Music Theory and Composition Semester 2

Enrollment Message

See Required Course Materials

Course Description

The ultimate goal of a music theory course is to develop the 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 continue to develop the student’s aural skills, knowledge of musical notation, review rhythmic and melodic techniques gained from a beginning course in Music Theory. The course will place more emphasis on harmonic analysis, textures and composition skills. Students will have lessons in ear training, basic rhythmic and melodic sight-singing, orchestration, transposition, and harmonic voice-leading,  as well as orchestration and arranging.

The understanding and analysis of music is coupled with exercises in the tonal relationships of pitches (ear training) and exercises in the temporal relationships of pitches (rhythm). All the palpable elements of music, intensity, frequency, texture, form and style are approached through listening, analysis, performance and creation. In addition, Music Theory students gain valuable practical experience in simple keyboard skills, arranging and transposing for instruments and voices, and composing in limited but strictly defined forms.

• 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

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

Course Goals

Upon completion of the course, students will…

• demonstrate the use of key signatures, meter, simple diatonic harmony, and historically traditional styles of music in theoretical examples.
• demonstrate the use of chromatic harmony nonharmonic tones, compound meters, modulation through the use of chorale composition, musical analysis, and computer notation. 
• analyze aurally and visually complete musical structures in a historical sequence. 
• use the keyboard to realize common scales, triads and chord progressions. 
• demonstrate the ability to identify common rhythms, harmonies and melodies by listening to them.
• arrange and transpose music appropriate for classroom and performance needs.
• demonstrate the ability to sight-read simple major and minor melodies.

Units of Instruction

• Unit 1 Rhythm, Meter, and Tempo Review
• Unit 2 Scales and Modes
• Creative Project Simple Composition Review
• Unit 3 Nonchord Tones 
• Unit 4 Chromaticism
• Unit 5 Modulation
• Creative Project 2 Creating an Arrangement
• Unit 6 Voice Leading
• Unit 7 Form
• Unit 8 Instrumentation and Arranging 
• Creative Project 3 Full Score

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

• 25 Assignments
• 34 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.