Music Theory & Appreciation

Prerequisite: See considerations (11th / 12th Grade Only)

Considerations: One year in a school performance ensemble or instructor permission

Course Description: This is a one-year course, which would help meet the needs of students entering the field of music or students with an intense interest in music.

This course is divided into two main subjects:

Semester 1: Music Theory - A study of how music is written. This involves a study of scales, intervals, chords, rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and all aspects involved with composing and analyzing music. Ear training, melodic and rhythmic dictation, and transcription will be incorporated.

Semester 2: Music Appreciation - A study of intelligent listening and responding to music. The study is organized by the history of music from the Middle Ages to the present, including style periods, composers, and types of music compositions. Other topics of study include the orchestra instruments, the physics of music, and the philosophy of music.