Course

Basic Theory II

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
Music
Course code
MUSC 1202
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
25
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Typically offered
Winter

Overview

Course description
Continuation of the study of musical rudiments with an introduction to harmony, form and the basics of song-writing. Course content includes all the components of the theory assessment for placement into MUSC 1110.
Course content

Content will include, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Scales
    • Chromatic scales
    • Modal scales
    • Pentatonic scales
    • Whole tone scales
    • Blues Scales
    • Octatonic Scales
  2. Rhythm
    • Irregular groupings
    • Irregular meters
    • Syncopation
  3. Harmony
    • Triad types, root position and inversions
    • Seventh chords, root position and inversions
    • Traditional nomenclature of chords
    • Simple figured bass
    • Popular chord symbols
    • Chord progression
    • Cadence types
  4. Transposition  
    • by key  
    • by interval
  5. Musical Structure
    • Phrase and cadence
    • Simple binary and ternary forms
    • Song forms including 12-bar blues and 32-bar popular songs
  6. Song writing
    • Writing melodies
    • Writing harmonic progressions
    • Working with form
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 and/or analysis of music.

Means of assessment

The final grade will be based on the following four components:

Drills & Quizzes (minimum of 10) 20%
Assignments (minimum of 2) 10%
Tests (minimum of 4) 50%
Final Examination (including theory assessment) 20%
  100%
Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the successful student should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an expanded working knowledge of the rudiments of music
  2. Analyse simple tonal music
  3. Transpose

Textbook materials

A required text such as the following:

  • Duckworth, William.  A Creative Approach to Music Fundamentals, 10th ed. Boston: Schirmer, 2010.
  • With Music Fundamentals in Action Printed Access Card for Cengage learning website for text.

Requisites

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for MUSC 1202
Athabasca University (AU) AU MUSI 1XX (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU MUS 109 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU MUSI 1XXX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CA 1XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU MUSI 2XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) DOUG MUSC 1202 (3) & DOUG MUSC 1203 (3) = TWU MUSI 226 (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU MUSI 225 (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) No credit
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) No credit
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC MUS 101A (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) Individual Audition Required

Course Offerings

Winter 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
25
Currently enrolled
13
Remaining seats:
12
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N3407
Times:
Start Time
13:30
-
End Time
14:20
Section notes

This course is restricted to students in the Basic Musicianship program.