Music Theory - Course Syllabus
Scot Schickel, Instructor, sschickel@pontiac.k12.il.us
844-6113 (W) or 674-2355 (C)
Course Overview
Music Theory I is a full year course giving the student an extensive background in the harmonic materials of
music in the style of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. In addition to studying the fundamentals of music theory
and harmonic materials of music, students will continue to hone their ear training skills in melodic and harmonic
dictation and sight-singing, continue the use of computer technology as available, and study the history of music
of the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods. Much of the work of this course is programmed
individualized instruction, lab-based, or project oriented. This course has a prerequisite of concurrent enrollment
in Band or Chorus.
Course Objectives
A. MUSIC THEORY AND COMPOSITION
After study in the text and through class discussions and supplementary assignments, the student is expected
to understand:
1. The basic fundamentals of music such as, but not limited to, keys, scales, modes, notation, clefs, rhythm, and
chords
2. The analysis and use of nonharmonic tones
3. The analysis and composition of cadence types
4. Harmonic analysis utilizing Roman numerals, macro analysis
5. Harmonic construction of triads and seventh chords in all inversions
6. An introduction to the realization of figured bass symbols
B. EAR TRAINING/SIGHT SINGING/KEYBOARD –
After much drill and study regarding intervals, rhythm, melodies, scales, modes, triads, and harmonic
progressions, the student will be able to:
1. Dictate melodic and harmonic intervals--notating answers and/or analyzing the dictated intervals numerically
and by quality
2. Dictate units of rhythm in varying meters
3. Dictate various simple melodies
4. Identify by sound major, minor, augmented, and diminished triads
5. Identify by sound scales – major, minor (including all forms), modes, whole tone, pentatonic, and octatonic
6. Identify by sound chord progressions in major and minor keys, including inversions and seventh chords
7. Notate the bass and soprano line from a chord progression
8. Demonstrate skill in singing melodies which contain intervals in the dominant and minor tonality in simple
and compound meters
9. Play short excerpts on the piano keyboard of intervals, chords, cadences, and short progressions from
exercises in the texts
Textbooks
Benward & Saker, Bruce & Marilyn. Music in Theory and Practice. 7th edition. Boston:
Allyn & Bacon, 1998. Workbook included.
Benward, Bruce. Ear Training, A Technique for Listening. 7th edition. New York, NY, 2005. Includes web-site
access to audio examples and exercises online.
Kerman, Joseph. Listen. 3rd brief edition. New York: Worth Publishers, 1996.
Ottman, Robert. Music for Sightsinging, 2nd edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1967.
Supplementary Texts
Benjamin, Thomas, Michael Horvit, Robert Nelson. Music for Analysis. Examples from the common-practice
period and the twentieth century. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2001.
Gauldin, Robert. Harmonic Practice in Tonal Music. 2nd ed. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2002. Text,
workbook, CD’s.
Lefkoff, Gerald. Analyzed Examples of Four-Part Harmony. Morgantown, WV: Glyphic Press, 1980.
Spencer, Peter. The Practice of Harmony. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000.
Lab:
Finale Notepad and Finale (theory/ear training drill & computer notation)
Grading
60%
10%
10%
10%
10%
Written Tests & Quizzes
Ear Training Tests & Quizzes, Sight-Singing, and Keyboarding Skills.
Homework Completion
Projects as assigned
Classroom Participation
Course Outline
1st Quarter
Sound & Time
Vibration
Frequency
4 Properties of Sound
Notation of Pitch
2nd Quarter
Scales
Diatonic Scales
Scale Degree Names
Major Scales
Tetrachord
3rd Quarter
Intervals
Perfect, Major and Minor
Consonance and Dissonance
Augmented and Diminished
Enharmonic Intervals
Staves
Clefs
Nomenclature
Accidentals
Intervals
Enharmonics
Whole Steps
Half Steps
Notation of Duration
Ties
Dots
Rhythm
Meter
Time Signatures
Dynamics
Transposition
Key Signatures
Minor Scales
Scale Relationships
Tonality
Pitch Inventory
Transcription Project
"O Magnum Mysterium"
"The Coronation of Poppea"
"Dido and Aeneas"
"Sonata da Chiesa"
Ear Training
Unit 3 Melody A,B,C,D
Rhythm A & B
Ottman 81 thru 145 Odds
Inversions of Intervals
Compound Intervals
Transposition Project
"La Stravanganza"
"Brandenburg Concerto No 5"
"Fugue in C sharp"
"Orchestral suite No 3"
"Rodelinda"
"Messiah"
"Christ lag in Todesbanden"
Ear Training
Unit 4 Melody A,B,C,D
Rhythm A & B
Unit 5 Melody A,B,C,D
Rhythm A & B
Ottman 126 thru 169 odds
Transcription Project
"In Paradisum"
"Columba Aspexit"
"La Dousa Votz"
"Alleluia: Nativitas"
"Quant en Moy"
"Ave Maris Stella"
"Pange Lingua" Mass
"Pope Marcellus"
Mass
"As Vesta…"
"Daphne"
"Kemp's Jig"
Ear Training
Unit 1 Melody A, B, C, D
Rhythm 1A
Unit 2 Melody
A,B,C,D
Rhythm 2A
Ottman 1 thru 80
Odds
4th Quarter
Chords
Harmony
Chords
Triad
Root of the Triad
Major, Minor, Dimished,
Augmented
Triad Stability
Triad Positions
Root Position
First Inversion
Second Inversion
Third Inversion
7th Chords
Roman Numeral Analysis
Figured Bass
Figured Bass Symbols
Harmonic Cadences
Rhythmic Cadences
NonHarmonic Tones
Unaccented and Accented NHT
Suspensions and Resolutions
"Symphony No 40"
"Symphony No 88" All Mvts
"Piano Sonata in B flat"
"Concerto No. 17"
"Concert in G"
"String Quartet in A"
"Don Giovanni"
Ear Training
Unit 6 Melody A,B,D
Rhythm A & B
Unit 7 A,B,D
Rhythm A & B
Ottman 170 - 203
Multimedia Presentation Project
Create a multimedia presentation for parents, other teachers, or students utilizing the
SHRMG music project from the first week of class.
Objectives
 Demonstrate skills with features of presentation and multimedia software
 Develop skills in using images and sounds to reinforce ideas
 Understand considerations for planning a presentation and making choices about which
presentation materials are appropriate.
 Engage students in listening critically to music to discover the use of musical materials by a
composer
Criteria for a Quality Project
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Clear purpose for presentation
Well-organized content
Attractive and consistent design and layout
Use of appropriate graphics
Use of appropriate sound
Readiness for use with an audience
Directions
Clarify to yourself who the audience for the presentation will be. Clarify the purpose of the
presentation and organize your ideas. Think about the size, lighting, and layout of the room for
the presentation and the equipment you may have available.
Required Components
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At least six slides
At least one picture from some source other than PowerPoint clip art
Transition effects, as appropriate
Sound: Using at least one of these sources
1. Playing an audio CD in CD-ROM drive using a custom audio CD which you have burned
yourself
2. A MIDI file
3. A digital WAV file
Speaker’s notes for each slide
 On the Speaker’s notes for the first slide, explain the audience for the presentation, its
purpose, and where the presentation is likely to be given.
Audience Handouts
 Add your name and date and any other pertinent information to the Handouts Master
before you print them.
Optional Components

Save your presentation as HTML and put the folder of the resulting files on the music
department web-site. On the Speaker’s Notes for the first slide, type the URL to your
presentation.
To complete the project:
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Put the following in an envelope labeled with your name and turn it in to the teacher:
 Your printed Notes and Handouts.
 Your custom audio CD which you burned, if you used an audio CD with your sound
source.
 Your original SHRMG for the piece from the first week of the quarter
Put a copy of all your files in your home directory in a folder named “Multimedia project”.
Then put a copy of that folder in the shared file of your teacher, in the folder labeled “Music
Theory”.
Grading:
This project is worth 40 points of your project grade for the first quarter (10% of the quarter grade). It will
be graded in the following categories, using a standard four-point rubric in each category.
4=Exemplary
3=Excellent
2=OK
1=Not present
_____ Demonstrates skill with features of presentation and multimedia software
_____ Uses images and sounds to reinforce ideas.
_____ Considers appropriate use of materials for audience.
_____ Demonstrates a clear purpose for presentation
_____ Content is well-organized and understandable
_____ Attractive and consistent design and layout utilizing
_____ Use of appropriate graphics to enhance learning
_____ Use of appropriate sound
_____ Readiness for use with an audience
_____ Presentation to audience
_____ Total points (40 points)