MUSIC THEORY I
Course Syllabus
Music 30B, Winter 1997
Monday-Wednesday-Friday, 9:00am-9:50am
Music Building, Room 196
Professor Christopher Dobrian
294E Music Building
824-7288
dobrian@uci.edu
Office hours by appointment.
Textbooks
Kostka, Stefan and Payne, Dorothy. Tonal Harmony, 3rd edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1995.
Burkhart, Charles. Anthology for Musical Analysis, 4th edition. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1986.
UCI Catalog Course Description
The study of traditional common-practice diatonic harmony, through written and keyboard drill. Basic harmonic theory, triads, seventh chords, sequences, modulation, elementary figured basses. Prerequisite: Music 25 or equivalent.
Professor's Course Description
A workshop in elementary Western (predominantly classical) music theory, analysis, and composition through active score study, ear training, performance, and composition. Primary activities will be specific style studies, frequent brief composition exercises based on those style studies, and performance of the composition exercises. Prerequisite: Music 30A or equivalent.
Activities
- Lectures
- Elementary theoretical concepts
- Stylistic analyses of selected compositions
- Derived "rules" of composition
- Ear Training
- Singing drills to improve aural acuity
- Melodic and harmonic dictation
- Analysis
- Studying examples of established theoretical concepts
- Deriving concepts from existing compositions
- Compositions
- Frequent brief guided composition assignments employing specific theoretical concepts or imitating a specific style or technique currently under study.
- Performance
- Vocal and instrumental performance of excerpts under study
Topics
- Harmonic differences between major and minor
- Hierarchical tonal structure
- Melodic structure
- Harmonic underpinnings of melody
- Harmonic progression
- Chord classifications
- Computer notation basics
- Cadences
- Principles of voice leading
- Principles of counterpoint
- Vocal and instrumental writing
- Formal and expressive role of timbre and rhythm
- Non-harmonic tones (diatonic)
- Dominant seventh chord
- Inversions
- Figured bass and analytical figures
- Traditional established formal stuctures
- Non-harmonic tones (chromatic)
- Secondary dominant (and secondary diminished) chords
- Modulation via pivot chord(s)
Generic Weekly Schedule
- Monday
- Hand in assignment from previous Friday
- Introduction of new works and concepts for study
- Assignment of new composition exercise based on newly studied example or newly presented theoretical concepts
- Wednesday
- Performance of previous week's composition assignments
- Friday
- Hand in assignment from Monday
- Analysis of works that exemplify concepts under study, and/or
- Introduction of new works and concepts for study
- Assignment of new composition exercise based on newly studied example or newly presented theoretical concepts
Course Requirements
- Participation in at least 90% of all class meeting time,
- Adequate preparation for class performances and drills,
- Timely completion of composition and analysis assignments,
- Midterm and final exams: composition, analysis, performance, and dictation.
Course Grades
Grading for the course will be based on timely completion of all the course requirements. Since every requirement is considered a vital part of the educational experience of the course, serious and high quality work is expected at all times. Grading will be based in more or less equal proportion on the following activities:
- Active and well-prepared participation in class activities,
- Written composition and analysis assignments,
- Midterm exam,
- Final exam.
Regarding Academic Integrity
Plagiarism of any kind is a violation of UCI policy on Academic Honesty, and penalties for plagiarism can be severe. In this class you will be expected to attribute due credit to the originator of any ideas, music, or other work which you incorporate substantially into your own assignments. This applies particularly to citation of sources for quotes and ideas included in your compositions and analyses. While supportive co-education between colleagues is encouraged, written assignments must be accomplished individually, without collaboration with others.
Christopher Dobrian
January 2, 1997
dobrian@uci.edu