UNDERGRADUATE THEORY SEQUENCE
For B.M. candidates, the music theory program is a three-year requirement for all students. Entrance into Theory I presumes a firm knowledge of rhythm, meter, scales, intervals, keys, triads, four-note chords and inversions, as demonstrated on a placement test. Entering students who are not strong in this area are encouraged to review their preparatory work during the months prior to the beginning of the Freshman year. Those who are not able to show mastery in these areas will be placed into a special fundamentals review section for which no credit is given, in additional to Theory I. Ear-training and sight-singing classes are closely coordinated with the music theory sections during the first two years of study.
The First Year
|
FALL |
SPRING |
Eartraining |
710.123-124 Ear-Training and Sight-Singing
A basic course in the skills of reading and hearing music, to be taken in conjunction with Theory I. (2-2) |
Keyboard |
710.155-156 Keyboard Studies: Non-piano majors*
A study of basic skills involved in reading, harmonization, transposition, improvisation, and analysis, to be taken in conjunction with Music Theory I. Assignment to sections of varying levels will be based on the student's piano background and determined through audition. (2-2) 覧覧覧覧 or 覧覧覧覧覧 710.157-158 Keyboard Studies: Piano majors *
A study of basic skills involved in sightreading, score reading, figured bass, harmonization, transposition, improvisation, and analysis. (2-2) |
Music Theory |
710.111 Music Theory I**
Introduction to basic principles of tonal music through listening, analysis and composition, in a range of musical styles and idioms. Students work with line, part-writing from figured bass, harmonization, diatonic harmonic function, and two-voice non-imitative counterpoint. They study such musical elements as consonance, dissonance and its treatments, non-chord tones, small formal units, cadence, phrase and period. Sensitivity to the diverse aspects of musical style is cultivated. |
710.112 Music Theory I
Continuation of techniques learned in the first semester, applied to chromatic harmony, including secondary chords, simple modulations, Neapolitan and augmented-sixth chords. Projects in four-voice writing from figured bass and counterpoint in two and three voices are completed, using as models a variety of styles and composers. Students study simple binary, rounded binary and ternary forms, and compose a short work in a tonal idiom. (3-3) |
* Students who are unfamiliar with the keyboard must take Keyboard Rudiments (710.055)
** Students who do not perform successfully on the SACRE placement test must take Music Theory Fundamentals (710.011) |
Music Theory Department Policy stipulates that all courses must be completed with a grade of C- to advance.
The Second Year
|
FALL |
SPRING |
Eartraining |
710.223-224 Ear-Training and Sight-Singing
A continuation of the first year course. (2-2) |
Keyboard |
710.255-256 Keyboard Studies: Non-piano majors
A continuation of 710.155-156 for non-piano majors. Semi-private and small-group lessons; emphasis on form and analysis and basic keyboard skills such as transposition and sight-reading. (2-2) 覧覧覧覧 or 覧覧覧覧覧 530.211-212 Keyboard Skills for Piano Majors I-II
Administered by the Music Theory Department, but actually an Ensemble Arts Course. |
Music Theory |
710.211 Baroque Styles.
Exploration of Baroque style primarily through the imitative works of J.S. Bach and his contemporaries. Building upon techniques learned in the first year, students develop sensitivity to and mastery of contrapuntal technique, through listening, analysis and composition. A variety of musical designs is studied. Students write melodic lines and work in two- and three-voice textures; projects for the semester include a two-voice invention and three-voice fugue. |
710.212 Classical Styles
Students develop a sense of Classical style, exemplified by the works of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, and an understanding of the design principles they employ. Forms studied include larger rounded binary and ternary structures, sonata-allegro, sonata-rondo, rondo and variation, in such genres as piano sonata, string quartet, symphony and concerto. Listening and analysis are stressed, but compositional studies may be included. |
Music Theory Department Policy stipulates that all courses must be completed with a grade of C- to advance.
The Third Year
|
FALL |
SPRING |
Eartraining |
No classes required; electives, particularly in 20th Century topics, are occasionally offered. |
Keyboard |
No classes required for non-majors. 覧覧覧覧 or 覧覧覧覧覧 530.311-312 Keyboard Skills for Piano Majors III-IV
Administered by the Theory Department, but actually an Ensemble Arts Course. |
Music Theory |
710.311 Romantic and Early Twentieth Century Styles
Extension and expansion of harmonic, formal and contrapuntal techniques in music from the mid-nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. New techniques of chord construction, progression, modulation and formal design are studied. Composers studied may include Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Wagner, early Schoenberg and, time permitting, Debussy and Ravel. A variety of genres and media are included in the works studied, through listening, analysis and, in some cases, composition. |
710.312 Twentieth Century Styles
A study of the newer formal, contrapuntal and harmonic techniques of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, through listening, analysis and writing. A wide variety of styles and techniques are covered, as well as new analytical approaches, as appropriate to these repertoires. Students develop heightened appreciation and understanding of our century's musical languages, both in their innovations and in relationship to the musical past. |
Students who successfully complete Music Theory III may take graduate Music Theory seminars with the permission of the professor.
