Download Intro to Music theory

Intro to Music Theory
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What is Music Theory?
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What is music?
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We know it when we hear it... But objectively
what is it?
Is this music?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLZ7yVszwgk
Intro to Music Theory
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Music is organized sound
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We associate meaning with the different
organizations of sound
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Language also fits this description
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For the purpose of this explanation, let's
suppose that music is a language
Intro to Music Theory
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What is Theory?
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Theory is... Theory
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In the context of this class it's a set of guidelines
and 'rules' for what happens in music
Language has guidelines and 'rules' such as grammar
and punctuation.
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These rules are usually based on context, and
are often times ignored or mangled.
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However, even when the user is unaware of
these rules the general message can still be
made.
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Music works in a similar way
Intro to Music History
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Most of this class is spent learning the language and
grammar of music.
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On some level everyone here already speaks it
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We have associated certain tones, chords,
progressions and phrases with meaning of some
variety
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However being able to objectively communicate
and understand what's being played may be
difficult.
Class Parts
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How we'll be learning the language of music
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The class will be divided into three parts
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Written Theory (%40) (Monday/Wednesday)
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Aural / Ear Training (%40)
(Tuesday/Thursday)
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Music Blog / Project Work (%20) (Friday)
Written Theory
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This is where we'll learn the 'Grammar' of
music
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Letters in the musical alphabet
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Intervals and relationship of notes
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How to spell scales and chords
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How to communicate and understand music
in these terms.
Aural / Ear Training
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This part is where we apply what we learn in
written theory to the 'real world'
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Aural training involves solfege singing of
scales and intervals
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Ear training involves transcribing melodies
and chord progressions
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Audio for exercises can be found at
soundcloud.com/sasic-music-exercises
Music Blog
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The Music Blog will be used to teach various
things about music outside of the written and
aural theory.
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Music History
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Music Philosophy
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Genre and Score studies
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Can be found at sasicmusic.wordpress.com
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The remainder of Friday classes will be
spent checking project progress
Assignments, Tests and Projects
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Each part of the class will have one assignment per
week.
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Written will usually use worksheets based on
the lecture material
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Aural will switch between singing and
dictation
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The blog will be online and will require short
comments
Each 9 week cycle will have tests in written Aural and
a project
There will be an exam at the end of the semester
Projects
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The projects should mostly be done independently of
class.
The first project will be an arrangement of a song of
your choice, cover or original, using 4 independent
monophonic instruments with an analysis of the
piece
The second project will revolve around scoring for a
film from the film department
Materials and Tools Needed
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In Class
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Pencils and Blank Sheet Paper
Aural assignments
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Chromatic Tuner and Instrument
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Keyboard recommended, not required
Projects
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Notation software
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Will ultimately end up on Pro-Tools
I recommend Finale Notepad as it can save
MIDI files that can be transferred to PT
NoteFlight and MuseScore are other free
options, though I haven't tried them.