    
Theory I
|
|
|
|
MM
 | Note: This is an organic document! It will change. You are responsible for what is on this page, not a copy you made at the beginning of the semester. | | The dates given in the right column are the due dates, not the day we will work on assignments in class. If there is ever a problem with an assignment (technology problem, don't understand it, can't find it, etc.) do not wait until the due date (or time) to explain your problem. |
Notes: I will not accept assignments done in ink. Why use pencil? Be prepared to write in your theory workbook and ear-training book. These books are not meant to be resold. I will not accept assignments from these books which are copied onto staff paper. Write your name in your books. If something is not clear to you, ASK ME. My schedule is on my door (122) or email me at vjohnson@tarleton.edu Please read this.
| Download links Flash Finale Notepad Free! Note: The academic price for Finale is $350 (retail is $600); have seen it elsewhere for $250 Compare Features |
|
Week 1 (beginning January 14) Explanation of clickers  | Overtone series |
Overtone series and tuning More than you want to know about tuning Harmonic series overview Definitions: pitch note music score | Notation history |
Musical notation can be understood as a set of instructions indicating to the performer how the composer wished the music to sound. How it all began
Origin of Music Notation | Staff, clefs |
Staff/Clefs Medieval example Here is a very modern example of the same thing! Clefs Combined to Illustrate Spatial Relationship | Octave identification |
Octave Designations Octave Designations | Notation basics |
stem direction and length beams according to beat adjacent notes dot placement Notation Basics Print this for your reference
| Names of scale degrees Scale degrees Exercise: Board work - clefs, notes, accidentals, etc. Auralia instructions before working with the program |
| Assignments Due: | Wed | Put this webpage link on your desktop On the top of this page, File - Send - Shortcut to desktop | | Wed | Set email preferences in Blackboard | | | | Blackboard setup Set your Blackboard email to forward to the email address you check most often. This is very important for timely communication! Here are the instructions: In Blackboard, click on your name in the upper right purple portion of the screen. Select "Personal Information" and then "Edit Personal Information" In the "Email" blank, provide the email address you check most often and click "Submit" This will alert you when I send out an announcement to the entire class.
|
| Thu | Solfege song Have a song (and a couple of back-ups) ready to lead with solfege syllables and handsigns. Refer to this list for ideas. Song List Animated hand signs to follow | | Fri | Clicker class key Theory I 9am: F74234J247 Theory I 10am: H74235F334 | | | | Clicker registration | | Fri | Print Notation Basics Read it and be familiar with guidelines for notation | | | | |
Missing class 
Learn to articulate Get the "like" out |
Week 2 (beginning January 21) | Major scales and keys |
Major scales | Minor scales and keys |
Minor scales Key Signature Practice Flashcards | Circle of 5ths |
Blank Circle of Fifths | Parallel and relative minor |
Key Trainer Note name and Key signature proficiency drill on Wednesday in piano lab; set up for Aurelia Note name game Key Signature Game
Exercise: Practice finding 'do' in random songs Tonic Recognition and Name the Scale Degree 
| Assignments Due: | Tues | Print a copy of Solfege Daily Routine This is a Finale file and must be printed on a computer that has this program. Print it in the computer lab if you don't have it on your computer. Change the view to "Page View" before printing for proper formatting. | | Wed | Quiz#1 Scale degrees Octave designation | | Fri | Assignment #1 Print 2 copies of this Blank Circle of Fifths Bring them to class on Friday for an explanation of your assignment. | | Fri | Computer Lab #1 Interval recognition: 2nds and 3rds Aurelia instructions: Do NOT use the same info as you did in Fundamentals 1. Last name, First name (use a space after the comma) 2. Choose "Theory I" as your class 3. Write your password in your book 4. Do not re-register |
from A Musical Grammar (1679) by Nikolay Diletsky |
Week 3 (beginning January 28) | More scales |
Pentatonic Scale Chromatic Scale Whole Tone Scale Blues Scale Octatonic Scale Scales that aren't major or minor Exercise: Pitch inventory and scale identification
| Modes |
Intro to modes video Modes: Explanation and audio examples Modes Review Modes with Scorch files Modes Made Easy "I Don't Particularly Like Modes A Lot" Exercise: board work: construct modes on given pitches
Scale Trainer Practice sheets: Major scales Minor scales ModesA ModesB | Assignments Due: | Tue | Turn in articulated explanation of the pattern of Solfege Daily Routine #4 | | Wed | Quiz #2 Modes (names and color tones) | | Fri | Computer Lab #2 Scale recognition: Major, Natural minor, Harmonic minor, Melodic minor | 
|
|
Week 4 (beginning February 4) 
| Intervals |
Interval Basics Diatonic interval speed drill Major scale method of interval identification Intervals calculated by half steps Avoiding enharmonic mistakes Interval drill Interval inversions Exercise: Interval ID Interval Trainer Interval game Dim and Aug Interval Drill Music Memory Devices Interval examples in real music | Assignments Due: Check Note name and Key signature Proficiency for your name! Check grade book for computer lab grades. Are you doing your computer labs?? |
Week 5 (beginning February 11) TMEA Feb 13-16: no class on Thurs or Fri | Rhythm |
Simple and Compound Meter Simple and Compound Meter Flash Exercise: Group work - Score excerpts for meter ID Board work: Meter drills 
Four quarter notes worth of music fit into each measure Conducting basics Duple/Triple/Simple/Compound Meters Listening Examples Meter and Beaming Earth Angel Locomotion Mr. Bojangles Scotch and Soda
Conducting practice Meters in 3: Nickel Creek Sweet Afton PeeWee King Tennessee Waltz Richard Rodgers Oh What a Beautiful Morning | Assignments Due: 
|
Week 6 (beginning February 18) Chords Count in 3rds - practice naming letters in triad form How to build a chord Triad Trainer Diatonic triads Triad inversions Practice building chords at the board Excercise: Triad identification Spell It In Thirds Worksheet Chord Identification 7th Chord Inversions Roman Numeral analysis 4 Types of Triads/Inversions/Figured Bass Reminder: Figured bass and chord types Voicing chords
Intro to Do/Ti in identifying I, IV, and V chords | Assignments Due: |
Week 7 (beginning February 25) Review for MidTerm Exam with Practice Test (Monday) MidTerm Exam Thursday Lead sheet symbols Exercise: using 'Spell it in Thirds' worksheet, random student name the chord and type (work for speed) Exercise: practice I, IV, V chord progressions (in lab if necessary) Nonharmonic tones flash demo Nonharmonic tones listed in a table according to movement Quick Facts Sheet Copy this for your reference Notice that definition for IAC is incorrect Group work: demonstrate nonharmonic tones using human characters | Assignments Due: | Mon | Practice Test If you make a 95 or above on the practice test, you do not have to take the mid-term | | Thu | MidTerm Exam | | Fri | Assignment #6 Spell It in Thirds Worksheet | | Fri | Computer Lab #6 Chord progressions:I, IV, V Note: In this exercise, you will hear 2 chords first (V, I) for tonicization before the exercise begins. In other words, the first 2 chords are NOT part of the answer! Note #2: This is a difficult one for some students. Give yourself PLENTY of time to complete it. | | | | |
|
Week 8 (beginning March 4)
Monday Go over MidTerm Exam Demonstration of non-harmonic tones (charades) Melodic Organization Benward p. 119 (doc cam) Motive Sequence Phrase Period
Try writing a consequent phrase to one of the following antecedents from this link Phrases and cadences Phrases and cadences Phrases and cadences II Authentic and Deceptive Cadences | Assignments Due: | Tues | ET Exam #2/ SS Exam #2 | | Wed | Groups demonstrate nonharmonic tones | | Thur | SS Exam #2 continued |
| Fri | Send me a melody Choose a song that contains an excellent melody (not 'lyric-driven') Attach the mp3 to an email and send to vjohnson@tarleton.edu by 8:30am |
| Fri | Quiz #4: Nonharmonic tones and cadences Nonharmonic tones | | Fri | Computer Lab #7 Interval recognition: all major intervals | | | | |
|
SPRING BREAK  Something to think about over the break: Don't be upset by the results you didn't get with the work you didn't do |
Week 9 (beginning March 18) Melody Melodies: Song List Melody Overview Melodic Principles Scroll halfway for example of good and bad Principles of Voice-leading How to Write a Bad Melody Introduction to Finale (in 118) Go through Finale in lab (self-paced) QuickStart Videos: Simple Note Entry Finale Page Monday: links above plus Finale demo Tuesday: in computer lab Wednesday: review Composition requirements and Finale page Friday: critique of melody compositions | Assignments Due: | Tue | Composition first draft Bring to class a first draft of your melody, written on staff paper ready to transcribe to Finale. Melodies must be complete. You will receive a grade for this. | | Tue | Video Before class, watch the Simple Note Entry video under QuickStart Videos The more of these videos you watch, the better prepared you will be to use Finale in the lab | | Fri | Computer Lab #8 Pitch dictation | | Fri | Composition #1 Please follow the instructions for this assignment that are listed on this Composition link |
Interval Review Piano |
Week 10 (beginning March 25) Mon/Wed continue melody composition critiques Harmonic progressions Circle progressions Harmonic Analysis Analysis #1 Harmonic Analysis Practice sheet copy for Assignment #7 | Assignments Due: | | | | | Fri | Computer Lab #9 Rhythm dictation Note: the metronome will click off a full measure of eighth notes before beginning (6 clicks before 6/8, 9 clicks before 9/8, etc.) You may change the tempo using the control at the top of the screen. There is no class on Friday, so do this early!!! | | | | |
|
Week 11 (beginning April 1) Bach Chorale Chord Progressions Another way to look at it Textbook p. 214 - 219 Accompaniment patterns Composition Assignments How to harmonize a soprano line Melodic Principles skip to end on how to harmonize a melody Accompaniment patterns More patterns Thur: Work on Composition #2 in computer lab Workbook p. 77 analysis exercises Fri: Go over Assignment #8 (Due Monday)
Piano Man example of descending bass line Harmonic Progression Sweet Home Chicago Mr. Postman | Assignments Due:
| Wed | Quiz #5 Cadences | | Fri | Assignment #7 Turn in completed Harmonic Analysis Practice Sheet Download here Include both lead sheet symbols (above) and Roman numeral analysis (below). | | Fri | Computer Lab #10 Combination assessment |
|
Week 12 (beginning April 8)
Exercise: Workbook p. 42 on doc cam, non-harmonic tones, then cadences with clickers Monday: Harmonic Analysis example with partner Wednesday: Workbook p. 42 on doc cam; nonharmonic tones at board Friday: Go over Composition Assignment requirements Go over Assignment 9 | Assignments Due: | Mon | Assignment #8 Harmonic Rhythm Determine harmonic rhythm Place lead sheet symbols above Place harmonic analysis below
When you hear hooves, think horses, not zebras! 
In other words, don't pick a strange chord just because it will fit. Use a traditional harmonization for these traditional songs. | | Tue | ET Exam #3/ SS Exam #3 | | Thur | SS Exam #3 continued | | Fri | Assignment #9 Workbook p. 33, 38, 39 |
|
Week 13 (beginning April 15) Composition #2 critique | Assignments Due: For those of you who doubt the importance of establishing tonality in your compositions, here's a Christmas funny |
Week 14 (beginning April 22) Exercise: Construct at the board nonharmonic tones at board cadences sequence Example: The Ash Grove
| Assignments Due: |
Week 15 (beginning April 29) Review for Final Exam Last day of class is Wednesday, May 1 Final Exam: 9:00 class Monday, May 6, 8:00am 10:00 class Monday, May 6, 11:30am Study Guide Circle of Fifths template for practice Use this grade calculator to estimate your final grade | | Tue | ET & SS Makeup Exams |
It really is! |
| 
|
Still need to complete Note Proficiency All DONE!!! Still need to complete Key Signature Proficiency: 
Proficiency Links Key Signature Drill #1 Key Trainer Note Trainer Bass Clef speed drill Note reading Drill Note speed reading Drill 3Note Game |
Lab Why do we have to study ear-training? Music Memory Devices Benward/Kolosick textbook Ear Training exercises 
Air on a G String (Bobby McFerrin) Hoochie Chord progression The link below leads to MP3 files of the recorded exercises for Ear Training: A Technique For Listening, 6th Edition, by Benward and Kolosick. Each MP3 file contains the exercises marked R in the textbook; each individual exercise in the section is preceded by a voice announcement. You can use these files to complete the exercises in your workbook. Benward Ear Training MP3 Files Music Memory Game |
Downloads Staff Paper Staff Paper with Keyboard Solfege Daily Routine Solfege Chromatic Syllables Arpeggios Problem Intervals |
| Lab Skills Interactive Intervals Interval Ear Trainer Musictheory.net |
| Lab Study Guide #1 HELP |
Sight-singing Quiz #1 Week 4 Solfege syllables Hand signs chart (printable version) Animated hand signs to follow Songs to remember the intervals Interval drill Check the boxes for m2, M2, m3, M3 only Choose "help" and "both" in the drop-down boxes in the lower right Click the "Big Ears" button to hear the interval and the "Repeat" button right below it to hear it again. Check the window to the right of these 2 buttons for the correct answer
| Quiz consists of 3 items Solfege Daily Routine #2 in major (memorized) sung with syllables and with hand signs An at-sight melody from sources unknown to you, but like Ottman, Chapter 2 #2.2, 2.3, 2.18, 2.21, 2.32, 2.33, 2.44 (in a major key, treble clef) Two intervals selected from m2, M2, m3, M3 (up or down) (You must be able to tell me Plan A and Plan B)
| Point Distribution SDR and melody -3 pts per incorrect pitch -2 pts per incorrect rhythm -1 pt per incorrect syllable intervals -10 points per incorrect interval (-5 on 2nd try)
|
Ear-training Quiz #1 Week 4 The Robinator Interval drill Set the following preferences: Intervals: M2, m2, M3, m3 Type: melodic Direction: both Answer using: interval name Choose "intervals", then "ear-training" on the left, then only major and minor 2nds and 3rds as your options. 2-Note Practice 2-Note Game Music Memory Devices | Quiz consists of 4 items A melodic dictation (2-4 bars, conjunct motion) from M1A Melodic dictation drill A six-note pitch pattern in major 6 intervals selected from m2, M2, m3, M3 (label and write notes) Interval drill A rhythm pattern in 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4 (8 beats) Rhythm drill
| Point Distribution 28 points 24 points 24 points 24 points
|
| Lab Study Guide #2 HELP |
Sight-singing Quiz #2 Week 8 | Quiz consists of 3 items Solfege Daily Routine #4 in major (memorized) An at-sight melody from sources unknown to you, but like Ottman, Chapter 3 #3.5, 3.12, 3.24, 3.25, 3.29, 3.31 (in a major key, some tonic triad leaps, handsigns, treble or bass clef) Two intervals selected from P4, P5, and P8 (up or down) (You must be able to tell me Plan A and Plan B)
| Point Distribution SDR and melody -3 pts per incorrect pitch -2 pts per incorrect rhythm -1 pt per incorrect syllable -1 point per incorrect handsign intervals -10 pts per incorrect interval (-5 on 2nd try)
|
Ear-training Quiz #2 Week 8 Inverval drill Set the following preferences: Intervals: P4, P5, P8 Type: melodic Direction: both Answer using: interval name Music Memory Devices | Quiz consists of 4 items A melodic dictation from Benward M2A Melodic dictation drill A seven-note pitch pattern in minor (includes skips) 6 intervals selected from P4, P5 and P8 (label and write notes) Interval drill A rhythm pattern in 6/8 (up to 6 beats) from R2A Rhythm dictation drill
| Point Distribution 24 points 28 points 24 points 24 points
|
| Lab Study Guide #3 HELP |
Sight-singing Quiz #3 Week 12
| Quiz consists of three items Solfege Daily Routine #2 in harmonic minor(memorized) An at-sight melody from sources unknown to you, but like Ottman, Chapter 5 #5.1, 5.6, 5.8, 5.11, 5.14, 5.15, 5.19, 5.20, 5.21, 2.23 (in minor, starting on do or sol, tonic triad leaps) Two intervals selected from m6, M6, m7, M7(up or down) (You must be able to tell me Plan A and Plan B)
| Point Distribution SDR and melody -3 pts per incorrect pitch -2 pts per incorrect rhythm -1 pt per incorrect syllable -1 pt per incorrect handsign intervals -10 pts per incorrect interval (-5 on 2nd try)
|
Ear-training Quiz #3 Week 12 Inverval drill Set the following preferences: Intervals: M6, m6, M7, m7 Type: melodic Direction: both Answer using: interval name Music Memory Devices | Quiz consists of 6 items a melodic dictation from Benward M4A Melodic dictation drill 3 intervals (m6, M6, m7, M7 label and write notes) a 7-note pitch pattern in minor (includes skips in i and V) 3 chords to identify (M,m) from Benward H3E Chord identification drill 2 four-chord progressions, one major and one minor, using I, IV and V (from Benward H2A) Harmonic progression drill a rhythm from Benward R3A Rhythm dictation drill
| Point Distribution- 22 points
- 12 points
- 14 points
- 12 points
- 16 points
- 24 points
|
| Lab Study Guide #4 HELP |
Sight-singing Quiz #4 (Optional) Last lab class | Quiz consists of 2 items from previous quizzes An at-sight major melody, like Ottman Chapter 3 SS#2 An at-sight minor melody, like Ottman Chapter 5 SS#3
| Point Distribution Major melody -3 pts per incorrect pitch -2 pts per incorrect rhythm -1 pt per incorrect syllable -1 pt per incorrect handsign Minor melody -3 pts per incorrect pitch -2 pts per incorrect rhythm -1 pt per incorrect syllable
|
Ear-training Quiz #4 (Optional) Last lab class Interval Pre-Test Check your aural recognition of intervals before the test Inverval drill Set the following preferences: Intervals: All Type: melodic Direction: both Answer using: interval name Music Memory Devices | Quiz consists of 5 items from previous ear-training quizzes a melodic dictation a 7-note pitch pattern in minor (includes skips in i and V) 6 intervals selected from all intervals 3 four-chord progressions, two major and one minor, using I(i), IV(iv) and V Harmonic progression drill a rhythm in 6/8
| Point Distribution - 26 points
- 14 points
- 24 points
- 16 points
- 20 points
|
DOWNLOADS Song List Staff Paper Staff Paper/Keyboard Sizable Staff Paper/Keyboard Blank Circle of Fifths Notation Basics Stems, Ties, Beams, Accidentals What is ear-training? Recognizing and understanding what you are hearing Applications 1. Tuning 2. Error detection – recognizing that what you are hearing is not what is notated or what you know is correct. 3. Playing by ear – you’ve heard a song (chords, a tune or both); now, apply what you remember. 4. Improvising – not noodling, but hearing it in your head and producing it with your instrument 5. Dictation – recognizing what you hear and writing it down. FAQ I am not good at sight-singing. What can I do to improve? Come to lab EVERY time. If you need more help, there are tutors available at no cost to you. Let Dr. J know that you are interested and one will be assigned to you. I am failing the course. What can I do to salvage my grade? It depends on your specific situation. Go NOW and talk to Dr. J. She will be able to tell you the fastest way to get back on track. There is no way that I can pass the course at this point. Why should I keep coming to class? This is a required course for all music majors and music minors. Even if you can't pass the course this semester, you will have to take it again. Think of it as practicing for the next time. You will already have worked on all concepts and skills. The next time you take the course, you will be prepared and ahead of the game! I have had students who failed the course the first time and made an A the second time.
SEATING CHARTS |
 
Created and maintained by Vicky V. Johnson
The job of teachers is "arranging the conditions of learning" (Chickering 2000, 25) Neurons that fire together, wire together. |
