Music

200: Introduction to Music Theory

Fall 2018: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:35-12:05; HAMC 200
Los Angeles City College
Herb Alpert Music Center

Dr. Kevin J. Kelly
Office: HAMC 147
Office Phone: 323-953-4000 x2889
E-mail: kellykj@lacitycollege.edu
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:30-2:30; Tuesdays, 1:45-5:15

Objectives:

This course provides an introduction to the fundamental tools of the professional
musician. It is intended as a preliminary course for music majors, providing the
foundation for all subsequent harmony and musicianship courses.

As a result of completing this course, the student will be able to:

- Write and identify basic musical symbols
- Write and identify scales, key signatures, intervals, and triads
- Sing intervallic patterns, major and minor scales, and diatonic melodies
- Perform rhythms in simple and compound meters
- Aurally identify scales, triads, and intervals
- Take dictation of short melodic and rhythmic patterns
- Play pitches, intervals, scales, and triads at the keyboard


Required Materials: You must have access to these at every class meeting.

• Theory Textbook and Workbook by C. Gengaro and I. Kim. Available at the
LACC bookstore or on schoology.com

• Sing at First Sight (Level 1) - by Beck, Surmani, and Lewis (Alfred

Publishing Co.)

• Access to course materials on schoology.com and musictheory.net

• Pencils and erasers (no pens please!)

• Manuscript (staff) paper and notebook or lined papers

Grading: Your grade in this course will be determined by your performance on the
following:

Homework: 20%
Performance Midterm: 20%
Written Midterm: 20%
Performance Final: 20%
Written Final: 20%

Homework: I will assign homework assignments in most class meetings. These may
include worksheets from the textbook, assignments from musictheory.net, or class
handouts. All written assignments must be completed in pencil. Assignments in pen
will not be accepted.

Keeping up with your homework is the most important aspect of this class. Therefore, late
assignments will not be accepted. If you miss a class, you are still expected to turn in the
assignment the day it is due. If you must miss a class because of an emergency, please
contact me and we will discuss the situation.

Performance Exams: There will be two individual performance exams in which I will
assess your musicianship through prepared singing, rhythm, and keyboard exercises.

Written Exams: There will be two written exams, including notation and identification of
musical symbols, and identification and dictation of musical patterns. These must be taken
when scheduled.

Syllabus:

8/28- Introduction and syllabus.

8/30 and 9/4- Fundamentals of pitch. The five-line staff. Treble and bass clefs. The
musical keyboard.

9/6 and 9/11- Fundamentals of rhythm and meter. Simple meter and time
signatures. Whole notes, half notes, and quarter notes.

9/13 and 9/18- Interval size. Singing intervals. Rhythm reading.

9/20 and 9/25- Accidentals. M2 and m2 (Whole steps and Half Steps). Dotted half
notes.

9/27 and 10/2- Major scales and solfege. Singing C major melodies using solfege.

10/4 and 10/9- M3 and m3. Eighth notes and beaming. Review.

10/11- Performance Midterm

10/16- Written Midterm

10/18 and 10/23- P4 and P5. Dotted quarter notes.

10/25 and 10/30- Major key signatures. Transposition. Singing in G major and F
major.

11/1 and 11/6- Parallel and relative keys. Minor key signatures.

11/8 and 11/13- Minor scales and solfege. Sixteenth and dotted eighth notes.
Singing A minor melodies using solfege.

11/15 and 11/20- Augmented and diminished intervals. Interval inversion.
Compound meter. Singing in E minor and D minor.

11/22- No Class. Thanksgiving holiday.

11/27, 11/29 and 12/4- Triads. Singing in D major and B minor. Singing in Bb major
and G minor. Review. Small ensemble performances.

12/6- Musicianship Final

Written Final: Tuesday, December 11, 10:15-12:15