2017 Dr. Chris McDonald
Office CE 251, 563-1415
MUSI 2601 – Music Theory for PopularSong
Class times: Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:40-9:55am, CE 327
Office Hours: Mon/Wed 10-11, 1-2, Thurs 1-2 or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course looks at musical practices that are used in pop, rock, jazz, soul, singer-songwriter and other forms of mass-mediated popular music. Through listening, analysis, and composition exercises, students will discover rhythmic styles (metrical structures, groove, syncopation, etc.,) tonal, modal and harmonic techniques (harmonization, tonicization, modulation), melody writing and song forms. This course also introduces students to contemporary approaches to arrangement and layering in song textures. Exercises will include musical analysis, transcripts and the composition of original music based on the concepts taught.
OBJECTIVES:
(1) Students will develop fluency in the terminology of music theory as it applies to popular music.
(2) Students will be able to analyze musical pieces and excerpts with respect to form, melody, harmony, and rhythm.
(3) Students will learn to compose, edit, and correct musical passages, using music theory concepts.
(4) Students will learn how aspects of form, melody, harmony and rhythm help define and differentiate styles and genres.
(5) Students will develop their music notation skills.
EVALUATION:
Weekly Assignments:40%
Participation:10%
Midterm Exam:20%
Final Exam:30%
COURSE TEXT:
Sorce, Richard. 1995. Music Theory for the Music Professional. New York: Ardsley House Publishers. (Note that this text will be used as well for MUSI 3605)
Moodle: Some musical examples, tutorials, and other material will be uploaded to Moodle for your use. I will include a PDF of staff paper which you can print off to do some exercises. Alternatively, you can purchase staff paper at Long and McQuade.
COURSE WORK:
Weekly Assignments: There will be assignments done weekly to help you master the concepts and skills which we will be covering. They will take various forms, including simple writing exercises, composition, identifying features, finding errors, analyzing of pieces or excerpts, and so on.
Participation:Regular attendance and participation in in-class exercises will be essential to success in the course. In addition to lectures and demonstrations, students will be involved in exercises in which we practice identifying, writing, and composing the concepts in class. At times, exercises involving clapping, singing, or playing may be involved, at the instructor’s discretion. Good student participation will make the class lively and fun.
Midterm Exam:The midterm will be scheduled for Thursday February 16. The exam will include exercises similar to those in the weekly assignments, and will assess the skills learned up to this point in the course.
Final Exam: There will be a final exam scheduled during the exam period. Like the midterm, the exam will include exercises similar to those done in the assignments, and will bring together the skills we learned across the course.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF TOPICS:
Week 1-2: Review of Rudiments; Rhythm and Metre
Terminology and Duration
Duple, Triple, Compound Metre
Rhythmic Organization in Popular Music
Weeks 3-6: Scales; Modes; Intervals; Triads
Intervals
Major and minor scales
Triads and Harmonization
Weeks 6-9: Harmony
Figured Bass; Pop-Chord Notation
Harmonic Rhythm & Form
Primary Chord harmonization
Seventh Chords
Progression
Tonicization and Modulation
Weeks 10-12: Melody and Form
Non-Harmonic Tones
Common Song Forms
Analysis and Chart Writing
POLICIES AND DATES:
Important Dates:
The last day for adding this course without requiring special approval is January 13, 2017.
The last day for dropping this course without academic penalty is March 7, 2017. It is very important that, if you intend to drop the course, you do so officially. Otherwise, you will have a failure recorded on your official transcripts.
Late Policy: For the weekly assignments, the late penalty is set at a loss of 2% per day, including weekends.
Lateness due to medical issues can be forgiven if a doctor’s note is provided.
Policy on electronic devices: Given that you are asked to submit your précis electronically, you may choose to use your notes in class on a laptop or tablet. You may bring these devices for this purpose. Cell phones and iPods (or similar devices) should not used in class, unless the instructor has given permission. If any devices are being used in a disruptive manner or for purposes not related to the class, the instructor reserves the right to demand that they be turned off and put away.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is giving the impression that an idea is yours when in fact you found it in a source. You can therefore be guilty of plagiarism even if you thoroughly rewrite the source’s words. Plagiarism and cheating are extremely serious offences and carry penalties from failure of an assignment to expulsion from the University. Definitions, procedures and penalties relating to these offences are outlined in the University’s Policy on Plagiarism (which can be found under “Ethical Behaviour in Academic Matters” in the Academic Calendar pp. 35-36, or on the CBU website – click on “Current Students,” then “Plagiarism”). You should be familiar with CBU’s policies as well as with what constitutes plagiarism or cheating. If you are at all unsure, please speak to me right away.
Academic Help: If you have any special needs that could impact your performance in this course (e.g., physical, mental, learning), please let me know as soon as possible. You may also wish to consult with the Jennifer Keeping Accessibility Centre, x1404.If you need help with any of the writing components of the course, you can book an appointment with CBU’s Writing Centre,
Missed Classes and Inclement Weather: In the event of a class cancellation due to weather or the instructor’s absence, the instructor will inform the students of remediation of assignment or presentation due dates, as needed. See CBU’s policy here:
Social Media:Students interested in local music and culture may wish to like the Facebook page, “Music, Folklore & Culture at CBU” ( which covers events, issues, happenings and people associated with music and culture, both locally and abroad.
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