Hello Music Theorists!

Welcome to AP Music Theory.  You will be receiving three textbooks:
1.  The Musician's Guide to Theory and Analysis, 3rd Ed. (textbook)
2.  The Musician's Guide to Aural Skills, 3rd Ed. (Sight-Singing)
3.  The Musician's Guide:  Workbook and Ear Training

This class is a detailed analysis of Aural and Written music. There will be singing and composing, as well!

Your first assignment is to send a quick email to chattahoocheeorchestra@gmail.com and tell me...

1.  Your name
2.  What instrument(s) you play and your level of mastery (how many years?)
3.  What career path you are interested in
4.  Why did you choose this class?
5.  Anything that will help me get to know you better! 
6.  Watch this (and listen to the harmonies):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLm07s8fnzM 

COMPOSITION:  Nursery Rhyme Melody
Simple Songwriting 101:

1. Draw a nursery rhyme from the hat.
2. Say the nursery rhyme silently to yourself at least three times
3. Say it out loud with your partner. Do it a number of times until you settle on the rhythms.
4. Figure out if you are chanting in Simple (subdivision by two) or Compound (subdivision by three) meter.
5. Underline the syllables that are accented.  These are downbeats.  From this you can figure out if your nursery rhyme is in duple, triple, or quadruple meter.

CHECKPOINT 1:  Come see me to determine if your meter is accurate.

1. Look at the accented syllables again.  If there is a word before the underlined syllable, it is probably a pick-up (anacrusis).  Remember to subtract this amount from the previous beat (probably the last word of the last phrase).
2. Notate the rhythm of the nursery rhyme.

CHECKPOINT 2:  Come see me to confirm the accuracy of your rhythms before you start composing the melody.

1.  Compose the melody
   1. Start on Tonic
   2. End on Tonic (On a strong beat)
   3. Use primarily conjunct motion
2. Notate the rhythm of the nursery rhyme with the lyrics underneath. For a more polished look, try one of these free notation software websites:
   1. www.finalemusic.com/products/notepad/
   2. www.noteflight.com/
   3. https://musescore.org/
3. Practice your Performance many times.  You can sing with or without accompaniment. 
4. Have fun! 

This week we are working on Major and Minor Key Signatures and Scales.
Our study of Intervals will begin on Wednesday, August 29 and continue until Wednesday, September 5th.

Upcoming Tests:
1.  Sight Singing Test:  #16-19 is Due on Thursday, August 30th at Midnight.  Submit your recording to chattahoocheeorchestra@gmail.com.  Please state your name and the number you are singing.  You may choose any from the list.

2.  There will be an Interval Quiz on Wednesday, August 29th.

3.  The first big test (Chapter 1: Scales, Keys, and Intervals) will be Friday, September 7th.


Remember that Music Theory is a Spiral Curriculum!  Just like math, we build on previous information!  Please ask if you start to get confused!
AP Theory:  August 25-29th8/24/2014
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This week we are covering the following GA Standards:


1.  Major and Minor Key Signatures and Forms of Scales
2.  The tonal relationship between key areas or Tonal Centers.
3.  Sight-Singing and Melodic Dictation.


You will need to be able to define the following tonal relationships. 
1.  Relative Keys:  Keys that have the same pitches (key Signature) but different tonic.  (F and d)
2.  Parallel Keys:  Keys that share a tonic, but have different key signatures.  (A and a)
3.  Enharmonic Equivalent Keys:  Keys that have a tonic that is Enharmonic (F# and Gb)
4.  Closely Related Keys:  Keys that are within ONE accidental of each other.  (C, a, G, e, F, d)
5.  Foreign Keys:  Keys that are NOT Closely Related.  (D, E)


Be able to notate Major scales and the three forms of minor scales:  natural, melodic, and harmonic, both with and without accidentals, as well as correctly define key signatures in Major and minor modes and their relationship to each other.


Major Scale:  Half steps between 3/4 and 7/8
Natural Minor Scale:  Half steps between 2/3 and 5/6  (Matches the Key Signature)
Harmonic Minor Scale:  Half steps between 2/3, 5/6 and 7/8.  (It is a natural minor scale with a raised            7th scale degree.
Melodic Minor Scale:  Half steps between 2/3 and 7/8.  (It is a natural minor scale with raised 6th and            7th scale degrees and then use the natural minor on the descent.)

This week we are learning how to construct a simple melody.
a.  Mostly it needs to be conjunct
b.  It needs a high point and a low point
c.  It should begin and end on tonic
d.  All melody tones that fall on a strong beat should be a chord tone of the supporting harmonic structure

We are also learning how to compose a simple counterpoint line against a given melody
a.  Use only consonances:  m3, M3, m6, M6, P1, P5, P8
          Perfect intervals need to be approached by contrary motion and cannot appear with too many in succession
b.  Avoid all dissonant harmonies.  Forbidden intervals are m2, M2, P4, m7, and M7 and ALL Augmented and Diminished intervals
c.  Always start with tonic in the lower voice and end with tonic in the upper voice


Sight-Singing Test THIS FRIDAY!!!