Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for MUS 211A archive revision 202404

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Effective Term:
Fall 2024

Course Number:
MUS 211A
Course Title:
Music Theory IV
Credit Hours:
3
Lecture Hours:
30
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Continues the study of music components relevant to a variety of contemporary and historical styles such as advanced chromatic harmony, complex metric devices, and jazz harmony. Includes scales and organizational systems, melodic & rhythmic variation, and how they apply to songs and compositions. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

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

  1. Identify music examples with odd and changing meters.

  2. Create short melodies using scales other than major, minor, and blues scales.

  3. Compose chord progressions that include extended and altered chords, chromatic mediants, Flat II, Flat VI7 and chromatic diminished chords.

  4. Apply contrapuntal devices to creation of melodies and countermelodies.

  5. Label and analyze extended and altered chords.

Course Activities and Design

Material will primarily be presented in a lecture/discussion format. Other educational methods will be used to enhance lectures. These will include guest presentations and performances, research papers, small group work, original composition assignments and concert attendance.


A large amount of student to teacher and student to student contact should be achieved throughout the term in order to encourage and accomplish successful student development. The application of concepts presented will be accomplished through the examination of musical works in a variety of musical genres. Composition assignments that focus on particular aspects of music will be regularly scheduled.  Whenever possible students should be encouraged to perform assignments and compositions in the classroom. In addition, students will be given the opportunity to learn and use music technology (MIDI, internet, CD, DVD) to supplement the regular course work.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

The instructor should make the criteria for assigning a course grade and for evaluating student progress clear at the beginning of the term. The individual instructor will determine the methods of assessment. Assessment methods may include:

Qualitative examinations
Quantitative examinations
Homework assignments
Music presentations
Class participation
Composition projects
Small group work/problem solving
Concert reports

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

  • Odd meter

  • Changing meter

  • Scales and organizational systems, drone-based music

  • Chord extensions and alterations

  • Chromatic mediants

  • The Flat II chord (Neapolitan 6)

  • Flat VI7 (Augmented 6th Chords)

  • Chromatic diminished chords

  • Contrapuntal devices

    • Imitative counterpoint 

    • Melodic & rhythmic transformations