Summer Work for AP Music Theory
As with many Advanced Placement courses, summer preparation is required. We have much content to cover during the year including extensive aural training; therefore, students are required to do preparatory work prior to the first day of classes.
On the second day of class, there will be a diagnostic test. Only those students who demonstrate a functional understanding in each skill area will stay in the class. Those who are cut from the class will need to make schedule changes. The test will require some summer study from you, even if you already have a strong music theory background. The next pages contain a list of topics that will be covered on the test as well as several Internet sources for you to consult for instruction and practice questions. I strongly urge you to master these concepts. DO NOT wait until the day before to look at this. There is a lot of information to cover. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or for any help you may need.
Email Mrs. Hampton with any questions: [email protected]
Good luck in your preparation.
As with many Advanced Placement courses, summer preparation is required. We have much content to cover during the year including extensive aural training; therefore, students are required to do preparatory work prior to the first day of classes.
On the second day of class, there will be a diagnostic test. Only those students who demonstrate a functional understanding in each skill area will stay in the class. Those who are cut from the class will need to make schedule changes. The test will require some summer study from you, even if you already have a strong music theory background. The next pages contain a list of topics that will be covered on the test as well as several Internet sources for you to consult for instruction and practice questions. I strongly urge you to master these concepts. DO NOT wait until the day before to look at this. There is a lot of information to cover. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or for any help you may need.
Email Mrs. Hampton with any questions: [email protected]
Good luck in your preparation.
Summer Work and Test Preparation
Entrance Test Expectations
You will be expected to do the following:
How to Prepare
In order to prepare for this test, I have given you a page organized by topic for what you need to study and practice on two different websites. There are required assignments and quizzes on Edmodo which must be completed before school starts. Email Mrs. Hampton if you need information about using Edmodo.com.
John Steffa’s Introduction to Music Theory
For your primary source of instruction, you should consult the Music Theory website of John Steffa. This website is designed for use as an online course. This is totally free, and there is nothing to download. You will be using the site for instruction and for practice questions that are found at the end of each chapter. If you find yourself in a chapter that you already know, skip to the corresponding quiz on Edmodo and do the practice questions. You can always go back and review material that may be unfamiliar to you.
http://john.steffa.net/IntroToTheory/introduction/ChapterIndex.html
MusicTheory.net
The other source you should consult is www.musictheory.net. This site will be your best source for practicing skills. At this site, you can find lessons (instruction) on several topics, including note reading, rhythmic values, key signatures and scales. You can also find trainers (practice questions) on these topics. You can set the parameters of what you want to practice by choosing you topic and then clicking on the settings button for that trainer. In the Note Identification Exercise, for instance, you can choose which clef you want to practice. In the exercises section, there is no set number of questions. The exercise will keep giving you problems until you use your back button to return to the starting page. This is a great way to build up speed on note reading and key signatures. I have also given you specific assignments on Edmodo (see the last worksheet page) for most of these concepts. Once you complete at least 50 of each exercise and are satisfied with your percentage correct, click on the circled i in the top right corner. From there you will be able to create a verification code or view your progress report. Upload either the verification code or a screen shot of your progress report for Mrs. Hampton to view.
www.musictheory.net
Other helpful sites
You may also wish to consult www.teoria.com, www.emusictheory.com, and http://www3.northern.edu/wieland/theory/tt.htm for lessons and drills on some basic concepts.
Downloadable files
The assignment sheet contains the suggested sequence, assignments and quizzes to guide your summer study. I have listed the specific areas of the websites you should use so that you don’t waste time on material you don’t need. Do each section until you are comfortable. Remember, you need to show competency in each skill area, not be perfect in some and clueless in others. Email me with any problems. Be thorough in your preparation. This looks like an enormous task, but much of it will go quickly, and you probably already know some of it from the music classes/lessons you have had.
Entrance Test Expectations
You will be expected to do the following:
- Identify notes on treble, bass, alto and tenor clefs
- Identify rhythmic symbols and their values
- Demonstrate understanding of meter signatures
- Demonstrate understanding of rhythmic notation and organization
- Notate and identify all major scales
- Notate and identify all three forms of all minor scales
- Identify and notate all major and minor key signatures
- Identify types of scales played from the piano
- Identify rhythm patterns played from the piano
How to Prepare
In order to prepare for this test, I have given you a page organized by topic for what you need to study and practice on two different websites. There are required assignments and quizzes on Edmodo which must be completed before school starts. Email Mrs. Hampton if you need information about using Edmodo.com.
John Steffa’s Introduction to Music Theory
For your primary source of instruction, you should consult the Music Theory website of John Steffa. This website is designed for use as an online course. This is totally free, and there is nothing to download. You will be using the site for instruction and for practice questions that are found at the end of each chapter. If you find yourself in a chapter that you already know, skip to the corresponding quiz on Edmodo and do the practice questions. You can always go back and review material that may be unfamiliar to you.
http://john.steffa.net/IntroToTheory/introduction/ChapterIndex.html
MusicTheory.net
The other source you should consult is www.musictheory.net. This site will be your best source for practicing skills. At this site, you can find lessons (instruction) on several topics, including note reading, rhythmic values, key signatures and scales. You can also find trainers (practice questions) on these topics. You can set the parameters of what you want to practice by choosing you topic and then clicking on the settings button for that trainer. In the Note Identification Exercise, for instance, you can choose which clef you want to practice. In the exercises section, there is no set number of questions. The exercise will keep giving you problems until you use your back button to return to the starting page. This is a great way to build up speed on note reading and key signatures. I have also given you specific assignments on Edmodo (see the last worksheet page) for most of these concepts. Once you complete at least 50 of each exercise and are satisfied with your percentage correct, click on the circled i in the top right corner. From there you will be able to create a verification code or view your progress report. Upload either the verification code or a screen shot of your progress report for Mrs. Hampton to view.
www.musictheory.net
Other helpful sites
You may also wish to consult www.teoria.com, www.emusictheory.com, and http://www3.northern.edu/wieland/theory/tt.htm for lessons and drills on some basic concepts.
Downloadable files
The assignment sheet contains the suggested sequence, assignments and quizzes to guide your summer study. I have listed the specific areas of the websites you should use so that you don’t waste time on material you don’t need. Do each section until you are comfortable. Remember, you need to show competency in each skill area, not be perfect in some and clueless in others. Email me with any problems. Be thorough in your preparation. This looks like an enormous task, but much of it will go quickly, and you probably already know some of it from the music classes/lessons you have had.
Assignment Sheet
summertheorywork2015.pdf |