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Course Syllabus

MUSC 1120 Music Theory II

  • Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
  • Department: Music
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
  • Prerequisites: MUSC 1110
  • Corequisites: MUSC 1140
  • Semesters Offered: Spring
  • Semester Approved: Fall 2024
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2029
  • End Semester: Summer 2030
  • Optimum Class Size: 20
  • Maximum Class Size: 35

Course Description

This course is the second semester of the music theory series, continuing the study of the fundamental elements of music. Content will focus on part writing, composition, improvisation and analysis. It is required of all music-majors and minors and is recommended for serious students of voice, piano, or other instruments.

Justification

This course is required of music majors throughout most university systems. It will also serve to develop musical literacy in the non-major. The first year of theory is taught at all Utah universities.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. The students will be able to write and analyze four-part choral common practice period style with some chromatic harmonies.
  2. Students will be able to compose in assigned styles, following common practice period conventions
  3. Students will be able to understand and begin analyzing more complex masterworks formally and harmonically.
  4. Students will be able to analyze and write in common practice period conventions.

Course Content

Lectures will advance the students' knowledge of
• 18th century part writing practices
• major and minor scales
• key signatures
• principles of rhythmic notation
• fundamentals of 18th century harmony
• Analysis of musical excerpts
• Writing an original composition.
Instructors will seek to offer students multiple approaches and perspectives from which to understand and apply principles.