AP MUSIC THEORY SYLLABUS

Course Description

AP Music Theory develops a students ability to recognize, understand, and describe
the basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score. The
course will instill a mastery in the rudiments of music, including pitches, intervals,
scales, chords, meter, and rhythm. Students will participate in critical listening activities,
ear-training exercises, sight singing, and musical analysis. Building on this foundation,
the students will progress to harmonization of a melody, composing a musical bass line
to provide two-voice counterpoint, and realization of figured-bass notation. Students
registering for this course should be able to read and write music, and feel comfortable
singing daily in class. The AP exam tests understanding of musical structure and
compositional procedures through recorded and notated examples. All requirements are
aligned with the 2009 New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards in Visual and Performing
Arts.

Students will be prepared to take the AP Music Theory Exam in the Spring.

Requirements

Each class will consist of written assignments, critical listening activities, ear training
exercises, and keyboard exercises. Students will be required to sing using solfege
during every class meeting. The following materials are needed for class:

1. Tonal Harmony and Music for Sight Singing Textbooks
2. Notebook (preferably 3 or 5 subject)
3. Music Manuscript Book (or binder with blank sheet music)
4. Pencils
5. Assignment Folder


Course Objectives

Daily class activities will include written assignments, ear training skill development,
sight-singing skill development, keyboard skills, and dictation activities.

I. Given instruction in elements of pitch, students will be able to:
A.) Notate melodies using soprano, alto, tenor, treble, and bass clefs
B.) Identify major and minor scales and key signatures
C.) Identify scale degree names
D.) Identify written and aural intervals perfect, major, minor, augmented, an
diminished
E.) Understand inversions of intervals
F.) Develop sight-singing abilities using various clefs and time signatures
G.) Perform melodies and chords on the piano in various key signatures
H.) Evaluate and analyze performances for melodic errors
I.) Complete dictation exercises in various major and minor keys

II. Given instruction in the elements of rhythm and metric organization, students will be able to:
A.) Understand symbols of duration and beat, including all note and rest values
B.) Identify various tempo markings and indicators
C.) Distinguish texture of musical examples (monophony, homophony, polyphony)
D.) Read and notate rhythms in all simple and compound time signatures
E.) Identify syncopation, hemiola, and other rhythmic devices in written music

III. Given instruction in triad and seventh chord construction, students will be able to:
A.) Identify and distinguish between major, minor, augmented, diminished triads and 7
th

chords
B.) Read and notate inversion symbols
C.) Notate and analyze chords using figured bass
D.) Study lead sheet symbols and various chord textures

IV. Given instruction in diatonic chords in major and minor keys, students will be able to:
A.) Identify and construct triads and 7
th
chords in major and minor key signatures
B.) Apply Roman numerals to various chord progressions
C.) Apply realization of figured bass and Roman numeral progressions

V. Given instruction in the principals of voice leading and root position part writing, students will
be able to:
A.) Understand the contour, harmonization, and appropriate tones of a melodic line
B.) Notate chords using proper voicing
C.) Understand spacing, parallel motion, unequal fifths and octaves
D.) Write progressions in a 4-voice texture

VI. Given instruction in harmonic progressions, triads in first and second inversions, students
will be able to:
A.) Identify sequences and the Circle of Fifths progression
B.) Complete part writing triads in the first and second inversion
C.) Realize Roman numeral progressions

VII. Given instruction in cadences, phrases, periods, and non-chord tones, students will be able
to:
A.) Identify, by written and aural examples, various cadences including Plagal,
Authentic, and Deceptive
B.) Describe phrase structure and motives in various musical scores
C.) Complete part-writing and harmonization examples using good voice leading
D.) Identify passing tones, neighbor tones, suspensions, retardations, appoggiaturas,
and anticipations
E.) Understand pedal point
F.) Complete 2-phrase melodic and harmonic dictation in major and minor keys

VIII. Given instruction in secondary functions, students will be able to:
A.) Understand the spelling and recognition of secondary dominant chords and leading
tone chords
B.) Identify deceptive resolutions of secondary dominants
C.) Complete harmonic dictation featuring secondary dominant chords

IX. Given instruction in modulation, students will be able to:
A.) Understand modulation and change of key
B.) Understand tonicization and key relationships
C.) Apply and analyze common-chord modulation

X. Given instruction in Binary and Ternary Forms, students will be able to:
A.) Identify and apply binary and ternary forms to music composition
B.) Identify and apply 12 bar blues, rondo, strophic, and theme and variation styles

XI. Given instruction in music history, students will be able to:
A.) Analyze and describe recorded music examples from the Middle Ages,
Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern, and Post-Modern Eras
B.) Define characteristics of music and influential composers in major historical periods
C.) Compare and contrast genres of American popular music
D.) Explore non-Western cultural music of Japan, Indonesia, and other countries


Primary Textbooks

Kostka, S., and Payne,D. Tonal Harmony with an Introduction to 20th Century Music.
7th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2012

Ottman, R., and Rogers, N. Music for Sight Singing; 8
th
ed. 2010


Grading

The marking period grade is based on the following:

20% - Class Participation
20% - Homework Assignments
30% - Objective Tests and Quizzes
15% - Ear Training and Dictation Quizzes
15% - Marking Period Project


Students may request extra help before or after school on a weekly basis.