MUS 113 - Music Theory I

1. Identify and define basic concepts of music fundamentals.
2. Describe and correlate musical scales and key signatures.
3. Identify harmonic and melodic intervals and apply music transposition techniques.
4. Analyze musical examples of first-, second-, and fourth-species counterpoint for two voices.
5. Compose musical examples of first-, second-, and fourth-species counterpoint for two voices.
6. Identify and distinguish between different qualities of triads and seventh chords. 
7. Analyze and compose short chord progressions using tonic, dominant, and dominant-seventh chords.

1. Music Fundamentals [~1–2 weeks]
   1. Notation of pitch
      1. Treble, bass, and C clefs
      2. Pitch names and octave designations
      3. Accidentals
      4. Whole and half steps
      5. Enharmonic pitches
   2. Notation of rhythm
      1. Simple and compound meters
      2. Rhythm values
      3. Syncopation and hemiola
2. Scales and keys [~1–2 weeks]
   1. Major scales
      1. Whole- and half-step pattern
      2. Scale degree names
   2. Key signatures
      1. Order of sharps and flats
      2. Circle of fifths
   3. Minor scales
      1. Natural
      2. Harmonic
      3. Melodic
   4. Relative and parallel keys
   5. Diatonic modes
3. Intervals and transposition [~1–2 weeks]
   1. Interval sizes (simple and compound)
   2. Interval qualities
   3. Interval inversions (complementary intervals)
   4. Methods of transposition
4. Species counterpoint [~3–4 weeks]
   1. Cantus firmus writing
   2. First-species
      1. Types of motion (parallel, similar, contrary, and oblique)
      2. Analysis and performance
      3. Voice-leading rules and guidelines
   3. Second-species
      1. Passing and neighboring tones
      2. Analysis and performance
      3. Voice-leading rules and guidelines
   4. Fourth-species
      1. Suspensions in the upper voice (4–3; 9–8; 7–6)
      2. Suspension in the lower voice (2–3)
      3. Analysis and performance
      4. Voice-leading rules and guidelines
5. Triads and seventh chords [~2–3 weeks]
   1. Triad qualities and construction (major, minor, diminished, and augmented)
   2. Triad inversions and figured bass symbols
   3. Triads in major and minor keys; Roman numerals
   4. Seventh chord qualities and construction (major, dominant, minor, half-diminished, and fully-diminished)
   5. Seventh chord inversions and figured bass symbols
6. Tonic, dominant, and dominant-seventh chords [~2–3 weeks]
   1. Harmonic progression (T–D–T)
   2. Voice-leading in four-part harmony
   3. Cadences (authentic and half)

Facilitated discussion: 50-60%

Mediated instruction (video, computer, etc.): 15-20%

Group work: 5-10%
Mandatory Course Components:

Equivalent Courses:
None