Theory II and Aural Skills II
Dr. Tim Koozin
Moores School of Music
University of Houston

Topics and Assignments (Subject to change)   

Syllabus
Techniques and Materials of Music site
Music for Ear Training site
Blank Staff Paper
Composition Assignment
Audio clips

Week 1 (Jan 20-23)

The first class meeting after break is Tuesday, Jan 20, Aural Skills II. Please meet in your individual sections.

Theory:

Wednesday: MEET IN LARGE GROUP. Introduce Chs 12 & 13. Assignment for Friday:
     Study Part II, Ch 12, "Linear Six-Four and Other Chords" and Ch 13, "Submediant and Mediant Triads"
     Written:
          eWorkbook, Part II, p. 47, no. 5a and 5b
          Anthology, p. 56 (Crüger, Anon, Bach). Remember to photocopy the page first. Then, analyze cadences, harmony, and non-chord tones.

Friday's Assignment for Monday:
          eWorkbook, Part II, p. 51 (all)
          Anthology, p. 61-62 (Mozart, J.C. Bach, Tessier)

Aural Skills:

Dictation assignment, Unit 7, The Supertonic Triad:
       Practice self-grading melodies p. 149-150
       To turn in: p. 154 (Melodic Quiz #1)

Singing
       Unit 8 (Compound Meter, Supertonic Triad, Submediant & Mediant Triads): p. 90-95
       Unit 7 (Music from Literature) as selected by the instructor


Week 2 (Jan 26-30)

Theory:

Monday: Complete Chs 12 & 13. Assignment for Wednesday:
       Written: eWorkbook, Part II, p. 52 (Submediant and Mediant Triads)
       Study Ch 14, "The Leading Tone Triad" and Ch 15, "Variant Qualities of Triads"

Wednesday: MEET IN LARGE GROUP. Assignment for Friday:
       Study Ch 14, "The Leading Tone Triad" and Ch 15, "Variant Qualities of Triads"
       Written: eWorkbook, p. 57

Friday's Assignment for Monday:
       Anthology, p. 67 (Teschner, Schumann, Handel) and p. 71 (Bach, Pachelbel)
       Online Study Guide 6: Complete the online quiz at the end with a score of 90% or better.

Aural Skills:

Dictation assignment:    
       Practice self-grading harmonic progressions. 160 (The Supertonic Triad) and 162 (Inversions of V7)
       To turn in: p. 167 (Harmonic Quiz #1, nos. 1-4 only)

Singing
       Continue Unit 8 (including Tenor Clef) to p. 98
       Unit 7 (Music from Literature) as selected by the instructor


Week 3 (Feb 2-6)

Theory:

Monday's assignment for Wednesday: eWorkbook, p. 63 (Variant qualities of triads)

Wednesday's assignments for Friday:
      eWorkbook, p. 64 (Variant qualities of triads)

Friday's assignment for Monday:
     
Anthology , p. 78-79 (Modal borrowing: Schubert, Brahms)

Aural Skills:

Dictation assignment:    
       Practice self-grading melodies, p. 151-152
       To turn in: p. 155 (Melodic Quiz No. 2)

Singing
       Continue Unit 8 to p. 101 and supplement
       Unit 7 (Music from Literature) as selected by the instructor


Week 4 (Feb 9-13)

Theory:

Monday's assignment for Wednesday: TMM textbook: Choose two figured basses to work out from No. 4, pages 118-119.

Wednesday's assignment for Monday:
    Anthology, "Il Trovatore" example, p. 80-81.
    Study Chs 16 (The Sequence) & 17 (The Supertonic Seventh Chord)

No class Thursday and Friday, due to TMEA conference

Aural Skills:

Dictation assignment:    
       Practice self-grading harmonic progressions. 162-164
       To turn in: p. 169 (Harmonic Quiz #2, nos. 1-4 only)

Singing
      Unit 8 solo melodies to p. 101 ready for solo singing
       Unit 7 (Music from Literature) and additional music as selected by the instructor


Week 5 (Feb 16-20)

Theory:

Monday: MEET IN LARGE CLASS, Chs 16 (sequence) & 17 (supertonic seventh chord). Study Examples. Assignment for Wednesday:
     Anthology, p. 83 and 84 (all)
 
Wednesday: Assignments for Friday:
     eWorkbook, p 79 (all)

Friday assignments for Monday:
     eWorkbook p. 72, choose exercise 1a or 1b
     Study Ch 18 (leading tone seventh chord)

Aural Skills:

Dictation assignment:    
     Practice self-grading melodies, p. 181-184
     To turn in: p. 186 (Melodic Quiz #1)

Singing assignments:
     Complete Unit 8. Begin Unit 9 (triplets, seventh chords)
     Unit 8 canons and duets and supplement


Week 6 (Feb 23-27)

Theory:

Monday: MEET IN LARGE CLASS, Ch 18 (The Leading Tone Seventh Chord). Assignment for Wednesday:
     eWorkbook, p 84

Wednesday assignment for Friday:
     Anthology, p. 91-92

Friday assignment to turn in Monday:
     PRACTICE MIDTERM EXAM

Aural Skills:

Dictation assignment:    
     Practice self-grading harmonic examples. 192 and 197 (all diatonic triads)
     To turn in: p. 200 (Harmonic Quiz #1)

Singing assignments:
     Complete Unit 9 solo melodies. Other music as assigned by instructor.


Week 7 (March 2-6)

Theory:

Monday: Turn in Practice Midterm. Assignment for Wednesday: Anthology, p. 92-94

Wednesday: Return and discuss Practice Exam. Review.

Friday, March 6: Theory Midterm Exam

Aural Skills:

Dictation assignment:    
     Practice self-grading melodic and harmonic examples from Unit 8 (all diatonic triads)
     To turn in: p. 187 (Melodic Quiz #2)

Singing assignments:
     Review Unit 8 and 9 solo melodies.
     Selections from Unit 10 (Music from Literature)


Week 8 (March 9-13)

Theory:

Monday: MEET IN LARGE CLASS: Ch 19, Other Diatonic Seventh Chords.
     Assignment for Wednesday: Page 89 in the e-Workbook

Wednesday: Work on Ch 19, Other Diatonic Seventh Chords, and Composition Project. Assignments:
     Anthology, p. 103 (Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn)
     Begin composition project (melody with harmonic outline and cadences ready for class discussion Friday).

Friday assignment:
     e-Workbook p. 92 (choose one of the two basses to harmonize.) Also continue work on composition project.

Aural Skills:

Aural Skills Dictation Midterm: March 10 (based on dictations from Unit 8)

Aural Skills Singing Midterm: March 12 (All solo tunes Chapters 8 and 9 and other music as assigned by instructor; individually by appointment)

Theory II Composition Assignment

Create a piece for performance in class using the form of a double period:

            phrase 1 ------ HC, IAC
            phrase 2 ------ IAC, PAC, HC, DC,
            phrase 3 ------ HC
            phrase 4 ------ PAC

This piece should represent your best work (20% of grade). It should employ the harmonic resources we will have studied this semester, including seventh chords, modal mixture, secondary dominants, and/or modulation. Compose for resources available in your class. See the textbook, p. 252-53, for more on phrase structure and the double period.

  1. Melody with basic harmonic outline and cadences roughly complete (for class discussion): Wednesday, March 25
  2. Melody with basic harmonic outline and cadences due (turn in photocopy): Friday, March 27
  3. Complete sketch due (turn in photocopy): Friday, April 10
  4. Polished score with all performance markings (dynamics, articulation, etc.) and any needed transposed parts due at time of performance in class: Wednesday, April 29; Friday, May 1; Monday, May 4

Suggestions:

  • If you write for voice, begin with words. Your music should complement the natural accentuation of the text.
  • Plan ahead. Expect to revise and fine-tune your score as your work progresses.
  • Show your work to performers and learn from their comments.
  • Bring your work in progress to class each day.
  • Turn in photocopies to the instructor and retain originals as you continue to work.
  • This list of instrumental ranges and transpositions may be helpful: instruments.pdf

Spring Break: March 16-20


Week 9 (March 23-27)

Theory:

Monday. MEET IN LARGE CLASS: Secondary Dominant Chords. Study Examples. Assignments:
     Study Part III, Ch 1, Secondary Dominants
     Online Study Guide 7: Complete the online quiz at the end with a score of 90% or better.
     e-Workbook, Part III, page 3. Download the e-Workbook Part III

Wednesday. Discuss composition projects in class. Also discuss more Anthology pieces if time allows. Assignments for Friday:
     Composition Assignment: Melody with basic harmonic outline and cadences. Have photocopy ready to turn in.
     Anthology, pages 121-122 (Schubert, Haydn, Beethoven, Weber)

     Work further on composition project. (Be ready to turn in photocopy Friday.)

Friday: Turn in Composition photocopy (melody with basic harmonic outline and cadences) Assignment:
     e-Workbook, Part III, page 6 (choose one of the three exercises)

Aural Skills:

Dictation assignment:    
     Practice self-grading melodies. 212-213 (supertonic and leading tone sevenths)
     To turn in: p. 218 (Melodic Quiz #1)

Singing assignments:
     Selections from Unit 10 (Music from Literature)
     Begin Unit 11 (syncopation, other seventh chords)


Week 10 (March 30 - April 3)

Theory:

Monday assignment:
     Anthology, pages 128-130 (Schubert, Schumann, Schubert)

Wednesday assignment:
     TMM textbook, p 143-144, Ex. 7a, 7b, & 7c.

Friday assignment:
     Anthology, p. 142 (Gershwin). Hint: This excerpt has a couple of diminished chords you may want to reinterpret enharmonically (respell) as you analze their function.
     Also note: Composition Assignment, complete sketch due in one week, Friday, April 10

Aural Skills:

Dictation assignment:    
     Practice self-grading harmonic exercises. 224-227 (supertonic and leading tone sevenths)
     To turn in: p. 233, ex. 1-4 only (Harmonic Quiz #1)

Singing assignments:
     Continue selections from Unit 10 (Music from Literature)
     Continue Unit 11 (syncopation, other seventh chords)


Week 11 (April 6-10)

Theory:

Monday: MEET IN LARGE CLASS. Assignments for Wednesday:
     Study Part III, Ch 2, Modulation
     Online Study Guide 8: Complete the online quiz at the end with a score of 90% or better.
     e-Workbook, Part III, page 10

Wednesday. Assignment for Friday:
     Anthology, p. 146-47 (Schubert, Haydn, Mozart) (Audio clips)
    
Composition Assignment: Complete sketch due next class, April 10. (Turn in photocopy.)

Friday, April 10. Turn in Composition sketch. Assignment for Monday:
     e-Workbook, Part III, page 11; Choose three of the four given exercises.

Aural Skills:

Dictation assignment:    
     Practice self-grading melodies. 253-254 (non-dominant seventh chords)
     To turn in: p. 258 (Melodic Quiz #1)

Singing assignments:
     Continue Unit 11 (syncopation, other seventh chords)
     Other melodies as provided


Week 12 (April 13 - 17)

Theory:

Monday: Discuss composition sketches and Anthology examples. ALWAYS BRING YOUR ANTHOLOGY TO CLASS. Assignments for Wednesday:
     Anthology, p. 156-157 (Beethoven, Haydn)
     Composition Project: Note that polished score for in-class performance must be ready by Wednesday, April 29.

Wednesday. Assignment for Friday:
     Anthology, p. 168-69 (Beethoven, Schumann)

Friday, April 10. Assignment for Monday:
     TMM textbook, p. 150, ex. 6a, 6b, & 6c.

Aural Skills:

Dictation assignment:    
     Practice self-grading harmonic exercises. 264-267 (non-dominant seventh chords)
     To turn in: p. 270 (Harmonic Quiz #1)

Singing assignments:
     Complete Unit 11 and begin Unit 12 (decorative chromaticism).


Week 13 (April 20-24)

Theory:

Monday. Assignments for Wednesday:
     TMM textbook, p. 150, ex. 6d, 6e, & 6f.
     Composition Project: Note that polished score for in-class performance must be ready by Wednesday, April 29.

Wednesday. Assignment for Friday:
     Anthology, p. 172-174 (Beethoven Sonatina in F major)

Friday, April 10. Assignment for Monday:
     Assignment TBA; Prepare Composition Project for performance.

Aural Skills:

Dictation assignment:    
     Practice self-grading melodic exercises. 255-257 (non-dominant seventh chords)
     To turn in: p. 259, nos. 1-4 only (Melodic Quiz #2)

Singing assignments:
Complete Unit 12 (decorative chromaticism).


Week 14 (April 27 - May 1)

Theory:

Monday. Assignment for Wednesday: Final preparations for composition project. (Start hearing compositions in class that may be ready.)

Wednesday:
      Hear student compositions performed in class. Polished score due to be turned in.
Assignment for Friday: Practice final exam. Download the PDF. (Audio for Schumann example)

Friday:
     Continue hearing student compositions. Practice final exam due to be turned in.

Aural Skills:

Tuesday:
    Dictation assignment: Practice for Thursday's Dictation Final Exam (No more written dictation assignments.)
    Singing: Review Unit 12 to page 147 (decorative chromaticism).

Thursday, April 26: Dictation Final Exam (based on Units 7, 8, 9, and 11)


Monday, May 4: Last theory class meeting before exam. Go over practice final exam.

Theory Exam: Monday, May 11, 8:00-11:00

Aural Skills Singing Exam: Thursday, May 14, 8:00-11:00, by appointment
(Units 8, 9, 11, and 12 to page 147)