MWF, 9:00-9:50, NH 350, Dr. James Sobaskie
TTH, 9:00-9:50, NH 352H, Dr. Bellamy Hamilton
Music Theory I will help you understand how music is constructed, offer insights on how to improve its performance, and provide opportunities to develop your creative abilities. More specifically, you'll become familiar with the basic elements of music, acquainted with some of the common musical forms, and proficient in the skills and analytical techniques which will help you illuminate the music you make. We will accomplish all of this through a combination of using a combination of classroom presentation, listening, discussion, written work, and skills practice. This syllabus describes the formal theory component of the course, which is conducted by Dr. Sobaskie. A separate syllabus details Dr. Hamilton's skills component.
Music in Theory and Practice , 5th ed., Vol. I, by Bruce Benward, is required for the course and available at the UWMC bookstore. Reading assignments are listed on our schedule and should be done before the corresponding class meeting so you can ask discuss the material and ask questions.
A number of computer programs designed to enhance your learning in this class will be available for the Macintosh computer located in the Student Lab. Details on these study aids will be provided in class as they are introduced.
The hour from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, plus the noon hour, is available for you to ask questions about anything you don't understand, inquire about how you're doing in the course, or talk about music! In addition, office hours are available by appointmentÑso just ask! You can stop by my office, which is in North Hall 350, or leave me a message at UWMC (715/845-9602, ext. 243) or at home (715/359-5920).
Your achievement in the formal component of Music Theory II will be evaluated using four criteria: attendance, homework, quizzes, and a final exam. Achievement in this component will be determined using a 300-point scale, and the values of each of the four criteria are specified below.
Class meetings usually will feature a combination of lecturing, listening, discussion, and written work, so regular attendance is extremely important! Attendance will be taken and will represent a total of 45 points. If you must be absent, it is your responsibility to learn what you missed!
HomeworkSatisfactorily-completed homework assignments will earn 5, 10, or 20 points each, for a total of 80 points. A list of assignments is shown below, and details about each will be provided in class. Late assignments will forfeit 2 or more points each; unsubmitted assignments will forfeit all points.
Two quizzes will be worth 50 points each. Quiz makeups are possible only by advance permission and must be completed before test papers are scheduled to be returned to the class.
The final exam, a take-home test due by Thursday, May 16th, represents 75 points.
1/19 Review: notation and scales (Ch. 1, 2) 1/22 Review: intervals (Ch. 3) 1/24 Review: chords (Ch. 4) 1/26 Review: harmonic analysis 1/29 Review: cadences 1/31 Review: nonharmonic tones (Ch. 5) 2/2 Review: motives and phrases (Ch. 6) 2/5 Rhythm (Ch. 7) 2/7 Rhythm 2/9 Texture (Ch. 8) 2/12 Texture 2/14 Harmony and voice-leading (Ch. 9) 2/16 Harmony and voice-leading 2/19 Harmony and voice-leading 2/21 Harmony and voice-leading 2/23 Harmony and voice-leading 2/26 QUIZ I 2/28 Harmonic Progression (Ch. 10) 3/1 Harmonic Progression 3/4 Harmonic Progression 3/6 Harmonic Progression 3/6 Harmonic Progression 3/11 Dominant Seventh chords (Ch. 11) 3/13 Dominant Seventh chords 3/15 Dominant Seventh chords 3/18 SPRING BREAK-NO CLASSES 3/20 SPRING BREAK-NO CLASSES 3/22 SPRING BREAK-NO CLASSES 3/25 Leading tone Seventh chords (Ch. 12) 3/27 Leading tone Seventh chords 3/29 Non-dominant Seventh chords (Ch. 13) 4/1 Non-dominant Seventh chords 4/3 QUIZ II 4/5 GOOD FRIDAY RECESS-NO CLASSES 4/8 Secondary dominants (Ch. 14) 4/10 Secondary dominants 4/12 Secondary dominants 4/15 Modulation (Ch. 15) 4/17 Modulation 4/19 Modulation 4/22 Binary form (Ch. 16) 4/24 Binary form 4/26 Binary form 4/29 Ternary form (Ch. 17) 5/1 Ternary form 5/3 Ternary form 5/6 Harmony in Popular Music (Appendix C) 5/8 Harmony in Popular Music 5/10 A look ahead; class compositions 5/13 Class compositions; review 5/16 TAKE HOME FINAL EXAM-due by 1:00 p.m. Thursday
A variety of written assignments will help you develop your understanding of music theory. The assignments listed below will earn five, ten, or twenty points each toward your course total if completed satisfactorily and turned in on time. Details about each will be presented in class. However, for each to be a successful learning experience, it must represent your own efforts. So in submitting these assignments for your points, you must agree to assert that you have not copied someone else's work.Some assignments involve material provided by your instructor, while others are drawn from your textbook. For the latter, you may hand in photocopies of your work. You are encouraged to begin work on your written assignments early. Creativity can be elusive at times and the longer you use your imagination, the more possibilities you see!
# Due
1 1/26 Scales, intervals: Scale & interval review sheet(5 pts)
2 2/2 Chords, etc.: Chords, cadences, etc. sheet(5 pts)
3 2/12 Rhythm: Rhythm analysis of pp. 133-135 (5 pts)
4 3/2 Voice-leading: Assignment 3, pp. 193-194 (10 pts)
5 3/8 Voice-leading:Melody harmonization project (10 pts)
6 3/15 Harm. prgs.: Assignment 9, pp.217-219 (5 pts)
7 3/25 Dominant 7ths: Assignment 5, pp. 235-236 (5 pts)
8 4/1 Other 7ths: Assignment 6, pp. 251-252; (5 pts) Assignment 3, pp. 268-270
9 4/15 Secondary Dominants: Bach chorale harmonization (TBA) (5 pts)
10 4/24 Modulation: Assignment 6, pp.293-295 (5 pts)
11 5/13 Composition: original piece in binary or ternary form(20 pts)
Total = 80 pts
Go back to the UWMC Music Page.
James Sobaskie, UWMC, February 14, 1996