Walsingham Academy Upper School

Advanced Placement Music Theory
Mrs. Teresa Cobarrubia Yoder
2006-2007

Welcome to AP Music Theory.  Equivalent to a college course, AP Music Theory establishes a broad knowledge base and academic rigor.  You will study not only the what and how of music structure but will also engage in the richer, more evocative why and what if.  Skills ranging from sight-singing and aural recognition to visual analysis and composition comprise the curriculum so that you may be able to integrate the various skills into the whole study of music.  Rewards for the your success are great: gaining musical understanding and confidence in that understanding; enhancing already-established performance skills; getting a head start on college-level study; and satisfying and broadening natural curiosity.

Course Outline

Texts
Kostka, Stefan, and Dorothy Payne.  Tonal Harmony with an Introduction to Twentieth-Century Music. 5th ed. New York: 2004.

________.  Tonal Harmony Workbook with Audio CD and Finale CD Rom. 5th ed. New York: 2004.

Benward, Bruce, and Kolosick, J. Timothy.  Ear Training: A Technique for Listening.  7th ed. New York. 2005

First Quarter
Reading	Tonal Harmony, Chapters 1-4, Major and minor scales, key signatures, intervals, triads and inversions, 7th chords, inversions, figured bass symbols, diatonic triads, Roman numerals, simple and compound meters.	
Written Skills	Workbook materials, other similar exercises, online exercises.	
Ear Training Skills	Rhythmic dictation, melodic dictation (conjunct motion), some smaller skips with emphasis on strategies for dictation, interval identification, triads, seventh cord identification.	
Sight-Singing Skills	Melodies selected from various sources.  Strategies for sight-singing, conjunct melodies with smaller intervallic leaps, melodies in major and minor modes, treble and bass clefs.	
Keyboard Skills	Major and minor scales, triads and inversions, seventh chords and inversions.	

Second Quarter
Reading	Tonal Harmony, Chapters 5 – 10. Voice-leading, part-writing, harmonic progression, triads in first and second inversions, cadences, phrases.	
Written Skills	Workbook materials, original melody, harmonization, online exercises.	
Ear Training Skills	Continue interval, triad, and seventh chord identification, melodic dictation (longer diatonic melodies with larger leaps), harmonic dictation (strategies, soprano/bass lines, simple progressions), error detection.	
Sight-Singing Skills	Simple harmonic progressions.	
Keyboard Skills	Major and minor scales, triads and inversions, seventh chords and inversions.	
Other Activities	Take released AP Music Theory Exam and discuss in class.	

Third Quarter
Reading	Tonal Harmony, Chapters 11 – 15.  Nonchord tones, diatonic seventh chords.	
Written Skills	Workbook materials, original composition using nonchord tones and diatonic seventh chords.	
Ear Training Skills	Continue interval, triad, and seventh chord identification, melodic dictation (diatonic melodies with more challenging rhythm), harmonic dictation (more challenging progressions including diatonic seventh chords), error detection.	
Sight-Singing Skills	Continue applying strategies to original melodies and those selected from various other sources.	
Keyboard Skills	Harmonic progressions using diatonic seventh chords and nonchord tones.	
Other Activities	Take released AP Music Theory Exam and discuss in class.	

Fourth Quarter
Reading	Tonal Harmony, Chapters 16 - 17.  Secondary dominant and secondary leading tone chords.	
Written Skills	Workbook materials, short compositions using secondary dominant or leading-tone chords.	
Ear Training Skills	Continue from previous quarters.	
Sight-Singing Skills	Continue from previous quarters.	
Keyboard Skills	Harmonic progressions using secondary function chords.	
Other Activities	Intense review and preparation for the AP Music Theory Exam; exploration of careers in music (after exam in May).	

Piano Proficiency
Quizzes, tests and exams will include a piano proficiency that includes major/minor scales, chords and crossed hand arpeggios.  Availability of various pianos/keyboards in the school will depend on scheduling and need.

Homework
Assignments will be given at the beginning of the week and will be graded daily.  

Computer Technology
Your purchased course materials include the Finale CD-Rom.  You will also access various exercises online.  Students are expected to observe the in-school computer usage as stated in the Student Handbook.

Quarter Grading

Tests and Compositions 	60%	
Quizzes and Class work	40%	

Absences
The extent of information in this class will require you make every effort to make up tests and quizzes within three days of an EXCUSED absence.  If the test or quiz is not made up within the required time, a zero will be given.  It is your responsibility to arrange for the make-up (before/after school and study).  Make-up quizzes and tests will not be administered during class time.  Please be on time to class.  All quizzes will be administered at the beginning of class.  The consequence for habitually tardy students is not being able to make up their quizzes for unexcused lateness and receiving a zero. 

Documented Disability
If you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course, please make arrangements to meet with me soon.  

CODA
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please see me during my scheduled planning time, make an appointment, write me a note (anonymously if you like), or send me an e-mail (tyoder@walsingham.org).