Topics in Music Theory I: Classical Form

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Demonstrate fluency or significant improvement with foundational concepts, including key signatures and chord qualities/contexts (i.e., Roman numerals).
• Analyze music for chordal content, harmonic progression toward cadences, chromaticism, and modulation by various means.
• Identify musical forms of the Classical era through visual and aural stimuli.
• Compose musical forms of the Classical era in keyboard and/or SATB voicing with proper voice-leading and chordal resolution.
• Use awareness of Classical forms to aid in the performance and dictation of melodies.
• Identify formal concepts from the Classical era in other musical eras and contexts.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Attendance, Preparedness & Participation	10%
Foundational Fluency	15%
Aural Skills	15%
Assignments	25%
Tests	20%
Final Project	15%

Grading Scale

Percentage	Letter Grade
93 – 100%	A
90 – 92%	A-
87 – 89%	B+
83 – 86%	B
80 – 82%	B-
77 – 79%	C+
73 – 76%	C
70 – 72%	C-
67 – 69%	D+
63 – 67%	D
60 – 62%	D-
<60%	F

Attendance/Participation:

Attend class regularly. Each student receives three excused absences to accommodate all hindrance to attendance, including illness and travel. Further absences may be excused at the instructor’s discretion with documentation of events beyond the student’s control.

Arriving after instruction has begun incurs a 20% late penalty.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

• William Caplin, Analyzing Classical Form (ISBN: 9780199987306)
• Mark Gotham, et al., Open Music Theory @ viva.pressbooks.pub
• Artusi Drills @ www.artusimusic.com
• Music notation software (e.g., Finale, Sibelius, MuseScore, etc.)
• Music staff paper