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Music Theory Academic Library

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Music Theory

Music Theory is a semester-length fine arts elective for high school students. The course requires no prior instrumental, vocal, or music theory study. Using the piano keyboard as a visual basis for comprehension, the course materials explore the nature of music, integrating these concepts: Rhythm and meter, Written music notation, The structure of various scale types, Interval qualities, Melody and harmony, The building of chords, Transposition.

Throughout the series of assignments, ear training exercises are interspersed with the bones of composition technique, building in students the ability not only to hear and appreciate music, but step-by-step, to create it in written form as well.

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This highly interactive course culminates in the students producing original compositions, which while based on standard notation, demonstrate facets of personal expression. As the students’ ability to perform increases in the future, they will better understand music and therefore better demonstrate its intrinsic communication of emotion and ideas. 

Music Theory

UNIT 1 – RHYTHM AND METER

  1. Course Overview
  2. So, Why Study Music Anyway?
  3. Feeling the Beat
  4. The Value of a Note
  5. Measuring Music
  6. The Value of Silence
  7. Dots and Ties
  8. Ear Training #1–Rhythm 1
  9. Quiz 1: Introduction to Rhythm
  10. Alternate Quiz 1—Form A: Introduction to Rhythm
  11. Alternate Quiz 1—Form B: Introduction to Rhythm
  12. 4/4–The Basic Time Signature
  13. Going Beyond 4/4
  14. Still More Time Signatures
  15. Counting a Bit Faster
  16. Ear Training #2–Rhythm 2
  17. Special Rhythms
  18. Creating a Rhythmic Piece
  19. Quiz 2: Time Signature
  20. Alternate Quiz 2—Form A: Time Signature
  21. Alternate Quiz 2—Form B: Time Signature
  22. Review
  23. Test
  24. Alternate Test—Form A
  25. Alternate Test—Form B
  26. Glossary and Credits

UNIT 2 – NOTATION AND PITCH

  1. The Printed Page
  2. The Musical Alphabet
  3. Altering Pitches
  4. Ear Training #3: Pitch
  5. Direction and Signs
  6. Quiz 1: The Look of Music
  7. Alternate Quiz 1—Form A: The Look of Music
  8. Alternate Quiz 1—Form B: The Look of Music
  9. Musical Intervals
  10. Writing Musical Intervals
  11. Ear Training #4: Intervals
  12. From Interval to Melody
  13. Project: Composing a Simple Melody
  14. Quiz 2: The Sound of Music
  15. Alternate Quiz 2—Form A: The Sound of Music
  16. Alternate Quiz 2—Form B: The Sound of Music
  17. Voicings
  18. Instrumentation
  19. Instrumentation 2
  20. Ear Training #5: Identifying Instruments
  21. Quiz 3: The Source of Music
  22. Alternate Quiz 3—Form A: The Source of Music
  23. Alternate Quiz 3—Form B: The Source of Music
  24. Review
  25. Test
  26. Alternate Test—Form A
  27. Alternate Test—Form B
  28. Glossary and Credits

UNIT 3 – SCALES AND KEY SIGNATURES

  1. Introduction to the Scale
  2. The Minor Scale
  3. Other Scales
  4. Ear Training #6: Scales
  5. Project: Composing Non-Diatonic Melodies
  6. Quiz 1: Musical Scales
  7. Alternate Quiz 1—Form A: Musical Scales
  8. Alternate Quiz 1—Form B: Musical Scales
  9. Employing Scales as Keys
  10. Identifying Major Keys
  11. Identifying Minor Keys
  12. Comparing Major and Minor Keys
  13. Changing Keys
  14. Project: Transposing Melodies
  15. Quiz 2: Musical Key Signatures
  16. Alternate Quiz 2—Form A: Musical Key Signatures
  17. Alternate Quiz 2—Form B: Musical Key Signatures
  18. Review
  19. Test
  20. Alternate Test—Form A
  21. Alternate Test—Form B
  22. Glossary and Credits

UNIT 4 – HARMONY

  1. Interval Quality
  2. Ear Training #7: Major or Minor?
  3. Perfect Intervals
  4. Ear Training #8: Major, Minor, or Perfect?
  5. Augmented and Diminished Intervals
  6. Ear Training #9: Harmony or Dissonance?
  7. Quiz 1: Beginning to Harmonize
  8. Alternate Quiz 1—Form A: Beginning to Harmonize
  9. Alternate Quiz 1—Form B: Beginning to Harmonize
  10. Building Triads
  11. Comparing Triads
  12. Inverting Triads
  13. Ear Training #10: Hearing Triads
  14. Using Triads and Chords
  15. Quiz 2: Working with Chords
  16. Alternate Quiz 2—Form A: Working with Chords
  17. Alternate Quiz 2—Form B: Working with Chords
  18. Review
  19. Test
  20. Alternate Test—Form A
  21. Alternate Test—Form B
  22. Glossary and Credits

UNIT 5 – MAKING MUSIC

  1. Musical Performance
  2. Musical Performance 2
  3. Ornamentation
  4. Phrasing
  5. Style
  6. Ear Training #11: Listening for Musical Expression
  7. Quiz 1: Interpreting Music
  8. Alternate Quiz 1—Form A: Interpreting Music
  9. Alternate Quiz 1—Form B: Interpreting Music
  10. Applications of Music
  11. Arranging
  12. Composition Principles
  13. You’re the Composer
  14. Original Composition
  15. Quiz 2: Finding Your Voice
  16. Alternate Quiz 2—Form A: Finding Your Voice
  17. Alternate Quiz 2—Form B: Finding Your Voice
  18. Review
  19. Test
  20. Alternate Test—Form A
  21. Alternate Test—Form B
  22. Glossary and Credits

UNIT 6 – COURSE REVIEW AND EXAM

  1. Review
  2. Exam
  3. Alternate Exam—Form A
  4. Alternate Exam—Form B