AP

Music Theory
2016-17 Course Syllabus
Brainerd High School
Christopher Fogderud, Instructor
(218) 454-6253
christopher.fogderud@isd181.org


Course Overview
This course is designed to prepare students for success in music theory at the college level. It focuses on developing both
written and aural (listening) skills. Students will spend time developing dictation and sight-singing skills as well as mastering
written theory and compositional techniques.

Course Materials
Primary Text:
Music in Theory and Practice Vo. 1 Eighth Edition by Bruce Benward and Marilyn Saker
Supplemental Resources:
www.gmajormusictheory.org
www.musictheory.net
www.musictheoryexamples.com
Other Materials:
3-ring binder dedicated only to AP Music Theory
Loose-leaf notebook paper
Manuscript paper available at local music stores or printable online
Pencil with eraser

Student Evaluation
Grading Breakdown:
Daily Assignments - 25% Dictation - 20% Sight-Singing - 5% Chapter Tests - 40% Compositions - 10%
Course Objectives
1. Identify and notate pitch in four clefs.
2. Notate, hear, and identify simple and compound meters.
3. Notate and identify all major and minor key signatures.
4. Notate, hear, and identify the following scales: Chromatic, Major and the three forms of the Minor.
5. Name and recognize scale degree terms, e.g. Tonic, Supertonic, etc.
6. Notate, hear, and transpose the following modes: Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian and Mixolydian. (authentic forms only)
7. Notate, hear, and identify Whole Tone and Pentatonic scales.
8. Notate, hear, and identify all Major, Minor, Diminished and Augmented intervals inclusive of an octave.
9. Transpose a melodic line to or from concert pitch for any common band or orchestral instrument.
10. Notate, hear, and identify Triads including inversions.
11. Notate hear, and identify Authentic, Plagal, Half and Deceptive cadences in major and minor keys.
12. Detect pitch and rhythm errors in written music from given aural excerpts.
13. Notate a melody from dictation, 4-8 bars, major/minor key, mostly diatonic pitches, simple or compound time, given 3-4
playings
14. Notate the Soprano and Bass pitches and Roman and Arabic numeral analysis of a harmonic dictation, 18th century chorale
style, triads and seventh chords with inversions, secondary dominants, 8-9 chords in progression, major or minor key,
given 3-4 playings
15. Sight sing a melody, 4-8 bars long, major or minor key, duple or triple meter, simple or compound time, using solfege,
numbers or any comfortable vocal syllable(s).
16. Realize a figured bass according to the rules of 18th century chorale style, major or minor key, using any or all of the
following devices: diatonic triads and seventh chords, inversions, non-harmonic tones and secondary dominant and
dominant seventh chords.
17. Analyze a 4 part chorale-style piece using Roman and Arabic numerals to represent chords and their inversions.
18. Notate, hear, and identify the following non-harmonic tones: passing tone (accented and unaccented), neighboring tone,
anticipation, suspension, retardation, appogiatura, escape tone, changing tone (cambiata), pedal tone.
19. Harmonize a 4-12 bar melody by writing a bass line, chords and/or chord symbols, given specific directions about key,
mode, phrasing, rhythm and harmonic language.
20. Define and identify common tempo and expression markings.
21. Identify aurally and/or visually the following: modulation, transposition, melodic and harmonic rhythm, sequence,
imitation, ostinato, augmentation, diminution, inversion, retrograde and fragmentation

Course Schedule 36 Week School Year (2 semesters divided into 3 6-week grading periods)
DQ = Dictation Quiz occurs on the block period (usually Wednesday) of specified week L1 refers to level of difficulty of quiz (see handout)
Wed. = anytime a day of the week is bold it indicates a block period of 85 minutes
SS = Sight-singing check due the day of a Chapter Test video submitted through Google Classroom
Chapter Numbers - refer to chapter numbers in Benward/Saker text

Week Chapter Content Course Activities Assessments
Obj. #
1 Sept. 6-9 Intro. Pitch, Intensity, Duration, Timbre, 1, 20 Tues. Syllabus, Resources, Intro to Assignment 1.1, 1.2, 1.4
Ch. 1 - Harmonic Series, Pitch Notation, Keyboard and Sight-singing (Due Mon. Sept. 12)
Notation Clefs, Enharmonic Notes Wed. Overview of Structure and
Content of AP Test
Fri. Notation/Clefs
2 Sept. 12- Ch. 1 - Duration Notation, Meter 2, 13, Mon. Meter Assignment 1.5, 1.6
16 Notation (duple/triple, simple/compound), 15 Tues. Beaming Assign. 1.8 in class (Due Tues. Sept. 13)
Beaming, Intensity Notation Wed. Intro to Dictation / Assignment 1.9
(dynamics) musicthoery.net / Chapter (Due Wed. Sept. 14)
Review Chapter 1 Test SS1
Fri. Chapter 1 Test SS1
3 Sept. 19- Ch. 2 Scales, Tonality, Key, Modes, 3, 4, 5, Mon. Tetrachord/Major Scales Assignment Major Scales
23 Scales, Tetrachords, Major Scales, 6, 7, 13, Tues. Major Scales/ Key Signatures (Due Tues. Sept. 20)
Tonality, Harmonic and Melodic Minor, Key 15 Circle of 5ths Assignment Key Signatures
Key, Signatures, Circle of 5ths Wed. Major Keys / Scale Degrees / (Due Wed. Sept. 21)
Mode Modes / Circle of 5ths Relay Assignment Write the Mode
DQ #1 (L1) (Due Fri. Sept. 23)
Fri. Harmonic and Melodic Minor DQ #1 (L1)
Assignment 2.1, 2.3, 2.4
(Due Mon. Sept. 26)
4 Sept. 26- Ch. 2 Relative Major and Minor, Whole 3, 4, 5, Mon. Relative and Parallel Maj/Min Assignment 2.8
30 Scales, Tone Scale, Chromatic Scale, 6, 7, 13, Tues. Relative and Parallel Maj/Min (Due Tues. Sept. 27)
Tonality, Pentatonic Scale 15 Wed. WT, Chromatic, Pent. Scales Assignment 2.2, 2.6
Key, Mode Chapter 2 Review (Due Wed. Sept. 28)
DQ #2 (L1) Assignment 2.7
Fri. Chapter 2 Test SS2 (Due Fri. Sept. 30)
DQ #2 (L1)
Chapter 2 Test SS2
5 Oct. 3-7 Ch. 3 Major, Minor, Perfect, Augmented, 8, 9, 13, Mon. Interval Introduction Assignment 3.1
Intervals Diminished Intervals, Inversion, 15 Tues. musictheory.net Intervals (Due Tues. Oct. 4)
Transposition Wed. Interval Inversions / Practice Assignment 3.2, 3.3
(board) (Due Wed. Oct. 5)
DQ #3 (L2) DQ #3 (L2)
Fri. Interval Practice (board) Assignment 3.5, 3.10
(Due Fri. Oct. 7)
Assignment 3.4
(Due Mon. Oct. 10)
6 Oct. 10-14 Ch. 3 Major, Minor, Perfect, Augmented, 8, 9, 13, Mon. Instrument Transposition Assignment 3.11
Intervals Diminished Intervals, Inversion, 15 Tues. Interval Practice (board) (Due Tues. Oct. 11)
Transposition Wed. Chapter 3 Test SS3 Chapter 3 Test SS3
DQ #4 (L2) DQ #4 (L2)
M, m, d, a Chords Assignment 4.1 -
Fri. M, m, d, a Chords (Due Fri. Oct. 14)
Assignment 4.2
(Due Mon. Oct. 17)
END OF 6 WEEK GRADING PERIOD
7 Oct. 17-19 Ch. 4 - Major, Minor, Diminished, 10, 13, Mon. Roman Numerals Assignment 4.3
(Fall Break) Chords Augmented Chords, Roman 15 Tues. Roman Numerals (Due Tues. Oct. 18)
Numerals Wed. Inversion / Figured Bass Assignment 4.4, 4.5
DQ #5 (L2) (Due Wed. Oct. 22)
FALL BREAK DQ #5 (L2)
Assignment 4.7
(Due Mon. Oct. 24)
8 Oct. 24-28 Ch. 4 - Root Position, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th 10, 13, Mon. Inversion / Figured Bass Assignment 4.8 #2,3
Chords Inversion, Figured Bass, Popular 15 Assign. 4.8 #1 in class (Due Tues. Oct. 25)
Music Chord Symbols, Seventh Tues. Inversion / Figured Bass Assignment 4.8 #4,5
Chords Wed. Pop Chord Symbols, Chapter (Due Wed. Oct. 26)
Review DQ #6 (L3)
DQ #6 (L3) Chapter 4 Test SS4
Fri. Chapter 4 Test SS4
9 Oct. 31 Ch. 5 Phrase, PA, IA, Half, Phrygian Half, 11, 13, Mon. Authentic and Half Cadences Assignment 5.1
Nov. 4 Cadences/ Plagal and Deceptive Cadences. 14, 15, Tues. Plagal and Deceptive (Due Wed. Nov. 1)
Non- Passing, Neighboring, Pedal and 18 Cadences DQ #7 (L3) + HD
harmonic Escape Tones, Suspension, Wed. Non-harmonic Tones Assignment 5.2
Tones Anticipation, Retardation, DQ #7 (L3) + HD (Due Fri. Nov. 6)
Appoggiatura Fri. Non-harmonic Tones Assignment 5.3
(Due Mon. Nov. 7)
10 Nov. 7-11 Ch. 5 Phrase, PA, IA, Half, Phrygian Half, 11, 13, Mon. Visual Analysis Assignment 5.4 #1,2
Cadences/ Plagal and Deceptive Cadences. 14, 15, Tues. Visual Analysis (Due Tues. Nov. 8)
Non- Passing, Neighboring, Pedal and 18 Wed. Aural Skills Review, Visual Assignment 5.4 #3,4,5
harmonic Escape Tones, Suspension, Analysis (Due Wed. Nov. 9)
Tones Anticipation, Retardation, DQ #8 (L3) + HD DQ #8 (L3) + HD
Appoggiatura Fri. Veterans Day Program
11 Nov. 14- Ch. 9 Voice Four-Voice Texture, Chorale, 13, 15, Mon. Chapter 5 Test SS5 Chapter 5 Test SS5
18 Leading in Standard Voice Leading Guidelines, 16, 17 Tues. Figured Bass Realization DQ #9 (L3) + HD
Four Parts Figured Bass Wed. Fig. Bass/Voice Leading Rules Assignment 9.1
DQ #9 (L3) + HD (Due Mon. Nov. 21)
Fri. Voice Leading Rules
12 Nov. 21- Ch. 9 Voice Four-Voice Texture, Chorale, 13, 15, Mon. Figured Bass Realization Assignment 9.2
23 Leading in Standard Voice Leading Guidelines, 16, 17 Tues. Identify Voice Leading Errors (Due Wed. Nov. 23)
Thanksgiving Four Parts Figured Bass Wed. Identify Voice Leading Errors DQ #10 (L4) + HD
DQ #10 (L4) + HD Assignment 9.3
THANKSGIVING BREAK (Due Tues. Nov. 29)
END OF 6 WEEK GRADING PERIOD
13 Nov. 29 - Ch. 9 Voice Four-Voice Texture, Chorale, 13, 15, Mon. IN-SERVICE DQ #11 (L4) + HD
Dec. 2 Leading in Standard Voice Leading Guidelines, 16, 17 Tues. Figured Bass Realization Assignment 9.4
Four Parts Figured Bass Wed. Figured Bass Realization (Due Fri. Dec. 2)
DQ #11 (L4) + HD Chapter 9 Test SS6
Day 4 Chapter 9 Test SS6
14 Dec. 5-9 Ch. 11 The Seventh Chord, Dominant Seventh 13, 15, Mon. Dominant 7th Chord Assignment 11.1
Dominant Chord, Major-minor, 4th Inversion 16, 17 Tues. Dominant 7th Chord (Due Tues. Dec. 6)
Seventh Wed. Dominant 7th Chord Assignment 11.2, 11.3
Chord Inversions and Resolutions (Due Wed. Dec. 7)
DQ #12 (L4) + HD Assignment 11.4
Fri. Figured Bass Realization (Due Fri. Dec. 9)
DQ #12 (L4) + HD
15 Dec. 12- Ch. 11 The Seventh Chord, Dominant Seventh 13, 15, Mon. Figured Bass Realization Assignment 11.9
16 Dominant Chord, Major-minor, 4th Inversion 16, 17 Tues. Figured Bass Realization (Due Tues. Dec. 13)
Seventh Wed. Chapter 11 Test SS7 Assignment 11.10
Chord DQ #13 (L4) + HD (Due Wed. Dec. 14)
Fri. Composition Work Day Chapter 11 Test SS7
DQ #13 (L4) + HD
16 Dec. 19- Composition 13, 15, Mon. Composition Work Day DQ #14 (L5) + HD
23 Week 19 Tues. Composition Work Day Assignment Four-Part Choral
Wed. DQ #14 (L5) + HD Composition (Due Fri. Dec. 23)
Fri Composition Performance Day
17 Jan. 3-6 Ch. 6 Motive, Sequence, Phrase, Parallel, 13, 15, Tues. Melodic Motive DQ #15 (L5) + HD
Melodic Contrasting and Double Period 21 Wed. Sequence Sequence Packet
Organization DQ #15 (L5) + HD (Due Fri. Jan. 6)
Fri. Sequence
18 Jan. 9-13 Ch. 6 Motive, Sequence, Phrase, Parallel, 1-11, Mon. Phrase / Period Assignment 6.2
Melodic Contrasting and Double Period 13-18, Tues. Phrase / Period (Due Tues. Jan. 10)
Organization Semester 1 Review 20, 21 Wed. Chapter 6 Test SS8 Chapter 6 Test SS8
Ch. 1-6, 9, 11 Semester 1 Review DQ #16 (L5) + HD
DQ #16 (L5) + HD
Fri. Semester 1 Review
19 Jan. 17- Ch. 1-6, 9, 11 Semester 1 Review 1-11, Tues. Semester 1 Review Semester 1 Final
20 (MLK Day) 13-18, Wed. Semester 1 Review
20 Thurs. Semester 1 Final
END OF SEMESTER 1
1 Jan. 23-27 Ch. 7 - Monophonic, Polyphonic, 13, 15 Mon. Texture Types Assignment 7.1
Texture Homophonic Texture, Melody with Tues. Album for the Young (Due Wed. Jan. 25)
Accompaniment, Textural Wed. Aural / Visual Analysis DQ #17 (L5) + HD
Reduction DQ #17 (L5) + HD Assignment 7.2
Fri. Aural / Visual Analysis (Due Fri. Jan. 27)
2 Jan. 30 Ch. 10 Harmonic Progression, Root 13, 15, Mon. Chapter 7 Test SS9 Chapter 7 Test SS9
Feb. 3 Harmonic Relationships, Circle Progression, 17, 19 Tues. Harmonic Progression Assignment 10.1
Progression Non-circle Progressions, Harmonic Wed. Harmonic Progression (Due Tues. Jan.31)
Harmonic Rhythm, The Blues Thurs. Harmonic Progression and Assignment 10.2
Rhythm The Blues (Due Wed. Feb. 1)
DQ #18 (L6) + HD Assignment 10.4
(Due Fri. Feb. 3)
DQ #18 (L6) + HD
Assignment 10.5
(Due Mon. Feb. 6)
3 Feb. 6-10 Ch. 10 Harmonic Progression, Root 13, 15, Mon. Harmonic Progression Assignment 10.7
Harmonic Relationships, Circle Progression, 17, 19 Tues. Harmonic Rhythm (Due Tues. Feb. 7)
Progression Non-circle Progressions, Harmonic Wed. Chapter 10 Test SS10 Assignment 10.8
Harmonic Rhythm DQ #19 (L6) + HD (Due Wed. Feb. 8)
Rhythm Fri. Half and Fully Diminished DQ #19 (L6) + HD
Chapter 10 Test SS10
Assignment 12.1, 12.2
(Due Mon. Feb. 13)


4 Feb. 13-17 Ch. 12 The Leading-Tone Seventh Chords, Half 13, 15, Mon. Half and Fully Diminished Assignment 12.3, 12.4
Leading- Diminished, Fully Diminished, 16, 17 Tues. Half and Fully Diminished (Due Tues. Feb. 14)
Tone Diminished-Minor, Diminished- Wed. vii7 Assignment 12.10
Seventh Diminished, Prolongation DQ #20 (L6) + HD (Due Wed. Feb. 15)
Chords Fri. Chapter 12 Test SS12 Assignment 12.11
(Due Fri. Feb. 17)
DQ #20 (L6) + HD
Chapter 12 Test SS12
5 Feb. 20-24 Ch. 13 Non-Dominant Seventh Chords, 13, 15, Mon. Non-Dominant 7th Chords Assignment 13.1
Non- Minor-Minor, Diminished-Minor, 16, 17 Tues. Non-Dominant 7th Chords (Due Tues. Feb. 21)
Dominant Major-Major Wed. Non-Dominant 7th Chords Assignment 13.2, 13.3
Seventh DQ #21 (L6) + HD (Due Wed. Feb. 22)
Chords Fri. Chapter 13 Test SS13 Assignment 13.4
(Due Fri. Feb. 24)
DQ #21 (L6) + HD
Chapter 13 Test SS13
6 Feb. 27 Ch. 14 Secondary Dominants, Altered 13, 15, Mon. Secondary Dominants Assignment 14.1
Mar. 3 Secondary Chords, Primary Dominants, 16, 17 Tues. Secondary Dominants (Due Tues. Feb. 28)
Dominants Tonicized Chord, Secondary Wed. Secondary Leading-Tone Assignment 14.2
and Leading- Leading-Tone Chords, Borrowed Thurs. Visual Analysis (Due Wed. Mar. 1)
Tone Chords Chords DQ #22 (L7) + HD Assignment 14.3
(Due Thur. Mar. 2)
DQ #22 (L7) + HD
Assignment 14.4
(Due Mon. Mar. 6)
END OF 6 WEEK GRADING PERIOD
7 Mar. 6-10 Ch. 14 Secondary Dominants, Altered 13, 15, Mon. Visual Analysis Assignment 14.9
Secondary Chords, Primary Dominants, 16, 17 Tues. Visual Analysis (Due Tues. Mar. 7)
Dominants Tonicized Chord, Secondary Wed. Borrowed Chords Assignment 14.10
and Leading- Leading-Tone Chords, Borrowed DQ #23 (L7) + HD (Due Wed. Mar. 8)
Tone Chords Chords Fri. Chapter 14 Test SS 14 DQ #23 (L7) + HD
Chapter 14 Test SS 14
MAR. 13-17 SPRING BREAK
8 Mar. 20-24 Ch. 15 - Modulation, Closely Related Keys, 13, 15, Mon. Closely Related Keys Assignment 15.1
Modulation Common Chord, Pivot Chord, 17, 21 Tues. Common Chord and (Due Tues. Mar. 21)
Common Chord Modulation, Chromatic Modulations Assignment 15.2
Chromatic Modulation, Phrase Wed. Figured Bass / Score Analysis (Due Wed. Mar. 22)
Modulation, Direct Modulation DQ #24 (L7) + HD Assignment 15.3
Fri. Score Analysis (Due Fri. Mar. 24)
 DQ #24 (L7) + HD
9 Mar. 27-31 Ch. 15 - Modulation, Closely Related Keys, 13, 15, Mon. Score Analysis Assignment 15.4
Modulation Common Chord, Pivot Chord, 17, 21 Tues. Score Analysis (Due Tues. Mar. 28)
Common Chord Modulation, Wed. DQ #25 (L7) + HD Assignment 15.5, 15.9
Chromatic Modulation, Phrase Chapter 15 Test SS 15 (Due Wed. Mar. 29)
Modulation, Direct Modulation Fri. CLC Music Festival DQ #25 (L7) + HD
Chapter 15 Test SS 15
10 Apr. 3-7 Ch. 16 Closed/Open Formal Divisions, 13, 15, Mon. Binary Form Assignment 16.1
Two-Part Simple Forms, Binary Form, 17, 21 Tues. Visual Analysis (Due Wed. April 5)
(Binary) Compound Forms, Bar Form Wed. Visual Analysis DQ #26 (L8) + HD
Form Thurs. DQ #26 (L8) + HD (2012 AP Test Dictation)
11 Apr. 10- Ch. 17 Ternary Forms, Repetitions, 13, 15, Mon. Chapter 16 Test SS 16 Chapter 16 Test SS
13 (Good Three-Part Expanded Ternary Forms, 17, 21 Tues. Ternary Forms 16Assignment 17.1 #1
Friday) (Ternary) Rounded Binary Form, Incipient Wed. Ternary Forms (Due Tues. April 11)
Form Three-Part Form, Refrain, Bridge, DQ #27 (L8) + HD Assignment 17.1 #2
Release, Quaternary Form (Due Wed. April 12)
DQ #27 (L8) + HD
(2013 AP Test Dictation)
Assignment 17.1 #3
(Due Mon. April 17)
12 Apr. 17- Ch. 17 Ternary Forms, Repetitions, 13, 15, Mon. Rounded Binary Form Assignment 17.2
21 Three-Part Expanded Ternary Forms, 17, 21 Tues. Review (Due Tues. April 18)
(Ternary) Rounded Binary Form, Incipient Wed. Chapter 17 Test SS 17 Chapter 17 Test SS 17
Form Three-Part Form, Refrain, Bridge, DQ #28 (L8) + HD DQ #28 (L8) + HD
Release, Quaternary Form Fri. Review Strategies (2014 AP Test Dictation)
END OF 6 WEEK GRADING PERIOD
13 Apr. 24- REVIEW 1-21 Mon, Tues, Fri. REVIEW DQ #29 (L8) + HD
28 Wed. DQ #29 (L8) + HD (2015 AP Test Dictation)
14 May 1-5 REVIEW / 1-21 Mon, Tues, Fri. REVIEW DQ #30 (L8) + HD
STRATEGIES Wed. DQ #30 (L8) + HD (2016 AP Test Dictation)
15 May 8-12 TEST WEEK 1-21 Mon. TEST DAY!! AP Test
Tues. RELAX!! Monday May 8th AM
Wed. and Fri. Project Proposals
16May 15-19 Final Project Final Project Work Time
17May 22-26 Final Project Final Project Work Time
18 May 30- Final Project Final Project Presentations Sem. 2 Final
June 2 Presentation Composition
Project
END OF SEMESTER 2

Daily and Weekly Course Activities
AP Music Theory meets Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday during 3rd period. Daily course activities are as follows:
1. Sight-Singing
2. Dictation Practice
3. Review of Yesterdays Topics Homework Hand-in
4. Presentation of New Course Material

A Weekly Dictation Quiz is given every block day (usually Wednesday) at the beginning of class.


Teaching Strategies
Students understand the material in AP Music Theory much more completely when it is presented in the context of an artistic
work. Much effort is made to introduce material in a way that relates to music in which the students are familiar. For example,
melodic and rhythmic motives are explained using score analysis of Beethovens Symphony No. 5 and Tchaikovskys
Symphony No. 4. The works of Bach and Vivaldi are used to illustrate sequences. The popular music of the Beatles and Billy
Joel are used to illustrate secondary dominant chords. American folksong and Dvoraks Symphony No. 9 is used to illustrate
the pentatonic scale. Schuberts Album for the Young demonstrates many musical textures. Common folksongs such as
Greensleeves illustrate modes (dorian). All of these examples serve to give the student the artistic context for the academic
content.


Composition Assignments
The highest form of knowledge is demonstrated through creativity. The composition assignments in the course are essential to
the individual students synthesis of the information. An understanding of chord structure and voice leading is enhanced when
the student composes their own chorale or larger work.



General AP Music Theory Exam Information
Organization of the AP Music Theory Exam:
Section One Four-Option Multiple Choice 45%
A. Questions based on listening (aural stimulus) (50-75)
B. Questions without aural stimulus (20-30)

Section Two Free Response 45%
A. Melodic Dictation 2 questions
B. Harmonic Dictation 2 questions
C. Figured Bass Realization 2 questions
D. Melodic Composition/Harmonization 1 question

Section Three Sight Singing 2 questions 10%

Student comments and advice after taking the AP Examinations:
Spend time outside of class studying; if you dont completely get something, keep working on it and itll get better!
Practice, practice, practice. Its all about developing skills to look at all the questions.
Practice on your own! The time in class is very useful, but it will be so helpful to develop your individual skill with the
listening portions of the test if you practice on your own time as well.
Study, work outside of class, dont panic about dictation.
The pace of the class was very manageable.
Listen to music. As often as you can, just listen and think about what you hear.
If you dont understand it, take the time to go learn it. Even if it is outside of class time. Also ask questions.
Sing Loud!
Do your homework! Nearly all of it ties together! SO JUST DO IT!