AP Music Theory

Course Title: Advanced Placement Music Theory

Course Description: AP Music Theory is a first-year college-level study in both the art and science of the theoretical structure of music. The course includes the studies of harmony, counterpoint, ear-training and how these disciplines were applied by the master composers in the context of the history of music. The study of the elements of musical composition will incorporate the skills of science, mathematics, logic, languages and the other humanities providing a truly cross-curricular program of study.

Philosophy: The study of music theory at the Advanced Placement level is arguably the most demanding of all the AP classes offered in any discipline. Students who have successfully completed this class have diligently applied themselves to all assigned course work both written and memorization material. Music Theory crosses into many aspects of the various curricula and will require the students to learn and apply higher level thinking and study skills.

Classroom Procedures:

The teacher will present all course work geared specifically to the guidelines set forth in the curriculum established by the College Board and the Cherry Hill Music Standards. Materials studied will apply specifically to the AP Music Theory Examination.

This is a first-year college level class. Class will be conducted in a professional and collegiate manner. There is an expectation of both college level instruction on the part of the teacher and college level work and responsibility on the part of the students. Therefore, students who are absent from class are responsible for missed information and assignments.

Students will be expected to maintain a notebook of class lectures, chapter reading, outlines/notes, assignment, tests, portfolios and other projects throughout the school year. This notebook will be the basis of review to prepare for the AP Music Theory Examination.

Additional help outside of class is scheduled on an as needed basis. Usually this will be scheduled during the Lunch Blocks (which are an assigned teaching time for music faculty).

Standards: Cherry Hill Music Standards used in this course: CH 8.19-25.

Principles of Learning: 1. Organizing for effort

2. Clear Expectations

3. Accountable talk

4. Fair and credible evaluations

5. recognition of accomplishment

6. Socializing intelligence

7. Academic rigor in a thinking curriculum

8. Self-management of learning

9. Learning as an apprenticeship

Evaluation: Student progress and ultimately the final grade for this class will be determined from the following assessments:

Assignments: These will include chapter outlines, written exercises, classroom participation and solfeggio studies.

Portfolio Projects: These will be composition, counterpoint and research projects.

Written Tests.

Revision of work: Any written assignment or test receiving a grade less than 70% will be eligible for revision and re-evaluation after the student has reviewed the material. The written assignment may then be resubmitted or a new test administered. The two grades will then be averaged.

Portfolio assignments already have student revision of work as a component of the assignment. This is shown in detail in each assignment guideline.

Academic Honesty: Faculty and students will abide by the honor code established by Cherry Hill Public Schools.

Texts: Piston W. Harmony 5th edition, WW Norton and Company, 1987

Hindemith P, Elementary Training for Musicians Schott & Co. Ltd., 1946.

Supplemental texts and handouts.