Syllabus
for Advanced Placement Music Theory
Overview:
The Advanced Placement Program (AP) administered through the College Board offers students an opportunity to take college-level courses and exams while still in high school. Students successfully completing advanced placement courses and AP testing may earn credit and/or advanced standing in college.
The ultimate goal of this AP Music Theory course
is to develop the student's ability to recognize, understand, and describe the
basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score.
The achievement of this goal will be approached by addressing fundamental
aural, sight-singing, written, compositional, and analytical skills through
listening, performance, written, creative, and analytical exercises.
Textbook(s) and Other
Resources Used:
Piano, Stereo, Teacher-generated text, computer, Auralia (ear training program)
Outline of Content:
Review basic notational skills such as clefs (treble, bass, alto, tenor); pitch on staff; piano keyboard skills; major and minor scale construction; intervals and triads (root position and inverted); rhythmic notation (meter type, note values, meter signature); Cadences; Melodic writing; Common tempo and expression markings; Form, Texture (monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic); Part writing primary triads in root position; Non-harmonic tones (passing tones, neighbor tones); realize figured bass using primary triads; Transposition; score analysis
Ear training
Sing scales; Differentiate among scales; Hear, write, sing, identify triads and intervals; Sight singing and melodic dictation; rhythmic dictation, harmonic dictation
Advanced scales and modes; part writing primary triads in first and second inversion; advanced non-harmonic tones; seventh chords; part writing secondary triads in root position and inverted; realize figured bass using secondary triads; Score analysis
Ear Training: Ongoing Sing scales; Differentiate among scales; Hear, write, sing, identify triads and intervals; Sight singing
and melodic dictation; rhythmic dictation, harmonic dictation
Ear Training: Ongoing sight singing, writing, identification, melodic, rhythmic, harmonic dictation
Ear Training: Ongoing sight singing, writing, identification, melodic, rhythmic, harmonic dictation
Miscellaneous:
Students are required to bring the following items to each class:
· Three-ring binder with all written materials enclosed.
· A pencil – never use a pen for music theory work.
Materials may be kept in assigned locations in the classroom, or may be taken with the student.
Class time is comprised of individual and large group activities. Students will know in advance the type of activity that is planned for the day, and is expected to have the proper materials.