Undergraduate Course: Fundamentals of Music Theory (MUSI07001)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course introduces the foundational concepts of Western European music theory, providing basic skills needed to read and write conventional stave music notation, as well as to analyse musical notation and sounds. The course includes material such as pitches and scales, intervals, clefs, rhythm, form, metre, phrases and cadences, and basic common practice harmony.
Please use the interactive LEARN resource, 'Fundamentals of Music Theory Diagnostic', to help you decide if this course is suitable for you.
- Follow these steps for LEARN self-enrol: Go to Learn / Self-Enrol / search for course ID: ZU_Music_Diagnostic |
| Course description |
This course will introduce you to the foundational concepts of Western European music theory, providing basic skills needed to read and write five-line staff music notation, as well as to analyse musical notation and sounds.
The rudiments of music theory describes a set of concepts and skills derived from European musical traditions, widely used to communicate about musical ideas. This course covers the fundamentals of this approach, from the absolute basics to some more advanced concepts, including material such as pitches and scales, intervals, clefs, rhythm, form, metre, phrases and cadences, and basic harmony. While the concepts and skills that generally define music theory are useful ones to interrogate many forms of music, the area of study as a whole has most commonly been developed to explain compositions of Western European art music. However, you will be encouraged to value and draw upon your prior experiences in music listening and performance to contextualize your learning, as you acquire this particular set of skills.
The syllabus is delivered through online video lectures and a supplementary course textbook. These are available for self-directed study during the 11 weeks of teaching, supported by small-group supervised classroom and keyboard lab tutorials to reinforce and develop your learning. This will support you in achieving a working grasp of music theory rudiments which you can apply by reading and writing musical notation reasonably fluently.
Assessment takes place through online quizzes during the semester, and a final coursework submission.
Please use the interactive LEARN resource, 'Fundamentals of Music Theory Diagnostic', to help you decide if this course is suitable for you.
- Follow these steps for LEARN self-enrol: Go to Learn / Self-Enrol / search for course ID: ZU_Music_Diagnostic
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | No prior qualifications are required. You do not need to be able to read music notation to take this course.
This course is NOT recommended if any of the following apply:
i) You have completed the Coursera University of Edinburgh MOOC, 'Fundamentals of Music Theory' including the final exam; or
ii) You achieved an A-grade qualification in either Advanced Higher or Advanced Level (A Level) Music; or
iii) You have passed ABRSM Theory of Music at Grade 7 or 8.
However, entry is at the discretion of the Course Organiser and managed through a course diagnostic site. You must self-enrol to access this resource. Log in to MyEd » Learn » Self-enrol » Search catalogue for 'Music Theory Diagnostic'. |
| Additional Costs | c£5 to buy headphones if student does not already have them. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 60 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 3,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 20,
Online Activities 22,
Formative Assessment Hours 3,
Summative Assessment Hours 4,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
144 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Online quiz in week 6 (30%)
Online quiz in week 9 (30%)
Problem sheet coursework submission Weeks 10/11 (40%) |
| Feedback |
Formative feedback via weekly online quizzes. Regular small group teaching for practical feedback. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Identify elements including pitches and scales, intervals, clefs, rhythm, and metre.
- Use conventional stave notation to communicate musical elements including pitches and scales, intervals, clefs, rhythm, and meter.
- Notate simple cadential phrases on a grand stave.
- Describe the function of basic chords in an excerpt of notated music.
- Articulate a critical and contextual awareness of the utility and limitations of stave notation in relation to musical performance.
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Reading List
Eric Taylor, The AB Guide to Music Theory Vol 1. ABRSM
Eric Taylor, The AB Guide to Music Theory Vol 2. ABRSM
Trevor Herbert, Music in Words, Second Edition: A guide to researching and writing about music. ABRSM
George Pratt, The Dynamics of Harmony: Principles and Practice. Oxford University Press. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Present and evaluate ideas that are routine to the discipline of music theory.
Convey complex ideas in well-structured and coherent form.
Exercise some initiative and independence in carrying out defined activities in music theory. |
| Keywords | Theory,Notation,Rudiments,Music analysis,Music theory,flipped classroom,video lectures,online quiz |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Nikki Moran
Tel: (0131 6)50 2423
Email: n.moran@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Dr Ellen Jeffrey
Tel: (0131 6)50 2430
Email: ellen.jeffrey@ed.ac.uk |
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