music theory class?

Question

has any one taken the music theory course in high school? i'm taking it sophomore year. how was it and how much do you need to know at the beginning?
i played violin in elementary school and through most of jr. high so i picked up some stuff from that. i play guitar now, and i just started learning piano (never too late huh?) to learn more, but i barely know any scales and i'm horrible at telling notes by ear, so i'm just worried i'm going to fall way behind.

to be honest i'm really good at math, but i'm not good at applying music theory with math. i mean, i've heard of like the Pythagorean theorem applying to music and all these other things. maybe i need to read into it more.

Answer 1

I took theory in both High School and College. What they should really call it is Music as a language along with how to read fixed Bass. Back in the Baroque era, the Harpsichord played along with the orchestra, and the director of the orchestra was generally the one playing harpsichord. They didn't necessarily write out a part for the harpsichord however. What they did instead, was to write out these Roman Numerals underneath the measures, and the keyboard player would simply look at the patterns and play along. Now, we use those same numerals to analyze music and write four part harmonies. If you want to get a head start on music theory, there are any number of helpful sites online that will get you started and keep you ahead of the power curve. I'll post a few links below to send you on your way.

there you go. Let me know when you need more. I think this will keep you busy for the rest of the summer however. Take an extra long look at Gilbert DiBenedetti's site. I think you will find it extremely helpful.

Answer 2

Music Theory 099 is the theory course designed for the college bound music major. It is the course most often taught in high school. It is suggested that this course be taken to help that student prepare for the college theory placement exams. Intensive help from the high school music teacher is also suggested. If in your studies on the Violin you have learned to read the notes, and count the timing, you have the half of it already.
The course may touch on the idea of the Pythagorean theorem and the concept of just intonation. However, you should not be required to recite the mathematical formula involved in the theory.


Course Syllabus Music Theory 099

The basic language of music
terminology
pitch notation
rhythm notation

Drawing skills
clefs
notes
rests
other written music skills

Note names
name all notes on the treble clef staff
name all notes on the bass clef staff

Keyboard communication
identify note names of all "white" keys
"black" key enharmonic names

Chromaticism
sharp, flat, and natural signs
chromatic scales
Melodic beginnings
major scale tetrachords
solfeggio introduction

Elementary rhythms
rhythmic names of notes
performance of elementary rhythms
elementary rhythmic dictation

Major scales
building scales with whole and half steps
introduction to key signature

Basic theory tutorials are available free on the net.
http://www.musictheory.halifax.ns.ca/1gs.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/theory/theory.htm

Answer 3

You'll do fine. The way theory is taught is not specific to any instrument, though most theory classes use the piano. If you can read both trebble and bass cleff and can recognize the notes that actually fit in the five lines and spaces of each cleff, you'll know enough to keep up with the class. Usually by the end of the class you'll be required to write a simple song, which is a piece of cake.

Answer 4

Music theory and ear training are two different things. So, I would highly doubt that your teacher will plunck a note on the piano and have you tell him what it is.

You will probably start VERY basic with the lines and spaces on the Treble and Bass Clefs and move on from there to Key Signatures and the scales and then probably basic intervals and chords.

Anything more and you would probably be getting into college-level theory.

Answer 5

I took theory in college, but I had a good piano teacher during jr. high, that introduced me to the basics of theory, like chords, major and minor scales/chords, the formula that make a scale major/minor. Some Jazz studies, stuff like that.

I played violin in elementary school, too. Took up guitar and piano later.

Find a good piano teacher that will meet your needs. Some of them out there just want to make you a classical pianist. Find one that will teach theory. Learn the right finger patterns for scales, it will make playing easier.

Answer 6

go to musictheory.net and go through the classes on it. you can even download the whole site on your computer and run it as an app. you will be able to do ear training and stuff that you usually have to pay an instructor for for free!

also the complete idiots guide to music theory really helped me, it was written by a drummer, so you know that he doesnt use fancy vocabulary :)

as for the class, dont worry, most high school classes are set up with the lowest common denominator in mind, so you will be able to fly through it no problem.

Answer 7

how are you at maths? Music theory is a lot like mathematics. If you are good at maths it should be easy. I haven't taken the course, but generally you don't have to be able to hear or play things you just have to be able to read and write them for theory.

Answer 8

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