MUST 112 Fall 14

Music Theory II Fall 2014

Announcements, links, and information. As I add new posts, the old post will move down the page.
Syllabus

12/4/14 Information for the Final Exam

I hope our review day in class was helpful today. Thank you for your feedback on the questionnaire. I received good constructive feedback that will help me make my future classes better. I really appreciate your help.

If you would like more help to prepare for the final exam, I have time on Tuesday, the study day, to do a study session, or to meet with people individually. Drop me an email if you are interested in either of these things.

Here the information for what to expect on the Final Exam:

  • Part Writing with six-four chords (Part B from Test 1)
  • Part Writing with V7 and specified complete and incomplete (Part C from Test 1)
  • Part Writing with cadences and specified soprano scale degrees (Part A from Test 2)
  • Figured Bass Part Writing with secondary dominants, etc. (Part D from Test 3)
  • Part Writing Secondary Dominants (Part C from Test 3)
  • Part Writing 2 Harmonic Sequences (1 Cof5 and 1 Descending 3rds) (Part A from Test 3)
  • Piano music Analysis with waltz texture (Part F from Test 2)
    • Analyze with roman numerals, identify two cadences and a six-four chord type.
  • Your ability to part write other seventh chords (supertonic 7th and leading-tone 7th) is incorporated into the above part writing tasks.
  • Some bonus questions. Read over the ones on all three tests.
Let me know if you have any questions, or would like a study session or and individual meeting with me.
See you on Thursday 12/11 at 11:30am!
David

11/20/14 Last Homework and Test on 12/2

Thank you for taking the online quiz. You all had some insightful thoughts, and I hope it was helpful in solidifying ideas around Secondary Dominants for you.

The homework I assigned today (due Tuesday 11/25) is

  •      p. 143 Exercise 2
  •      p. 144 Exercise 4 (figured bass in m. 3 on half note should be 6/4)

We will use the coming Tuesday class for review and preparing for Test No. 3.

Test No. 3 is on Tuesday 12/2 and it will be over Chapters 16 and 17. Practice harmonic sequences and secondary dominants. What is on the test:

  1. Part Write 3 specific harmonic sequences (like on our harmonic sequences homework). Make sure you have the chord progressions for Descending Circle of 5ths and Descending 3rds memorized.
  2. Two short analyses (with key and RNs) where you will need to tell what specific harmonic sequence is occurring.
  3. Multiple Two-chord part writings with secondary dominants in root position and inversions.
  4. One long figured bass part writing with secondary dominants.
Let me know if you have any questions.

See you on Tuesday!
David

11/18/14 Chapter 17 Videos and Online Quiz by Thursday

I hope you enjoyed looking at the introduction to Beethoven’s First Symphony in class today. Please watch the videos and complete the online quiz before Thursday.

Here are the videos for Chapter 17 and the UHOs:

Once you have watched the videos, please take the quiz by going here.

Be aware that these are the first videos I made at the end of last fall semester in my experiment with an inverted classroom. I made no reference to the textbook and did not play any examples. I also did not part write any inversions. Make sure you
practice those. Apply forward our part writing guidelines for inversions of V7.

See you on Thursday!
David

11/11/14 Project Day on Thursday

I hope you enjoyed listening to and talking about Eric Whitacre’s Sleep. You all had wonderful things to say. Here are the recordings I played in class. And here’s the version using the Frost poem.

Remember that the project is due next class. Make sure you put it into Finale in the computer lab. Print it out, write in your analysis, be thorough, and make a sound file of the music to email me or bring to class on a flash drive. Read about layers to make multiple parts happen on one staff.

Let me know if you are having trouble or have any questions.

See you on Thursday!
David

11/6/14 Chapter 16 HW and Quiz; Project

Today I assigned the homework for Chapter 16. It is due on 11/18 after we do our project day. We will also have a quiz next class on Harmonic Sequences. Be prepared to do 2 harmonic sequences in 10 minutes (1 Descending Circle of 5ths and 1 Descending Thirds). Pachelbel rant?

Today was the last official day I will look at your project in class before the day we hear them in class on Thursday, 11/13. I can make some time on Tuesday to look at projects for those of you who were gone because of the band trip. Make sure you make any final corrections, put it into Finale, and make sure you print and fully analyze your piece (Keys, RNs, NCTs, cadences, six-four chord types, etc.) Also, please export a soundfile, email me a copy or bring it on a jump drive, so I can play soundfiles of your pieces rather me butcher-sightread them. There is no Finale on the classroom computers.

Let me know if you have any questions. I am happy to look at your project again during office hours. Net class we are going to analyze some music.

See you on Tuesday!
David

10/30/14 Chapter 16 Videos and Continue Working on the Project

I hope you enjoyed finding the harmonic sequences in class today in various musical examples.  We will work on writing sequences in class on Thursday with the homework. Remember that we don’t have class on Tuesday because of Election Day. Make sure you vote!

Keep working on the project, and please have the final plagal cadence included for class on Thursday. I am enjoying seeing your steady progress through your compositions.

Let me know what you would like my help with to make sure you succeed on the third test and the final exam. Part Writing? Chord Recognition? Roman numeral quality memorization? Analysis? etc?

Here are the videos, etc. for Chapter 16:

Musical Examples from class today:

See you on Thursday!
David

10/16/14 Chapter 15 Video and Project Phrase 3 for Next Class

I hope you enjoyed looking at the first prelude from Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier today in class. A great place to find beautifully resolved chordal sevenths.

I am pleased with your progress on the composition project. Make sure you write your third phrase for Tuesday.

Here is the Chapter 15 Video, etc.

Have a good fall break. Remember that Test No. 2 is on Tuesday, October 28 covering Chapters 10, 14, and 15.

See you on Tuesday!
David

10/14/14 Homework due Thursday, Continue with Project

I hope today’s quiz and Chopin waltz analysis were helpful practice for you today. Your projects are doing well so far. Make sure you stay on top of the project (I will look at the next phrase on Thursday). Remember that the homework is due Thursday (10/16).

See you on Thursday!
David

10/9/14 Other Triads Homework, Quiz, and the Project

Here is the information on the homework due Thursday.

There will be a quiz next class on vi and iii. Expect I vi IV V I, I iii IV V I, V VI, and V7 VI.

Today in class I explained some about the Composition Project, which is due on Thursday, Nov 13. Built into the project this time is regular feedback from me on how it is going. So please make sure you stay current on the project as it goes. This will ensure your success.

Use my example as a guide. Note that I have mixed SATB and keyboard style, but the voice leading should be good. (I wrote a little piece I thought you should be able to do, and then made a list of steps for you to create something similar.)

See you on Tuesday!
David

10/7/14 Chapter 14 Videos and Today’s Activity

I hope everyone enjoyed figuring out common pop/rock chord progressions involving vi in class today. Like classical period music, popular music in its many genres uses a common set of progressions to create a wealth of music.
Here are the videos for Chapter 14:
More on the pop music progressions:
We will work on homework next class, and have a quiz on Tuesday.
See you on Thursday!
David

10/2/14 Continued Work on Cadences

I hope today’s classes dedicated to helping you get better at what you specifically need was helpful. Remember that the homework is due on Tuesday (10/7), when we will start the next chapter on the rest of the diatonic triads.

Let me know if you would like to meet with me individually. Have a good weekend.

See you on Tuesday!
David

9/30/14 Cadences Homework and Quiz

The homework we did in class today (workbook pp. 89-32) is due next Tuesday (10/7).  There will be an open-note quiz on part writing cadences next class (10/2) that looks like Excercise 2 from the homework. You will have 10 minutes.

The rest of class next time will be self-directed time where you can do any of three things.

  1. Continue work on the homework (I will be able to answer questions or go over things you have trouble with).
  2. Practice Analysis (I will come with one or two things to work on).
  3. Practice Part Writing (Make sure you have the basics and can write accurately and quickly.
So you can choose what things you need to increase your skill and fluency with.
See you on Thursday!
David

9/25/14
Chapter 10 Videos and Quiz Next Week

Thank you for your thoughts on the in-class questionnaire today. I’m glad you seem to all like this method. Some of you asked for small lectures and examples in class to guide you more clearly. I am happy to do these. I think I did a small one like this in class today. In the future when we start an activity or homework, I can give a small lecture to those who want it, while those who would rather ignore me can go straight to the homework or activity. Please remind me to do this if I forget. If you were not in class today, and would like an opportunity to fill out the questionnaire to give me your input, follow this link.

I hope today’s cadence hunting was helpful in getting you to listen for cadences and then use your eyes to confirm them. As you all know, music is for the ears and they are our guides in music theory.

Here are the videos for Chapter 10:
Video 1: Cadences Information
Video 2: Part Writing Cadences
Cadences Powerpoint
Cadences Part Writing Examples
Voi che sapete score (pp.63-65)
Recording from class

Let me know if you have any questions. We will be working on the homework next time in class. There will be a quiz on your ability to part write cadences next Thursday.

See you on Tuesday!
David

9/18/14

Preparing for Test No. 1

I hope today’s work with part writing was helpful to prepare you for our test on Tuesday over Chapters 7-9. Here is a list of thing you should be able to do and practice.

  1. Know how to part write and identify the main three six-four chord types (neighbor, passing, and cadential). Make sure you include both the roman numeral and the type label (N64, etc.) when you label these chords.
  2. Know how to part write and identify V7 (in root position: C-IN, IN-C, C-C) and in inversions (V65, V43, V42).
  3. Know how to part write and identify vi6.
  4. Know how to write and identify all information from Theory I (Chapters A-F and 1-6), including:
    • Know your diatonic triads and seventh chords in major and minor.
    • Know that Ti needs an accidental in minor keys in V and vi6.
    • Know Root Position Part Writing:
      • Root Movement by 5th (1 CT and 2 steps)
      • Root Movement by 3rd (2 CTs and 1 step)
      • Root Movement by 2nd (No CTs; contrary motion rule!)
    • Know how to write with first inversion triads (I-I6 w/ voice exchange, I-V6-I, ii6-V, etc.)
    • Know our limited harmonic pallette: I, I6, V, V6, IV, IV6, ii, ii6. We’ve added six-fours, V7, and vi6.
    • Know how to identify all nonchord tones.
    • Know how to use figured bass (But know that there will be no figured bass on this test!)
Also, here is a pdf of the part writing handout I gave you today.
 
Let me know if you have any questions, and remember that the Theory GA, Tobi, has his regular study session tonight at 8:30pm in CMUS 313.
 
See you on Tuesday!
David

9/16/14
Chapter 9 Video and Review Day for Test

I’m sorry that I did not get to working with everyone on part writing today. I really wanted to make sure I got a chance to see everyone’s long part writing from the homework, which was good information for me on where everyone is with this skill. Thank you for your patience.

Now in the mean time, you need to know how vii°6  works. Here’s the stuff for that, and other practice materials.

Remember that Test No. 1 is next Tuesday (9/23). It is over Chapters 7-9 (6/4 chords, V7, & vii°6). Make sure you can follow all the specific guidelines for these specific chords while part writing quickly. In class next time, I will give you medium and long part writing to practice together. Here are a few examples to practice if you have time.
  • I I6 IV V I
  • I V64 I6 ii6 I64 V7 I IV64 I
  • vii°6 i6
  • I IV V7 I
  • i V43 i6 V7 i
  • etc.
Let me know if you have any questions or need help.
 
See you on Thursday!
David

9/11/14
Homework due Tuesday and Next Week

Our quiz today is a good marker for how quickly you should be able to part write six two-chord progressions. So make sure you are following my specific voice leadings rather than trying to be creative. Then practice them over and over for speed. The test will measure (among other things) your ability to follow the specific ways I have shown you to write six-four chords, dominant seventh chords, etc. I want you all to be able to complete our first test with time to spare.

So the homework I assigned on Tuesday is due next class (Tuesday 9/16). Here is the pdf of the Haydn that goes with it, and the recording I played in class. We will go over it at the beginning of class next time.

I hope my short lectures on figured bass and part writing today were helpful in ways to think about and understand these tools we use in theory class. Please review my online theory resource to make sure you understand all you need to remember about various things covered in Theory I.

As I said in class, we will spend the next two classes going over Chaper 9 (vii°6) and going over how to create successful longer part writings out the shorter examples we are more comfortable with. This will prepare us for the test the following Tuesday (9/23/14).

Also, I mentioned an article I coauthored on part writing pedagogy over the summer, and some of you expressed interest in reading it. You can find it here.

Let me know if you have any questions or need help.

See you on Tuesday!
David

9/4/14
Chapter 8 Videos

I hope you enjoyed looking the Beethoven minuet today in class. Compare how Beethoven part writies his V7 chords with what I teach you in the videos. Please have ideas next time (9/9) about what you want to go over or review on Thursday next week (9/11).

Here are the videos and the related links:

Please watch the videos and practice the patterns I give you in preparation for doing the homework in class next time (Tuesday, 9/9). There will be a short quiz in class on part writing V7 on Thusrday, (9/11).

If you need help with figured bass, Roman numerals and any information from Theory I, please use my online resouce, Flippin’ Theory!, to review. You and I can also set up a meeting time for me to help you, if needed.

 
See you on Tuesday!
David

9/2/14
Homework due Next Class

I hope you all liked today’s class dedicated to working on the homework. It is due on Thursday (9/4) at the beginning of class. We will go over it then.

Follow this link to see the assignment.
Here is the Uchida recording of the Mozart Sonata. (Listening will help you find the six-four chords.)

Next time, we will begin three days on V7. The first day (9/4) will be an activity with a Beethoven piano minuet. Then you will watch the Chapter 8 videos at home. Day two (9/9) will be homework in class. Day three (9/11) will be an activity to be named later. At some point in these three days there will be an online or in-class quiz.

See you on Thursday!

David

8/28/14

Chapter 7 Videos and Online Quiz

Now that we have done our analysis activity in class, here are the four videos on Six-Four Chords for you to watch and expand your knowledge of labeling and part writing these chords.

Video 1 (Intro)
Video 2 (Neighbor)
Video 3 (Passing)
Video 4 (Cadential)

Please watch them as needed until you are comfortable with the information. When you are ready,take this online quiz to confirm your learning. Remember that you can use the videos, your book, and notes as you take the quiz. The deep thinking questions do not have right or wrong answers.  The quiz is due by the beginning of next class (9/2). Like all other quizzes this semester, it will be graded on participation.

To help you study, here are links to the powerpoint I used in the videos, as well as the musical examples and a pdf of the part writing I did.

Six-Four Chords Powerpoint
Example 7.1
Example 7.3b
Example 7.5
Example 7.8
Mr. Kulma’s Part Writing

We will spend the rest of next class working on the homework, and I can do a short review at the beginning of class for those who need it.

See you on Tuesday!
David