Popular Music Theory Course Overview – Grade 1

Maximum Duration: 2 Terms (22 weeks)

Objectives - At the end of the term learners will be able to:

1. Understand music notation
2. Understand the elements of popular music harmony
3. Understand instrumental components, notation and techniques
4. Be able to identify and modify music notation, harmony and instrumental
characteristics within a multi-instrumental score

Assessment Criteria - The learners can:

1.1 Identify notes up to one ledger note and keys up to one sharp and flat on
the bass and treble clef
1.2 Identify whole, half, quarter and eighth note rhythms and rests in 4/4, 2/4
or 3/4 time signatures using bass, treble and percussion clefs
1.3 Identify elements of the stave, music notation symbols for dynamics,
articulations and phrasing
2.1 Identify and accurately reproduce major and minor scales and their
related intervals
2.2 Identify and accurately reproduce triadic chords and arpeggios
3.1 Identify parts of musical instruments and describe their function
3.2 Identify pitch, rhythm, instrument voices and techniques within
instrument-specific music notation
3.3 Identify instrument-specific notation and describe their corresponding
practical techniques
4.1 Identify pitch, keys, time signatures and rhythms within a multi-
instrumental score of three parts
4.2 Accurately complete a multi-instrumental musical score of three parts
4.3 Identify instrument-specific techniques within a multi-instrumental
musical score of three parts

Course Schedule:
Week No. Topic
1 Part 1 – Notation: Note & Rest Symbols & Time Values
(up to x)
2 Part 1 – Notation: Time Signatures (4/4, 2/4, 3/4);
Adding Barlines & Appropriate Time signatures,
Beaming Notes & writing convention
3 Part 1 – Notation: Integration Activity – Rhythmic
reading (clapping) & composition
4 Part 1 – Notation: Notes on the staff (on & & ? up to 1
ledger line and up to 1 # and b), Dynamics,
Articulations, Phrasing
5 Part 2 – Harmony: Major & Minor Scales, Accidentals (#,
b, Natural), Keys (C Major, G Major, F Major)
6 Part 2 – Harmony: Major Scales, Accidentals, Keys (C
Major, G Major, F Major)
7 Part 2 – Harmony: Chords & Intervals (chords &

Prepared by: JL Malgapo, 2019

 arpeggios)
8 Part 1 & 2 Integration – Sight Reading / Sight Singing
simple melodies up to 5ths on both & & ?
9 Part 3 – Band Knowledge – Vocals
10 Part 3 – Band Knowledge – Piano & Keys
11 Part 3 – Band Knowledge – Guitar & Bass
12 Part 3 – Band Knowledge – Drum Kit
13 Integration Activity – Short Composition on 2-3
instruments (simple 4-bar arrangement, must include
Drums)
14 Part 4 – Band Analysis: Vocals, Piano/Keys Notation
15 Part 4 – Band Analysis: Guitar & Bass Notation
16 Part 4 – Band Analysis: Drums Notation
17 Part 4 – Band Analysis: Practice Analysis (Workbook
Example 1)
18 Part 4 – Band Analysis: Practice Analysis (Workbook
Example 2)
19 Part 4 – Band Analysis: Practice Analysis (Workbook
Example 3)
20 Pre-Mock Exam Revision
21 Integration: Mock Exam (Workbook Sample Paper)
22 Integration: Mock Exam Revision

Prepared by: JL Malgapo, 2019