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Updated in [March 06th, 2023]
This course, Approaching Music Theory: Melodic Forms and Simple Harmony, is designed to help musicians and composers develop a deeper understanding of music theory for composing, performing, and improvisation. Through lectures, relevant examples, and numerous practice assignments, participants will learn about classical, modern, ancient, pop, jazz, and folk styles. The course will cover fundamental aspects of melody, two-voice counterpoint, and the beginnings of harmonic function. This is an intermediate-level course for musicians and composers who already have some understanding of music theory through previous study. Amateur lovers of music and those who play a musical instrument and want to develop a deeper sense of appreciation for music theory, aesthetics, and history are also welcome.
[Applications]
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to apply their knowledge of music theory to their own compositions, performances, and improvisations. They should also be able to better appreciate the technical and aesthetic details of music, and be able to think and talk about musical style with a more meaningful theoretical vocabulary. Additionally, students should be able to recognize and understand classical, modern, ancient, pop, jazz, and folk styles.
[Career Paths]
1. Music Composer: Music composers create original music for a variety of mediums, such as film, television, video games, and live performances. They must have a strong understanding of music theory and composition techniques in order to create effective and engaging music. As technology advances, music composers are increasingly using digital tools to create and produce music, making this an exciting and ever-evolving career path.
2. Music Producer: Music producers are responsible for overseeing the production of music recordings. They work with artists to create the best possible sound for their recordings, and must have a strong understanding of music theory and production techniques. As technology advances, music producers are increasingly using digital tools to create and produce music, making this an exciting and ever-evolving career path.
3. Music Educator: Music educators are responsible for teaching music theory, composition, and performance to students of all ages. They must have a strong understanding of music theory and pedagogy in order to effectively teach their students. As technology advances, music educators are increasingly using digital tools to teach and assess their students, making this an exciting and ever-evolving career path.
4. Music Therapist: Music therapists use music to help people with physical, emotional, and mental health issues. They must have a strong understanding of music theory and therapeutic techniques in order to effectively use music to help their clients. As technology advances, music therapists are increasingly using digital tools to create and produce music, making this an exciting and ever-evolving career path.
[Education Paths]
1. Bachelor of Music: A Bachelor of Music degree is a great way to gain a comprehensive understanding of music theory and its application to performance, composition, and improvisation. This degree typically includes courses in music history, music theory, music technology, and performance. It also provides students with the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of music, such as jazz, classical, or popular music. Developing trends in this degree path include the integration of technology into music production and performance, as well as the exploration of new musical styles and genres.
2. Master of Music: A Master of Music degree is a great way to gain a deeper understanding of music theory and its application to performance, composition, and improvisation. This degree typically includes courses in music history, music theory, music technology, and performance. It also provides students with the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of music, such as jazz, classical, or popular music. Developing trends in this degree path include the integration of technology into music production and performance, as well as the exploration of new musical styles and genres.
3. Doctor of Musical Arts: A Doctor of Musical Arts degree is a great way to gain an advanced understanding of music theory and its application to performance, composition, and improvisation. This degree typically includes courses in music history, music theory, music technology, and performance. It also provides students with the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of music, such as jazz, classical, or popular music. Developing trends in this degree path include the integration of technology into music production and performance, as well as the exploration of new musical styles and genres.
4. Music Education: A degree in Music Education is a great way to gain an understanding of music theory and its application to teaching and learning. This degree typically includes courses in music history, music theory, music technology, and performance. It also provides students with the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of music, such as jazz, classical, or popular music. Developing trends in this degree path include the integration of technology into music education, as well as the exploration of new musical styles and genres.
Course Syllabus
Course Overview
This introductory module lets you know what is involved in the course. Come on in!Melodic Structures: Lines, Shapes, and Simple Modes
In this module, we will being to develop a vocabulary that is useful in describing the technicalities behind musical expression. To do this, we will start right away closely examining some actual, real music. First we will look at some Gregorian Chant (which, come on, can be stunningly beautiful). Second we will use some slow classic Jazz to thoughtfully build our vocabulary.Melodic Structures: Simplicity, Repetition, and Change
In this module, still looking at single melodic lines, we will start to branch farther afield to describe some useful technical descriptions of the differences between different simple and complicated musical styles.Combining Pitches: Consonance and Dissonance
Now we will start to describe different ways to think about playing pitches simultaneously. Carefully considering our terms, we will listen to a wide spectrum of styles before settling in to focus on the basics of common practice rules.Cadences and Basic Harmonic Function
Beginning with a fuller examination of cadences, we will come up with ways to describe chords and harmonic function that help us talk and think about different styles of music. Finally, we will consider how our newly constructed vocabulary can help us describe the function and aesthetics of more and more complete pieces of music.
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