Heartland Community College
Master Course Syllabus
Division name: HUMANITIES & FINE ARTS
COURSE PREFIX & NUMBER: MUSI 110
COURSE TITLE: Music Theory, Keyboard, and Aural Skills
DATE PREPARED: December 2, 2004
DATE REVISED:
PCS/CIP/ID NO: 1.1 500904 02
IAI NO. : MUS 901
EFFECTIVE DATE OF FIRST CLASS:
CREDIT HOURS: 4
CONTACT HOURS:
LECTURE HOURS: 4
LABORATORY HOURS: 0
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
A beginning course in music theory includes introductory materials in harmony, form,
analysis and compositional methods. This is the first in a four-semester sequence of
courses in music theory for those intending to major in music. The music theory
component includes introductory materials in diatonic and chromatic harmony, form,
analysis and compositional methods. The keyboard component involves the performance
of major and minor scales and harmonization of simple melodies. Aural skills covered in
this course include the sequential development of ear training, sight singing, and
dictation.
TEXTBOOKS:
Kostka, Stefan and Dorothy Payne. Tonal Harmony. Fifth Edition with accompanying set
of CDs. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Kostka, Stefan and Dorothy Payne. Workbook for Tonal Harmony. Fifth Edition. New
York: McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Benjamin, Thomas, Michael Horvit and Robert Nelson. Music for Sight Singing. Fourth
Edition. New York: Schirmer, 2004.
RELATIONSHIP TO ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND
TRANSFERABILITY:
Musi 110 fulfills 4 hours of elective credit for the A. A. and A. S. degree. It should
transfer to most colleges and universities as an elective course. Musi 110 is not part of the
General Education Core Curriculum as described in the Illinois Articulation Initiative.
Musi 110, however, is listed as course MUS 901 in the Music Core courses under the
Illinois Articulation Initiative Recommendations for Illinois Baccalaureate Majors in
Music. Although Musi 110 is recommended for students wishing to major in music in a
Baccalaureate program, students should check with an academic advisor for information
about its transferability to other institutions.
COURSE OBJECTIVES (Learning Outcomes)
After completing this course, the
student should be able to:
Understand musical rudiments and the
technical vocabulary of music theory
(notation of pitch and rhythm; fluent
reading and writing in treble and bass
clef; notation and recognition of simple
and compound intervals; major and
minor scales and keys; and triads and
seventh chords).
Develop competence in basic melodic
analysis (motives, phrase structure, and
harmonic implications of melody).
Understand simple diatonic harmony
(identification of chord function within a
key, recognition of large-scale harmonic
motion and modulation, and competence
in the basic principles of part-writing).
Understand elementary formal issues in
music theory (binary, ternary, rounded
binary, bar, and blues forms).
Develop aural skills in ear training; sight
singing and dictation (melodic and
harmonic interval recognition; triad and
seventh chord recognition; rhythmic and
melodic dictation; and the ability to sing
simple tonal melodies at sight).
Develop competence in basic harmonic
analysis (Roman numeral analysis,
figured bass notation, and pop chord
symbols).
Develop the ability to write antecedent
and consequent phrases, compose
melodies above a ground bass or figured
bass, and compose two or more part in
simple binary form.
Learning
Outcome
Assessment
Daily Assignments,
Quizzes and Exams,
Discussion
Assignments, Quizzes,
Exams, and Discussion
CT2
Assignments, Quizzes,
Exams, and Discussion
Assignments, Quizzes,
Exams, and Discussion
In-class exercises
Quizzes and Exams
CT2
Assignments, Quizzes,
Exams, and Discussion
C5
Composition
Assignments
COURSE/LAB OUTLINE:
Elements of Pitch
Elements of Rhythm
Introduction to Triads and Seventh Chords
Diatonic Chords in Major and Minor Keys
Principles of Voice Leading
Root Position Part Writing
Harmonic Progression
Triads in First Inversion
Triads in Second Inversion
Cadences, Phrases, and Periods
Non-Chord Tones
The Dominant Seventh Chord
Diatonic Seventh Chords
METHOD OF EVALUATION (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Exams and Quizzes
Written Assignments
Class Participation, including exercises and discussion
45%
45%
10%
Final Grades will be determined according to the following scale:
92-100%
83-91%
74-82%
65-73%
Below 65%
=A
=B
=C
=D
=F
REQUIRED WRITING AND READING:
Students will engage in extensive readings (from both the required text and from other
sources), daily written assignments, keyboard and aural skills assignments relevant to
music theory.