Music Theory I

Course Description

Music Theory I will help you understand how music is constructed, provide opportunities to develop your creativity, and offer insights on how to improve performance. In particular, you'll become familiar with the basic elements of music, the art of voice leading, and techniques of musical analysis. You'll also develop aural, vocal, and keyboard skills. A basic course for music majors and other interested individuals, Music Theory I is designed to help you acquire the knowledge and discipline necessary for success as a musician.

Course Organization.

This course involves a variety of activities, including lecture, discussion, reading, written work, and skills practice. Its organization reflects basic pursuits of all musicians: learning, creating, and performing. This syllabus describes primarily the theory component of Music Theory I which is conducted by Dr. Sobaskie. The skills component of this course is described in greater detail elsewhere.

Textbooks

Harmony and Voice Leading, 2th ed., by Edward Aldwell and Carl Schachter, is required for the theory component of the course and available at the UWMC bookstore. This book, which is widely used in the best American universities for both first- and second-year theory classes, will reveal how music works from the inside out. It also will help prepare you for the academic demands you'll encounter if you pursue advanced music study at a four-year university. Textbook readings will be assigned in class. Fundamentals of Ear Training and Sight Singing, by Arnold Fish and Norman Lloyd, will be used in the skills component.

Office Hours

The hour from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Mondays through Fridays, plus the time immediately before and after class, is available for your questions. Office hours also are available by appointment. See me at my office in North Hall 207.

Evaluation in the Formal Theory Component

Your achievement in the formal theory component of Music Theory I will be evaluated using three basic criteria: written homework, two quizzes, and a final exam. Achievement in this component will be determined using a 300-point scale, and the values of each of the three criteria are described below.

Theory Homework

Homework will involve basic elements of music theory, voice-leading, or musical analysis. Homework assignments will enable you to practice the same skills evaluated by the quizzes--but without penalty for error! Normally, assignments will be given on Wednesdays and will be due the following Monday. Satisfactorily-completed homework assignments automatically earn 10 points each and will be returned with suggestions or comments. There will be 10 written assignments in all, thus representing a total of 100 points. Assignments submitted one day to one week late will forfeit 3 points each; assignments submitted more than a week after the due date will forfeit all 10 points.

Theory Quizzes

Two in-class quizzes, indicated on the following schedule, will be worth 50 points each. Quiz makeups are possible only by advance permission and must be completed before quizzes are returned.

Theory Final Exam

The final exam, a take-home test distributed on the last scheduled class day (December 16), is due no later than 3:00 p.m. on Friday, December 20, 1996. It represents 100 points.

Evaluation in the Skills Component

Specific evaluation criteria will be presented in class.

Course Grading Criteria

Final grades reflect your own personal mastery of the course's learning objectives and are based on your percentage of the possible points you've earned. As is customary, 90% and above will earn an A, 80-89% will earn a B, 70-79% will earn a C, 60-69% will earn a D, and 0-59% will earn an F. In a mastery system such as this, it is therefore possible (and certainly hoped!) that everyone will earn a high grade.

Dr. James William Sobaskie, University of Wisconsin, Marathon County.