Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course is required for students who plan on majoring in music at a four-year institution and is strongly recommended for any student wishing to pursue studies in music theory. The course is open to all students.
 

Upon successful completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Perform chord progressions with extended and altered chords.

2. Perform melodies which contain tuplets and 3:2 cross rhythms against a simple accompaniment.

3. Demonstrate sight-reading and performing a phrase of music that contains melody and a simple accompaniment in beat divisions and longer.

4. Harmonize and perform a melody using secondary dominants.

5. Perform a full song that uses a common bass accompaniment pattern and chromatic chords.

• Applying scale fingering concepts to repertoire

• Practicing major and minor scales and arpeggios with prepared fingerings (separate hands, two octaves, ascending and descending)

• Techniques for increasing proficiency with scales and arpeggios

• Interpreting chord labels and playing progressions with extended, altered and borrowed chords

• Interpret chord symbols and play progressions using triads and seventh chords

• Transposing melodies and accompaniments 

• Play ii-V-I progressions in all keys

• Playing from a transposed score and reading music for transposing instruments

Methods used to evaluate student progress and the criteria for assigning a course letter grade should be made clear by the instructor at the beginning of the course. Due to the fact that this course focuses on the performance of a musical instrument, the primary assessment method will be through applied keyboard exams and exercises.   Other assessment methods may be used, including:

Qualitative and/or quantitative examinations
Homework assignments
Listening assignments
Concert reports
Research project
Class participation

• Chord extensions and chromatic alterations

• Borrowed chords

• Secondary dominants

• 3:2 cross rhythms and tuplets

• Common bass (left-hand) accompaniment patterns

• Diatonic and chromatic harmonizations

• Improvising a melody against common chord progressions

• Transposing instruments, transposed scores