AP Music Theory Course Syllabus Wylie High School

Christina Oaks christina.oaks@wylieisd.net

The Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory course enables highly motivated students to do college level work in
the areas of reading and analyzing notated music and aural training. Particular emphasis will be placed upon
developing listening skills, dictation skills, sight singing ability and knowledge of rhythm, melody, harmony, form
and other compositional devices. The successful student will be endowed with the skills necessary to function
intelligently in musical situations. The work of the course will emphasize preparation for the Advanced Placement
Music Theory examination.

MINOR GRADES 40% (participation, homework assignments, dictations, composition activities, quizzes, etc.)
MAJOR GRADES 60% (tests, major composition projects, etc.)
SEMESTER EXAMS 10% of the final grade

Many of our in-class assignments and homework will be drill and practice types offered to help you master new
skills. These will be graded on a pass/fail type of point system. Other assignments and tests will be standard
assessment style assignments given to measure your level of mastery. These will be graded using a letter grade on a
standard point scale.
LATE WORK - Late work will be accepted up to 1 day after the due date for a maximum grade of 70 out
of 100. Work turned in later than 1 day after the due date will be recorded in the gradebook as a zero.
MAKE-UP WORK - For every school day absent, the student has one school day for completion of
missed assignments. Please note that if you are present in class the day homework is assigned, you MUST
make arrangements to turn the work in early if you expect to be absent on the due date.

RE-DO/RE-TEST - Students have the opportunity to re-do an assignment or re-take a test for which
he/she receives a failing grade (below 70). In order to be eligible for a re-do/re-test, the student must set up
an appointment with the instructor to review the materials to be retaken. The timeframe for completion of
the assignment re-do or test re-take shall be the latter of, three days from the student being informed of the
failing grade or three days from the posting of the grade in the on-line grading system. However, at the end
of a 3 week, 6 week, or 9 week grading period, students must complete any re-do/re-take work by the
Wednesday following the end of the grading period. The maximum grade a student may be awarded on a re-
do or test re-test is 70. Failure to set an appointment and/or meet the timeline will result in the student
receiving the original grade awarded.

Course Description and Objectives
Grading

Class Texts, used by students in addition to teacher-created materials and projects:
Kostka, Stefan, and Payne. Tonal Harmony with an Introduction to Twentieth-Century Music. 5th ed. New York: Knopf, 2004.
Kostka, Stefan, and Payne. Workbook for Tonal Harmony with an Introduction to Twentieth-Century Music. 5th ed. New York:
Knopf, 2004.
McGill, Stan, and Stevens. 90 Days to Sight Reading Success. Houston: AMC Publications, 2003.

Required Materials:
Binder (1.5" or larger recommended)
Dividers labeled in this order:
1. Handouts
2. Ear Training
3. Dictation/Analysis
4. Projects
5. Homework
Spiral-bound Notebook
Staff Paper



This course is designed to prepare you for the AP Music Theory Exam in May. Taking the AP test is highly
recommended. The date of the exam is May 11, 2015.

The AP Exam in Music Theory tests the student's understanding of musical structure and compositional procedures
through recorded and notated examples. Emphasis is given to listening skills, particularly those involving
comprehension of melodic and rhythmic patterns, harmonic functions, small forms, and compositional techniques.
Most of the musical examples are taken from standard repertoire. The examination assumes fluency in reading
musical notation and a strong grounding in music fundamentals, terminology, and analysis.

The AP Music Theory Exam is about three hours long and consists of three sections:
Section I consists of 75 multiple-choice questions, some of which are based on aural stimulus.
Section II consists of 7 written free-response questions and 2 sight-singing exercises.



Tonal Harmony http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072852607/student_view0/

Virtual Keyboard http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/music/piano/

Free Staff Paper http://www.pdfpad.com/staffpaper/

Noteflight - Composition Program www.noteflight.com

MusicTheory.net http://musictheory.net/

Free Scores www.imslp.org

The AP Music Theory Exam
Texts and Required Materials
Links
Course Outline

I. FIRST 9-WEEKS (AUG 25-OCT 24)
Fundamentals of Music
o Grand Staff
o Clefs
o Note identification
o Notation
Rhythm and Meter
o Simple meters and rhythms
o Compound meters and rhythms
o Rhythmic dictation
Key Signatures and Scales
o Order of flats/sharps
o Major scales
o Minor scales
Natural, Harmonic, Melodic
o Relative and Parallel keys
o Modes
Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian
Intervals
o Major, minor, perfect, augmented, diminished
Aural Skills/Ear Training
o Solfege
o Interval identification (melodic and harmonic)
o Melodic dictation in major keys utilizing mainly step-wise motion and simple meter
Chords
o Diatonic chords in major and minor (including 7
th
chords)


II. SECOND 9-WEEKS (OCT 27-JAN 16)
Chords and Inversions
o Roman numerals and lead sheet symbols
Harmonic Progression
Harmonic Analysis
Principles of Voice Leading
o Simple melodies
o Two part compositions
Cadences
Aural Skills/Ear Training
o Minor, Augmented, and diminished intervals
o Melodic dictation in major keys utilizing simple and compound meter
Instrumental Transposition






III. THIRD 9-WEEKS (JAN 20-MAR 27)
Non-harmonic Tones
o Identification and composition
Figured Bass
o part-writing
Harmonizing a Melody
Dominant and Secondary Dominant chords
Aural Skills/Ear Training
o Harmonic Dictation in major and minor keys
Harmonic Analysis
Texture
Form
Score Study

IV. FOURTH 9-WEEKS (MAR 30-JUNE 4)
Leading Tones and Secondary Leading Tones
Harmonizing a melody and part-writing
Practice AP Test
Aural Skills/Ear Training
o Common dictation patterns
o Common sight-singing patterns
Modulation
AP Exam Review
AP Exam - May 11, 2015
20
th
Century Music
Final Composition Project


Please note that depending on the strength of the class, we may move at various speeds during any given nine-
weeks period. The pace taken will be a reflection of how well students demonstrate understanding of AP concepts.

Expect there to be ongoing conceptual, dictation, and singing quizzes, sight-singing exercises, and composition
activites throughout the entire school year. Tests and major composition projects will be announced at least one
week in advance.



Attendance Procedures:
Follow the attendance guidelines of Wylie High School. Tardy students must report to the attendance prior to
arriving to class.

Unexcused Absences:
On the first unexcused absence, the instructor will have a short conference with the student. On the second un-
excused absence the instructor will communicate with the parents/guardian.
----------------RETURN PORTION BELOW BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 29------------
Please turn in the full page.


AP Music TheoryWylie High School

Christina Oaks, Instructor


I have read and understand the guidelines in this course syllabus.


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