MUS 201 Music Theory

This course develops skills in analysis and composition to learn melodic, contrapuntal, harmonic, motivic, and formal principles of music towards a stronger theoretical understanding of how music is constructed. Although a variety of styles will be explored and used as examples, course materials focus on the “Common Practice Era”, Western music’s Baroque (1600-1750) and Classical (1750-1825) periods. The course begins with a review of foundational music theory concepts and moves through triads and seventh chords, melodic embellishments, partwriting in four-voice structure, figured bass, and diatonic harmony. The Keyboard Skills lab develops functional keyboard skills, as well as basic musicianship skills with emphasis on ear playing, reading, harmonizing, transposing, improvising, technique, and repertoire. The Aural Skills lab develops abilities in sight singing using the solfeggi system, rhythm reading, dictation, and improvisation. Each lab meets once per week. Prerequisite: must be able to read and perform music.