4/19/2024 10:11:31 PM	MUSC 2A Course Outline as of Fall 2009	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  MUSC 2A	Title:  INTRO TO MUSIC THEORY
Full Title:  Introduction to Music Theory
Last Reviewed:12/12/2022

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		17.5 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  MUS 2A

Catalog Description:

Basic orientation course of a four semester sequence required of lower division music majors and minors in most colleges and universities. Topics include basic music notation and terminology, rhythm, scales and modes, key signatures and the circle of fifths, intervals, transposition, chords and chord progressions, figured bass, Roman numeral analysis, and basic song structure.  

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Concurrent Enrollment in MUSC 3A and MUSC 170; AND Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100; AND Concurrent private or classroom piano study as recommended.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Music notation, terminology, rhythm, scales, modes, key signatures, circle of fifths, intervals, transposition, chords and progressions, figured bass, Roman numeral analysis, and basic song structure.  

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Concurrent Enrollment in MUSC 3A and MUSC 170; AND Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100; AND Concurrent private or classroom piano study as recommended.
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 2023	Inactive:
Area:	E	Humanities
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: MUS 120	Music Theory I	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): MUSC2A

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Explain the four basic properties of sound: pitch, duration, intensity

   (dynamics), and timbre (overtones).

2. Read and write musical notation on all clefs (G, F, and C).

3. Identify, interpret, and utilize all meter signatures in simple,

  compound, and asymmetrical meters.

4. Identify, construct, and utilize key signatures and the circle of

  fifths.

5. Identify and construct all diatonic major, minor, and modal scales.

6. Identify and construct synthetic and non-diatonic scales including

  whole-tone, pentatonic, diminished/octatonic, and chromatic.

7. Identify and construct all simple and compound intervals.

8. Transpose music from one key to another.

9. Identify and construct triad chords (major, minor, augmented, and

   diminished) in root position and inversion in all keys.

10. Identify and construct dominant seventh chords in all keys.

11. Analyze and construct chord progressions in Roman numerals and

   figured bass in all keys.

12. Analyze traditional songs with attention to key, phrase and cadence

   structure, rhythmic motives, and melodic design.  

Topics and Scope

I.  Notation

   A.  Basic properties of sound: pitch, duration, intensity (dynamics),

       and timbre (overtones)

   B.  Notation of pitch and rhythm

   C.  Basic musical terminology

II. Scales, Tonality, Key, and Modes

   A.  Diatonic scales

       1.  major scales

       2.  minor scales (natural, harmonic, and melodic forms)

       3.  the church modes

       4.  other diatonic scales

   B.  Key signatures and the circle of fifths

   C.  Nondiatonic scales

       1.  pentatonic major and minor

       2.  whole-tone

       3.  diminished/octatonic

       4.  chromatic

       5.  other synthetic and non-Western scales

III. Intervals and Transposition

    A. Melodic and harmonic intervals

    B. Interval inversion

    C. Simple and compound intervals

    D. The overtone series, tuning, and temperament

    E. Transposition and transposing instruments

IV.  Chords

    A.  Basic principles of harmonic construction

    B.  The four types of triads (major, minor, augmented, diminished)

    C.  The dominant seventh chord

    D.  Other seventh chords

    E.  Working with chords

        1.  inversion

        2.  doubling, voicing, and arpeggiation

    F.  Harmonic analysis of chords in Roman numerals and popular symbols

V.   Musical Form and Structure

    A. Melodic construction (phrases and melodic design)

    B. Harmonic cadences (authentic, plagal, half, and deceptive)

    C. Introduction to non-harmonic tones

    D. Basic musical form and analysis of short songs  

Assignments:

1. Workbook exercises in musical notation, pitch, and rhythm.

2. Workbook assignments in the construction of scales, intervals, and chords.

3. Roman numeral harmonic analysis of chord progressions.

4. Analysis of folk and popular songs in relation to key, phrase and

   cadence structure, melodic and rhythmic design.

5. 2-4 chapter exams and a comprehensive final exam.  

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 0 - 0%
None
This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because problem solving assessments are more appropriate for this course.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 30 - 60%
Homework problems, workbook assignments, musical analysis
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 60%
Chapter tests, final exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 5 - 10%
Attendance and participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Benward, Bruce and Marilyn Saker. Music in Theory and Practice, vol.1.

 8th ed.  New York, McGraw-Hill, 2008.

Kostka, Stefan and Dorothy Payne. Tonal Harmony. 6th ed.

 New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009.  

Print PDF