Course Outline for Music Literature 2A
Harmony and Musicianship I

Effective: Fall 2024
SLO Rev:
Catalog Description:

MUSL 2A - Harmony and Musicianship I

4.00 Units

Study of the fundamentals of Western music applicable to both classical and popular styles: notation; fundamental theoretical concepts; musicianship skills including sight singing, rhythmic training, ear training, dictation, and keyboard realization; and basic compositional skills.
Strongly Recommended: MUSL 6 or equivalent skills
1004.00 - Music
Letter Grade Only
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Laboratory 1.00 54.00 0.00 54.00
Total 4.00 108.00 108.00 216.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. explain the fundamental concepts of Western music theory;
  2. relate the fundamental concepts of Western music theory to the evolution of musical aesthetics in Western culture;
  3. examine significant works from Western music literature in terms of their use of the fundamental concepts of Western music theory;
  4. utilize the modern, Western system of notating music;
  5. apply the fundamental concepts of Western music theory;
  6. compose music that employs the fundamental concepts of Western music theory and musical aesthetics of Western culture;
  7. demonstrate basic musicianship skills including sight singing, rhythm reading, aural recognition, dictation, conducting and keyboard realization.
Course Content:
 
  1. Notation
    1. Pitch (treble and bass clefs, the grand staff, notes)
    2. Duration (note values, rhythm)
    3. Properties of sound
  2. Fundamentals concepts of Western music theory
    1. Scale degrees and solfege syllables
      1. Western church modes
      2. Major and minor scales and key signatures
    2. Intervals
    3. Beat, meter, conducting patterns
    4. Basic two-part species counterpoint
      1. Cantus firmus
      2. First species
      3. Second species
    5. Triads, dominant 7th chords
    6. Diatonic chord progressions, full and half cadences, voice leading in keyboard style
    7. Melody, melodic figuration. figured bass
    8. Phrases and periods
    9. Strophic, binary and ternary forms
    10. Roman numeral anaylsis
  3. The evolution of musical aesthetics in Western culture
    1. Cultural, intellectual, and artistic trends of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Modern Period
    2. Resulting musical trends
      1. Monophony to polyphony
      2. Use of meter
      3. Modality to tonality
      4. The polyphonic origins of homophony and harmony
      5. Text, meter, phrases and melodic shape
      6. Musical structure and expression
    3. Applicable literature
      1. Gregorian Chant
      2. Medieval and Renaissance masses and motets
      3. Bach Chorales (4 part writing)
      4. Western folk song
  4. Identification
    1. Written pitches
    2. Scales
    3. Intervals
    4. Triads
    5. Cadential formulas
  5. Writing
    1. Pitches
    2. Scales
    3. Intervals
    4. Triads
    5. Cadential formulas
    6. Voice leading examples
  6. Music composition and musical aesthetics in Western culture
    1. Use of basic diatonic materials
    2. Melodic shape, figuration, and devices
    3. Use of simple musical forms
  7. Musicianship Skills
    1. Prepare and sight-sing major and minor melodies including leaps within the primary triads.
    2. Practice common melodic patterns (arpeggios, passing tones, neighbors)
    3. Perfom excercises in one or more parts
    4. Analyze and describe phrase structure within simple melodic forms
    5. Melodic dictation in a variety or major and minor keys, tempos and meters
    6. Take dictation in two parts
    7. Hearing or tendency tones and hearing melodies in context
    8. Identification and singing of intervals
    9. Identification of triad and V7th-chord signatures and tempos
    10. Practice rhythmic dictation in a variety of meter signatures and tempos.
    11. Practice and conduct common rhythmic patterns
    12. Perform and sight-read rhythmic exercises in two and three parts
    13. Perform single line dictation and sight-singing exercises while conducting (basic right hand conducing patterns)
    14. Detect errors in rhythm, pitch and solfege
Methods of Instruction:
  1. In-class written demonstration of concepts by students
  2. Lecture/Discussion
  3. Demonstration/Exercise
  4. Studio
  5. Individual Performance
  6. Distance Education
  7. Solfeggio and ear training
  8. Written exercises
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Reading 1: Read the chapter on scales and keys and memorize the pattern of whole and half steps for the major scale.
  2. Reading 2: Read the chapter on the circle of fifths and the order of sharps and flats. Memorize the order of sharps and flats as well as the number of sharps or flats per key.
  3. Writing, problem solving, performance 1: Read the chapter on Renaissance music. Write a 250-word essay which discusses how the use of triads in Palestrina's "Pope Marcellus Mass" could correlate with the use of linear perspective in Renaissance paintings. Discuss the aesthetic results for both and how this fulfills Renaissance ideals.
  4. Writing, problem solving, performance 2: Write out, using key signatures, all major scales, one octave, using whole notes.
  5. Lab, field activity, product or report: Sing the theme from Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" in D Major, using solfege syllables.
  1. Written exercises
  2. Compositional assignments
  3. In-class sight singing and dictation drills
  4. In-class drills in rhythmic accuracy, conducting, and/or keyboard
  5. Directed listening activities/exams
  6. Individual sight singing examinations
  7. Rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic dictation exercises/exams
  8. Self-paced individual laboratory work
  9. Final Project/Examination
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Examine and execute the material and structures of Western Art Music from 1450-present;
  2. use the modern Western system of notating music;
  3. recognize, and apply fundamental Western theoretical concepts;
  4. Compose music using fundamental Western theoretical concepts.
  5. Demonstrate basic musicianship skills including sight singing, rhythmn reading, aural recognition, dictation, and keyboard realization.
  6. describe the historical aspects of the development of the theoretical concepts discussed throughout the course.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Kostka, Stefan & Dorothy Payne (2024). Tonal Harmony (textbook and workbook) (9th). McGraw Hill.
  2. Ottman, Robert (2021). Music for Sight Singing (10th). Pearson.
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
This course is a study of the fundamentals concepts of Western music theory. These concepts are applicable to both classical and popular styles. The study addresses notation, fundamental theoretical concepts, their relationship to the evolution of musical aesthetics in Western culture, musicianship skills including sight singing, rhythmic training, ear training, dictation, and keyboard realization, and basic composition.
Strongly Recommended: MUSL 6 or equivalent skills
Discipline:
Music*