AP Music Theory at CAPA: Syllabus

Syllabus for Advanced Placement Music Theory
The Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) 1997 - 1998

Room 326, Period 9

Mr. DeBenedetti, Instructor

I can see you privately between 12:30 and 1:50 Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Homepage: http:/www.pitt.edu/~deben/

Texts

Benward, Bruce and Gary White. Music in Theory and Practice, Volume 1, 6th ed. (Madison, WI: Brown and Benchmark, 1997). These are paperback and school property: Be gentle!
Ottman, Robert. Music for Sight Singing. 3rd ed. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1986.

What are Advanced Placement (AP) courses?

Once a year in May, the College Board administers AP tests nationwide so that colleges can decide whether students should receive college credit for various courses taught in high school. The College Board recommends that colleges grant credit based on students' scores, however the final decision of whether or not to grant credit remains up to the individual college. Many high schools offer AP courses designed to prepare students for these tests. If you register for Advanced Placement Music Theory at CAPA you must take the AP test. The fee for taking the test is $74, though reductions are available based on need. This AP course can save you tuition money, it can improve your chances of being accepted at colleges of your choice, and it can give yo u a head start in your studies as a music major in college, possibly even helping you to graduate early.

Scheduling and Homework

The amount of material covered in AP courses dictates that classes meet five class periods a week as scheduled. AP theory classes also include what we have been teaching in our Solfege classes. Accordingly Mr. Garrick and Mr. Neely have agreed to schedule AP Music Theory, with its Solfege component, five periods a week.

The policy with respect to conflicting performances, private lessons and ensemble rehearsals is as follows:

It is understood that some classes will be missed due to performances and special rehearsals for these performances. It is only asked that the ensemble directors keep these rehearsals to a minimum, and that they give the music theory instructor reasonable notice for classes which will be missed.
You will be permitted to regularly miss class once a week to go to a private lesson on your major instrument (or voice). This situation will be allowed only if it is impossible to reschedule the lesson at a time which does not conflict with AP theor y. You will be responsible for the material missed during that class and for making up tests. If you are in this situation, no special consideration will be given to you in terms of grading.
You will not be permitted to regularly miss class due to an ensemble which is scheduled to conflict with AP theory.

Because of the amount of material to be covered, homework will be given almost every day.

Tests and Grading

Tests will follow each chapter of Benward and White's book and in order to prepare you for the AP test, they will reflect the AP format. The elements of the AP test are:

Section I: Multiple-choice questions (50% of AP score)
Part A. with aural stimulus
Part B. without aural stimulus
Section II: Free-response questions (50% of AP score)
Part A. part writing, and melodic and harmonic dictation (40% of AP score)
Part B. Sight singing (10% of AP score)

In-class chapter tests will include all these elements except sight singing. Sight singing tests will be arranged individually.

Grades will be based on chapter tests, sight singing tests, homework and class participation.

Discipline

As a college level class, college level discipline is expected. In order to cover all the material you need to know for the AP test, it is expected that you will:

Come to class on time
Be prepared with your textbook, a pencil, and a notebook with staff paper. (3 hole punched staff paper will be provided)
Complete all homework on time
Pay attention to the instructor and other students participating in the lesson
Actively participate in class

The Calendar

Week of	Chapter in Benward and White
Sep 2	1.Notation
Sep 8	1.Notation
Sep 15	2. Scales, Tonality, Keys, Modes
Sep 22	3. Intervals and Transposition
Sep 29	3. Intervals and Transposition
Oct 6	4. Chords
Oct 13	4. Chords AND 5. Cadences and Nonharmonic Tones
Oct 20	5. Cadences and Nonharmonic Tones
Oct 27	6. Melodic Organization
Nov 3	6. Melodic Organization
Nov 10	7. Texture and Textural Reduction
Nov 17	8. Voice Leading in Two Voices
Nov 24	8. Voice Leading in Two Voices (THANKSGIVING)
Dec 1	8. Voice Leading in Two Voices
Dec 8	9. Voice Leading in Four Voices
Dec 15	Rehearsals (may be scheduled earlier)
Dec 22-23	Rehearsals (may be scheduled earlier)
WINTER BREAK
Jan 5	9. Voice Leading in Four Voices
Jan 12	10. Harmonic Progression and Harmonic Rhythm
Jan 19	Midterm and discussion of Sample test 1
Jan 26	Academic Finals, In services
Feb 2	10. Harmonic Progression and Harmonic Rhythm
Feb 9	11. Dominant Seventh Chords
Feb 16	11. Dominant Seventh Chords
Feb 23	12. Leading Tone Seventh Chords
Mar 2	12. Leading Tone Seventh Chords
Mar 9	13. Nondominant Seventh chords
Mar 16	Sample Test 2
Mar 23	15. Secondary Dominants and Leading Tone Chords
Mar 30	15. Secondary Dominants and Leading Tone Chords
Apr 6	15. Secondary Dominants and Leading Tone Chords
Apr 13	16.Two-Part (Binary) Form
Apr 20	16.Two-Part (Binary) Form
Apr 27	Review
May 4	Sample Test 3
May 11	Review
MAY 13 AT 8 AM	AP TEST
after AP test	Material to be announced. Original compositions or arrangements? History of Jazz?

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Syllabus for Advanced Placement Music Theory The Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) 1997 - 1998