AP+Music+Theory

**Syllabus 2015-2016** **Class 4A** **Lenae Rose** **LRose@rockdale.k12.ga.us**
 * Advanced Placement Music Theory**

A.P. Music Theory is for intermediate and advanced level musicians looking to gain an in-depth knowledge of music for performance purposes or with the intent to major in music in college. Course material is presented so students may expand their musical skills gained from their band, chorus or general music classes. Students will learn the theory concepts required for a proficient score on the Advanced Placement Music Theory exam. Music Theory meets every other day for one hour and thirty minutes. At the conclusion of the course, all students should be confident in their abilities to: a. Notate pitch and rhythm using basic notational devices b. Define and understand basic musical terminology and theoretical concepts c. Read melodies in four-parts. (SATB) d. Write and notate melodies in the simple, compound, and duple meters e. Sing simple melodies at sight using a standard sight-singing system f. Recognize the basic intervals within an octave by ear and sight g. Sing and play the major, minor, and chromatic scales h. Analyze chords and harmonies in a four-part chorale setting using figured bass and Roman numeral progressions i. Understand and identify the musical forms and cadences j. Compose simple bass lines based on melodic line and implied figured bass/Roman Numeral chord structure. Students will be required to do aural skills every day. This includes, but isn’t limited too, sight-singing, harmonic/melodic notation, rhythmic dictation, and chord/triad identification. The importance of being able to notate and sing a simple melody is stressed in each class. Students must have a working knowledge and understanding of the vocabulary used on a daily basis. Students are given regular vocabulary quizzes and tests to maintain a working vocabulary throughout the course. Sight singing examples are written for the voice parts included in the class, but will cover the range of an octave for preparation on the AP exam. Resource materials will be used to supplement the text and aural skills books throughout the semester. Group activities are used to encourage positive feedback from peers. Students will analyze, play, and sing compositional work of their peers as part of the daily class period.
 * Course Overview **
 * Course Objectives **
 * Teaching Strategies **
 * Class Materials and Texts **

Benjamin, Thomas, Horvit, Michael, and Nelson, Robert. Techniques and Materials of Music. Seventh ed. Thomson Schirmer Corporation, 2008 Ottman, Robert W. Music for Sight-Singing. sixth ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J. Pearson Prentice Hall 2004.
 * Required Class Materials **

1. Three-ringed notebook 2. Staff Paper (provided) 3. Pencil ** Class Work/Homework ** 50% ** Sight Singing ** 15% ** Concert Review ** 5% ** Tests ** 20% ** Quizzes ** 10%
 * Grading Scale **


 * // Class Work/Homework //** – These items will consist of exercises completed in class or for homework. These assignments must be submitted on time for credit.


 * // Sight Singing //** – Grades will be taken from individual sight singing performance. Sight singing is a major component of the AP exam and will be practiced frequently.


 * // Concert Review //** – Students are to attend at least one concert per quarter and give an evaluative review of the concert. This review should include elements taught in AP Music Theory. You may NOT be a performer in the concert. A rubric for this review will be made available to the students by the end of August.
 * // Tests //** – Tests over material covered will be given on a regular basis. Tests may include vocabulary, written exercises, multiple-choice exercises, listening exercises, and evaluative exercises. These quizzes will prepare you for the AP exam in May.

** Course Outline of Concepts and Themes **
 * // Quizzes //** – Quizzes will be given frequently. Quizzes may include vocabulary, written exercises, multiple-choice exercises, listening exercises, and evaluative exercises. These quizzes will prepare you for the AP Exam.
 * // First Quarter //**
 * Part I Rudiments **

// Reading Skills: // Pitch, Pitch Class, Beat, Simple Meters, Pitch Collection, Scales, Major Key Signatures, Minor Key Signatures, Diatonic Modes, Compound Meters, Pitch Intervals, Triads, Seventh Chords

// Sight-Singing Skills: // Workbook materials, teacher generated exercises

// Ear Training Skills: // Simple rhythmic dictation, Simple melodic dictation, Simple meters

// Written Skills: // Compose simple rhythmic and melodic dictations in simple meters, scales based on key signature // Reading Skills // : Triad and Chord Inversions, Figured Bass, Two-Voice Composition (Counterpoint), Melodic and Rhythmic Embellishments in Two-Voice Composition, Notation and Scoring, Voicing of Chords, Tonic and Dominant Voice-Leading, Embellishing Tones, Chorale Harmonization and Figured Bass
 * // Second Quarter //**
 * Part II Diatonic Materials chapters 1-10 **

// Sight-Singing Skills: // Workbook materials, teacher generated exercises, student generated exercises

// Ear Training Skills: // Pitch and rhythm dictation, Melody notation with larger skips, dotted rhythms, and ties, simple meters

// Written Skills: // Two-voice Compositions using basic counterpoint rules, student generated dictation and sight singing exercises // Reading Skills: // Leading Tone, Predominant, Tonic Expansions, Root Progressions, Cadence, Phrase, Melody,, Secondary Dominants and Secondary Leading-Tone Chords, New Voice Leading Chords, Tonicizing Scale Degrees Other than V, Modulation, Change of Key, Binary,
 * // Third Quarter //**
 * Part II chapters 11-19 and Part III **

// Sight-Singing Skills: // Workbook materials, teacher generated exercises, student generated exercises

// Ear Training Skills: // Pitch and Rhythm dictation, Melody notation with large skips, leaps, dotted rhythms, compound rhythms, varying meters, ties, recognition of intervals, triads, seventh chords, soprano/bass lines, error detection

// Written Skills: // Chorale Harmonization using voice-leading rules, non-chord tones, and established chord progressions, student generated sight singing and dictation exercises. // Reading Skills: // Musical Forms, Musical Interpretations, Introduction to 20 th century composition, Take Practice AP exams for review and practice
 * // Fourth Quarter //**
 * Part IV **

// Sight-Singing Skills: // Workbook materials, teacher generated exercises, student generated exercises

// Ear Training Skills: // Pitch and Rhythm dictation, Melody notation with large skips, leaps, dotted rhythms, compound rhythms, varying meters, ties, recognition of intervals, triads, seventh chords, chord inversions, soprano/bass lines, error detection

// Written Skills: // Composition project using skills learned throughout the year.

***Helpful websites for practice*** = = =** [|www.musictheory.net] **= =**[|www.teoria.com]**= =**[|www.musictechteacher.com]**=