Theory Of Tonal Music I

Curriculum Guideline

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Course
MUSC 1110
Discontinued
No
Course Code
MUSC 1110
Descriptive
Theory Of Tonal Music I
Department
Music
Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
202030
PLAR
Yes
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
20
Contact Hours
Lecture: 2 hours per week Tutorial: 2 hours per week
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Tutorial
Learning Activities

Concepts and techniques are presented and discussed in the lectures; applications will be worked on in the tutorials; assignments are undertaken by the students.

Course Description
First part of a comprehensive study of the melodic, harmonic, rhythmic and formal elements of tonal music. Review of rudiments; study of basic diatonic chord progressions; analysis of small structural units.
Course Content

  1. The Properties of Sound:  Introduction to acoustics and the harmonic series.
  2. Melody: interval types, scale types; melodic structure.
  3. Rhythm: metre types; rhythmic patterns in metrical contexts; syncopation and hemiola.
  4. Harmony: types of triads and inversions; types of seventh chords; figured bass symbols; types of non-harmonic tones; cadence types; tonic, dominant, and predominant chord functions.
  5. Form: phrase types and period structures; motivic construction; graphic representation of formal analysis.

Learning Outcomes

The student will learn basic theoretical principles of tonal music. The student will be expected to:

  1. provide an analysis of representative musical excerpts;
  2. demonstrate notational fluency with basic tonal and rhythmic materials;
  3. provide written answers to questions on any aspect of the course content.

Means of Assessment
Assignments (minimum of 5) 15%
Class Participation (including homework checks) 10%
Quizzes (minimum of 7) 20%
Speed Drills (minimum of 10) 10%
Tests (minimum of 2) 20%
Final Examination 25%
  100%
Textbook Materials

Required texts such as the following:

  • Kostka, Stefan, Dorothy Payne and Byron Almen. Tonal Harmony with an Introduction to Twentieth-Century Music. New York: McGraw-Hill. Plus accompanying workbook.
Prerequisites

Meets or exceeds minimum thresholds on the Music Theory Assessment.

Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

None

Which Prerequisite

MUSC 1210