Welcome to AP Music Theory for 2017-2018!
The following is summer work that will give you a good start for the class next year. I know a lot is review, but it’s always good to go over the material again. Please check this site every once in a while in case I post new information. You can email me at and text me at 706-589-2606. Feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions.
The Materials of Music: Sound and Time
· Read Introduction
· Watch Properties of Sound.ppt
· Complete Homework #1 – Properties of Sound
Chapter 1
• Learn the vocabulary at the top of page 3
• Read pages 3 – 9 and pay special attention to the octave identification on page 6. There’s an alternate one on the top of page 7 but that one isn’t used. You probably know most of the concepts, but this will be a good review.
• Print out and complete Homework 1-Review of Notes and Such. http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/15
• Read pages 10-20
• Print out and complete Homework 2-Rhythm and Meter.
• The AP exam involves a lot of aural skills. We’ll start by doing rhythm dictation using teoria.com. (You’ll be using this site a lot next year.) Practice using both simple and compound time examples. It works best to write down the rhythms on a separate piece of paper and then input them.
• http://www.teoria.com/en/exercises/rd4.php
Major Key Signatures
Order of sharps – F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B# - Fat Cats Go Down Alleys Eating Bacon
Order of flats – Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb, Fb - Bears Eat at Dirty Garbage Cans Frequently
Determining a key signature
When determining a key signature for any named major key, it's important to know whether the key signature has sharps or flats.With the exception of the key of C Major (no sharps or flats) and F Major (one flat), any "stand-alone" letter is going to be a major key with sharps: G, D, A, E, B, F#, C#. Of course if a sharp follows the letter name (F#, C#), the key signature will have sharps. If a flat follows the letter name, the key signature will have flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb.
C Major(no sharps or flats)
Sharps / Flats
G (1) / F (1)
D (2) / Bb(2)
A (3) / Eb(3)
E (4) / Ab(4)
B (5) / Db(5)
F# (6) / Gb(6)
C# (7) / Cb(7)
Determining a major key that contains sharps
In order to determine the name of a major key that contains sharps, simply name the note that is a half-step above the last sharp.
The example above shows the last sharp is D#, so the major key is E Major. Or you can go up to the next line or space after the last sharp. In this case D#, the last sharp, is on a line. If you go up to the next space you have an E. The key is E major.
Be careful, however, when you are using 6 sharps in the key signature.
The last sharp is E#. E is a space note so you would go up a half step, or to the next line, which is F# (because F# is already listed in the key signature). The key is F# Major. Be careful not to say it is in the key of F Major.
The same is true with 7 sharps.
The last sharp is B#. B# is a line note so you would go up a half step, or to the next line, which is C# (because C# is already listed in the key signature). The key is C# major. Be careful not to say it is in the key of C Major.
Determining a major key that contains flats
In order to determine the name of a major key that contains flats, simply name the next-to-last flat and that will be the key. The key of F major, with one flat, is the exception.
Above, the next-to-last flat is Ab, which is the name of the major key.
Creating a key signature that contains sharps
Okay, that works fine if you'regiventhe key signature, but what if you're given a "tonic note" and asked to come up with the major key signature?
That's when you need the info from the table under Number 1. You must know whether you're going to be creating a key signature with sharps or flats.
What should go through your brain if you are given the following tonic note and asked to provide a major key signature, or provide accidentals to form a major scale based on this note?
1. Is it a major key with sharps or a major key with flats?
2. The note is B-natural, not Bb, so it's going to be a major key with sharps.
3. If I can determine the name of a major key signature by goingupa half-step from the last sharp, then, conversely, I can determine the last sharp by goingdowna half-step from the tonic note, B. A# is a half step lower than B.
4. List all the flats in order until you come to A#: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#.
5. Since A# is the last sharp, the key of B Major has five sharps:
F#, C#, G#, D#, A#.
Now, what if you're giventhisnote?
1. This hasto be a major key with flats because the note is Db.
2. If I can determine the name of a major key signature by naming the next-to-last flat, then, conversely, I can add one more flat to come up with the number of flats in the key signature.
3. List all the flats in order until you come to Db: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, and then add one more – Gb.
- Since Gb is the last flat the key of Db Major has 5 flats – Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb.
• Practice identifying major key signatures using teoria: http://www.teoria.com/en/exercises/ksi.php
o Major
o Sharps and flats
o Don’t limit to 4 accidentals
• Practice constructing major key signatures using teoria: http://www.teoria.com/en/exercises/ksc.php
o Major
o Sharps and flats
o Don’t limit to 4 accidentals
Note Identification
Be sure you’re able to read and notate notes on the treble, bass, and alto clefs. Practice using teoria. Try to get your speed up to allegro or presto: http://www.teoria.com/en/exercises/clef.php
Assignments to bring on August 7th, the first day:
Homework #1 – Properties of Sound
Homework 1-Review of Notes and Such
Homework 2-Rhythm and Meter
Homework 3-Rhythm and Meter
Screen shot print out from teoria: 20 key signatures identification
Screen shot print out from teoria: 20 key signatures construction
We’re going to have a test on Friday, August 11th, over the concepts you’ve worked on this summer. We’ll spend the first week reviewing everything.