Music Theory Syllabus
Johnson Creek High School (2015-2016)
Mr. Jensen
jensenb@johnsoncreekschools.org
920-699-7329
Welcome to Music Theory! This class is designed for students who seek to enrich their
knowledge of music fundamentals. The purpose of this course is for students to develop
skills that will lead to a thorough understanding of music theory and music
composition/arranging.
Required Course Materials:


Assignment Folder
Pencil
Other materials will be provided in class
Grading Policy:
Class Participation
Quizzes
Projects (Composition/Arranging and Analysis)
Unit Exams
Daily Assignments and Homework
10%
10%
15%
25%
40%
Rules and Procedures
Preparation: Be on time with materials to every class. If you are not prepared, this will
affect your participation.
Respect: You can always expect the utmost respect from me and I will always expect the
same in return. Your opinions and ideas are valuable to me. You will be expected to respect
the teacher and your peers when they are speaking or performing.
Grading: You will be given specific assignments, deadlines and procedures for receiving
grades in this course. Assignments will be accepted late, but will be docked 10% for the first
day and 50% after that.
Mobile Devices (Phones, iPods, etc.) Unless we are working on an assignment where I
have asked you to bring in other media, these will not be allowed in the classroom.
Course Outline
This schedule is approximate, as classes may move slower or faster than the schedule
listed below. Students will be given daily assignments to practice writing and reading music
notation. Students will also be assigned internet-based aural training assignments, which are
designed to drill ear training outside of class time. On average, at least one third of each class
meeting will be devoted to ear training on a daily basis.
Unit 1
Written Skills:
Notation systems and guidelines, piano keyboard and ranges, staff and clefs
Assessment:
Exam 1—Music Notation and Fundamentals
Unit 2
Written Skills:
Accidentals, scale degrees, major and minor scales, key signatures, relative and parallel keys, meter,
pulse, beat, tempo
Ear Training:
Rhythms, intervals
Assessment:
Exam 2—Major and Minor Key Signatures, Modes
Unit 3
Written Skills:
Intervals and inversions, compound intervals, simple and compound meter, other meter types
Ear Training:
Basic melodic dictation, intervals
Assessment:
Exam 3—Intervals and Meter Types
Unit 4
Written Skills:
Triads and seventh Chords, Roman numeral analysis
Ear Training:
Scales, melodic dictation, intervals, triads and seventh chords
Assessment:
Exam 4—Triads and Seventh Chords, Chord Progressions
Unit 5
Written Skills:
Chord inversions, introduction to part writing
Ear Training:
Call and response scales, rhythms, melodic dictation, intervals and chords
Assessment:
Exam 5- Chord Inversions, Part Writing Intro
Sites for Practice & Assignments
http://www.gmajormusictheory.org
http://musictheory.net
http://www.hooktheory.com
http://www.teoria.com
Grading Scale:
A 93-100
A- 90-92
B+ 88-89
B 83-87
B- 80-82
C+ 78-79
C 73-77
C- 70-72
D+ 68-69
D 63-67
D- 60-62
I have read through the syllabus and understand the course expectations.
Name (printed) ____________________________________
Student Signature __________________________________
Date _______________
Parent Signature ___________________________________
Date _______________