MUSC 110 - Music Theory

3 Credits: (3 lecture)

Course Description
Music Theory is an elementary music theory course which addresses its basic elements. It prepares the beginner for more advanced work and enables the student with some experience to review the fundamentals of music theory. An ability to read notation is recommended.

Text
Miller, Michael. Complete Idiot’s Guide to Music Theory. 3rd ed. Penguin Random House, 2016.

Objectives
The student will be able to:

A. Identify scales, keys, and differences in pitch.

B. Recognize triad inversions, principles of voice leading, and connection of I, V, and V7 chords.

C. Distinguish simple intervals and chords through ear training.

D. Take simple melodic dictation.

Content
A. Staff notation

B. Major and minor scales

C. Key signatures

D. Major, minor, augmented and diminished intervals

E. Chords and their inversions

F. Rhythm and meter

G. Introductory sight singing

Student Evaluation
Grades will be based on a combination of quizzes and tests, including a final examination.

Bibliography
Benward, Bruce, and Gary C. White. Music in Theory and Practice. (Vol. 1), (Vol. 2) 5th ed. Madison, WI: Brown and Benchmark, 1992.

Brinson, Barbara. Choral Music, Methods and Materials. Schirmer Books, Simon and Schuster, 1996.

Disbrow, MacWilliam. The Principles of Tonal Music Theory: Fundamentals. Tampa: Mancorp Publishing, 1996.

Harder, Paul O. Harmonic Materials in Tonal Music. Vol. 1, 7th ed. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon, 1994.

Kostka, Stefan and Dorothy Payne. Tonal Harmony with an Introduction to Twentieth Century Music. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1995.

J. Tenney. A History of Consonance and Dissonance. Newark: Gordon and Breach, 1988.

Thomsett, Michael C. Musical Terms, Symbols, and Theory: An Illustrated Dictionary. Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 1989.