Music Theory

Theory/Comprehensive Musicianship

Covers music theory from preparatory to “advanced” level theory. This course is designed to prepare students for their annual Certificate of Merit exams in February/March. Text and materials will depend on student’s current theory knowledge. Admittance to this class is by through instructor recommendation. All CM students must be enrolled in the current year Certificate of Merit program by a MTAC member instructor. These classes will include but are not limited to:

  • All aspects of music theory with emphasis on keyboard theory
  • Ear-Training
  • Sight-singing
  • Dictation
  • Music History and introduction to performance practices of various periods.

Class size limited to six students. Required text: Basics of Keyboard Theory – Julie Johnson or Fundamentals of Piano Theory, Snell/Ashleigh, KJOS publications. These are usually kept in stock and are available for purchase. Classes meet weekly and are 1-hour.

AP Music Theory Exam Preparation

This course is designed to prepare high school students for the College Board’s Advance Placement Music Theory Exam offered every year in May. No local high schools offer a preparatory class for this exam.

  • Designed for students who want to pursue music as a major or minor in college or simply gain college credit while still in high school.
  • Test preparation includes an in depth study of all aspects of first year college-level music theory, ear-training and dictation.
  • Class size limited to six students.
  • Classes are one hour weekly
  • Required text: Music in Theory & Practice & accompanying Workbook, Beward & Saker, published by McGraw-Hill along with workbook
  • Other suggested materials: A New Approach to Sight-Singing (4th ed), Berkowitz, Frontrier & Kraft, publicshed by W.W. Norton & Co., Inc.; Ear Training: A Technique for Listening (6th edition), Benward & Kolosick, published by McGraw-Hill Higher Education
  • Pre-requisites: Must read music in treble and bass clefs (other clefs are a plus), play an instrument or sing, be currently enrolled in private or group music lessons or play in school band/orchestra and have a solid understanding of the basics music theory such as tonality, intervals, musical terminology and notation. Previous experience in MTAC Certificate of Merit exams through level 6 (minimum) is highly recommended.
  • The AP Music Theory test covers all of the work in first-year college theory – the basics of music theory plus writing bass lines to a given melody, realization of figured bass, realization of Roman numeral chord progressions, sight singing, melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic dictation, and formal analysis. Therefore, a serious commitment and dedication to the study of music theory is expected of all students enrolled in this class.

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