Pleasantville High School

Ms. Destiny McDaniel 2023-2024

Email: mcdanidm@dukes.jmu.edu B Days
Office Hours: By Appointment 2:20-3:30pm

Course Description:

This course is designed to offer a comprehensive exploration of the fundamental principles in the
structure and understanding of all music through listening, analysis, and practice. While the
course primarily focuses on Western classical music traditions, students will also explore music
from diverse cultural traditions around the world. By engaging with music from different
cultures, students will develop a broader perspective on the universal principles of music and its
role in society. This course is designed for students who are passionate about music and seek to
deepen their understanding of its theoretical foundations. Whether students aspire to pursue
music at the collegiate level or simply wish to enhance their musical literacy and appreciation,
AP Music Theory provides a rigorous and enriching educational experience.

Course Objectives:
➔ HMT.1 The student will demonstrate creative thinking by composing & arranging music.
➔ HMT.2 The student will apply a creative process for music.
➔ HMT.3 The student will analyze, interpret, and evaluate music.
➔ HMT.4 The student will formulate and justify personal responses to music.
➔ HMT.6 The student will explore historical and cultural influences of music.
➔ HMT.11 The student will analyze and explain relationships of music to the other fine arts
and to other fields of knowledge.
➔ HMT.12 The student will demonstrate understanding of the musical staff and pitch
locations in keyboard and notation activities.
➔ HMT.13 The student will identify and define common music symbols and terminology,
including those associated with rhythm, melody, harmony, dynamics, texture, and form.
➔ HMT.14 The student will demonstrate understanding of meter
➔ HMT.15 The student will demonstrate understanding of scales.
➔ HMT.16 The student will demonstrate understanding of key signatures.
➔ HMT.17 The student will demonstrate understanding of diatonic and chromatic intervals

Required Materials:

- Choice of note taking materials

- Folder/Binder for handouts
Attendance Policy:

Students will earn a daily participation grade based on their attendance and effort during class
activities. A participation grade of 100% will be awarded to those who demonstrate their best
effort during each lecture. Students who are absent from school will be exempt from the daily
participation grade for that day. Students who are absent from class will have the opportunity to
make up missed work. Upon returning to school, students will be given two classes to complete
any missing assignments or activities from the days they were absent.

Note: The attendance policy is designed to maintain fairness and accountability within our
organization while recognizing the diverse needs and circumstances of our members. If you
anticipate challenges in meeting these attendance expectations, please communicate with me as
soon as possible to discuss possible accommodations.

Grading Policy:

In this class we will engage in a type of contract grading called rubric based ungrading. With this
type of grading system, our primary focus is on the process of learning without the stress of
wondering what grade you will earn. This means we are working strictly on a
complete/incomplete basis. If you complete an assignment you will receive a 2, but if you need
to redo or add to any part of your assignment you will receive a 1. This means you have the
option to redo assignments that are submitted on time if content is missing or not completed to
your best ability according to the grade you have contracted for. Your final grade will be
assigned based on the number of completed assignments. The total possible completed
assignments/actual completed assignments will be what determines your final grade. A missing
or incomplete final exam will result in the final contracted grade being reduced by one letter
grade. I accept late work as long as it has been communicated appropriately with me that an
assignment will be late. Extensions are always available to students but must be communicated
24 HOURS in advance.

An extension will not be given for the final exam nor will it be accepted late.

Grading Rubric:

Criteria Description Points

Missing No submission 0

Incomplete/Redo One or more components are missing or require edits 1

 Complete All components are completes 2

Course Outline:

➔ Unit 1:
Music Fundamentals I: Pitch, Major Scale, Key Signatures, Rhythm, Meter, and
Expressive Elements
● Weeks 1-4
● Assignments:
○ Play: beat vs. rhythm game
○ Quiz: on major scales and key signatures
○ Play: expressive element charades

➔ Unit 2:
Music Fundamentals II: Minor Scales and Key Signatures, Melody, Timbre, and
Texture
● Weeks 5-8
● Assignments:
○ Create: a major vs. minor mood board
○ Listen: to recordings of different instruments playing the same excerpt
○ Write: a familiar melody in a different style or genre.

➔ Unit 3:
Music Fundamentals III: Triads and Seventh Chords
● Weeks 9-12
● Assignments:
○ Listen: to David Newman’s SOL TI RE FA Dominant 7 Song
○ Identify: if the excerpt includes triads or seventh chords

➔ Unit 4:
Harmony and Voice Leading I: Chord Function, Cadence, and Phrase
● Weeks 13-16
● Assignments:
○ Create: chord progression mad libs
○ Play: harmonic hot potato
○ Analysis: the phrase structure of a popular work

➔ Unit 5:
Harmony and Voice Leading II: Chord Progressions and Predominant Function
● Weeks 17-20
 ● Assignments:
○ Listen: to David Newman’s Chord Spelling Song
○ Play: chord progression bingo
○ Write: a harmonic analysis essay

➔ Unit 6:
Harmony and Voice Leading III: Embellishments, Motives, and Melodic Devices
● Weeks 21-24
● Assignments:
○ Listen: to a piece of music and identify the type of embellishments used
○ Create: a motif, the class will combine and make one composition

➔ Unit 7:
Harmony and Voice Leading IV: Secondary Function
● Weeks 25-27
● Assignments:
○ Listen: to excerpts of music and identify instances of secondary function
chords

➔ Unit 8:
Modes and Forms
● Weeks 28-30
● Assignments:
○ Create: a mode exploration presentation.
○ Create: a 32 bar composition in a mode that also shows an understanding
of form.
➔ Test Review
● Weeks 31-33
➔ FINAL EXAM
● May 15th, 2024 at 12pm