read basic music notation on the grand staff, create and analyze chord progressions in both major and minor keys, and transpose music from one key to another. Students will begin building their personal brands immediately through graded activities that will require them to compose original music. They will be assessed on their ability to incorporate the musical skills taught in this course as they develop their own personal styles. Students will compose a short piece of music containing drums, bass, harmony, and melody using a digital audio workstation (DAW). Successful completion of this activity will build upon a knowledge base that is essential to the first project and portfolio course. Note: Your portfolio-related course work will be indicated on this syllabus by the icon above. songwriter jingle writer composer performer producer arranger private music instructor music teacher music copyist
4 WEEKLY TAB BREAKDOWN TEXT FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC ONLINE WEEKLY BREAKDOWN WEEK ONE Students will be introduced to the twelve-note musical system and the piano keyboard layout, and the fundamentals of standard musical notation will be emphasized. THEMES The Piano Keyboard Standard Music Notation Meter and Time Signatures Grand Staff WEEK THREE Students will begin to study the harmonic aspects of music, including building triads. The concept of key will be introduced, and key signatures and the circle of fifths will be explored. In addition, rhythmic notation will extend to dots and ties. THEMES Triads Scale Degrees Key Signatures Music Notation Software WEEK TWO Students will learn the construction of a major scale and how intervals within the scale are used to generate melodies. Song form in commercial music and basic song charting will also be explored. THEMES Major Scales Rhythm Notation Song Form Drum Set Notation WEEK FOUR Students will learn the construction of the natural minor scale, the chords generated from it, and how these elements compare and relate to those of the major scale. Finally, the class will analyze chord progressions in both major and minor keys and will use that knowledge to transpose music from one key to another. THEMES Harmonic Analysis Transposition The Natural Minor Scale Minor Key Signatures
5 GRADE TAB WEIGHTS TEXT FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC ONLINE GRADE WEIGHTS GRADE WEIGHT Discussion (3%), Keyboard Trainer (4%), Auralia (4%), Musition (4%), Essentials Quiz (4%) 19% Keyboard Trainer (4%), Auralia (4%), Musition (4%), Project (6%), Discussion (3%), Essentials Quiz (4%) 25% Keyboard Trainer (4%), Auralia (4%), Musition (4%), Intro to Music Notation Software (2%), Project (6%), Essentials Quiz (4%) 24% Keyboard Trainer (4%), Auralia (4%), Musition (4%), Project (6%), Essentials Quiz (4%) 22% GPS 10% Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Total 100% OUT-OF-CLASS WORK This course requires at least 8 hours of preparation and out-of-class work. Out-of-class activities are documented in this syllabus and include reading assignments, outside research, project development, skills practice, and homework. Consideration has been given to creating out-of-class work that will support your efforts to successfully complete this course while achieving course objectives and program learning outcomes.
6 RECOMMENDED RESEARCH EXTRAS TUTORIALS EXPERT TIPS COURSE DIRECTOR S PICKS WEEK 1 Musictheory.net: The Staffs, Clefs, and Ledger Lines http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/10 Note Duration http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/11 Measures and Time Signature http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/12 Steps and Accidentals http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/20 World Science Festival: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale https://youtu.be/ne6tb2kizuk 3:04 WEEK 2 Musictheory.net: The Major Scale http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/21 Scale Degrees http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/23 Intervals http://www.musictheory.net/lessons Tyler Perry: How to Be Successful https://youtu.be/_zyhpdjonj4 4:35 WEEK 3 Musictheory.net: Key Signatures http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/24 Introduction to Chords http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/40 Ira Glass on the Creative Process https://youtu.be/pbc4gqzgpsy 1:54 WEEK 4 Musictheory.net: The Minor Scales http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/22 Key Signatures http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/24 Diatonic Triads http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/43 Oleg Berg: Don t Worry, Be Happy Minor Key https://youtu.be/lbtxfn8d2ci 3:50
7 CONNECTIONS FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC ONLINE CONNECTIONS INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS The concepts of music theory are regularly employed by composers, musicians, and engineers to create music that is aesthetically pleasing. Music and audio producers of today often contribute to, if not fully compose the musical content of a given project. Students will be using a DAW platform to demonstrate their knowledge of established musical conventions. In addition to acquiring the tools to enhance music composition, students who successfully complete this course will internalize the concepts and vocabulary necessary to effectively communicate with other music industry professionals. For the first portfolio project, SEMESTER TRENDS students will create a demo-quality audio recording of an original musical composition. Along with the skills gained from Recording Principles, Sequencing Technology, and the initial Core Four classes, the Fundamentals of Music course will provide the necessary foundational elements to bring a musical idea to fruition in the form of recorded audio. Students will engage in discussions on topics chosen by the COLLABORATION Course Director that directly apply to music theory and composition. When striving to utilize the methods of past masters, the FEEDBACK likelihood of achieving positive results increases considerably. The goal of each assessment in this course is to verify that students have mastered the essential concepts of basic music theory and analysis. Students who grasp the tenets of this course will be able to apply their understanding to future projects in a way that will be appreciated by employers and clients. The activities in this course will promote students discovery of PERSONAL BRAND their own compositional styles through the creation of original content without using preexisting loops. In completing their first portfolio project, students will showcase the voices they have found.
8 TERMINOLOGY TERMINOLOGY ACCIDENTAL Any of various signs that indicate the alteration of a note by one or two semitones, or the cancellation of a previous sign. BEAT A regular underlying pulse perceived in music. CHROMATIC Progressing by semitones; or in harmonic language, notes that are outside of the key. DIATONIC Based on the standard major or minor scales without alteration. ENHARMONIC Pitches that sound the same but are written differently in musical notation. HARMONY A simultaneous combination of tones. INTERVAL The amount of space between two pitches, usually expressed in quality and number. KEY SIGNATURE A group of sharps or flats that appear at the beginning of each staff to identify the key. MEASURE A segment of time in music that corresponds to a specific number of beats. MELODY An arrangement of single notes in succession. METER The basic recurrent rhythmical pattern of beats in music. STAFF A set of five horizontal lines and four spaces, each representing a different musical pitch or percussive sound. TIME SIGNATURE A sign that represents the number of beats per measure and the type of note that gets one beat. TONIC The first degree of a major or minor scale and the tonal center of music in that key. TRIAD A chord consisting of a note plus the third and fifth note above it.