Music Theory and Composition Semester 1

Enrollment Message

See Required Course Materials

Course Description

The ultimate goal of the Music Theory course is to develop each student’s ability to recognize, understand, and describe the basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score. This course will use integrated approaches to develop the student’s aural skills, knowledge of musical notation, as well as rhythmic and melodic practice. Students will have lessons in ear training, musical dictation, keyboard basics, identification exercises and terminology in the academics of music. Music Theory 1 will cover elements such as scale patterns, rhythmic devices, tonality, and basic harmonization. This course requires students to download and submit files online after studying musical examples and working with interactive activities and drills.

• Counts as a directed elective or elective for all diplomas
• Fulfills a Fine Arts requirement for the Core 40 Academic Honors Diploma
• Laboratory Course

Required Course Materials

• Staff paper
• Noteflight notation software, web-based - sign up for free account

Course Goals

Upon completion of the course, students will…

• read music at a basic level, be able to define and use vocabulary related to the course, and recognize, notate, analyze, synthesize and create music through a number of different methods.
• compose melodies that demonstrate compositional principles.
• follow musical notation while listening and identifying symbols found in a musical score.
• identify notes on the bass and treble clefs; identify notes and rests by type.
• compose and arrange music within specified guidelines.
• identify key signatures and find tonal center.
• identify intervals, triads, and seventh chords by size and quality.
• define and identify basic forms.

Units of Instruction

• Unit 1 Basics of Notation
• Unit 2 Basic Keyboard Skills
• Unit 3 Basics of Rhythm
• Creative Project 1 Rhythm
• Unit 4 Key Signatures and Tonality
• Unit 5 Intervals
• Unit 6 Triads
• Creative Project 2 Melody
• Unit 7 Seventh Chords
• Unit 8 Form
• Creative Project 3 Harmony

Grading/Evaluation

Indiana Online does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue transcripts or diplomas. A final score reported as a percentage of total points earned will be sent to students upon completion of a course. Your school of record can also access this score within the Student Information System, Genius. The final score will be shown as a percentage in Canvas and Genius. The student’s school of record will determine the letter grade based on their specific grading scale.

Students must complete at least 70% of the course and take all parts of the final exam(s) to have a score reported to their school of record. Failure to meet these requirements will result in a score of 0 reported to the school of record.

Assessments

Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, teacher-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments. The course includes the following assessments

• 20 Assignments
• 39 Quizzes

Teacher Contact Response Time

Students can use email or the private message system within Genius or Canvas to access highly qualified teachers when they need teacher assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside Canvas. The Teacher Information page of their course may describe additional communication options.

The teacher will respond to student inquiries (email, text, call) within one business day. Assignments will be graded and posted within two business days.

Expectations for Academic Conduct 

Student Handbook 

It is your responsibility to read the student handbook to understand all aspects of taking an online course including expectations for academic conduct. Contact your teacher if you have any questions. 

Assistance for Students with Accommodations

Indiana Online supports an inclusive learning environment for all students. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that hinder your full participation, such as inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos and podcasts, reasonable accommodations can be arranged.

Technology

Technology Requirements 

Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube. Please review the Indiana Online’s Technology Requirements.

Technical Skills Needed 

Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to

• download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
• download and install software
• use a messaging service similar to email
• communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
• open attachments shared in messages
• create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
• save a file as a .pdf
• copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
• insert images or links into a file
• search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
• work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
• activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
• use presentation and graphics programs
• follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
• use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
• create and maintain usernames and passwords

Technical Questions?  Please contact the Indiana Online Helpdesk.