Music Theory, Sight-Singing, and Composition

Any entering student may be granted exemption from any semester's work upon the successful completion of a departmental theory examination covering the material in that semester. Exempted credit is normally made up by taking additional music electives.

551-13100 Music Theory I   FA LA

Basic study of clefs, intervals, scales and modes, tonality, key signatures, rhythm and meter, and notation. Introductory study of melody writing and analysis. Introduction to two-voice writing and analysis and non-chord tones. Aural analysis of all written concepts. Prerequisites for nonmajors: 555-25300 or permission of instructor. 2 credits. (F-S)

551-13200 Music Theory II   FA LA

Study of primary triads, secondary triads and inversions, and non-chord tones. Four-voice harmonization and the realization of figured bass, demonstrating the principles of good voice-leading. Harmonic and structural analysis of selected works. Aural recognition of chord sonorities, harmonic progressions, cadences, textures, and form. Prerequisites: 551-13100. 2 credits. (F-S)

551-13300 Sight-Singing I   FA LA

Basic musical skills are developed through singing prepared and unprepared material, melodic and rhythmic dictation, and vocal/keyboard exercises. Sight-singing is based on moveable "do" solfeggio syllables using exercises in the major mode only, in the treble, alto, and bass clefs. Rhythmic material is comprised of simple, compound, and changing meters, including first division of the beat, fundamental rhythm patterns, and complementary rhythm. 1.5 credits. (F-S)

551-13400 Sight-Singing II   FA LA

Skills learned in 551-13300 are developed further. Minor mode and tenor clef are introduced. Syncopation, anacrusic phrasing, second division of the beat, and changing meter are presented. Prerequisites: 551-13300. 1.5 credits. (F-S)

551-13500 Music Theory I --- Honors   FA LA

A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-13100. Registration is based on placement testing. 2 credits. (F)

551-13600 Music Theory II --- Honors   FA LA

A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-13200. Prerequisites: Grade of A- or better in 551-13100 or 551-13500. 2 credits. (S)

551-13700 Sight-Singing I --- Honors   FA LA

A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-13300. Registration is based on placement testing. 1.5 credits. (F)

551-13800 Sight-Singing II --- Honors   FA LA

A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-13400. Registration is based on excellent achievement in 551-13300. 1.5 credit. (S)

551-23100 Music Theory III   LA

Study of harmonic materials including diatonic seventh chords, secondary dominant and diminished seventh chords, modulations, and tonal regions. Melody harmonization, realization of figured and unfigured bass lines, and creative work. Harmonic and structural analysis of pieces in binary form. Aural recognition of sonority types, harmonic progressions, textures, and form. Prerequisites: 551-13200. 2 credits. (F-S)

551-23200 Music Theory IV   LA

Study of advanced harmonic materials including the Neapolitan chord, augmented sixth chords, chromatic modulations, linear harmony, extended tertian chords, and planing. Melody harmonization, realization of figured and unfigured bass lines, and creative work. Harmonic and structural analysis of pieces in ternary form. Aural recognition of sonority types, harmonic progressions, textures, and form. Prerequisites: 551-23100. 2 credits. (F-S)

551-23300 Advanced Sight-Singing III   LA

Advanced musical skills are developed through singing prepared and unprepared material and one- and two-part dictation. Vocal/keyboard exercises leading to the skill level necessary to perform a simple art song are assigned. Introduction of chromaticism through nonchord tones, secondary dominant chords, and modulation to near-related keys. Rhythmic materials include irregular division of the beat, advanced syncopation, and asymmetrical and changing meters. Prerequisites: 551-13400. 1 credit. (F-S)

551-23400 Advanced Sight-Singing IV   LA

Advanced musical skills are developed further through study of modulations to distant-related keys, transient modulations, and modal melodies. Introduction to 20th-century music through Impressionist, post-tonal and atonal melodies, trichord patterns, and complex rhythmic and metric combinations. Prerequisites: 551-23300. 1 credit. (F-S)

551-23500 Music Theory III --- Honors   LA

A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-23100. Registration is based on excellent achievement in 551-13200 or 551-13600. 2 credits. (F)

551-23600 Music Theory IV --- Honors   LA

A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-23200. Registration is based on excellent achievement in 551-23100 or 551-23500. 2 credits. (S)

551-23700 Advanced Sight-Singing III --- Honors   LA

A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-23300. Registration is based on excellent achievement in 551-13400 or 551-13500. 1 credit. (F)

551-23800 Advanced Sight-Singing IV --- Honors   LA

A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-23400. Registration is based on excellent achievement in 551-23300 or 551-23700. 1 credit. (S)

551-33100 Analysis of Twentieth-Century Music   LA

Study of the harmonic, rhythmic, melodic, and formal techniques of 20th-century music. Introduction of various analytical systems. Prerequisites: 551-23200 or 551-23600. 2 credits. (S)

551-33200 Form and Analysis   LA

Examination of the traditional techniques of musical form and structure and their application to compositions primarily from the 18th and 19th centuries. Prerequisites: 551-23200 or 551-23600. 2 credits. (F)

551-33300 Analysis of Twentieth-Century Music --- Honors   LA

A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-33100. Registration is based on excellent achievement in 551-23200 or 551-23600. 2 credits. (S)

551-33400 Form and Analysis --- Honors   LA

A more in-depth study of the material covered in 551-33200. Registration is based on excellent achievement in 551-23200 or 551-23600. 2 credits. (F)

551-34300-551-34400 Aural Perception   LA

Advanced course in dictation and aural analysis with an emphasis on 20th-century music. Prerequisites: 551-23400 or 551-23800. 1 credit. (F-S)

551-36000 Figured Bass and Score Reading   LA

A practical course in the realization of figured bass and Roman numeral progressions at the keyboard. Open score reading of string quartet and other instrumental and vocal literature. Prerequisites: 551-23200 or 551-23600. 1 credit. (F)

551-43100 Sixteenth-Century Counterpoint   LA

Study of polyphonic techniques based on the stylistic principles of the 16th-century sacred literature. Composition of canons, motets, and movements from the mass. Prerequisites: 551-33200 or 551-33400. 2 credits. (F-Y)

551-43200 Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint   LA

Study of polyphonic techniques based on the stylistic principles of the 18th-century keyboard literature. Invention (two- and three-voice), chorale prelude, canon, and fugue are studied. Analysis and written projects. Prerequisites: 551-33200 or 551-33400. 2 credits. (F-IRR)

551-43500 Choral Arranging   LA

Arranging for elementary through high school choruses and special choirs. Analysis and study of choral part-writing, encompassing unison, simple two-, three- and four-part, and multi-voice units. Prerequisites: 551-23200 or 551-23600. 2 credits. (F-S)

551-43700 Orchestration   LA

Study of orchestral and band instruments in terms of range, transposition, and individual characteristics. Scoring of works for both standardized and less common ensembles of various sizes. Performance of works in class whenever possible. Prerequisites: 551-33100 or 551-33300. 2 credits. (F-S)

551-14100-551-14200 through 551-44100-551-44200 Composition   NLA

Practical study of the techniques necessary for coherent expression in creative work. Students are assigned original compositions and are asked to solve various formal and stylistic problems, based on previous written work and the permission of the instructor. Private tutorial instruction and one class meeting per week. 3 credits. (F-S)

551-44300 Pedagogy of Music Theory   NLA

A survey of the pedagogical aspects of teaching music theory and solfeggio on the high school and college level. Focus on current techniques of approach, presentation, and implementation of suitable materials, including programmed courses of study for theory, harmony, and aural perception. Prerequisites: 551-33200 or 551-33400. 3 credits. (F-S)

551-44900-551-45000 Theory Project   LA

Candidates for the bachelor of music degree in music theory are required to write two papers in the field. Topics are chosen in consultation with the adviser and the chair of theory. 3 credits. (F-S)

551-46400 Introduction to Composition I   LA

Development of techniques of monodic writing with emphasis on styles from the 16th through 20th centuries. Detailed study of pitch and rhythmic procedures. Continuation with two-part writing, culminating in pieces in small forms. Prerequisites: A working knowledge of music notation and performance ability in some vocal or instrumental area and permission of the instructor. 2 credits. (F)

551-46500 Introduction to Composition II   LA

Continuation of previous semester's work with expansion into large forms --- binary, ternary, rondo, and free forms. Prerequisites: 551-46400 or works in lieu of. 2 credits. (S)

551-49800 Composition Recital   NLA

Performance of representative compositions. The program should include approximately 45 minutes of music. 2 credits. (F-S)

The following are level-5 courses (see p. 492)

551-57300 Stylistic Analysis I (Medieval and Renaissance)   LA

Study of musical style and the development of important compositional techniques of music from Gregorian chant to the 16th century. 2 credits. (F)

551-57400 Stylistic Analysis II (Classical and Romantic)   LA

Detailed analysis of stylistic characteristics and important compositional techniques of composers of the classical and romantic eras, including works of composers such as C. P. E. Bach, Stamitz, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Berlioz, Liszt, Wagner, Brahms, Dvořák, Mahler, Wolf, and Strauss. 2 credits. (S)