Music Theory I Syllabus

Revision date: January 16, 2006

Music and Humanities Department

San Antonio College / 1300 San Pedro Ave. / San Antonio, TX 78212-4299

Course number and title: MUSI 1211. Theory of Music I.

Credit Hours: 2 Hrs/wk lec.: 2 Hrs/wk lab: 1 Lec/Lab: 2/1

Office: McAllister Fine Arts Building, Room 105 Phone (210) 733-2731 Fax (210) 733-2985

Web Address: www.accd.edu/sac/music

I. Catalog Description

MUSI 1211. Theory of Music I.

Prerequisite: MUSI 1301 with a grade of A or B, or meet departmental criteria, and concurrent enrollment in MUSI 1216 and MUSI 1114.

MUSI 1211 is the freshman-level theory course for music majors and other students desiring to learn the fundamentals of music composition. The course is a study of rudiments, melody, chord progressions, two-, three- and four-part writing, and keyboard harmony.

II. Pre-requisites, co-requisites and other requirements

A. A prerequisite for this course is MUSI 1301, Introduction to Music Theory. The department or the instructor may waive this requirement when a student demonstrates a thorough knowledge of major and minor scales, key signatures, and intervals through the successful completion of a theory placement test.

B. Concurrent enrollment in the companion courses to Music Theory I, MUSI 1216 (Aural Skills I) and MUSI 1114 (Functional Keyboard I), is required.

C. In order for the student to register for the next level of Music Theory (MUSI 1212) in ensuing semesters, a “productive grade” (C or higher) must be made in this course and in the companion courses (MUSI 1216 and MUSI 1114).

III. Text and other materials students are required to provide

A. Kostka/Payne. Tonal Harmony with an Introduction to Twentieth-Century Music, Fifth Edition. McGraw Hill, New York, NY.

B. Kostka/Payne. Workbook for Tonal Harmony with an Introduction to Twentieth-Century Music, Fifth Edition. McGraw Hill, New York, NY.

C. No. 2 pencils and blank staff paper.

IV. Instruction will consist of:

A. Lecture and demonstration

B. Analysis of music literature from the Acommon practice period@

C. Class discussion

D. In-class written exercises; feedback and discussion

E. Quizzes and assignments; feedback and discussion

V. Course Content

This course covers the fundamentals of Western music to include pitch notation, major scales and key signatures, minor scales and key signatures, simple and compound meter, triads and seventh chords, diatonic chords in major and minor keys, principles of voice leading, root position part writing, and chord selection in harmonic progression.

VI. Learning Outcomes and Performance Objectives with their methods of measurement as used to determine the students’ mastery of those outcomes.

Learning Outcomes

Students will be fluent in major and minor keys and simple and compound meter, comfortable analyzing diatonic triads and seventh chords and able to begin writing in three and four voices with consideration to voice leading and idiomatic chord progression common to the era 1650 to 1900 in Western music.

Performance Objectives:

By the end of the semester, students will be able to:

A. identify or write any triad or seventh chord from a given root, third, fifth, or seventh.

B. analyze any diatonic triad or seventh chord in tonal music of the 17^th through the 19^th centuries by function and inversion.

C. utilize root position and first inversion triads, employ voice leading techniques typical of music in the Acommon practice period@ in three- and four-voice compositions.

D. compose a phrase which will demonstrate an understanding of chord flow as it relates to a harmonic goal.

Methods of Measurement: Students will have achieved mastery of Learning Outcomes with at least a 70% for the final grade in order to advance to MUSI 1212:

· Regular homework, assessed by the instructor and provided with a grade;

· In the classroom, discussion, Q & A, group and individual participation supervised by the instructor and factored into the students’ final grade;

· Regular quizzes, assessed by the instructor and provided with a grade;

· Five unit exams, each worth 10% of the students’ final grade and totaling 50% of the students’ final grade, assessed by the instructor;

· A comprehensive (“capstone”) Final Exam, worth 20% of the students’ final grade.

VII. Course Requirements and Grade Computation

A. College Requirements

A written, comprehensive final examination, not to exceed two and one-half hours in length, shall be given at the end of each semester for each course at the regularly scheduled time. Any exceptions to these requirements must be approved by the appropriate dean. Other examinations are given at the discretion of the instructor.

A student who must be absent from a final examination should petition that instructor for permission to postpone the examination. A student absent without permission from a final examination is graded “F.” Postponed examinations result in a grade of “I.” The final exam must be taken within 120 calendar days from the end of the semester or the grade automatically becomes an “F.” (San Antonio College Bulletin, Faculty Handbook - January 1995)

B. Departmental Requirements

Retention Means Completing the Course

The faculty members of the Music/Humanities department are committed to your successful completion of our classes without lowering the college’s academic standards. As a department, we have set a goal to increase the number of students who finish our classes with a performance grade (A, B, C, or D). As faculty (and former college students), we have discussed the many pressures (work, financial, family) that our students must face. Certainly, some of these issues are beyond your control. However, there may be something that can be done that would make the difference in whether you complete the course. If we are made aware of circumstances that impact your participation in class, we can be of assistance. Although this syllabus is full of requirements and policies, we are not inflexible. Please do not stop coming to class or drop the class without first talking to the instructor. Dropping a course should be your last step. Be aware that dropping may impact your grade point average, financial aid, and health insurance policies (some require you to be a full time 12 hour student). As experienced instructors, there may be options that we can point out that have not occurred to you. We are here to help you, but you must be willing to help yourself. Do not wait until the end of the semester to ask for advice. Your success matters to your instructor and it is a top priority in the department.

C. Instructor Requirements

(Customized by each instructor – see Faculty web page, then select Course

Information)

VIII. College Policies

A. San Antonio College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability with respect to access, employment programs or services.

B. Students are urged not to bring children to either a class or a lab. Minors under the age of twelve (12) must not be left unattended on campus. College Academic Council - April, 1998

C. ADA Statement: “As per Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, if accommodation is needed contact the Office of DisABILITY Support Services, CAC 124C, Phone: (210) 733-2347.

D. A Rapid Response Team exists for the purpose of responding to emergencies. If you have a disability that will require assistance in the event of a building evacuation, notify Disability Support Services, Chance Academic Center 124C, Phone: (210) 733-2347.

E. Academic Dishonesty: Students may be subject to disciplinary proceedings resulting

in an academic penalty or disciplinary penalty for academic dishonesty. Academic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism and collusion. For additional information refer to the “Student Code of Conduct” in the San Antonio College Bulletin.

F. Students are required to silence all electronic devices (e.g., pagers, cellular phones, etc.) when in classrooms, laboratories and the library. College Academic Council, 01/2000.

G. San Antonio College Attendance Policy: Regular and punctual attendance at all classes and laboratories, day and/or evening, is required. A student absent for any reason is responsible for all work missed. Both tardiness and early departure from class are forms of absenteeism. The instructor establishes the policy with regard to each. Absences of each student are recorded without exception. The counting of absences begins on the first day of class. A student absent the equivalent of two weeks of instruction in a 16-week semester may be dropped by the instructor. If a student is dropped from a class for excessive absences, the instructor will record a grade of “W” (withdraw). It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the withdrawals have been submitted.

H. San Antonio College is a smoke free campus.

I. ACCD DPS Emergency Phone Numbers:

ACCD DPS Emergency Phone (210) 222-0911

ACCD DPS General Phone (210) 208-8099

ACCD DPS Weather Phone (210) 208-8189 (for information on college closures)

J. Students must also abide by the policies, procedures, and rules set forth in the

“Student Code of Conduct” and all other policies set forth in the San Antonio College Bulletin. www.accd.edu/sac/sacmain/schedule/SAC_Bulletin_05-06.pdf