Music Theory 1

Course Description

The goal of the This course will identify introduce the foundations of sound and music materials from different cultures
and provide the theoretical bases of how it is these materials are organized and applied to concerned fields of disciplines
specifically in composition, research, and performance.

Course Goals

By the end of this course, the student will be able to:

 Learn, identify and be attuned with [the] basic music elements

 Learn and identify different rhythmic and metric structures of different cultures
 Learn, Identify intervals and tonal hierarch[y]ies of various cultures Good
 Learn, identify and apply the basic organizational systems of various cultures ordering/sequencing of
 Apply the different theories learned via composition, analysis, and performance learning goals

WEEK TOPIC
NUMBER
WEEK 1 Principles of sound production (parameters of sound)
 Sound and acoustics
 Examples of applied sound and acoustics organization
WEEK 2 Time
 Study of basic time elements (beat, duration, rhythm, meter, cycles)
 (in bullet) Notation examples and writing (D duration)
 Dictation
WEEK 3 Time
 Study of different rhythmic and metric systems
 traditional/nonwestern systems part1
 Notation examples and writing (rhythm)
 Dictation
 Rhythmic reading
WEEK 4 Time
 Study of different rhythmic and metric systems part 1
 traditional/nonwestern systems part 2
Pitch
 Study of different melodic materials
 Exercise in aural cognition
WEEK 5 Pitch
 Listening to music of different traditional repertoires
 Notation examples and writing (melody)
 Dictation
 Melodic Reading
WEEK 6 Linear segments part 1
 Study of themes, motifs, thematic formulae, melodies in western music?
 Organizing materials
 Notation examples and writing (formal structures)
WEEK 7 Linear segments part 2
 Analysis of form and structure of traditional music
 Notation examples and writing (compositional exercises)
WEEK 8 Singing/improvising of simple 3-5 tone melodies
 WEEK 9 -10 Time
 Study of different rhythmic and metric systems part 2
 Western (medieval)
Pitch
 Study of septatonic modes. – Why septa?
 Notation examples and writing (modes)
 Reading chants and oral cognition of modes
 Dictation
WEEK 11 Linear Segments part 3
 Study of themes, motifs, thematic formulae, melodies from Gregorian chants
 Study of organum [move this before polyphonic settings?
WEEK 12 - Pitch
13  Study of Church modes
Notation examples, listening, and writing (modes)
 Reading/listening to basic 2-part polyphonic settings
 Dictation on single modal material
WEEK 14 Linear segments part 3
 Analysis of melodic organization, form and structure of 2-part polyphonic settings
Notation examples and writing (formal structures)
WEEK 15- Linear segments part 4
16  Study of modal polyphony, up to 4th species, 2 parts
 Organizing materials up to 2-part polyphony
Notation examples and writing (compositional exercises)
WEEK 17 Composition/performance of 2-part modal polyphony ---Good way to end course schedule!

Resources:

Bruce, Benward and Marilyn Saker. Music in Theory and Practice, Eighth Edition, Volume I. NY: McGraw Hill, 2009.

Santos, Ramon Pagayon. Fundamentals of Music Theory and Practical Musicianship from a World Perspective. UP College
of Music, May 8, 2005.

Hijleh, Mark. Towards a Global Music Theory: Practical Concepts and Methods for the Analysis of Music Across Human
Cultures. NY: Routledge, 2012.