MUSC& 141 - MUSIC THEORY I

5 Credits

The first quarter of a sequential study of the fundamentals of diatonic music. Topics include musical notation, clefs, tonality, scales, modes, intervals and their inversions, triads and their inversions, simple cadential formulae, and First Species of 16th Century Counterpoint. Sight-sing basic vocal parts with correct pitch and rhythm. Train the ear to identify and notate intervals, chords and their inversions, rhythms, melodies, and major/minor scales.

Fees

Quarters Typically Offered

Designed to Serve Students transferring to baccalaureate institutions and/or needing Humanities Area II distribution credits. The music major or music minor as well as any student with a stronger than average interest in music.
Active Date 2016-06-13

Grading Basis Decimal Grade
Class Limit 30
Contact Hours: Lecture 55 Lab 0 Field Studies 0 Clinical 0 Independent Studies 0
Total Contact Hours 55
Degree Distributions:
AA

Humanities Area II

Course Outline
THEORY
Fundamentals of music.
Musical Notation
Scales, modes, and the Western system of tonality
Intervals and their inversions
Tertian harmony: triads and their inversion
Simple cadential formulae
First Species of 16th Century Counterpoint
EAR TRAINING
Pitches notation: Introduction to basic notation in treble and bass clefs; naturals, sharps, flats; basic musical notation
rules and conventions.
Rhythm: Simple and compound meters; basic rhythmic notation.
Intervals: Introduction to simple intervals (2nds, 3rds, Perfect unisons, 4ths, 5ths, and octaves).
Scales: Major and minor scale constructions and key signatures.
Sight-singing: Introduction to solfege and development of skills in simple keys.
Aural skills: Simple tonal pattern identification in notation; basic intervallic identification.
Rhythm skills: Tapping and notation of simple rhythmic patterns.

Student Learning Outcomes
Demonstrate proficiency with the notational practices of Western tonal music.

Demonstrate proficiency with the structural elements of the Western system of tonality.

Write and/or identify all pitch class intervals and their inversions.

Write and/or identify the four types of triads and their inversions.

Write and/or identify simple cadential formulae.

Write and analyze First Species 16th Century Counterpoint

Sight-sing simple melodies, perform rhythms

Transcribe Intervals, simple major and minor tonal melodies, rhythmic patterns