Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY
Kutztown, Pennsylvania
MUS 020
BASIC CONCEPTS AND SKILLS OF MUSIC
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Designed for students with little or no prior musical experience, this course provides basic
knowledge concerning the structure of music, i.e., melody, rhythm, form, harmony, and texture. Along
with an orientation to the keyboard, students are introduced to reading, writing, simple sight singing,
rhythms, and aural perception.
Three semester hours
COURSE RATIONALE
Many individuals have a personal desire to learn to read, write, and understand music and its
structure. Some individuals wish to increase their knowledge in order to pursue music as an avocation,
while others lack an adequate preparation for advanced study. Those wishing to become knowledgeable
listeners will gain aesthetic insights regarding musical judgments and values.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course the student should be able:
1. To explain the bases of western music theory.
2. To perform basic rhythmic patterns and melodies at sight.
3. To identify primary chord progressions.
4. To harmonize melodies with primary chords.
5. To read and write rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic notation.
6. To analyze the rhythm, melody, form, and harmony of folk songs and other
brief compositions.
7. To understand expressive musical terminology.
COURSE OUTLINE
I. Melody
A. Pitches, intervals, notation, scales
B. The Grand Staff, the keyboard
II. Rhythm
A. Meters, patterns, notation, syncopation
B. Basic conducting patterns
III. Harmony
A. Key signatures, intervals, primary chords, major/minor qualities, and basic
harmonizing
B. Secondary chords, augmented and diminished chords
IV. Expressive terminology and devices: dynamics and tempi
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS
Students will be expected to read and study the class textbook. The following assignments will
be required:
1. Construction of scales and chords of varied modes
2. Aural skills: identification of rhythms and melodies; identification of chords
3. Notation skills: transcribing sounds into musical symbols
4. Musical problem solving from given melodies, harmonies, intervals, and
rhythms
5. Creative projects within predetermined guidelines
ASSESSMENT
The basis for grading will include:
1. Periodical written tests and quizzes
2. Work sheets for development of skills
3. A final comprehensive exam
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
Bairstow, E.C. Counterpoint and Harmony. New York: Macmillan, 1949.
Bockman, G. Alan. Perceiving Music. New York: Harcourt,
Macmillan,
1949.
Brace & World, 1962.
Brye, Joseph. Basic Principles of Music Theory. New York: Ronald Press Company,
1965.
Castellini, John Edward. Rudiments of Music. New York: W.W. Norton, 1962.
Clendenin, William R. Music History and Theory. Garden City, New York: Doubleday,
Cogan, Robert D. Sonic Design, The Nature of Sound and Music. Englewood Cliffs,
Hall, 1976.
1965.
NJ: Prentice-
Cage, Nina B. General Music Theory & Practical Dictionary. Pro Arts, 1957.
Etler, Alvin D. Making Music: An Introduction to Theory. New York: Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich, 1974.
Feldstein, Sandy. Practical Theory. Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Publishing Company, 1995.
Gretz, Ronald. Music Language and Fundamentals. Dubuque, IA: Wm. C. Brown
1990.
Publishers,
Harder, Paul O. Basic Materials in Music Theory. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc., 1990.
Kolosick, Timothy. Explorations: a new approach to Music Fundamentals using the
Mountain View, California: Mayfield Publishing Co., 1991.
Macintosh.
Lynn, Theodore A. Introductory Musicianship, A Workbook. (Fourth Edition). Orlando,
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers, 1992.
Florida:
Murphy, Howard A. Teaching Musicianship: A Manual of Methods & Materials. New York:
Coleman-Ross Co., 1950.
Orrey, Leslie. Music at the Keyboard. London: G. Bell & Sons, Ltd., 1965.
Reed, Herbert Owen. Basic Music; a basic theory text with correlated ear training and
exercises. New York: Mills Music Inc., 1954.
Salzer, Felix. Structural Hearing; Tonal
keyboard
coherence in music. New York: C Boni, 1952.
Woodhouse, Frederick Erwin. The Art and Theory of Music; an introduction for
teachers and listeners. New York: Pitman Pub. Corp., 1958.
students,
Worthing, Michelle. Elements of Music. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers,
1989.
Yudkin, Jeremy. Understanding Music. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1995.
Updated 4/97
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