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
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Contact hours

Lecture: 4 hours per week

Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Learning activities

Classes will include explanation and demonstration of concepts by the instructor and practice of the concepts by the student in the form of written, verbal, individual and group activities.

Course description
This course is a progressive 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 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
    • Scale degrees
    • Relative and parallel key relationships
    • Minor scales, key signatures
    • Natural, harmonic, and melodic forms of minor scale
    • Circle of fifths
  5. Intervals
    • Numerical value
    • Quality
    • Inversion
    • Melodic and harmonic
  6. Triads
    • Basic chord terminology (i.e. root, third, fifth, doubling, open, closed)
    • Tonic and dominant triads in major keys
      • Roman numeral labels for I and V
  7. Basic Performance Indications
    • Tempo, changes in tempo
    • Dynamics, changes in dynamic
    • Expressive indications
    • Articulation
Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • identify visual elements of the modern staff notation system;
  • reproduce musical elements in writing;
  • demonstrate a working knowledge of music rudiments, as outlined in the Course Content;
  • participate constructively in the college classroom. 
Means of assessment

 

Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in a course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation must be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.

The following is a sample grades breakdown:

  

Homework / small assignments (no individual grade weighted at more than 2%)  

 15%
Quizzes, Speed Drills, In-class Activities (minimum of 10) 30%
Tests (4 tests, top 3 grades recorded @ 10% each) 30%
Final Examination 20%
Class Participation   5%
TOTAL 

 

100%

 
Textbook materials

A required text and/or digital resource may be assigned by the instructor. 

Text example:

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

Digital resource example: 

Student subscription to Artusi Music (www.artusimusic.com)

 

Prerequisites

Completion of MUSC Placement Assessment (Literacy)

Corequisites

MUSC 1103 or MUSC 1104

Which prerequisite

MUSC 1202