MUSIC THEORY PAGE
of Michael Kallstrom
email: michael.kallstrom@wku.edu
Department of Music
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1029

Scroll to the bottom of the page for the Fundamentals of Music packet and other links.

You may download and print the following .pdf files:


Theory Notes (blank page)

        Blank 10 stave music manuscript paper (New! With wider spaced lines!)

Blank 12 stave music manuscript paper



Homework Assignments
- check here for daily assignments. Updated on a regular basis
but remember - it is the responsibility of the student to obtain any missed homework assignments BEFORE the next class meeting, even if the assignment is not posted here.


MUS 500 Theory Seminar

For Tuesday, June 9:

A. You will need to use NotePad or one of the Finale computer notation programs for this class. Finale is installed on the computers in the music lab. Or you can download Notepad here for $9.95:

http://www.finalemusic.com/notepad/

PrintMusic and Allegro are also good programs but cost more:

http://makemusic.com/notation_software.aspx

Please DO NOT use Sibelius unless you can save the files as a pdf.

B. Go to my music theory webpage and scroll to the bottom. Download and print the first chapter on Clef and Pitch Names and the Pitch Worksheet under Fundamentals of Music. This is a packet designed to prepare entering freshmen for the music major theory sequence.

1.    For what age groups would this material be appropriate? How might is need to be modified or supplemented?
2.    Using NotePad or one of the Finale programs, create your own worksheet for high school students and one for students in the 5th grade.

C. Go to http://www.musictheory.net/index.html
1. click on Trainers
2. click on Note Trainer
3. on the right, click on Settings
4. enable all clefs by clicking on them
5. drag the top and bottom notes in each staff so they move to one ledger line above and below the staff.
6. click on Settings again
7. identify the note on the staff by clicking on the correct letter name below.

 Go to http://www.musictheory.net/index.html
1. click on Trainers
2. click on Keyboard Trainer
3. on the right, click Black Keys ON, DO NOT click on Toggle Helpers
4. click New Key
5. practice identifying the notes.

For what age groups would this online material be appropriate?


D. Find three other websites or online materials that teach pitch identification and/or pitch keyboard training.
    1. Write a review for each including pros, cons, what could be improved and age suitability. We will visit these websites in class.
   

E. Go to http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/appendix/clefs/Clefs.html

    1. Which of these clefs are still in common use and by what instruments and/or voices?

F. Go to
http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/appendix/pitch/pitch.html

1.    Notice that middle c is designated as c1. Find another system of designating pitches and octaves.
2.    For what age might the use of an octave designation system be appropriate?

G. Go to http://www.good-ear.com/servlet/EarTrainer

1.    Try the perfect pitch ear training exercises.
2.    What is the difference between relative pitch and perfect pitch?
3.    Do you think perfect pitch training would be useful in K-5, middle school, high school, college?



For Wednesday, June 10:

A. Go to my music theory webpage

http://www.wku.edu/~michael.kallstrom/musictheory.html

and scroll to the bottom. Download and print the chapters on Spelling Major and Minor Scales, and the Scales Worksheet under Fundamentals of Music.
1.    For what age groups would this material be appropriate? How might is need to be modified or supplemented?

B. Go to http://www.musictheory.net/index.html
1.    go to the Lessons on major scales, minor scales and scale degrees.
2.    for whom might these lessons be appropriate?
3.    go to the Trainers and try the Scale Ear Trainer. Notice it includes modes.


C. Find three other websites or online materials that teach scales and modes.
1.    Write a review for each including pros, cons, what could be improved and age suitability. We will visit these websites in class.

D. Find at least one website that teaches the whole tone scale, one that teaches the pentatonic scale and one that teaches the octatonic scale.
1.    Write a review for each including pros, cons, what could be improved and age suitability.

For Thursday, June 11:

A. Go to http://www.musictheory.net/index.html
1.    go to the Lessons on Note Durations, Measure and Time Signatures,       Simple and Compound Meter and Odd Meter.
2.    Review the explanation of Time Signatures and Meter.

B. Find three other websites or online materials that teach rhythm and meter.
1. Write a review for each including pros, cons, what could be improved and age suitability.

C. Go to http://teoria.com/exercises/ritmo-ear.htm
1.    Try the exercises on Time Signatures and Rhythmic Dictation.
2.    Review these exercises. For whom are they appropriate?

 D. Using Notepad or Finale, devise your own document explaining simple and compound meter. Make your explanation suitable for young children.

E. Listen to these works on Naxos Music Library (go here to log in: http://www.wku.edu/library/deansoffice/online.htm ) and determine the meter for each:
1.    7035 Tchaikovsky: Symphony  No.6, “Pathetique”, 2nd movement
2.    8.557821-22 Bartok, Mikrokosmos (complete), no. 153
3.    BIS-CD-1400 Villa-Lobos: Bachianas brasileiras No.9, 2nd movement
4.    8.550193 Holst: Planets (The), Mars
5.    8.559099 Bernstein: Symphony No.2, Variation X



For Monday, June 15:


A. Go to my theory webpage: http://www.wku.edu/~michael.kallstrom/musictheory.html and download the pdf “music theory quickfacts.”
Study the first page that reviews basics of diatonic harmony.

B. Go to http://www.sjc.cc.nm.us/pages/4424.asp and click on Music Seven – Diatonic chords in Major and Minor Keys, Harmonic analysis.
Go to slide 20 and do the harmonic analysis. Be sure to pause the slide or it advance to the answers in the next slide. Do the same with slide 22.

C. Go to my theory webpage and download the pdf file Mozart-Sonata in C major in the MUS 500 section of the page.
Give a Roman numeral analysis of mm.1-18.

D. Find three websites or online materials that teach 4-part writing with diatonic triads and seventh chords.
1.    Write a review for each including pros, cons, what could be improved and age suitability.

E. Go to my theory webpage and download the pdf file Basic Chord Symbols in the MUS 500 section of the page.
Give a chord symbol analysis of the harmonies on the second page.

Click here for the Basic Chord Symbols.

Click here for the Mozart-Sonata in C.


For Tuesday, June 16:

A. Find three websites or online materials that teach secondary (applied) dominants and secondary (applied) diminished seventh chords.
1.    Write a review for each including pros, cons, what could be improved and age suitability.

B. Find at least one site where you can download a chromatic harmony worksheet. You may have to search for chromatic harmony, applied chords, secondary dominants, etc.

C. Give an analysis of the following examples from the Secondary Dominants and Diminished Seventh handout:
1.    pg. 1, Beethoven, mm. 6-14
2.    pg. 3, Beethoven, mm.1-5
3.    pg. 4, Symphony No. 40, mm. 1-4
4.    pg. 6, Mozart, mm.1-6
5.    pg. 9,  Beethoven, mm.6-9
6.    pg. 12, Schubert, mm.9-16

For Wednesday, June 17:

A. Review this page (nos. 1-3) on the origin of Augmented Sixth chords:
http://www.sfcmtheory.com/harmony_supplements/chap_29.htm

B. Find three websites or online materials that teach Borrowed/Modal Mixture chords, Neapolitan 6th,or Augmented Sixth chords.
1.    Write a review for each including pros, cons, what could be improved and age suitability.

C. Give an analysis of the following examples from the Chromatic Chords handout:
2.    pg. 3,  Brahms, mm.1-6
3.    pg. 4, Beethoven, mm. 1-4
4.    pg. 10, Mozart, mm.1-4
5.    pg. 11, Beethoven, mm.1-9

D. Go to  http://www.musescore.org/  and click on Downloads to the right. If you have a Mac, there is a “alpha” test version you can download. This is a freeware music notation program.
1.    Write a review including pros, cons, what could be improved and age suitability.

For Thursday, June 18:

A. Find three websites or online materials that teach Musical Phrase and Period. You may also want to search for Musical Form.
1.    Write a review for each including pros, cons, what could be improved and age suitability.

B. Examine the following examples for the handout. For each, Give a Roman numeral analysis and classify the period structures as:
1.    Symmetrical or Asymmetrical
2.    Parallel or Contrasting
3.    Modulating or Non-modulating

FINAL PROJECT

1.    Develop an age appropriate music fundamentals sequence that is primarily based on internet web resources that may include the following:

•    Pitch and Clefs
•    Scales
•    Key Signatures
•    Triads
•    Intervals
•    Rhythm   
•    Meter
•    Basic 4-part writing and use of triads in inversion

2.    The sequence should be designed primarily for independent study with some supervision by the instructor. Each section of the sequence should include:
•    a short written introduction by the instructor
•    web-based study and practice assignments
•    progress assessment.

3.    Include specific guidelines on what material is to be studied on each website and step-by-step instructions on how to navigate the web page. Devise a way for the student to document the completion of each online assignment.

4.    For each topic, create your own written tool that will assess the student’s progress. This may include written assignments and creative activities or games, as well as performance assignments.

5.    Use at least two websites for each topic and at least six different web sites overall.

6.    Devise a final project that involves the composition of a short piece using the elements covered in the sequence in a creative manner. If appropriate, the student should complete this project using computer-notation software.








MUS 100





MUS 101




MUS 200



MUS 201




MUS 407 Orchestration



MUS 405 Choral Arranging




MUS 500 Theory Seminar




MUS 201 Sonatina files


MUS 201 sonatina-1st theme and transition

MUS 201 sonatina-2nd theme and closing

MUS 201 sonatina-development section

MUS 201 sonatina-recap




Download this .pdf file for a three-page, quick review of music theory:

music theory quick facts


This link will take you to a very good website for fundamentals. There are lessons and practice sessions.


http://www.musictheory.net/

You can download this program to use without going online here:

http://www.musictheory.net/downloads.html


FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC

(theory packet for entering freshmen - click on each topic to download the pdf file)

1. Clef and Pitch Names
2. Pitch Worksheet
3. Accidentals, Half steps and Whole Steps
4. Half Steps and Whole Steps Worksheet
5. Major Key Signatures
6. Minor Key Signatures
7. Key Signatures Worksheet
8. Spelling Major Scales
9. Spelling Major Scales - part 2
10. Major Scales in Treble Clef
11. Major Scales in Bass Clef
12. Spelling Minor Scales
13. Spelling Minor Scales- part 2
14. Natural Minor Scales in Treble Clef
15. Natural Minor Scales in Bass Clef
16. Harmonic Minor Scales in Treble Clef
17. Harmonic Minor Scales in Bass Clef
18. Melodic Minor Scales in Treble Clef
19. Melodic Minor Scales in Bass Clef
20. Scales Worksheet
21. Spelling Intervals
22. Intervals Worksheet
23. Spelling Triads
24. Major Triads in Treble Clef
25. Triads Worksheet
26. Rhythm and Duration
27. Rhythm and Duration Worksheet
28. Meter
29. Meter Worksheet






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