Basic Theory I

Curriculum guideline

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Course
MUSC 1102
Discontinued
No
Course code
MUSC 1102
Descriptive
Basic Theory I
Department
Music
Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
Yes
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
25
Contact hours
4 hours per week
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Learning activities

Lectures will include explanation of concept by the instructor and practice of the concept by the student in the form of written exercises.

Course description
An introduction to the rudiments of music theory. No previous knowledge of music is required. Open to all students, but priority will be given to full-time Basic Musicianship Program students.
Course content
  1. Pitch Notation
    • The staff, the grand staff
    • Treble and Bass clefs
    • Notes
    • Ledger lines
    • Pitch and the Keyboard
    • Octave registers, 8va, 8vb
    • Accidentals
    • Tones and Semitones
    • Enharmonic Equivalents
  2. Time Notation
    • Note values
    • Dots
    • Stems, flags, beams
    • Ties
    • Rests
  3. Meter
    • Simple meters
    • Compound meters
    • Anacrusis
    • Guidelines for rhythmic notation
  4. Tonality
    • Tonal centre
    • Major scales, key signatures
    • Relationship of major and minor keys (relative, parallel)
    • Minor scales, key signatures
    • Natural, harmonic and melodic forms of minor scale
    • Circle of fifths
    • Scale degrees
  5. Intervals
    • Numerical value
    • Quality
    • Inversion
    • Melodic and harmonic
  6. Basic Performance Indications
    • Tempo, changes in tempo
    • Dynamics, changes in dynamic
    • Expressive indications
    • Articulation
Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the successful student should be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of the basic rudiments of music.

Means of assessment
Speed Drills (minimum of 10) 10%
Homework checks 5%
Quizzes (minimum of 10) 30%
Tests (minimum of 2) 10%
Assignments (minimum of 2) 10%
Midterm Exam 15%
Final Examination 20%
  100%
Textbook materials

A required text, such as the current edition of:

Henry, Earl, Jennifer Snodgrass, and Susan Piagentini. Fundamentals of Music: Rudiments, Musicianship, and Composition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Corequisites

MUSC 1103 or MUSC 1104

Which prerequisite

MUSC 1202