FOUNDATION PROGRAMME 2012-2013

WESTERN MUSIC THEORY (KMMC003a) SYLLABUS

Class information
Meeting time and location:
Mon. 12-1 Starboard Room, Lecture (all students)
Wed. 4-5 Library, Seminar (Group 1)
Wed. 5-6 Library, Seminar (Group 2)
Thurs. 2-3 Library, Seminar (Group 3)
Thurs. 3-4 Library, Seminar (Group 4)

Instructor: Brian Clark

Email: brianclark@kmmc.in
Phone: 96000 61006
Office hours: By Appointment
Required texts: Lecture notes provided on Moodle, kmmc-moodle.osslabs.biz
Required materials: Manuscript paper, lined paper, pencil, eraser

Overview
Welcome to Foundation Western Music Theory! This course is designed as an
intensive introduction to the fundamentals of Western music theory, and assumes no
previous knowledge or experience. The information in each class builds on knowledge
gained in the previous class, so it is imperative that you keep abreast with the material
presented. Each week a new topic or set of topics will be presented and discussed in the
lecture, clarified in seminars, and reinforced and with formative assignments. On
completion of the course the successful student will have acquired knowledge and
understanding of musical features relating to: rhythm and metre, melody and timbre,
simple chord progression and key, instrumentation, orchestration and musical form; and
will be able to recognize and apply theoretical features 18th or 19th-century music.

Assessment
The student’s final mark in KMMC003a will be determined by a one-hour unseen
written test paper to be given at the end of the programme at an assigned date and time.
However, throughout the course of the year, many small formative assignments will be
given.

The final mark will be given in the form of a Middlesex University numerical
grade, from 1-20.
1-4 Distinction
5-8 Merit
9-12 Pass
13-16 Pass
17 Fail – marginal. Compensation allowed
 18 Fail – marginal. Compensation allowed
19 Fail – Compensation not allowed.
20 Fail – Incorporating failure to participate in assessment necessary to
achieve all learning outcomes. Compensation not allowed.

Attendance
All students will be held to KMMC’s policies on attendance and punctuality. If a
student’s attendance falls below 80% he/she may be eligible to receive a grade of
‘X’. If a student is more than 10 minutes late for a class, he/she will be considered
absent and may not be allowed entry to the classroom.

SCHEDULE

Week 1 (27/8) Pitch, Staff, Clef

Week 2 (3/9) Rhythm
Week 3 (10/9) Simple Meter
Week 4 (17/9) Review of weeks 1-3
Week 5 (24/9) Major/minor scales
Week 6 (1/10) Key Signatures
Week 7 (8/10) Intervals
Week 8 (15/10) Review of weeks 5-7
Week 9 (22/10) Compound Meter
Week 10 (29/10) Tempo, Mood, Dynamics
Week 11 (5/11) Triads and Seventh Chords
Week 12 (12/11) DIWALI
Week 12 (19/11) Diatonic Harmony
Week 13 (26/11) Review of weeks 9-12
Week 14 (3/12) Review of Semester 1
EXAM WEEK (10/12-17/12)
Week 15 (7/1) Figured Bass
Week 16 (14/1) Voice Leading
Week 17 (21/1) Review of Weeks 14-15
Week 18 (28/1) Harmonic Progressions
Week 19 (4/2) Cadences
Week 20 (11/2) Review of week 17-18
Week 21 (18/2) Modulation
Week 22 (25/2) Secondary dominants
Week 23 (4/3) Review of weeks 21-22
Week 24 (11/3) Syncopation and hemiola
Week 25 (1/4) Non-chord Tones
Week 26 (8/4) Irregular Meters
Week 27 (15/4) Review of weeks 24-26
Week 28 (22/4) Review of Semester 2
EXAM WEEK (29/4-13/5)