Major Concepts/Content: The music theory course is designed to introduce students to the study of theory and composition. The content includes, but is not limited to, the following concepts: tonality-major and minor; solfeggio; aural dictation and ear-training; analyzation of music scores and forms; two- and four-part writing; major, minor, diminished, and augmented choral construction and use in harmonic progressions; original compositions; metric and rhythmic construction; rudiments of counterpoint; and musical forms and genres. 

Major Instructional Activities: Instrumental activities in theory and composition will include, but will not be limited in scope to, sight-reading vocal and instrumental scores; analyzing melodic, rhythmic and harmonic components of musical compositions; sight-singing notation with solfeggio; writing correct construction and resolution of chords; writing major and minor key modulations; writing two- and four-part exercises using rules of harmony; writing original compositions; and playing and composing electronic music. 

Major Evaluative Techniques: Students will be required to pass written and oral examinations in part-writing, aural dictation, sight-reading, analyzation, and original composition. 

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the music theory course, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of all rhythmic concepts.
• Demonstrate understanding of tonality, major and minor.
• Sight-sing two- to four-pan music.
• Take dictation rhythmically, melodically, and harmonically.
• Construct all triads: major, minor, diminished, and augmented.
• Continue stress on ear development.
• Create original composition using all musical components.

Last Revised: July 19, 2005